MS Sample Set 12, Round 5 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the term for the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion?

Acceptable Answers:

  • INERTIA

BONUS phys multiselect

Identify all of the following three properties that correctly describe a solid: 1) Definite shape; 2) Definite volume; 3) Ability to change shape to match its container.

Choices:

  • Definite shape
  • Definite volume
  • Ability to change shape to match its container

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the Earth’s largest coral reef?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GREAT BARRIER REEF

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Extensional boundaries are typically associated with what type of faulting? W) Reverse X) Thrust Y) Normal Z) Recumbent

W: W) Reverse

X: X) Thrust

Y: Y) Normal

Z: Z) Recumbent

Answer: Y) Y) Normal

TOSS-UP math phrase

Solve the following equation for y: y – 16 = 16 – y.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 16

BONUS math phrase

A circle with radius 7 is inscribed in a square. To the nearest 10, what is the area of the region inside the square but outside the circle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 40

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Scientists working at Ames Laboratory have devised a way to increase the catalytic activity of nanoparticles in fuel cell applications. What quantity related to the particles did scientists focus on increasing? W) Number X) Length Y) Surface area Z) Volume

W: W) Number

X: X) Length

Y: Y) Surface area

Z: Z) Volume

Answer: Y) Y) Surface area

BONUS energy phrase

What reaction, in which the starting material is decomposed in the presence of high temperatures without oxygen, is used to make biochar?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PYROLYSIS

TOSS-UP ess phrase

To what constellation does the star Sirius belong?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CANIS MAJOR

BONUS ess phrase

What astronomical term comes from the Greek meaning “yoked together” and is used to describe the alignment of three celestial bodies?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SYZYGY

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the term for alternative versions of the same gene?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ALLELE

BONUS bio phrase

What is the name for the phase of mitosis in which chromosomes condense and the nuclear membrane breaks down?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PROPHASE

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab are hunting for a signature of the Big Bang in what light neutral class of leptons?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NEUTRINO

BONUS energy phrase

What is the coolant used in most nuclear reactors in the United States?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WATER
  • LIGHT WATER, H2O

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the defining mineral for a Mohs hardness of 1?

Acceptable Answers:

  • TALC

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Where does peridotite form? W) Bottom of the ocean X) Upper mantle Y) Convergent plate boundaries Z) Evaporite deposits

W: W) Bottom of the ocean

X: X) Upper mantle

Y: Y) Convergent plate boundaries

Z: Z) Evaporite deposits

Answer: X) X) Upper mantle

TOSS-UP math phrase

If the perimeter of a triangle is 42, and the lengths of two of its sides are 18 and 11, what is the length of its third side?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 13

BONUS math phrase

The mean number of weekly work hours for 13 part-time employees at a store is 18. The mean number of hours for 5 of the employees is 13. To the nearest whole number, what is the mean number of hours for the rest of the store’s employees?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 21

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What term describes an observable trait or traits of an organism?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHENOTYPE

BONUS bio phrase

Fermentation occurring in humans produces what molecule?

Acceptable Answers:

  • LACTIC ACID
  • LACTATE

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the general term for the substances that are used up in a chemical reaction?

Acceptable Answers:

  • REACTANTS

BONUS phys multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements that are true of energy: 1) Energy from the Sun reaches the Earth via conduction; 2) Car engines convert chemical energy to both thermal and mechanical energy; 3) Absolute zero is the value zero on the Celsius scale.

Choices:

  • Energy from the Sun reaches the Earth via conduction
  • Car engines convert chemical energy to both thermal and mechanical energy
  • Absolute zero is the value zero on the Celsius scale

Correct Answers:

  • 2

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Most megacities are surrounded by a brown haze. Researchers working with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory investigated chemicals found in pollution that could be causing the brown haze. What chemicals found in most pollution caused by cars is responsible for the brown haze?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NITROGEN OXIDES
  • NOX, NO, NO2

BONUS energy phrase

Researchers at Brookhaven National Lab are studying quark-gluon plasma. What user facility at BNL are they using to produce this type of matter?

Acceptable Answers:

  • RELATIVISTIC HEAVY-ION COLLIDER
  • RHIC

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the general term for a polymer composed of sugars?

Acceptable Answers:

  • POLYSACCHARIDE
  • STARCH

BONUS bio phrase

During what phase of interphase is DNA actively being synthesized?

Acceptable Answers:

  • S PHASE

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is 60% of 30 plus 60% of 40?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 42

BONUS math phrase

A cyclist travels 0.48 kilometers in one minute. What is the average speed of this cyclist in meters per second?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 8

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following types of energy transformation occurs in a lightbulb? W) Kinetic to electrical X) Electrical to kinetic Y) Electrical to radiant Z) Electrical to chemical

W: W) Kinetic to electrical

X: X) Electrical to kinetic

Y: Y) Electrical to radiant

Z: Z) Electrical to chemical

Answer: Y) Y) Electrical to radiant

BONUS phys phrase

A vessel is pressurized to 500 Pascals and is applying force over an area of 20 meters squared. What is the force, in newtons, applied by this vessel?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 10000

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What group of lipids that are composed of two fatty acid tails and a phosphate group can be found in the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHOSPHOLIPID

BONUS bio phrase

Hexokinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the first step of glycolysis. What functional group does it add to the glucose molecule?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHOSPHATE

TOSS-UP math phrase

Solve the following equation for x: $$ (x - 4)^3 = 27 $$.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 7

BONUS math phrase

A hula hoop with a radius of 15 inches is cut into 5 congruent pieces. To the nearest whole number of inches, what is the length of each piece?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 19

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

What property of protostars or protoplanets leads to accretion? W) Composition X) Mass Y) Temperature Z) Velocity

W: W) Composition

X: X) Mass

Y: Y) Temperature

Z: Z) Velocity

Answer: X) X) Mass

BONUS ess phrase

What spectral class is the star Sirius, which has a temperature of approximately 10,000 kelvins?

Acceptable Answers:

  • A
  • A1

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the molecular formula of carbon tetrachloride?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CCl₄

BONUS phys multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements that are true for heating or cooling a substance in a closed system: 1) The freezing point of a liquid is the same temperature as the melting point of the corresponding solid; 2) At the boiling point, a heated liquid will continue to rise in temperature until completely converted into a gas; 3) Condensation only occurs at the boiling point temperature.

Choices:

  • The freezing point of a liquid is the same temperature as the melting point of the corresponding solid
  • At the boiling point, a heated liquid will continue to rise in temperature until completely converted into a gas
  • Condensation only occurs at the boiling point temperature

Correct Answers:

  • 1

TOSS-UP bio phrase

In humans, chemical digestion of sugars begins in what organ?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MOUTH

BONUS bio phrase

Besides carbon and oxygen, what other two elements compose the largest portion of the mass of human beings?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HYDROGEN AND NITROGEN
  • H, N

TOSS-UP math multiselect

For what real numbers is the following rational function not defined: $$\displaystyle \frac{x^2 (x^2 + 1)}{(x^2 - 1)\,(x + 8)}$$?

Choices:

  • −8
  • −1
  • 1

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

BONUS math phrase

Rounding your answer to the nearest 10,000, what is 449 times 382?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 170000

TOSS-UP phys phrase

Democritus was an early Greek philosopher whose theories about matter gave what particle its name?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ATOM

BONUS phys multiselect

Jonathan starts at one corner of a square field and walks along the four edges forming the perimeter until he reaches his starting point. Identify all of the following three statements that are true of his journey: 1) After walking along one edge, his displacement and distance traveled are equal in magnitude; 2) After walking along two edges, his displacement and distance traveled are equal in magnitude; 3) After walking along four edges, his displacement and distance traveled are equal in magnitude.

Choices:

  • After walking along one edge, his displacement and distance traveled are equal in magnitude
  • After walking along two edges, his displacement and distance traveled are equal in magnitude
  • After walking along four edges, his displacement and distance traveled are equal in magnitude

Correct Answers:

  • 1

TOSS-UP ess phrase

One consequence of Arctic warming is permafrost melting. What is the primary greenhouse gas being released by melting permafrost?

Acceptable Answers:

  • METHANE

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Crater Lake in Oregon is an example of a caldera. Which of the following statements best describes how this caldera formed? W) A lava dam blocked a river and later broke free, forming the caldera X) A mega-eruption blew off the side of Mount Mazama Y) A lava dome formed in the crater and later eroded leaving the caldera behind Z) The summit of Mount Mazama collapsed into the empty magma chamber below

W: W) A lava dam blocked a river and later broke free, forming the caldera

X: X) A mega-eruption blew off the side of Mount Mazama

Y: Y) A lava dome formed in the crater and later eroded leaving the caldera behind

Z: Z) The summit of Mount Mazama collapsed into the empty magma chamber below

Answer: Z) Z) The summit of Mount Mazama collapsed into the empty magma chamber below