HS Sample Set 16, Round 7 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which layer of the Sun is thickest? W) Photosphere X) Convection zone Y) Core Z) Radiation zone

W: W) Photosphere

X: X) Convection zone

Y: Y) Core

Z: Z) Radiation zone

Answer: Z) Z) Radiation zone

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three planets that can be at quadrature relative to Earth: 1) Mars; 2) Jupiter; 3) Saturn.

Choices:

  • Mars
  • Jupiter
  • Saturn

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Lab are developing methods to deuterate benzene. One of their reactions adds four deuterium atoms to benzene, resulting in what molecule? W) Hexane X) Cyclohexane Y) Cyclohexene Z) Cyclohexa-1,3-diene

W: W) Hexane

X: X) Cyclohexane

Y: Y) Cyclohexene

Z: Z) Cyclohexa-1,3-diene

Answer: Y) Y) Cyclohexene

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Scientists supported by the Department of Energy are studying penicillin-binding proteins. These proteins are what class of enzyme? W) Glycosidase X) Transpeptidase Y) Reductase Z) Peroxidase

W: W) Glycosidase

X: X) Transpeptidase

Y: Y) Reductase

Z: Z) Peroxidase

Answer: X) X) Transpeptidase

TOSS-UP math phrase

The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into segments of length 7 and 8. What is the length of the altitude?

Acceptable Answers:

  • $2\sqrt{14}$

BONUS math phrase

How many zeroes occur at the right of the number of permutations of 90 objects taken 40 at a time?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 9

TOSS-UP phys phrase

A particle has a position function given by $x(t)=\tfrac1{t^2}$. What is the particle’s instantaneous speed at $t=2$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ONE-FOURTH
  • 0.25

BONUS phys multiple_choice

A dam is holding back a lake that has a water level of 80 meters. A large crack forms at the base of the dam. In meters per second, which of the following is closest to the water speed through the crack? W) 60 X) 40 Y) 30 Z) 10

W: W) 60

X: X) 40

Y: Y) 30

Z: Z) 10

Answer: X) X) 40

TOSS-UP bio phrase

The dikaryon is a result of the fusion of two cells without the fusion of their nuclei. This feature is unique to what kingdom of life?

Acceptable Answers:

  • FUNGI
  • FUNGUS

BONUS bio multiple_choice

The antiviral drug remdesivir is metabolized within cells into a nucleotide analog that inhibits RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. Which of the following viruses would be LEAST likely to be susceptible to remdesivir? W) Poliovirus X) Ebola virus Y) Influenza virus Z) Human immunodeficiency virus

W: W) Poliovirus

X: X) Ebola virus

Y: Y) Influenza virus

Z: Z) Human immunodeficiency virus

Answer: Z) Z) Human immunodeficiency virus

TOSS-UP chem phrase

The half-reaction for substance A is a five-electron reduction with a standard cell potential of +1.5 V, while the half-reaction for substance B is a two-electron reduction with a standard cell potential of +1.6 V. In volts, what would be the electrode potential of a galvanic cell containing these two substances?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 0.1
  • 1/10

BONUS chem order

Rank the following three molecules in terms of increasing volatility: 1) Butanoic acid; 2) Butanal; 3) Butane.

Choices:

  • Butanoic acid
  • Butanal
  • Butane

Correct Order:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP ess order

For a seismometer placed 100 miles from the focus of an earthquake, place the following three wave types in chronological order of their detection: 1) Surface waves; 2) P waves; 3) S waves.

Choices:

  • Surface waves
  • P waves
  • S waves

Correct Order:

  • 2
  • 3
  • 1

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three changes that occur as a result of El Niño: 1) Trade winds slacken; 2) Western Pacific upwelling declines; 3) The tropical Pacific Ocean cools.

Choices:

  • Trade winds slacken
  • Western Pacific upwelling declines
  • The tropical Pacific Ocean cools

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2

TOSS-UP energy phrase

What toxic, group 12 metal, bonded to sulfur or selenium, is commonly used in most commercially-made quantum dots today?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CADMIUM
  • Cd

BONUS energy phrase

Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Lab are studying point defects in crystal structures that resemble adamantane. What material is this crystal structure named after?

Acceptable Answers:

  • DIAMOND CUBIC
  • DIAMOND

TOSS-UP math phrase

Counting itself, what is the 4th-largest integer factor of 1600?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 320

BONUS math phrase

What is the $y$-coordinate of the $y$-intercept of the line tangent to the circle $x^2 + y^2 = 25$ at the point $(4,3)$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • $\tfrac{25}{3}$
  • $8\
  • \tfrac{1}{3}$

TOSS-UP phys phrase

A planet is orbiting its star in a circular orbit with an orbital speed of 10 km/s. To the nearest km/s, what is the escape velocity from the star at the radius of the planet’s orbit?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 14

BONUS phys phrase

Linda has a container of gas at 400 K, which has 20 kJ of thermal energy. If she has access to a reservoir that is maintained at 100 K, then in kJ, what is the maximum amount of work she can extract from the gas?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 15

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Melissa synthesizes a DNA plasmid in which expression of green fluorescent protein is under the lac promoter and lacI is upstream of the promoter. Which of the following small molecules can she add to bacteria expressing this plasmid to induce expression of green fluorescent protein? W) Cyclic AMP X) CAP Y) Allolactose Z) X-gal

W: W) Cyclic AMP

X: X) CAP

Y: Y) Allolactose

Z: Z) X-gal

Answer: Y) Y) Allolactose

BONUS bio phrase

Nitrification by soil bacteria results in the oxidation of ammonia. What ion is the final product of this process?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NITRATE
  • NO₃⁻

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What IUPAC stem indicates that a molecule has four carbons?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BUT
  • BUT-

BONUS chem phrase

When cobalt (III) ions react with ammonia, they form an octahedral coordination compound. What is the chemical formula and charge of this compound?

Acceptable Answers:

  • [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Triton’s retrograde orbit provides the strongest evidence for which of the following hypotheses? W) It has a deep subsurface ocean X) It generates an intrinsic magnetic field Y) It was a captured moon Z) It formed from a collision with another planet

W: W) It has a deep subsurface ocean

X: X) It generates an intrinsic magnetic field

Y: Y) It was a captured moon

Z: Z) It formed from a collision with another planet

Answer: Y) Y) It was a captured moon

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following extends farthest from the Sun? W) Oort cloud X) Kuiper belt Y) Heliopause Z) Termination shock

W: W) Oort cloud

X: X) Kuiper belt

Y: Y) Heliopause

Z: Z) Termination shock

Answer: W) W) Oort cloud

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Much of the radar reflectivity that originates from raindrops in squall line systems is due to what type of scattering, where the scattering particles are much smaller than the wavelength of light?

Acceptable Answers:

  • RAYLEIGH

BONUS energy phrase

Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab are developing materials to detect the presence of anthrax toxin, which is secreted by virulent strains of what bacterial genus?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BACILLUS

TOSS-UP math phrase

According to the rational root theorem, what are the smallest and the largest possible positive rational roots of the equation $$6x^3 – 9x^2 – 10 = 0?$$

Acceptable Answers:

  • $1/6$; $10$

BONUS math phrase

Given 4 distinct buckets and 7 indistinguishable marbles, in how many different distinguishable ways can the marbles be arranged in the buckets?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 120

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

An electron undergoing a transition between energy levels in an atom releases a photon with an energy of 2 electron volts. To what range of the electromagnetic spectrum does this photon belong? W) Microwave X) Visible Y) Ultraviolet Z) X-ray

W: W) Microwave

X: X) Visible

Y: Y) Ultraviolet

Z: Z) X-ray

Answer: X) X) Visible

BONUS phys phrase

In watts per meter squared, what is the absolute difference in intensity between a 140-decibel sound and a 120-decibel sound?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 99

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following forms of selection is most conducive for sympatric speciation? W) Stabilizing X) Directional Y) Disruptive Z) Purifying

W: W) Stabilizing

X: X) Directional

Y: Y) Disruptive

Z: Z) Purifying

Answer: Y) Y) Disruptive

BONUS bio order

Place the following three events that occur during muscle contraction in chronological order: 1) Calcium binds troponin; 2) Acetylcholine is released; 3) Action potentials propagate down T-tubules.

Choices:

  • Calcium binds troponin
  • Acetylcholine is released
  • Action potentials propagate down T-tubules

Correct Order:

  • 2
  • 3
  • 1

TOSS-UP chem multiple_choice

Nick has an unknown compound that he has determined to be soluble in water and produces a solution that is not electrically conductive. Which of the following might the compound be? W) Sucrose X) Sodium chloride Y) Silicon dioxide Z) Hexane

W: W) Sucrose

X: X) Sodium chloride

Y: Y) Silicon dioxide

Z: Z) Hexane

Answer: W) W) Sucrose

BONUS chem phrase

What is the chemical formula of ethanamine?

Acceptable Answers:

  • C₂H₇N
  • CH₃CH₂NH₂
  • C₂H₅NH₂