HS Sample Set 14, Round 11 from NSB
For a closed curve on a pressure–volume diagram, what specific thermodynamic quantity is best represented by the enclosed area inside the curve?
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Identify all of the following three changes that would increase the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor in a circuit: 1) Increasing the potential difference in the circuit 2) Increasing the plate area 3) Increasing the distance between plates
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Scientists at Oak Ridge National Lab have developed a method to use nanoscale spikes of carbon atoms to reduce gaseous nitrogen to ammonia. In nitrogen-fixing bacteria, what molybdenum- and iron-containing enzyme catalyzes this same reaction?
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In the decay pathway that produced the first-observed top quark at Fermilab, the decay was mediated by what fundamental force?
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Two groups of the same species of monkey develop different mating rituals and eventually become reproductively incompatible while they occupy the same geographic region. What adjective describes this type of speciation?
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What zipper-like protein structure holds homologs together during synapsis?
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Which of the following elements has the largest first ionization energy? W) Sodium X) Aluminum Y) Argon Z) Chlorine
W: W) Sodium
X: X) Aluminum
Y: Y) Argon
Z: Z) Chlorine
Answer: Y) Y) Argon
Identify all of the following three numbers of π electrons that, according to Hückel’s rule, can occupy an aromatic system: 1) 4 2) 8 3) 10
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What is $(-8)^{\frac{5}{3}}$?
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A jar contains 9 coins: 8 fair coins and 1 double-headed coin. If a random coin is selected and flipped, and it comes up heads, what is the probability that the double-headed coin was the one selected?
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Where on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram can one find red dwarf stars? W) Top right X) Bottom right Y) Bottom left Z) Top left
W: W) Top right
X: X) Bottom right
Y: Y) Bottom left
Z: Z) Top left
Answer: X) X) Bottom right
Identify all of the following three positions on the celestial sphere that have a declination of zero: 1) Summer solstice 2) Autumnal equinox 3) Winter solstice
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Which of the following best describes the shape of the graph of potential energy as a function of position for a constant force? W) Linear X) Quadratic Y) Logarithmic Z) Exponential
W: W) Linear
X: X) Quadratic
Y: Y) Logarithmic
Z: Z) Exponential
Answer: W) W) Linear
Identify all of the following three statements that are always true regarding motion in a closed path: 1) If no displacement occurs, zero work was done 2) Going around a closed path requires negative work 3) Mechanical energy is conserved
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Cyclohexene undergoes hydrogenation with hydrogen gas. What is the molecular formula of the product?
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Rank the following three electronic transitions in monatomic hydrogen in terms of increasing change in energy: 1) Electron jumps from 1s to 2p 2) Electron is ionized from the 3s orbital 3) Electron jumps from 2s to 4p
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Oak Ridge National Lab scientists are studying bacteria that have penicillin resistance. Penicillin and similar drugs inhibit what process in the bacteria? W) DNA replication X) Translation Y) Cell wall biosynthesis Z) Ribosome assembly
W: W) DNA replication
X: X) Translation
Y: Y) Cell wall biosynthesis
Z: Z) Ribosome assembly
Answer: Y) Y) Cell wall biosynthesis
These lipid metabolites are produced by the oxidation of simpler lipids by cytochrome P450 enzymes in what double-membrane-bound organelle?
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What mammalian characteristic do echidnas lack? W) Hair X) Milk production Y) Nipples Z) Temporal fenestra
W: W) Hair
X: X) Milk production
Y: Y) Nipples
Z: Z) Temporal fenestra
Answer: Y) Y) Nipples
Spiracles on the surface of insects function as part of which organ system? W) Circulatory X) Digestive Y) Reproductive Z) Respiratory
W: W) Circulatory
X: X) Digestive
Y: Y) Reproductive
Z: Z) Respiratory
Answer: Z) Z) Respiratory
Increasing the silica content in rock melts results in an increase in the melt viscosity. Which of the following SI derived units would be used to describe melt viscosity? W) Newtons per meter X) Pascal seconds Y) Newton meters Z) Pascals per second
W: W) Newtons per meter
X: X) Pascal seconds
Y: Y) Newton meters
Z: Z) Pascals per second
Answer: X) X) Pascal seconds
Identify all of the following three metamorphic rocks that are considered foliated: 1) Phyllite 2) Quartzite 3) Schist
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Which of the following types of figures must have line symmetry but not necessarily turn symmetry? W) Isosceles triangle X) Parallelogram Y) Rectangle Z) Rhombus
W: W) Isosceles triangle
X: X) Parallelogram
Y: Y) Rectangle
Z: Z) Rhombus
Answer: W) W) Isosceles triangle
Jack is asked by his teacher to subtract 4 from a number and multiply the result by 3. Instead, he subtracts 3 and then multiplies the result by 4, giving him 176. What is the correct answer to the teacher’s question?
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If a given artery requires a pressure $P$ to sustain a flow rate, then, in terms of $P$, how much pressure is required to maintain the flow rate if the artery shrinks to half of its original radius?
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Identify all of the following three changes that would increase the distance between intensity maxima in a single-slit diffraction setup: 1) Increasing the wavelength of light 2) Increasing the width of the single slit 3) Increasing the distance to the screen
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If $f(x) = \sqrt[5]{x + 10}$, what is $f^{-1}(2)$?
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For integers $a$ and $b$, define the binary operation “star” by $a \star b$ equals 2 less than the product of $a$ and $b$. What is $3 \star (4 \star 5)$?
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Which of the following best describes the ground-state electron configuration of chromium? W) A fully-filled 4s orbital and five half-filled 3d orbitals X) A half-filled 4s orbital and five fully-filled 3d orbitals Y) A half-filled 4s orbital and five half-filled 3d orbitals Z) An empty 4s orbital and five fully-filled 3d orbitals
W: W) A fully-filled 4s orbital and five half-filled 3d orbitals
X: X) A half-filled 4s orbital and five fully-filled 3d orbitals
Y: Y) A half-filled 4s orbital and five half-filled 3d orbitals
Z: Z) An empty 4s orbital and five fully-filled 3d orbitals
Answer: Y) Y) A half-filled 4s orbital and five half-filled 3d orbitals
To the nearest gram per mole, what is the molar mass of bauxite?
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A large number of Kuiper Belt objects possess a 3-to-2 orbital resonance with what planet?
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Rank the following three planets in order of increasing length of day: 1) Jupiter 2) Saturn 3) Uranus
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A population of actively dividing cells contains, on average, 30 fg of DNA per cell. After some time, the cells have 60 fg of DNA per cell. Which of the following is the most reasonable conclusion? W) They are going to perform meiosis X) They are going to perform mitosis Y) S phase has occurred Z) They are in G₁ phase
W: W) They are going to perform meiosis
X: X) They are going to perform mitosis
Y: Y) S phase has occurred
Z: Z) They are in G₁ phase
Answer: Y) Y) S phase has occurred
You cross a female, red-eyed, short-winged fly with a male, white-eyed, long-winged fly. Out of 100 offspring, 45 have red eyes and short wings, 45 have white eyes and long wings, and 10 have a non-parental phenotype. Which statement correctly describes the eye color and wing length loci? W) Both loci are X-linked X) The loci epistatically interact with one another Y) Both loci are autosomal but are located on different chromosomes Z) Both loci are autosomal and are located on the same chromosome
W: W) Both loci are X-linked
X: X) The loci epistatically interact with one another
Y: Y) Both loci are autosomal but are located on different chromosomes
Z: Z) Both loci are autosomal and are located on the same chromosome
Answer: Z) Z) Both loci are autosomal and are located on the same chromosome
The NSLS-II is a circular light source where the light is generated by accelerating what subatomic particles?
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Pacific Northwest National Lab scientists are studying the virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome. This virus is most closely related to the virus that causes what other disease? W) Influenza X) Common cold Y) Sleeping sickness Z) SARS
W: W) Influenza
X: X) Common cold
Y: Y) Sleeping sickness
Z: Z) SARS
Answer: Z) Z) SARS
What are the coordinates of the image of the point $(2,\,2\sqrt{3})$ when it is rotated $60^\circ$ counter-clockwise about the origin?
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A particle’s position is given by $$x(t)=2t^3-33t^2+144t-48\,. $$ At what time or times $t$ is the particle at rest?
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If one takes the line integral of an electric field over a particular path, the answer can be expressed in which of the following units? W) Coulombs X) Volts Y) Amperes Z) Newtons
W: W) Coulombs
X: X) Volts
Y: Y) Amperes
Z: Z) Newtons
Answer: X) X) Volts
A damped harmonic oscillator’s position function is $$x(t)=Ae^{-t}\,. $$ At what time $t$ does the oscillator reach one-half of its original amplitude?
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The Canary Current flows primarily in which cardinal direction?
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Identify all of the following three acids that are commonly found in acid rain: 1) Hydrochloric acid 2) Nitric acid 3) Sulfuric acid
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Rank the following four single bonds in increasing order of polarity: 1) Carbon–carbon 2) Carbon–hydrogen 3) Nitrogen–hydrogen 4) Fluorine–hydrogen
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Identify all of the following three molecules that would be expected to have a delocalized π bond system: 1) Benzene 2) 1,4-Pentadiene 3) 1,3-Butadiene
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The bacterial cell wall is primarily composed of what polymer that consists of sugars cross-linked by short amino acid chains?
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For a protein secreted by a eukaryotic cell, put the following three locations in chronological order from synthesis to secretion: 1) Rough ER 2) Cytoplasm 3) Extracellular space
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