HS Sample Set 1, Round 6 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following most commonly functions to limit current to one direction: W) capacitor X) transformer Y) resistor Z) diode

W: W) capacitor

X: X) transformer

Y: Y) resistor

Z: Z) diode

Answer: Z) Z) diode

BONUS phys phrase

Debbie pushes a 10-kilogram box of books with a horizontal force of 500 newtons. What is the acceleration of the box, giving your answer in standard SI units, if friction is neglected?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 50 meters per second squared
  • 50 meters per second per second

TOSS-UP chem phrase

If pure water is at its boiling point at standard pressure, how many additional calories of heat are needed to convert 1 gram of water from the liquid to the vapor state?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 540

BONUS chem phrase

What is the name for the straight-chain alkane containing 5 carbons?

Acceptable Answers:

  • pentane

TOSS-UP bio phrase

In what part of photosynthesis, named after its discoverers, is NADPH used to produce 3-carbon sugar phosphate molecules?

Acceptable Answers:

  • Calvin cycle
  • Calvin-Benson cycle, Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle

BONUS bio phrase

For every carbon dioxide molecule fixed in the Calvin-Benson cycle, how many NADPH molecules are utilized?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the specific name for a common tangent that intersects the segment joining the centers of two circles?

Acceptable Answers:

  • internal common tangent
  • internal, internal tangent

BONUS math phrase

A flagpole casts a 100-foot long shadow. If a 6-foot tall person standing at the base of the pole casts an 8-foot shadow, how many feet tall is the flagpole?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 75

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following happens to the shells of snails and limpets as seawater becomes increasingly acidic: W) they begin to dissolve X) they become thicker Y) they develop much later in the organism’s life Z) they become darker

W: W) they begin to dissolve

X: X) they become thicker

Y: Y) they develop much later in the organism’s life

Z: Z) they become darker

Answer: W) W) they begin to dissolve

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Continental margins facing the edges of diverging tectonic plates are called: W) passive margins X) Pacific-type margins Y) transform fault margins Z) active margins

W: W) passive margins

X: X) Pacific-type margins

Y: Y) transform fault margins

Z: Z) active margins

Answer: W) W) passive margins

TOSS-UP general phrase

Giving your answer to the first decimal place, an increase of 1 °C is equivalent to an increase of how many degrees Fahrenheit?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1.8

BONUS general phrase

Convert 140 °F into degrees Celsius.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 60

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following best explains from where most of the dust that covers the surface of the Moon came: W) weathering when the Moon was young and had an atmosphere X) interstellar dust deposited over billions of years Y) from rock pulverized from many impacts Z) from its original makeup of a soft, silicate rock

W: W) weathering when the Moon was young and had an atmosphere

X: X) interstellar dust deposited over billions of years

Y: Y) from rock pulverized from many impacts

Z: Z) from its original makeup of a soft, silicate rock

Answer: Y) Y) from rock pulverized from many impacts

BONUS ess phrase

What physical property of stars is most directly responsible for how long they will continue fusion?

Acceptable Answers:

  • mass

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following is the device in a galvanic cell that completes the electric circuit by connecting the two sides of the cell with an inert electrolyte: W) electrolytic reservoir X) cathode Y) conducting wire Z) salt bridge

W: W) electrolytic reservoir

X: X) cathode

Y: Y) conducting wire

Z: Z) salt bridge

Answer: Z) Z) salt bridge

BONUS phys phrase

How many joules are in a single watt-hour?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 3,600

TOSS-UP chem phrase

If the electronegativity difference in the bonding atoms is intermediate in strength, what general type of bond is typically formed?

Acceptable Answers:

  • polar covalent

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • covalent

BONUS chem multiple_choice

Which of the following is a molecule having a nonpolar covalent bond: W) bromine gas X) hydrogen fluoride Y) water Z) hydrogen bromide

W: W) bromine gas

X: X) hydrogen fluoride

Y: Y) water

Z: Z) hydrogen bromide

Answer: W) W) bromine gas

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

In which of the following organ systems of the human body do chief cells primarily function: W) excretory X) digestive Y) nervous Z) reproductive

W: W) excretory

X: X) digestive

Y: Y) nervous

Z: Z) reproductive

Answer: X) X) digestive

BONUS bio phrase

What section of the small intestine is the first to receive gastric contents?

Acceptable Answers:

  • duodenum

TOSS-UP math phrase

Solve the following equation for x over the integers: $$x^2 = 3x$$

Acceptable Answers:

  • 0, 3

BONUS math phrase

Giving your answer as a fraction reduced to lowest terms, solve the following equation for x: (Original text unclear)

Acceptable Answers:

  • –4/3

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is best used to date the age of the Earth to about 4.5 billion years old: W) uranium-235 X) uranium-238 Y) potassium-40 Z) carbon-14

W: W) uranium-235

X: X) uranium-238

Y: Y) potassium-40

Z: Z) carbon-14

Answer: X) X) uranium-238

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is a ubiquitous trace mineral found in many igneous, metamorphic and clastic sedimentary rocks, and has been used to date Earth’s oldest rocks at 4-plus billion years: W) titanite X) tremolite Y) zircon Z) beryl

W: W) titanite

X: X) tremolite

Y: Y) zircon

Z: Z) beryl

Answer: Y) Y) zircon

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true: W) only a few harmful algal bloom species actually produce toxins that are poisonous to people X) algal blooms occur in marine and freshwater environments Y) algal blooms can occur in the open ocean far from any coastal inlets Z) pollution is always to blame for harmful algal blooms along coastal waters

W: W) only a few harmful algal bloom species actually produce toxins that are poisonous to people

X: X) algal blooms occur in marine and freshwater environments

Y: Y) algal blooms can occur in the open ocean far from any coastal inlets

Z: Z) pollution is always to blame for harmful algal blooms along coastal waters

Answer: Z) Z) pollution is always to blame for harmful algal blooms along coastal waters

BONUS general multiple_choice

500 metric gigatons is approximately equal to how many pounds: W) 1.1 trillion X) 11 trillion Y) 110 trillion Z) 1,100 trillion

W: W) 1.1 trillion

X: X) 11 trillion

Y: Y) 110 trillion

Z: Z) 1,100 trillion

Answer: Z) Z) 1,100 trillion

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

If a star is seen just above the eastern horizon at sunset, where would it most likely be found just before the following sunrise: W) just above the eastern horizon X) half-way up in the eastern sky Y) low in the western sky Z) directly overhead

W: W) just above the eastern horizon

X: X) half-way up in the eastern sky

Y: Y) low in the western sky

Z: Z) directly overhead

Answer: Y) Y) low in the western sky

BONUS ess phrase

What is the MOST common organic molecule in the atmosphere of the planet Uranus?

Acceptable Answers:

  • methane
  • CH₄

TOSS-UP phys phrase

Radon is primarily produced naturally on Earth most directly from the decay of what element?

Acceptable Answers:

  • radium

BONUS phys multiselect

By words or numbers, name all of the following four choices that are TRUE for an object moving at a constant speed: 1) it must have a constant velocity 2) it must be constantly moving in the same direction 3) it can be accelerating 4) it must have a constant weight

Choices:

  • it must have a constant velocity
  • it must be constantly moving in the same direction
  • it can be accelerating
  • it must have a constant weight

Correct Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP chem multiple_choice

Which of the following are elements in the Periodic Table whose outer shell electrons are on two principal energy levels: W) alkali metals X) noble gases Y) alkaline Earth metals Z) transition elements

W: W) alkali metals

X: X) noble gases

Y: Y) alkaline Earth metals

Z: Z) transition elements

Answer: Z) Z) transition elements

BONUS chem phrase

According to standard chemical nomenclature and indicating the proper charge, what is the formula for potassium perchlorate?

Acceptable Answers:

  • KClO₄

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What specific type of microscopy passes a beam of electrons through an ultra-thin specimen that is usually stained with an electron-opaque substance, producing an image which can be captured by a charged coupled device?

Acceptable Answers:

  • transmission electron microscopy
  • TEM

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • scanning electron microscopy, SEM

BONUS bio order

Order the following four objects found in the human body from the SMALLEST to the LARGEST: mitochondrion; ribosome; erythrocyte; average monocyte

Choices:

  • mitochondrion
  • ribosome
  • erythrocyte
  • average monocyte

Correct Order:

  • 2
  • 1
  • 3
  • 4

TOSS-UP general multiple_choice

Pyrex glass contains many of the same components as soda lime glass but in addition contains at least 5%: W) boric acid X) pure silica Y) clay Z) dyes

W: W) boric acid

X: X) pure silica

Y: Y) clay

Z: Z) dyes

Answer: W) W) boric acid

BONUS general multiple_choice

Which of the following BEST describes the function of boric acid in the manufacture of Pyrex or borosilicate glass: W) makes the glass more scratch-resistant X) makes the glass more brittle Y) reduces the linear coefficient of expansion of the glass Z) reduces the effect of detrimental ultraviolet light exposure

W: W) makes the glass more scratch-resistant

X: X) makes the glass more brittle

Y: Y) reduces the linear coefficient of expansion of the glass

Z: Z) reduces the effect of detrimental ultraviolet light exposure

Answer: Y) Y) reduces the linear coefficient of expansion of the glass

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following are intrusive masses of igneous rock that extend downward to unknown depths and do not show signs of a definite floor: W) laccolith X) batholith Y) sill Z) volcanic neck

W: W) laccolith

X: X) batholith

Y: Y) sill

Z: Z) volcanic neck

Answer: X) X) batholith

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT a common mineral in igneous rock but rather an accessory that typically occurs in small amounts: W) quartz X) muscovite Y) plagioclase Z) orthoclase

W: W) quartz

X: X) muscovite

Y: Y) plagioclase

Z: Z) orthoclase

Answer: X) X) muscovite

TOSS-UP math phrase

Simplify the following rational expression: $$\frac{y^9 x^5}{y^5 x^3}$$

Acceptable Answers:

  • Cannot be further simplified

BONUS math phrase

Factor the following expression completely: $$12x^2 + 24x - 36$$

Acceptable Answers:

  • 12(x + 3)(x – 1)
  • 12(x – 1)(x + 3)

TOSS-UP ess phrase

To the first decimal place, how many astronomical units is the average radius of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1.0

BONUS ess phrase

How many degrees above the celestial equator is the north celestial pole?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 90

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the electric charge and mass of the carrier particle for the electromagnetic force?

Acceptable Answers:

  • both are zero

BONUS phys phrase

If the intensity of a sound is 10,000 times as loud as another sound, by how many decibels do the two sounds differ?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 40

TOSS-UP chem multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true: W) hydrogen gas found in nature exists as a monatomic molecule X) when two oxygen atoms combine to form O₂, energy is released Y) when chlorine gains one electron, it becomes larger Z) noble gases tend not to bond because of their stable valence configurations

W: W) hydrogen gas found in nature exists as a monatomic molecule

X: X) when two oxygen atoms combine to form O₂, energy is released

Y: Y) when chlorine gains one electron, it becomes larger

Z: Z) noble gases tend not to bond because of their stable valence configurations

Answer: W) W) hydrogen gas found in nature exists as a monatomic molecule

BONUS chem phrase

Knowing that the chemical name for gypsum is calcium sulfate dihydrate, gypsum is what percent water by weight? Assume atomic masses Ca = 40, S = 32, O = 16.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 21

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following is the term for the transfer of genes by viruses from one prokaryote to another: W) transduction X) conjugation Y) transformation Z) relaxation

W: W) transduction

X: X) conjugation

Y: Y) transformation

Z: Z) relaxation

Answer: W) W) transduction

BONUS bio multiselect

Name all of the following three transport systems that directly require energy to operate: active transport; facilitated diffusion; sodium-potassium pump

Choices:

  • active transport
  • facilitated diffusion
  • sodium-potassium pump

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 3

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What is the general name for a hypothetical gas that obeys Boyle’s law at all temperatures and pressures?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ideal gas
  • ideal

BONUS chem multiple_choice

Which of the following is NOT true of ideal gases: W) two or more gases form homogeneous mixtures in all proportions X) collisions between gas particles are both elastic and inelastic Y) they diffuse rapidly Z) they assume the shapes of their containers

W: W) two or more gases form homogeneous mixtures in all proportions

X: X) collisions between gas particles are both elastic and inelastic

Y: Y) they diffuse rapidly

Z: Z) they assume the shapes of their containers

Answer: X) X) collisions between gas particles are both elastic and inelastic