HS Sample Set 15, Round 16 from NSB
Researchers at Brookhaven National Lab are modeling the amount of photosynthesis in the Arctic. One of the parameters in their model is the maximum carboxylation rate of what enzyme involved in photosynthesis?
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Scientists at the Joint Genome Institute recently reported on a toluene-synthesizing enzyme that decarboxylates what ester of phenol and acetyl chloride?
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Which of the following best explains why oceanic volcanos eventually sink and form atolls? W) Volcanos are moved away from a buoyant mantle plume by tectonic plate movement X) Volcanos are eroded by the ocean’s saline waters Y) Volcanos collapse after exhausting their supply of magma Z) Volcanos become structurally unstable and disintegrate into atolls
W: W) Volcanos are moved away from a buoyant mantle plume by tectonic plate movement
X: X) Volcanos are eroded by the ocean’s saline waters
Y: Y) Volcanos collapse after exhausting their supply of magma
Z: Z) Volcanos become structurally unstable and disintegrate into atolls
Answer: W) W) Volcanos are moved away from a buoyant mantle plume by tectonic plate movement
What event occurs during a thunderstorm and is characterized by a strong cold downdraft with a maximum size less than four kilometers?
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What is the term for the type of cancer that arises from mesenchymal or connective tissue cells?
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Identify all of the following three features that are typical of hominids but not of other apes: 1) Wide, bowl-shaped pelvis 2) Arms shorter than legs 3) Posteriorly attached skull
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What is the term for the short-lived state that forms as bonds are breaking or forming in a chemical reaction?
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Rank the following three ionic compounds in order of increasing boiling point: 1) Sodium chloride 2) Cesium chloride 3) Magnesium oxide
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A positively-charged infinite sheet lies on the x-y plane. A parallel, negatively-charged infinite sheet with the same magnitude of charge density lies on the plane z = 10. Which of the following positions on the z-axis will experience the smallest magnitude of electric field? W) –1 X) 1 Y) 5 Z) 9
W: W) –1
X: X) 1
Y: Y) 5
Z: Z) 9
Answer: W) W) –1
The flow of water in a pipe accelerates from five meters per second in section A to seven meters per second in section B, without any change in the mean elevation of the pipe. In pascals, how much does the static pressure drop from section A to B?
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What is the slope of the positively-sloped asymptote of the hyperbola with equation $$9x^2 - 4y^2 - 72x - 24y + 72 = 0$$?
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What is the approximation for $$e^2$$ that results from using the first four nonzero terms of the Taylor series for $$e^x$$ centered at 0?
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Chlorosis in plant leaves can be caused by a deficiency in what metal ion, which is chelated by the organic portion of chlorophyll?
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Identify all of the following four compounds that, when introduced to the human body, would result in a net increase in production of thyroid hormones: 1) TRH 2) TSH 3) T3 4) T4
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What is the systematic IUPAC name of the primary alcohol that has formula C₄H₁₀O? W) Butan-1-ol X) n-Butanol Y) Butyric alcohol Z) Butyl alcohol
W: W) Butan-1-ol
X: X) n-Butanol
Y: Y) Butyric alcohol
Z: Z) Butyl alcohol
Answer: W) W) Butan-1-ol
Identify all of the following three statements that are true regarding spontaneity of a reaction: 1) A more spontaneous reaction produces a larger proportion of product than a less spontaneous one 2) A more spontaneous reaction occurs more quickly than a less spontaneous one 3) A more spontaneous reaction always has a greater magnitude Gibbs free energy change than a less spontaneous one
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Consider a circuit that is experiencing a magnetic flux $$\phi = 3t^2$$, where t represents time. In SI base units, what is the magnitude of the EMF induced in the circuit by the magnetic field at $$t = 3$$?
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Which of the following are the correct units for Young’s modulus? W) Dimensionless X) Kilogram per meter second Y) Kilogram per meter second squared Z) Kilogram per second squared
W: W) Dimensionless
X: X) Kilogram per meter second
Y: Y) Kilogram per meter second squared
Z: Z) Kilogram per second squared
Answer: Y) Y) Kilogram per meter second squared
A type One-A supernova is caused by the destruction of what stellar remnant?
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Identify all of the following three points in the night sky for which the projection onto background stars appears to change location for a stationary observer over the course of a precession cycle: 1) Zenith 2) Nadir 3) North Celestial Pole
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What is the integral with respect to x from 8 to 216 of the derivative of the cube root of x?
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For the increasing arithmetic sequence with first two terms 8 and 11, what is the sum of the first 70 terms?
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In order to study the binding properties of lectins and synthetic glycoproteins, researchers functionalized the lectins with a green-absorbing, red-emitting fluorophore and the glycoproteins with a blue-absorbing, green-emitting fluorophore. When the lectin bound the glycoprotein, shining blue light on the conjugate produced red emission. What is the name for this effect?
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Researchers are studying resonant excited states in nuclei that resemble clusters of alpha particles. Identify all of the following three nuclei that are expected to possess these resonant states: 1) Carbon-12 2) Nitrogen-14 3) Oxygen-16
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Which of the following statements are true of a fuel cell but not a secondary battery? W) Chemical energy is converted to electrical energy X) There are voltage losses due to kinetics Y) Devices must be able to recharge as well as discharge Z) Additional chemical fuel can be supplied during operation
W: W) Chemical energy is converted to electrical energy
X: X) There are voltage losses due to kinetics
Y: Y) Devices must be able to recharge as well as discharge
Z: Z) Additional chemical fuel can be supplied during operation
Answer: Z) Z) Additional chemical fuel can be supplied during operation
What is the name of the organic compound formed by the reaction of sodium hydroxide with 2-iodo-2-methylbutane at 80 °C in DMSO?
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A cyclic quadrilateral has two angles of measures 40° and 80°. What are the degree measures of its other two angles?
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Given that $$\cos(1) = 0.5403$$, and expressing your answer to two decimal places, what is the integral from 0 to 1 of $$x^2 \sin(x^3)\,dx$$?
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Researchers at Fermi National Accelerator Facility are working on the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument. What term in the Einstein field equations describes dark energy?
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Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Lab are synthesizing diamondoids, which are small carbon cage molecules that have the same structure as the diamond crystal lattice. How many carbon atoms are in the smallest diamondoid?
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One of Maxwell’s equations states that the divergence of any magnetic field is zero. Which of the following statements is a direct corollary to this expression? W) When traveling at relativistic speeds, some part of a magnetic field will appear as an electric field X) Any moving electric charge induces a magnetic field Y) Any changing magnetic field induces an electric field Z) No magnetic field lines have endpoints
W: W) When traveling at relativistic speeds, some part of a magnetic field will appear as an electric field
X: X) Any moving electric charge induces a magnetic field
Y: Y) Any changing magnetic field induces an electric field
Z: Z) No magnetic field lines have endpoints
Answer: Z) Z) No magnetic field lines have endpoints
Three nine-volt batteries are connected in series to a 10-microfarad capacitor. In milli-coulombs, what is the magnitude of the equilibrium charge on the capacitor?
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What type of winds result from the balance between the horizontal pressure gradient force and the Coriolis effect?
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Identify all of the following three minerals that are mafic: 1) Plagioclase feldspar 2) Quartz 3) Amphibole
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Arthropods breathe through small tubes that connect to the air via openings called what?
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Which of the following best describes a major role of the p53 protein in the cell? W) Transitioning a cell into the G₀ phase after differentiation X) Detecting DNA damage and halting cell division in the G₁ phase Y) Triggering division in a cell with damaged DNA Z) Acting as a nuclease in the process of repairing DNA
W: W) Transitioning a cell into the G₀ phase after differentiation
X: X) Detecting DNA damage and halting cell division in the G₁ phase
Y: Y) Triggering division in a cell with damaged DNA
Z: Z) Acting as a nuclease in the process of repairing DNA
Answer: X) X) Detecting DNA damage and halting cell division in the G₁ phase
A pair of 12-sided dice, each with the numbers one through 12 printed on the faces, is rolled. What is the most probable sum of the two numbers rolled?
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What is the largest possible difference between two 3-digit palindromes each divisible by 12?
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Akin to hibernation, some animals slow their metabolism during the summer. What is the term for this state?
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Much of equine evolution is thought to have occurred on what continent, despite horses becoming extinct on that continent approximately 10,000 years ago?
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In a simple harmonic oscillator system, which of the following is equal to the spring constant? W) First derivative of potential energy with respect to displacement X) First derivative of potential energy with respect to time Y) Second derivative of potential energy with respect to displacement Z) Second derivative of potential energy with respect to time
W: W) First derivative of potential energy with respect to displacement
X: X) First derivative of potential energy with respect to time
Y: Y) Second derivative of potential energy with respect to displacement
Z: Z) Second derivative of potential energy with respect to time
Answer: Y) Y) Second derivative of potential energy with respect to displacement
An alien civilization uses a system of units constructed identically as the SI system, except that the alien unit of time is equal to two SI seconds. Based on this difference alone, identify all of the following three SI units whose numerical values are different than their corresponding unit in the alien system: 1) Kilogram 2) Mole 3) Meter
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What type of cubic lattice has atoms at each vertex of the cube as well as an atom in the center?
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Rank the following three elements in order of increasing atomic radius: 1) Gallium 2) Barium 3) Oxygen
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A zone of disrupted and fractured terrain on Mercury is located at the antipode of what large impact basin?
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Which of the following best explains why composite volcanos are not common on Venus? W) Venus does not have subduction zones X) Magmas on Venus are primarily felsic Y) Venus cooled quickly and has not been volcanically active for billions of years Z) Hotspot volcanism is common on Venus
W: W) Venus does not have subduction zones
X: X) Magmas on Venus are primarily felsic
Y: Y) Venus cooled quickly and has not been volcanically active for billions of years
Z: Z) Hotspot volcanism is common on Venus
Answer: W) W) Venus does not have subduction zones