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1) Toss Up - Earth Science - Multiple Choice

When sampling for organic matter in seawater, any organic matter retained by a 0.2 micrometer pore filter is classified as:
W) dissolved organic carbon
X) particulate organic carbon
Y) detrital organic carbon
Z) live or dead marine algae

ANSWER: X) PARTICULATE ORGANIC CARBON
1) Bonus - Earth Science - Multiple Choice

Which of the following soil additives would be most efficient at increasing the acidity of a slightly alkaline soil:
W) ground chalk
X) aluminum sulfate
Y) calcium sulfate
Z) calcium carbonate

ANSWER: X) ALUMINUM SULFATE
2) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

In the physics of waves, which of the following quantities can exceed the speed of light? g
W) Group velocity
X) Phase velocity
Y) Particle velocity
Z) Standing velocity

ANSWER: W) GROUP VELOCITY
2) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

An electromagnetic wave with energy 30 Joules reflects completely off of a mirror. If the mirror has a mass of 5 kilograms, what is its speed after the reflection?

ANSWER: 2 X 10^-7 METERS PER SECOND
3) Toss Up - Physics - Short Answer

What is the name of the Scottish physicist who developed the mathematical description of the theory of light?

ANSWER: (JAMES CLERK) MAXWELL
3) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

A current of 6 amperes flows through a 2 ohm resistor for 30 seconds. How many coulombs of charge have passed through the resistor?

ANSWER: 180 COULOMBS
4) Toss Up - Biology - Short Answer

Where is intracellular fluid normally found?

ANSWER: INSIDE OF CELLS
4) Bonus - Biology - Multiple Choice

The exchange of gases between blood and the tissue occurs normally in:
W) venules
X) arterioles
Y) veins
Z) capillaries

ANSWER: Z) CAPILLARIES
5) Toss Up - Math - Short Answer

How many subsets are there of a set whose elements are the composite numbers less than 9?

ANSWER: 8
5) Bonus - Math - Multiple Choice

A balloon is being filled with water. Its volume in gallons is given by the function `V(r) = r^3/10` [V of r equals r cubed over 10], where r is the radius of the balloon in inches. What is the average rate of change in gallons per inch of the volume of the balloon as the radius is increased from 1 to 2 inches?
W) 0.3
X) 0.7
Y) 0.8
Z) 1.2

ANSWER: X) 0.7
6) Toss Up - Math - Multiple Choice

In the equation g(x) = the integral of f(x)dx, the integrand is
W) g(x)
X) dx
Y) f(x)
Z) undefined

ANSWER: Y) f(x)
6) Bonus - Math - Multiple Choice

In a rectangular x-y coordinate system, the equation [x^2/16] +[y^2/25] = 1 represents which of the following?
W) parabola
X) hyperbola
Y) ellipse
Z) circle

ANSWER: Y) ellipse
7) Toss Up - General Science - Multiple Choice

The heat island effect can be counteracted by all of the following means except
W) planting trees
X) using darker paints and building materials
Y) mixing light-colored sand with asphalt
Z) establishing higher energy-efficiency standard

ANSWER: X) USING DARKER PAINTS AND BUILDING MATERIALS
7) Bonus - General Science - Short Answer

Warm Chinook and Santa Ana winds that originate from air descending down mountains are referred to as what type of winds?

ANSWER: KATABATIC
8) Toss Up - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

The effective nuclear charge for an atom is less than the actual nuclear charge due to
W) shielding
X) penetration
Y) paramagnetism
Z) electron-pair repulsion

ANSWER: W) SHIELDING
8) Bonus - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

Upon intense heating, a thermoset polymer is likely to
W) deform
X) melt
Y) burn
Z) fracture

ANSWER: Y) BURN
9) Toss Up - Physics - Short Answer

A thermodynamic process that takes place at a constant pressure can be described by what adjective?

ANSWER: ISOBARIC
9) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

Using 9.8 meters per second squared for g and expressing your answer in scientific notation to one significant digit, what is the water pressure, in newtons per square meter, at a depth of 2 meters in a swimming pool?

ANSWER: 2 x 10^4
10) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

Which general theory of science allows scientists to quantitatively understand the behavior of molecules, solids, liquids, and both conductors and semiconductors:
W) General Theory of Relativity
X) Gravitational Theory
Y) Special Theory of Relativity
Z) Quantum Theory

ANSWER: Z) QUANTUM THEORY
10) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

This perceived force, that seems to want to throw a person off a merry-go-round, is often regarded by physicists as a fictitious force:

ANSWER: CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
11) Toss Up - Astronomy - Multiple Choice

The term "blue moon" refers to
W) halos of reflecting light surrounding the moon
X) second occurrence of a full moon during a single month
Y) the light spectra influencing the moon viewing
Z) the fact that the moon is made of blue cheese

ANSWER: X) SECOND OCCURRENCE OF A FULL MOON DURING A SINGLE MONTH
11) Bonus - Astronomy - Multiple Choice

Protostars emit most of their radiation as
W) white light
X) ultraviolet
Y) red light
Z) infrared

ANSWER: Z) INFRARED
12) Toss Up - Earth And Space - Multiple Choice

Which of the following theories describes the random movement of small particles in the atmosphere?
W) Diffusion
X) Reynolds number
Y) Brownian motion
Z) Kinetic

ANSWER: Y) BROWNIAN MOTION
12) Bonus - Earth And Space - Short Answer

Igneous [IG-nee-uhs] rocks and magmas are classified into four main compositional groups: ultramafic, mafic, intermediate, and felsic, based on the content of what chemical compound?

ANSWER: SILICA
13) Toss Up - Biology - Multiple Choice

Allergies result when antigens bind to
W) mast cells.
X) antibody-binding sites.
Y) macrophages.
Z) plasma cells.

ANSWER: W) mast cells.
13) Bonus - Biology - Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a type of neuron?
W) sensory
X) motor
Y) association
Z) stimulatory

ANSWER: Z) stimulatory
14) Toss Up - Biology - Short Answer

Who was the first person to use the term "cell" to describe the boxlike cavities he saw in a slice of cork viewed under the microscope?

ANSWER: ROBERT HOOKE
14) Bonus - Biology - Short Answer

Who proposed the two-kingdom classification system for plants and animals that was used up to the mid 20th century?

ANSWER: LINNAEUS
15) Toss Up - Biology - Multiple Choice

Human skin pigmentation and height may vary greatly and are probably controlled by multiple genes. This is an example most specifically of:
W) pleiotropy
X) polygenic inheritance
Y) epistasis (read as: ep-ee-STAY-sis)
Z) incomplete codominance

ANSWER: X) POLYGENIC INHERITANCE
15) Bonus - Biology - Multiple Choice

There are more possible antibodies to antigens than there are genes that code for these antibodies in the human genome. Which of the following BEST accounts for this:
W) genes mutate constantly in B cells
X) genes for antibodies are spliced together from different chromosomal loci
Y) antibodies have large amounts of cross reactivity with various antigens
Z) antibodies are only specific for certain parts of an antigen

ANSWER: X) GENES FOR ANTIBODIES ARE SPLICED TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT CHROMOSOMAL LOCI
16) Toss Up - Earth And Space - Short Answer

What is parallax used to measure?

ANSWER: the approximate distance of a celestial body from earth (distance)
16) Bonus - Earth And Space - Multiple Choice

In celsius, what is the temperature of the Corona of the Sun?
W) 500
X) 1,000
Y) 100,000
Z) greater than 1,000,000

ANSWER: Z) greater than 1,000,000
17) Toss Up - Earth Science - Multiple Choice

Agents of erosion include
W) wind
X) water
Y) ice
Z) all of the above

ANSWER: Z) ALL OF THE ABOVE
17) Bonus - Earth Science - Short Answer

When working in the field, Earth scientists can use GPS receivers to help pinpoint their location. What does "GPS" stand for?

ANSWER: GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
18) Toss Up - Physics - Short Answer

What constant, not to be confused with the SI unit of capacitance, corresponds to the charge of one mole of electrons and is useful in electrolysis calculations?

ANSWER: FARADAY CONSTANT
18) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

Which of the following is NOT one of Michael Faraday's accomplishments? W) invention of the electric motor X) invention of the parallel-plate capacitor Y) discovery of benzene Z) invention of the electric generator

ANSWER: X) INVENTION OF THE PARALLEL-PLATE CAPACITOR
19) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

How much work is done by a constant force of 6 Newtons pointing north on an object as the object moves 3 meters east?
W) 0 Joules
X) 0.5 Joules
Y) 2 Joules
Z) 4 Joules

ANSWER: 0 JOULES
19) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

A block is sliding on a table with a friction force acting upon it of 3 Newtons. If the block comes to a stop over a distance of 1 meter, how much work does the friction force do?

ANSWER: -3 JOULE
20) Toss Up - Earth Science - 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

ANSWER: X) BATHOLITH
20) Bonus - Earth Science - 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

ANSWER: X) MUSCOVITE
21) Toss Up - General Science - Short Answer

Order the following 3 hexadecimal numbers from SMALLEST to LARGEST: 3E8; BB8; 1F4;

ANSWER: 1F4; 3E8; BB8 (Solution: 1F4 = 500; 3E8 =1000; BB8 = 3000)
21) Bonus - General Science - Multiple Choice

An experiment aboard a recent Space Shuttle mission exposed Salmonella typhimurium (read as: TIE-fee-muhr-EE-um) to a space environment. Which of the following resulted when the bacteria came back to Earth:
W) they were more virulent
X) they were less virulent
Y) they had about the same virulence
Z) they changed into a new but similar species of bacteria

ANSWER: W) THEY WERE MORE VIRULENT (Solution: NASA’s Space Shuttle mission STS-115)
22) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

Total distance traveled divided by total elapsed time is most commonly called:
W) velocity
X) acceleration
Y) average velocity
Z) average speed

ANSWER: Z) AVERAGE SPEED
22) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

If a wave has a frequency of 50 hertz, what is its period, in seconds?

ANSWER: 0.02 SECONDS (Solution: period = 1 / f)
23) Toss Up - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

With respect to the hydrocarbon chain, where is the carbonyl group in an aldehyde located?
W) in the middle of the chain
X) in the interior of the chain
Y) anywhere on the chain
Z) at the end of the chain

ANSWER: Z-- AT THE END OF THE CHAIN
23) Bonus - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

The number prefix is not used when naming an aldehyde because
W) all aldehydes have the same composition.
X) only one aldehyde is known to exist.
Y) the carbonyl group is always at the end of the chain.
Z) the functional group is free to move along the chain.

ANSWER: Y-- THE CARBONYL GROUP IS ALWAYS AT THE END OF THE CHAIN
24) Toss Up - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

Which of the following pairs of numbers best represents the diameter, in nanometers, of most atoms?
W) between 0.1 and 0.5
X) between 1 and 10
Y) between 10 and 100
Z) between 10,000 and 1,000,000

ANSWER: W) between 0.1 and 0.5
24) Bonus - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

What is the name given to the equation PV=nRT?
W) law of partial pressure
X) ideal gas equation
Y) quadratic equation
Z) Raoult's equation

ANSWER: X) ideal gas equation
25) Toss Up - Astronomy - Multiple Choice

On the celestial sphere, the annual path of the Sun is called
W) the eclipse path.
X) ecliptic.
Y) diurnal.
Z) solstice.

ANSWER: X) ecliptic.
25) Bonus - Astronomy - Short Answer

What is the type of reflecting telescope in which the light focused by the primary mirror is intercepted short of focal point and refocused by a secondary mirror througha hole in the center of the primary mirror?

ANSWER: cassegrain or cassegrainian