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1) Toss Up - Physics - Short Answer

What subatomic particle is considered the messenger of the strong force?

ANSWER: GLUON
1) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

When connected to a 5-volt battery, how many 5 microfarad capacitors must be connected in parallel in order to store a charge of 100 microcoulombs?

ANSWER: 4
2) Toss Up - Biology - Short Answer

Avery and Macleod attributed the transforming principle to what substance?

ANSWER: DNA
2) Bonus - Biology - Short Answer

What other vitamin acts like an antagonist and has the most similar structure to vitamin K?

ANSWER: VITAMIN E (Solution: both are isoprenoids)
3) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a real image?
W) Large, upright
X) Smaller, upright
Y) Same, upright
Z) Smaller, upside-down

ANSWER: Z) LARGER, UPSIDE-DOWN
3) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

What is the magnification of an object in a flat mirror?

ANSWER: ONE
4) Toss Up - Math - Short Answer

A jar of 100 marbles contains only 2 colors of marbles, red and blue. If there are 13 red marbles for every 12 blue marbles, how many blue marbles are in the jar?

ANSWER: 48
4) Bonus - Math - Short Answer

What is the 5th term in the geometric progression whose first three terms are: 64, 16, 4

ANSWER: 1/4 (accept: 0.25)
5) Toss Up - Math - Short Answer

In the graph of a curve such as the cosecant curve, the straight vertical line to which the curve moves closer and closer is called what:

ANSWER: ASYMPTOTE
5) Bonus - Math - Short Answer

What is the 10th term in the following arithmetic progression: 2, 7, 12...

ANSWER: 47 (Solution: `a_n = 2 + (10 - 1)5`)
6) Toss Up - Math - Multiple Choice

Using an x-y coordinate axis, a parabola is given by the equation `y = x^2`. Give the x-y coordinates of the focus for the parabola:
W) (0, 1/4)
X) (1, 1/4)
Y) (1, 1)
Z) (2, 1/4)

ANSWER: W) (0, 1/4)
6) Bonus - Math - Short Answer

Express the following radical in simplified form: `sqrt(5/3)`

ANSWER: `1/3 sqrt(15)`
7) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

Which of the following is directly responsible for the increasing of the kinetic energies of particles in a cyclotron?
W) dispersion forces
X) gravitational gradients
Y) magnetic fields
Z) electric fields

ANSWER: Z) ELECTRIC FIELDS
7) Bonus - Physics - Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a difference between cyclotrons and synchrotrons?
W) Cyclotrons are usually ring-shaped, while synchrotrons are usually disc-shaped.
X) Synchrotrons are specifically equipped to handle relativistic velocities better than cyclotrons.
Y) The magnetic field is variable in synchrotrons but constant in cyclotrons.
Z) The electric potential gradient is variable in synchrotrons but constant in cyclotrons.

ANSWER: W) CYCLOTRONS ARE USUALLY RING-SHAPED, WHILE SYNCHROTRONS ARE USUALLY DISC-SHAPED
8) Toss Up - Energy - Multiple Choice

An electric vehicle has two stages. If the first stage, the battery, has an efficiency of 90% and the second stage, the inverter, has an efficiency of 80%, calculate the approximate overall efficiency of the vehicle.
W) 56%
X) 72%
Y) 89%
Z) 113%

ANSWER: X) 72%
8) Bonus - Energy - Short Answer

How much work in joules is done by friction on a sled weighing 100 newtons during a 10 meter displacement? The coefficient of sliding friction is 0.1.

ANSWER: 100
9) Toss Up - Math - Short Answer

What is the perimeter of a right triangle whose leg lengths are 6 and 8 and whose hypotenuse is 10?

ANSWER: 24 (Solution: perimeter = 6+8+10=24)
9) Bonus - Math - Short Answer

The average of -40, 36, 5, 0, 10 and x is 5. What is the value of x?

ANSWER: 19
10) Toss Up - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

You are given a particular polymer to study, and you notice that it can endure an extremely high amount of stress, but only a very small amount of strain. Which of the following types of polymer is it?
W) Brittle plastic
X) Tough fiber
Y) Elastomer
Z) Plastic with yield

ANSWER: X) TOUGH FIBER
10) Bonus - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

The measured bond angle in ammonia is 107.3°, whereas the bond angles in phosphine [FOS-feen] are 93.7°. Which of the following facts correctly identifies the atomic property that makes the two angles different?
W) Ammonia and phosphine have different expected VSEPR geometries
X) Nitrogen is more electronegative than phosphorus
Y) The bonding orbitals of phosphine have more s and less p character than those of ammonia z) The phosphorus atom is much larger than the nitrogen atom

ANSWER: Z) THE PHOSPHORUS ATOM IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE NITROGEN ATOM
11) Toss Up - Biology - Multiple Choice

Of the seven species of sea turtles, six are found in U.S. waters. Which of the following species of sea turtles is NOT found in U.S. waters?
W) Flatback
X) Green
Y) Kemp’s ridley
Z) Leatherback

ANSWER: W) FLATBACK
11) Bonus - Biology - Short Answer

By name or number, identify all of the following four types of fishing gear that are known to inadvertently catch large numbers of sea turtles: 1) gillnets, 2) longlines, 3) pound nets, 4) trawls.

ANSWER: GILLNETS, LONGLINES, POUND NETS, AND TRAWLS (ACCEPT: 1,2, 3, 4 OR ALL)
12) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

Which of the following forms of ionizing radiation expends most of its energy over the shortest distance when passing through human tissue:
W) alpha particles
X) beta particles
Y) x-rays
Z) gamma particles

ANSWER: W) ALPHA PARTICLES
12) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

Consider a sailor off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. How far from a fog horn, in meters, is the sailor if it takes 5 seconds to hear the horn at 10° C?

ANSWER: 1685 (ACCEPT: 1680 TO 1690) (Solution: 0 .6 x 10 = 6 -> 6 + 331 = 337 -> 337 x 5 = 1685 meters)
13) Toss Up - Earth Science - Multiple Choice

Seawater covers approximately what percent of the earth’s surface:
W) 46
X) 71
Y) 82
Z) 92

ANSWER: X) 71
13) Bonus - Earth Science - Short Answer

What is the name for the natural level of water in a soil or rock, below which the soil or rock is saturated:

ANSWER: WATER TABLE
14) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

To experimentally measure the voltage drop of a current load, how is a voltmeter applied?
W) in parallel with the load with a high resistance
X) in parallel with the load with a low resistance
Y) in series with the load with a high resistance
Z) in series with the load with a low resistance

ANSWER: W) IN PARALLEL WITH THE LOAD WITH A HIGH RESISTANCE
14) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

When two tones of nearly identical frequencies are played together, what pulsating sound arises from interference between the two waves?

ANSWER: BEATS
15) Toss Up - General Science - Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the most appropriate statistical operation to evaluate whether three sets of plants, that differ only in their exposure to three different fertilizers, reacted differently:
W) regression analysis
X) range analysis
Y) comparison of standard deviations
Z) analysis of variance

ANSWER: Z) ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE
15) Bonus - General Science - Short Answer

This fungus is the causative agent for what was known in medieval times as St. Anthony’s fire, and is now used as a source for certain drugs:

ANSWER: ERGOT
16) Toss Up - Biology - Short Answer

What is the scientific name of the model organism used by Thomas Hunt Morgan in his landmark experiments which were critical to the development of the chromosome theory of inheritance which is commonly known as the fruit fly?

ANSWER: Drosophila melanogaster
16) Bonus - Biology - Short Answer

What are the last names of the two scientists that wrote the article titled "Independent functions of viral proteins and nucleic acid in growth of bacteriophage" that was published in the Journal of General Physiology in the year 1952?

ANSWER: Hershey and Chase
17) Toss Up - Math - Short Answer

What is the slope-intercept form of the equation of the line that is tangent to the circle with equation `x^2 + y^2 = 25` at the point (-3, 4)?

ANSWER: y = (3/4)x + 25/4
17) Bonus - Math - Multiple Choice

Given the two sequences `s_1` with nth term `2/(n+6)` and `s_2` with nth term `n/(5+n)`, which of the following statements is correct?
W) `s_1` and `s_2` are both increasing
X) `s_1` is increasing and `s_2` is decreasing
Y) `s_1` is decreasing and `s_2` is increasing
Z) `s_1 and `s_2` are both decreasing

ANSWER: Y) `s_1` IS DECREASING AND `s_2` IS INCREASING
18) Toss Up - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

Which concept allows you to relate the coefficients of a balanced chemical equation to actual amounts of reactants or products?
W) Equivalence
X) Limiting factor
Y) The mole
Z) Conservation of mass

ANSWER: Y) The mole
18) Bonus - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

Which noble gas has the highest melting point ?
W) argon
X) krypton
Y) xenon
Z) radon

ANSWER: Z) radon
19) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

Which is the weakest fundamental force?
W) The color force
X) The weak force
Y) Electromagnetism
Z) Gravity

ANSWER: Z) Gravity
19) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

Identify all of the following that are false: 1. Neutrinos travel at speed C 2. The strength of the color force can increase with distance 3. Electrons have color charge 4. All baryons are unstable

ANSWER: 1,3,4
20) Toss Up - Earth Science - Multiple Choice

Which of the following minerals is used as the primary ore of lead:
W) graphite
X) galena
Y) bauxite
Z) hematite

ANSWER: X) GALENA
20) Bonus - Earth Science - Multiple Choice

Pedogeography is a branch of science that involves the study of the geographic distribution of:
W) fossils
X) soils
Y) rivers
Z) trees

ANSWER: X) SOILS
21) Toss Up - Astronomy - Short Answer

What 3 elements are most prominent in the carbon fusion cycle?

ANSWER: Carbon; Nitrogen; Oxygen
21) Bonus - Astronomy - Short Answer

Of the following 5 planets, name all that can be in opposition to the Sun: Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter

ANSWER: Saturn, Mars, And Jupiter (Accept In Any Order)
22) Toss Up - Chemistry - MULTIPLE CHOICE

Humphrey Davy discovered that hydrogen was a part of all
W) compounds
X) bases
Y) acids
Z) liquids

ANSWER: Y) acids
22) Bonus - Chemistry - MULTIPLE CHOICE

The gas law stating that two gases with equal volumes, pressures, and temperatures have the same number of molecules is known as
W) Boyle’s law
X) Charles’ law
Y) Dalton’s law
Z) Avogadro’s law

ANSWER: Z)
23) Toss Up - Chemistry - Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the most accurate name for a molecule of glycerol with all three hydroxyl groups esterified to fatty acids :
W) triacylglycerol
X) fatty glycerol
Y) esterified lipid
Z) triesterglyceride

ANSWER: W) TRIACYLGLYCEROL
23) Bonus - Chemistry - Short Answer

What is the general term for a cold-welding process for zinc coating of steel parts, which results in a thin, uniform zinc coating of controlled thickness?

ANSWER: GALVANIZATION (ACCEPT: MECHANICAL GALVANIZATION)
24) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice

Ole Roemer was the first to successfully estimate the speed of light using which of Jupiter's moons?
W) Europa
X) Callisto
Y) Io
Z) Ganymede

ANSWER: Y) IO
24) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer

When Roemer first determined the speed of light, how many of Jupiter's moons had been discovered?

ANSWER: FOUR
25) Toss Up - Earth Science - Multiple Choice

The Earth’s greenhouse effect is primarily caused by which of the following:
W) incoming solar ultraviolet light is absorbed by the ozone layer
X) outgoing infrared solar radiation is trapped by the lower atmosphere
Y) incoming infrared solar radiation is trapped by the magnetic field
Z) outgoing X-rays are absorbed by the troposphere and reflected to the Earth’s surface

ANSWER: X) outgoing infrared solar radiation is trapped by the lower atmosphere
25) Bonus - Earth Science - Multiple Choice

Diamond and graphite are polymorphs of which of the following elements?
W) magnesium
X) carbon
Y) sulfur
Z) nitrogen

ANSWER: X) carbon