Science Trivia Questions — page 17

Which of these describes the property of being a thermal insulator?

• Adoes not conduct heat easily
• Blustrous
• Cmalleable
• Dhas a low specific heat capacity

Salt water, plastic, and helium are all made of

• Amixtures.
• Belectrons.
• Ccompounds.
• Datoms.

Larger than Pluto and Mercury, this natural satellite is the largest moon of the entire solar system.

• AEuropa
• BGanymede
• CTitan
• DCallisto

In plant cells, the amount of water in the cells creates pressure against the cell walls. If the amount of water in the cells of non-woody plants was reduced, which of the following would most likely happen?

• AMore flowers would be produced.
• BThe stems would wilt.
• CSap would flow more quickly.
• DThe leaves would be shed.

Copper is used in house wiring because it is

• Aan insulator.
• Ban electrical conductor.
• Chard to bend into new shapes.
• Dmagnetic.

Alzheimer's disease primarily affects which part of the human body?

• AHeart
• BBrain
• CSkin
• DLungs

Scientists often use mathematical models and computer simulations to study systems. What is the main advantage of using these techniques for studying the spread of infectious diseases?

• Ato obtain results quickly in a short period of time
• Bto reduce the cost of conducting experiments on people
• Cto perform experiments that would be irresponsible using human subjects
• Dto reduce the amount of work for all involved

Scientists dig in a dry area at the bottom of a mountain range. Fossilized shells of freshwater mussels are found in the area. Which is a likely conclusion that scientists will draw based on this evidence?

• AThe ocean shoreline once reached this area.
• BVolcanoes were once active in the area.
• CFloods were a common occurrence in this area.
• DRivers once flowed through the area.

A 60-kg man and a 25-kg boy, both on roller skates, push off of each other using their hands. Which of these describes the motion of the two people?

• AThe man moves farther but the same speed as the boy.
• BThe boy moves faster but the same distance as the man.
• CThe boy moves farther and faster than the man.
• DThe man moves farther and faster than the boy.

Sound waves can pass through all of these except

• Aa vacuum.
• Bwater.
• Csteel.
• Dair.

Which of the following cannot affect the energy levels of the electrons of an atom?

• AMechanical collision between particles
• BAbsorption of energy from light (photons)
• CAll of these can affect the energy levels
• DMagnetic field

Some natural disasters can have a large effect on the global climate. Which type of natural disaster would produce the greatest decrease in solar radiation reaching the surface of Earth for the longest period of time?

• Aa large volcanic eruption
• Ba giant tsunami
• Ca strong earthquake
• Da powerful hurricane

Multicellular organisms have four main types of tissue which include muscle, epithelial, nerve, and connective tissue. Which organ consists mostly of nerve tissue?

• Aliver
• Bskin
• Cstomach
• Dbrain

The International Space Station is a joint project of five space agencies, including NASA. Which Space Agency is not part of the project?

• ARussian Federal Space Agency
• BJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency
• CChina National Space Administration
• DCanadian Space Agency

Anna is holding an ice cube. Why does the ice cube melt in her hand?

• ACold moves from the ice cube to her hand.
• BHeat moves from the ice cube to her hand.
• CCold moves from her hand to the ice cube.
• DHeat moves from her hand to the ice cube.

Name the 1962 film about the planet Uranus?

• AI Love Uranus
• BJourney to the Seventh Planet
• CEscaping the Blue Planet
• DMeet me on Uranus

Which of these tools is used to measure the melting point of ice?

• Ahot plate
• Bbarometer
• Cmeter stick
• Dthermometer

A student tosses a ball into the air. Which force causes the ball to fall back to the ground?

• Agravity
• Bmagnetism
• Cfriction
• Dmechanical

Which statement describes a characteristic of a gas that has a significant effect on the climates of both Earth and Venus?

• AArgon is unable to react with water.
• BCarbon dioxide traps solar energy.
• CNitrogen is chemically inert.
• DSodium vapor reflects solar energy.

Which element was NOT discovered at the University of California in Berkeley, CA, USA?

• AFm
• BYb
• CCf
• DEs

On the Internet, who or what is a server?

• AThe program which controls a web page
• BThe person who serves the hors doeuvres.
• CThe computer on which the programs of a web site run
• DThe person who serves the customers of an Internet Service Provider

The loudness of sound can be changed by

• Adecreasing the pitch.
• Bincreasing the frequency.
• Cincreasing the amplitude.
• Ddecreasing the wavelength.

Fossilized coral reefs, fish, and other warm water marine creatures have been found in mountainous regions of New England. Which of the following best explains how this could have occurred?

• AThese creatures were better adapted to cold climates at one time.
• BThe process of fossilization greatly changed the original material.
• CScavengers carried the remains of these creatures to higher regions.
• DThe climate and geology of this area have changed over time.

Kelp ash is used in the production of which of the following?

• ARubber
• BGlass
• CTeflon
• DPlastic

This gland is shaped like a butterfly and helps regulate energy in the body.

• Athymus
• Badrenal
• Cthyroid
• Dparathyroid

Which is an example of kinetic energy?

• Aa window getting hot from the sun
• Ba ball rolling down a hill
• Ca runner about to start a race
• Da book sitting on a shelf

When a plant wilts, the stomata close. How does this help the plant?

• AIt reduces water intake by roots.
• BIt increases cellular respiration.
• CIt increases photosynthesis.
• DIt reduces further water loss.

A certain disease of the spinal cord can be passed on from a dog to its offspring. This disease can result in the dog's muscles becoming weak, leading to paralysis. This is an example of

• Aa respiratory disease.
• Ban inherited disease.
• Can environmental disease.
• Dan infectious disease.

Can you recycle food scraps?

• AYes
• BNo

What does the name of the iris flower literally mean in Greek?

• ARainbow
• BEye
• CSky
• DFlower

Which process occurs when rocks and soil slide down a mountain?

• Aerosion
• Bmaintenance
• Cmigration
• Drecycling

What year marked the first broadcast of a baseball game?

• A1939
• B1929
• C1946
• D1949

Janet has been given some minerals to identify. One of her samples is yellow. Which of these minerals is most likely to be yellow?

• AGypsum
• BHematite
• CTalc
• DSulfur

A student left a bar of chocolate in the sun on a hot day. As the chocolate melted, which property changed?

• Aits composition
• Bits mass
• Cits weight
• Dits shape

Water is divided into soft and hard, depending on its chemical composition. Hard water washes soap from your hands faster, because of its high contents of what?

• APolar molecules
• BFree electrons
• CSalts
• DMinerals

Which part of a pine tree makes food?

• Atrunk
• Bcone
• Cneedle
• Droot

Where is the first place a scientist should present new research data about the structure of a galaxy in order to receive the most appropriate review of the research?

• Aa university science blog
• Ba peer-reviewed science journal
• Ca popular science news magazine
• Da high school science classroom

How many Earth years does it take for Jupiter to complete one orbit around the Sun?

• A5.5 years
• B10.5 years
• C22.4 years
• D11.8 years

During a laboratory investigation, a student cracks a clean, empty Erlenmeyer flask. It does not break, but it can no longer be used. Where should the flask be placed?

• Ahazardous waste bin
• Bbroken glass bin
• Ctrash can
• Dbiohazard bag

When magnesium (Mg) metal is burned in the presence of oxygen (O?), magnesium oxide (MgO) is produced. The properties of magnesium oxide are different than the individual properties of magnesium and oxygen because magnesium oxide is

• Aan element.
• Ba mixture.
• Ca compound.
• Da solution.

Which desert is the only desert in the world where the "Saguaro" cactus grows indigenously?

• AThe Sonoran Desert
• BThe Gobi Desert
• CThe Arabian Desert
• DThe Yuma Desert

Elias investigates whether soaking beans in water before planting affects how the beans grow. Which beans would most likely be the control group?

• Athe beans that grew the tallest
• Bthe beans that were not soaked in water
• Cthe beans that were soaked the least amount of time
• Dthe beans that had the greatest mass

A student was given the volume and description of a substance and was asked to determine its density. What information is missing?

• Asize
• Bboiling point
• Cmass
• Dmelting point

Which process best explains how the Grand Canyon became so wide?

• Adeposition
• Berosion
• Cfolding
• Dsedimentation

A research team has made new discoveries about magnetism. Which of these statements best describes the value to society of publishing their discoveries?

• ATheir discoveries can be built on by other researchers.
• BThe research team may become famous.
• CThe publishing company may make money.
• DTheir results will be unchangeable.

Although change in multicellular species usually takes thousands of years, some species of bacteria undergo major changes in just a few years. One reason for this difference is that these bacteria

• Acause infectious diseases
• Bare microscopic
• Cdo not contain DNA
• Dreproduce very quickly

Which of these animals only has molars?

• AAdult aardvarks
• BAdult wolves
• CAdult penguins
• DAdult minnows

In a container, a mixture of water and salt is stirred so that the salt dissolves completely. Sand is added to this solution and allowed to settle to the bottom of the container. If the container is placed on a heat source and the liquid evaporates completely, what will be left in the container?

• ASalt and sand will both remain in the container.
• BOnly sand will remain in the container.
• CNothing will remain in the container.
• DOnly salt will remain in the container.

Which of these cell parts store genetic instructions for the entire organism and transfers them from one generation to the next?

• ADNA molecules
• Bchloroplasts
• Cnuclear membranes
• Dmitochondria

Plants on hills keep dirt in place during a rain storm. Plant roots grow into the dirt and keep the dirt from moving. Why do roots grow into the dirt?

• Ato release gases
• Bto release water
• Cto absorb energy
• Dto absorb nutrients