Deck 2: Science, Matter, and Energy

Question 1

Scientific hypotheses differ from scientific theories in that they are

A) widely accepted descriptions of what we find happening over and over in nature
B) tentative explanations that need further evaluation
C) not subject to proper investigation and testing
D) arrived at after extensive mathematical modeling
E) tentative explanations that need further evaluation and not subject to proper investigation and testing

Answer 1

tentative explanations that need further evaluation

Question 2

All of the following are elements except

A) Water
B) Oxygen
C) Nitrogen
D) Hydrogen
E) Carbon

Answer 2

Water

Question 3

Which statement best describes the Bormann-Likens controlled experiment in forest valleys in New Hampshire that compared water flowing out of deforested areas to undisturbed areas?

A) The deforested area was greater in volume by 30 to 40%
B) The deforested area was less in volume by 30 to 40%
C) The deforested area had more soil nutrients dissolved in the water
D) The deforested area was less in volume by 30 to 40% and had fewer soil nutrients dissolved in the water
E) The deforested area was greater in volume by 30 to 40% and had more soil nutrients dissolved in the water

Answer 3

The deforested area was greater in volume by 30 to 40% and had more soil nutrients dissolved in the water

Question 4

Which of the following choices best describes the sequence scientists typically use in the beginning stages of their investigations about how nature works?

A) analyze data -> search literature -> perform experiment -> identify a problem -> ask a question
B) ask a question -> search literature -> perform experiment -> analyze data -> identify a problem
C) search literature -> ask a question -> identify a problem -> analyze data -> perform experiment
D) identify a problem ->search literature -> ask a question -> perform experiment -> analyze data
E) ask a question->search literature -> identify a problem -> perform experiment -> analyze data

Question 5

The scientists, with enough data,

A) would be able to prove that there is a correlation between butterfly populations and hot springs
B) would not be able to prove a correlation between the butterfly populations and hot springs, but could disprove it
C) Would be able to prove or disprove a correlation, depending on the numbers
D) would not be able to prove or disprove a correlation between the butterfly populations and hot springs
E) would be able to prove that there is a correlation between the butterfly populations and hot springs, but would not be able to disprove it

Question 6

When scientists are testing ideas to determine facts, they

A) follow a specific set of logical steps
B) report observations to the scientific community without data collection
C) use different steps that are unique to each scientist
D) use only mathematical modeling
E) first ask fellow scientists at annual meetings what steps to take

Question 7

The atomic number is the number of

A) atoms in a molecule
B) protons in an atom
C) nuclei in a molecule
D) electrons in an atom
E) protons and neutrons in an atom

Question 8

Matter is best described as

A) anything that has mass and occupies space
B) something that has the capacity to do work
C) something that can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas
D) something that can produce change
E) is anything that has mass and occupies space and can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas

Question 9

Protons, neutrons, and electrons are all

A) forms of energy
B) equal in mass
C) subatomic particles
D) negative ions
E) charged particles

Question 10

Scientific theories are

A) frequently overturned and changed because they are, in fact, just theories.
B) overturned on a regular basis at periodic scheduled meetings of the scientific community to evaluate the validity of all scientific theories.
C) never overturned.
D) rarely overturned unless new evidence discredits them.
E) overturned only as a result of Supreme Court decisions.

Question 11

The Bormann-Likens study in the Hubbard Brooks Experimental Forest in New Hampshire can best be described as

A) a comparison of a control site with an experimental site in nature
B) what can occur in a forest watershed without plants to absorb water
C) an example of how scientists learn about the effects of our actions on natural systems
D) a comparison of a control site with an experimental site in nature and a study of what can occur in a forest watershed without plants to absorb and retain water
E) a comparison of a control and an experimental site, a study of what can occur in a forest watershed without plants to absorb water, and an example of how scientists learn about the effects of our actions on natural systems.

Question 12

The atomic mass number is equal to the sum of the

A) neutrons and isotopes
B) neutrons and electrons
C) neutrons and protons
D) protons, neutrons, and electrons
E) protons only

Question 13

An element

A) is identical to a compound
B) is made up of compounds
C) can combine with one or more other element to make a compound
D) exists only in a pure form as a single element, and never combines with other elements
E) more than one of these answers

Question 14

A classmate tells you that a statement heard on the news about an environmental process noted in a local ecosystem cannot be true because it has not been scientifically proven. You realize that

A) this classmate is misinformed because science cannot prove anything, but it can disprove events conclusively.
B) this classmate is misinformed because science can neither prove or disprove anything absolutely.
C) this classmate is misinformed because the process in question actually has been proven scientifically.
D) this classmate is correct.
E) this classmate has confused scientific theories and scientific laws

Question 15

A tiny, tawny colored butterfly called the Carson Wandering Skipper was always known for its small and very localized populations. Typically, it was found along the western Nevada and eastern California high desert areas. It was always located close to hot springs and other wet areas that supported salt grass, the host plant it depended on.Recently, the populations went into a steep decline, and a last hold-out area was threatened by imminent construction of a freeway bypass. Biologists became alarmed and began an intensive search for populations in locations other than the spot designated for the freeway bypass. They began their search by identifying all known locations of hot springs, in hopes of finding small populations of the Carson Wandering Skipper close by.
As they searched for previously unknown populations of the Carson Wandering Skipper, biologists wondered if hot springs were absolutely essential to its survival. This phase of the investigation is

A) finding out what is known and asking a question
B) analyzing data and asking a question
C) Asking a question and testing predictions
D) accepting their hypothesis and analyzing data
E) accepting their hypothesis and asking a question

Question 16

Science

A) is a study of the history of the natural world
B) attempts to discover order in nature to interpret the past
C) is best described as a random collection of facts
D) is supported by small amounts of evidence
E) is an endeavor to discover how nature works

Question 17

A tiny, tawny colored butterfly called the Carson Wandering Skipper was always known for its small and very localized populations. Typically, it was found along the western Nevada and eastern California high desert areas. It was always located close to hot springs and other wet areas that supported salt grass, the host plant it depended on.Recently, the populations went into a steep decline, and a last hold-out area was threatened by imminent construction of a freeway bypass. Biologists became alarmed and began an intensive search for populations in locations other than the spot designated for the freeway bypass. They began their search by identifying all known locations of hot springs, in hopes of finding small populations of the Carson Wandering Skipper close by.
The biologists' observations that the Carson Wandering Skipper populations had declined is an example of

A) data analysis
B) identifying a problem
C) performing an experiment
D) proposing a hypothesis
E) making testable predictions

Question 18

The commonest form of the Carbon atom that exists is at times referred to as C¹². An isotope of this atom is called C¹⁴. C¹⁴ must have a different number of___________than C¹².

A) Ions
B) Protons
C) Atoms
D) Neutrons
E) Electrons

Question 19

Which of the following does not characterize frontier science?

A) It often captures news headlines because it is controversial.
B) It may deal with preliminary data.
C) It may eventually be validated.
D) Scientists always agree on the meaning and accuracy of the data involved.
E) It may eventually be discredited.

Question 20

What are the important steps involved in critical thinking?

A) Be skeptical about everything you read or hear and be open to many viewpoints
B) Look at the evidence and evaluate it as well as related information and a variety of opinions.
C) Identify and evaluate your personal beliefs and biases.
D) Identify and evaluate your personal beliefs and biases and be skeptical about everything you read or hear.
E) Look at the evidence and evaluate it as well as related information, identify and evaluate your personal beliefs and biases, be skeptical about everything you read or hear and be open to many viewpoints.

Question 21

An example of potential energy is

A) electricity flowing through a wire
B) the chemical energy in a candy bar
C) a bullet fired at high velocity
D) a leaf falling from a tree
E) water flowing

Question 22

Most forms of energy can be classified as either

A) chemical or physical
B) kinetic or mechanical
C) potential or mechanical
D) chemical or kinetic
E) potential or kinetic

Question 23

Which of the following sources of iron would be of the highest quality?

A) iron deposits on the ocean floor
B) a field of spinach
C) a large scrap metal junkyard
D) a half-mile deep deposit of iron ore
E) soil that is high in iron content

Question 24

Which of the following contains all of the others?

A) Chromosomes
B) Genes
C) Cells
D) DNA molecules
E) cell nuclei

Question 25

If a carbon atom combines with oxygen atoms to form CO₂, this would be described as a

A) Physical change.
B) Chemical change.
C) It is both a physical and chemical change.
D) First, it is a physical change, but then it becomes a chemical change.
E) It is not a physical change or a chemical change. It is scientific change.

Question 26

The smallest functional and structural unit of life is the

A) Ion
B) Atom
C) Compound
D) Molecule
E) Cell

Question 27

Energy can be formally defined as

A) the velocity of any moving object
B) the heat generated by atoms losing electrons
C) the ability to do work or produce heat transfer
D) the displacement of heat from the Sun to the Earth
E) the process of moving objects

Question 28

Which of the following energy forms is high quality?

A) Coal
B) the heat dispersed in the ocean
C) Electricity
D) Food
E) coal, electricity and food

Question 29

Which of the following is the best description of the first law of thermodynamics?

A) Atoms cannot be created or destroyed.
B) Energy input always equals energy output.
C) Heat is a form of kinetic energy.
D) Solar energy is converted into chemical energy in living systems.
E) All of these answers apply to the first law of thermodynamics.

Question 30

The law of conservation of matter states that

A) Atoms can be created.
B) Atoms can be destroyed.
C) Atoms cannot be created or destroyed.
D) Atoms can be destroyed if we compost them.
E) Atoms can be created through nuclear fission.

Question 31

Ions are atoms or groups of atoms that have

A) Gained or lost an electron
B) Gained or lost a proton
C) Gained or lost a neutron
D) Gained or lost either an electron or a proton
E) different numbers of protons and neutrons in the same atom

Question 32

Genetic information is contained in coded units on chromosomes called

A) DNA molecules
B) Genes
C) Macromolecules
D) Nucleotides
E) Proteins

Question 33

All organic compounds are characterized by the presence of

A) Carbon
B) Hydrogen
C) Oxygen
D) Nitrogen
E) Phosphorus

Question 34

Which list of items contains only ions?

A) CO₂, H₂O, Na⁺, H^-
B) Na⁺, H^-, Pb, Hg
C) Pb, Hg, CO₂,NaCl
D) Cl^-, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, NO₃^-
E) NaCl, NO, CO, NaOH

Question 35

Wind farms are viable options for supplying more of our energy needs in the future because:

A) high speed wind is a form of medium-quality energy
B) high speed wind is a form of high-quality energy
C) high speed wind is a form of low-quality energy
D) all speeds of wind are high quality energy
E) wind is not an energy form at all

Question 36

The amount of useful work accomplished by a particular input of energy into a system is

A) Energy quality
B) Energy potential
C) Energy capacity
D) Energy efficiency
E) Energy loss

Question 37

An acidic solution would have

A) more hydroxide ions than hydrogen ions
B) more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions
C) a pH less than 7
D) a pH greater than 7
E) more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions and a pH less than 7

Question 38

The direct input of solar energy produces which of the following forms of renewable (indirect) solar energy?

A) Wind
B) falling and flowing water
C) Biomass
D) wind, falling and flowing water, and biomass
E) only wind and falling and flowing water

Question 39

Which organic polymer consists of two or more monomers of simple sugars such as glucose?

A) Lipids
B) Proteins
C) nucleic acids
D) complex carbohydrates
E) nucleic acids and complex carbohydrates

Question 40

All of the following are examples of kinetic energy except

A) a speeding bullet
B) a car battery
C) a flow of electric current
D) a falling rock
E) flowing water

Question 41

Some forms of electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths are:

A) Visible light and IR radiation
B) Visible light and x-rays
C) x-rays and IR
D) gamma rays and UV radiation
E) Visible light and gamma rays

Question 42

When matter undergoes physical changes, the chemical composition also changes.

Question 43

When electrical energy lights an incandescent light bulb, 50 percent of the energy produces light.

Question 44

Chemical elements cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

Question 45

Scientists analyze data before they take any other steps to investigate natural processes, since that is the only logical place to start.

Question 46

The idea that all elements are made up of molecules is called the atomic theory.

Question 47

The atomic number of an atom designates the number of protons and neutrons found in its nucleus.

Question 48

Which of the following are widely used technologies that are responsible for wasting enormous amounts of energy?

A) the compact fluorescent light bulb and the internal combustion engine
B) solar cells and incandescent light bulbs
C) the incandescent light bulb and the internal combustion engine
D) PV cells and the internal combustion engine
E) LED bulbs and the internal combustion engine

Question 49

Which of the following is the best short summary of the law of conservation of matter?

A) There is no away.
B) You cannot get something for nothing.
C) You cannot break even.
D) You can break even, but not get something for nothing.
E) You can get something for nothing, but cannot break even.

Question 50

The steps in the scientific investigative process are always followed in the same sequence by every scientist, without fail.

Question 51

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds.

Question 52

A chemical element cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

Question 53

Atoms as a whole have no net electrical charge.

Question 54

A form of kinetic energy that travels in the form of waves as a result of changes in electrical and magnetic fields is

A) Wind
B) electromagnetic radiation
C) Waterfalls
D) Electricity
E) solar radiation

Question 55

The two chemical forms of matter are elements and compounds.

Question 56

Scientists Bormann and Likens demonstrated in their experiment on a clear-cut forest that

A) A cleared forest is more sustainable than an uncleared forest.
B) An uncleared forest is more sustainable than a cleared forest.
C) Cleared and uncleared forests have the same sustainability.
D) Clearing a forest violates the second law of thermodynamics.
E) At least two of these answers are correct.

Question 57

When energy changes from one form to another, it always goes from a more useful to a less useful form.

Question 58

Since scientific theories are tentative explanations, they should not be taken seriously.

Question 59

The very first step in the scientific process is to find out what is known about the problem.

Question 60

What percentage of useful energy in the United States is either unavoidably or unnecessarily wasted?

A) 43%
B) 84%
C) 35%
D) 41%
E) Energy in the United States is not wasted.

Question 61

An atom or group of atoms with one or more net positive or negative charges is called a(n) ____________________.

Question 62

____________________ consists of elements and compounds.

Question 63

________________ ____________occurs when two isotopes of light elements are forced together at extremely high temperatures until they fuse to form a heavier nucleus.

Question 64

Matter that is near the Earth's surface, that is highly concentrated, and that has great potential for use as a resource is referred to as ____________________.

Question 65

Match items with their appropriate chemical description.
The chemical symbol for sodium

A)S
B)H+
C)Electron
D)Proton
E)Neutron
F)CO₂
G)Na
H)nucleus
I)mass number
J)NO³-
K)isotopes

Question 66

Match items with their appropriate chemical description.
The small, dense center of an atom

A)S
B)H+
C)Electron
D)Proton
E)Neutron
F)CO₂
G)Na
H)nucleus
I)mass number
J)NO³-
K)isotopes

Question 67

___________________ ______________occurs when the nuclei of certain isotopes with large mass numbers are split apart into lighter nuclei when struck by a neutron.

Question 68

Genes are segments of ____________________.

Question 69

In the scientific process, projections are tested with further experiments, models or observations.

Question 70

A chemical that is a combination of two or more different elements is called a(n) ____________________.

Question 71

Match items with their appropriate chemical description.
A subatomic particle with no net electrical charge

A)S
B)H+
C)Electron
D)Proton
E)Neutron
F)CO₂
G)Na
H)nucleus
I)mass number
J)NO³-
K)isotopes

Question 72

In a scientific investigation, one of the groups involved in the investigation has a chosen variable changed in a known way. This group is designated as the ____________________group.

Question 73

Organic compounds always contain ____________________ atoms.

Question 74

An ion that is an essential nutrient for plant growth, and which was studied by Bormann and Likens, is the ____________________ ion.

Question 75

A simple carbohydrate that plants and animals use to obtain energy is ____________________.

Question 76

Match items with their appropriate chemical description.
The nitrate ion

A)S
B)H+
C)Electron
D)Proton
E)Neutron
F)CO₂
G)Na
H)nucleus
I)mass number
J)NO³-
K)isotopes

Question 77

A tentative explanation that needs further investigation is called a(n) ____________________.

Question 78

The pH of a solution is a measure of the ____________________ ions and ____________________ ions.

Question 79

Macromolecules formed from a number of monomers are called ____________________.

Question 80

If an overwhelming body of observations and measurements supports a scientific hypothesis, it becomes known as a(n) ____________________.