Radiocarbon dating is limited to the remains of plants and animals that died no longer
than about
A) 100 years ago.
B) 5700 years ago.
C) 40,000 years ago.
D) 1,000,000 years ago.
Answer:
It is theorized that a pulsar only emits X-rays and visible light during its early history.
What do you suppose is the basis of this theory?
A) As the pulsar’s energy dissipates, the frequency of the energy it emits drops.
B) X-rays are likely the result of radioactive decay, which only can occur in a pulsar’s
early history.
C) X-rays and visible light are both part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
D) The pulsars high rate of spin produces a magnetic field that, over time, slows the
pulsar down.
Answer:
A diver shines light up to the surface of a smooth pond at a 10 angle to the normal.
Some light passes into the air above, and the part that reflects back into the water makes
an angle to the normal of
A) less than 10.
B) 10.
C) more than 10.
Answer:
What does the following element description actually mean?
O
A) an oxygen atom with 6 protons and 12 neutrons
B) an oxygen atom with 6 neutrons and 12 protons
C) 6 oxygen atoms with 18 neutrons
D) 18 oxygen molecules with 6 neutrons each
E) none of the above
Answer:
The transport of large particle sizes is greatest
A) in turbulent streams.
B) when stream speed is very fast.
C) where the gradient exceeds the base level.
D) on the inside of a meander.
Answer:
Coffee is served at a restaurant before you are ready to drink it. To be hottest when you
are ready to drink it, you should add cream
A) right away.
B) at any time.
C) when you are ready to drink the coffee.
Answer:
A distant palm tree on a hot dry day that often appears to be reflected from water is
A) due to light refracted upward as it grazes the hot surface.
B) the inverse of a mirage.
C) evidence that light travels in straight lines.
Answer:
Buoyant force is greatest on a submerged
A) 1-kg block of lead.
B) 1-kg block of aluminum.
C) same on each
Answer:
A rock is thrown upward at 50 with respect to the horizontal. As it rises, its horizontal
component of velocity
A) increases.
B) remains unchanged.
C) decreases.
Answer:
Which expands more when the temperature is increased? Equal volumes of
A) iron.
B) wood.
C) ice water.
D) helium.
E) all expand the same
Answer:
When water changes from a liquid to a vapor, it
A) loses energy.
B) gives off energy.
C) gains energy.
D) radiates energy.
Answer:
How many chloride ions (Cl-1) are needed to balance the positive charge of a barium
ion (Ba+2)?
A) 2
B) 1
C) -2
D) -1
E) 3
Answer:
How many valence electrons does gallium (Ga, atomic no. = 31) have?
A) 1
B) 6
C) 3
D) 31
E) 70
Answer:
Under which of the following conditions would you expect the highestsolubility of
oxygen gas in water?
A) high temperature and low pressure above the solution
B) low temperature and high pressure above the solution
C) low temperature and low pressure above the solution
D) high temperature and high pressure above the solution
E) The solubility is independent of temperature and pressure.
Answer:
Which of the following is the correct electron dot structure for carbon (atomic no. = 6)?
A) a
B) b
C) c
D) d
E) e
Answer:
How does the purchase and use of a home beverage carbonator help to minimize carbon
dioxide emissions?
A) It allows the consumer to avoid using commercial sodas that require much gasoline
for shipping.
B) Home carbonators are more efficient at forcing the carbon dioxide into solution.
C) Industrial carbonators are driven by mechanical pumps that require large amounts of
gasoline in order to operate.
D) False. Home carbonators have the net effect of producing more carbon dioxide per
liter of carbonate water.
Answer:
A moving object has
A) speed.
B) velocity.
C) momentum.
D) energy.
E) all of the above
Answer:
In a prolonged drought, groundwater is
A) unaffectedthere is always water flowing underground.
B) in danger of being diminished.
C) safe from processes at the surface.
D) completely gone.
Answer:
Nanoscience has shown that
A) a chemical occurs with the use of a scanning probe microscope.
B) the properties of a material can be different on the level of atoms then its properties
when the material is analyzed in bulk.
C) a physical change can occur when using a scanning probe microscope.
D) DNA is the smallest molecule.
Answer:
What generally causes clouds to form?
A) falling relative humidity
B) sinking of saturated air
C) lifting of air
D) addition of water vapor
Answer:
What is the likely cause of the 98 tilt of Uranus’s axis?
A) a collision with a large body early in the solar system’s evolution
B) distorted magnetic poles due to its large molten iron core
C) fluid wave dynamics due to its large molten core
D) Neptune’s effect on Uranus’ gravitational field
Answer:
Which of the following is the strongest?
A) a chemical bond
B) an ion-dipole attraction
C) a dipole-dipole attraction
D) a dipole-induced dipole attraction
E) an induced dipole-induced dipole attraction
Answer:
Wood does not have magnetic properties because it contains no
A) iron or other metals.
B) magnetic domains.
C) moving electrons.
D) none of the above
Answer:
As the Moon and Earth pull on one another, the oceans bulge about 1m on opposite
sides of the Earth. In Earth’s daily rotation, the area that passes the bulge experiences
high tide. The time of the high tides fluctuates because
A) not all areas of Earth use daylight savings time.
B) while Earth spins on its axis, the Moon orbits the Earththe timing is a bit off.
C) as Earth spins on its axis, the Moon spins on its own axisthe timing is a bit off.
Answer:
An electron and a proton
A) attract each other.
B) repel each other.
C) attract or repel depending on distance.
Answer:
Drought conditions and high temperatures over the Great Plains are most likely caused
by a
A) continental tropical air mass.
B) continental polar air mass.
C) maritime tropical air mass.
D) maritime polar air mass.
Answer:
Venus and Earth started out with roughly the same amount of water. While Earth still
has water in abundance, all of Venus’ was lost. Where did it go?
A) It chemically combined with CO2 to form H2CO3.
B) Ultraviolet rays split the hydrogen from the oxygen components, and the hydrogen
escaped into space.
C) It all evaporated into space due to the intense daytime heat of 470C.
D) Scientists are still trying to determine this.
Answer:
If a fusion reaction produces no appreciable radioactive isotopes, why does a hydrogen
bomb produce significant radioactive fallout?
A) The fallout is only the radioactive remnants of the bomb’s structure and casing.
B) It is a misconception that fusion reactions produce no appreciable radioactive
isotopes. Therefore, radioactive fallout is unavoidable.
C) The radioactive fallout is a result of the fission reaction used to ignite the
thermonuclear fusion reaction.
D) Once a hydrogen bomb is exploded, all matter within nearly 100 miles becomes
radioactive fallout.
Answer:
One of the products of combustion is water. Why doesn’t this water extinguish the
combustion?
A) While areas of combustion are being extinguished, new areas are combusting.
B) Combustion only produces micro amounts of water.
C) The chemical combustion reaction is happening too fast for the water to have an
effect on the fire.
D) This water is in the gaseous phase and merely floats away from the fire.
Answer:
Each circle represents an atom. Which of the following boxes contains an element? A
compound? A mixture?
A) element: A, C; compound: A, B, C; mixture: A, B
B) element: C; compound: A, B; mixture: B
C) element: A, C; compound: A, B; mixture: A
D) element: A, C; compound: A, B; mixture: A, B
Answer:
According to the following reaction, which molecule is acting as a base?
H2O + NH3 → OH– + NH4
+
A) H2O
B) NH3
C) OH–
D) NH4
+
E) none of the above
Answer:
Evidence of the solar wind on Earth is the
A) meteor showers in the upper atmosphere.
B) solar sunspots.
C) preponderance of hurricanes at lower latitudes.
D) higher ocean tides in winter.
E) Aurora Borealis.
Answer:
A wave oscillates up and down twice in 1 s. If the wave travels an average distance of 6
m in 1 s, its wavelength is
A) 0.5 m.
B) 1 m.
C) 2 m.
D) 3 m.
E) 6 m.
Answer:
When Phil Physiker swings a buzzer over his head in a circle he hears
A) a steady hum.
B) a throbbing hum.
C) the same Doppler effect that his friends off to the side hear.
Answer: