Deck 2: Science, Matter, Energy, and Systems

Question 1

Matter is anything that

A)has mass and takes up space
B)has the capacity to do work
C)can be changed in form
D)can produce change
E)moves mass

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The mass number is equal to the sum of the

A)neutrons and isotopes
B)neutrons and electrons
C)neutrons and protons
D)protons and electrons
E)ions and isotopes

Answer 2

C

Question 3

All of the following are elements except

A)water
B)oxygen
C)nitrogen
D)hydrogen
E)carbon

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is not identified by the author as a building block of matter?

A)molecules
B)compounds
C)ions
D)atoms
E)none of these

Question 5

The atomic number is the number of

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

Question 6

When an overwhelming body of observations and measurements supports a scientific hypothesis or group of related hypotheses, it becomes a(n)

A)hypothesis
B)scientific law
C)scientific variable
D)scientific theory
E)conclusion

Question 7

In an experiment, which of the following would not change the chosen variable?

A)experimental group
B)controlled experiment
C)observation
D)control group
E)variables

Question 8

Protons, neutrons, and electrons are all

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

Question 9

Fundamental types of matter that have unique sets of properties and can not be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means are called

A)mixtures
B)compounds
C)isotopes
D)elements
E)atoms

Question 10

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

A)base
B)isotope
C)ion
D)acid
E)none of these

Question 11

The measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions compared to the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution is called

A)ionization
B)pH
C)alkalinity
D)covalent bonding
E)isotope

Question 12

In 1963 Bormann and Likens compared the output of two river valleys, one forested and the other clear cut. Which of the following reports their findings?

A)deforested valley had higher water flow, decrease of nutrient loss
B)forested valley had higher water flow, decrease of nutrient loss
C)forested valley had lower water flow, increase of nutrient loss
D)deforested valley had lower water flow, increase of nutrient loss
E)deforested valley had higher water flow, increase of nutrient loss

Question 13

Which of the following is the usual order of applying the scientific process to a problem?

A)hypothesis─question─observation─experimentation─conclusion─analysis
B)hypothesis─conclusion─question─observation─experimentation─analysis
C)observation─hypothesis─conclusion─experimentation─analysis─question
D)observation─question─hypothesis─experimentation─analysis─conclusion
E)hypothesis─experimentation─observation─analysis─question─conclusion

Question 14

The most basic building block of matter is a(n)

A)atom
B)element
C)molecule
D)compound
E)ion

Question 15

Isotopes are forms of an element that differ from one another by having different

A)atomic numbers
B)numbers of electrons
C)numbers of protons
D)mass numbers
E)electrical charges

Question 16

Science has limitations, including all of the following, except

A)science can always prove or disprove anything
B)scientists are not totally free of bias
C)testing can involve a huge number of variables
D)some situations require the use of statistical tools
E)science is limited to the natural world

Question 17

Which of the following is the definition of a scientific hypothesis?

A)a simulation of a system being studied
B)a possible explanation for an observation or experimentation
C)information needed to answer questions
D)procedures carried out under controlled conditions to gather information
E)all of these

Question 18

Which of the following is supported by data, hypotheses, models, theories, and laws that are widely accepted by scientists considered experts in the field under study?

A)frontier science
B)tentative science
C)reliable science
D)unreliable science
E)guess

Question 19

A well-tested and widely accepted description of what scientists find happening repeatedly in nature in the same way, is called a(n)

A)theory
B)scientific law
C)hypothesis
D)conclusion
E)none of these

Question 20

An example of an organic compound would be

A)H2O
B)NaCl
C)H2SO4
D)N2O
E)CH4

Question 21

Which of the following is/are not a macromolecule?

A)lipids
B)simple carbohydrates
C)proteins
D)nucleic acids
E)complex carbohydrates

Question 22

The macromolecules that make up living organisms are

A)proteins
B)lipids
C)carbohydrates
D)nucleic acids
E)all of these

Question 23

Which of the following statements does not apply to the second law of energy?

A)Energy goes from useful to less useful forms.
B)Energy is neither created nor destroyed.
C)Energy conversions results in lower-quality energy.
D)Heat is given off from energy conversions.
E)We can not recycle or reuse high-quality energy.

Question 24

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 one-half mile deep deposit of iron ore
E)iron in water

Question 25

Which of the following does not represent kinetic energy?

A)the wind blowing
B)water in a stream
C)steam
D)a car at the top of a hill
E)electricity

Question 26

The monomer for the protein polymer is the

A)hydrocarbon
B)glycerol
C)amino acid
D)carbohydrate
E)nucleotide

Question 27

What percentage of the energy used to produce food for living organisms, and to heat the earth, comes from the sun?

A)10
B)29
C)49
D)79
E)99

Question 28

An example of potential energy is

A)electricity lighting a lamp
B)sugar in a sugar bowl
C)a snowball thrown at a tree
D)a leaf falling from a tree
E)water powering a turbine

Question 29

All of the following statements can be concluded from the law of conservation of matter except

A)We can't throw anything away because there is "no away."
B)Eventually we will run out of matter if we keep consuming it.
C)There will always be pollution of some sort.
D)Everything must go somewhere.
E)We do not consume matter.

Question 30

Which of the following would not be organic molecules?

A)lipids
B)nucleic acids
C)hydrocarbons
D)proteins
E)water

Question 31

Which of the following is not one of the nuclear changes matter can undergo?

A)fission
B)evaporation
C)decay
D)fusion
E)All of these are nuclear changes.

Question 32

The distinct piece of DNA containing instructions for making proteins is

A)the chromosome
B)the nucleotide
C)the amino acid
D)the cell membrane
E)the hydrocarbon

Question 33

Which of the following statements is false?

A)Energy can be converted from one form to another.
B)Energy and matter can generally be converted into each other.
C)Energy input always equals energy output.
D)The laws of thermodynamics can be applied to living systems.
E)Energy conversion results in lower quality energy.

Question 34

Energy input is

A)usually greater than energy output
B)always greater than energy output
C)always equal to energy output
D)usually less than energy output
E)always less than energy output

Question 35

The first law of thermodynamics tells us that

A)Doing work always creates heat.
B)Altering matter is the best source of energy.
C)Energy cannot be recycled.
D)Energy is neither created nor destroyed.
E)Energy cannot be converted.

Question 36

Which of the following is the fundamental structural and functional unit of life?

A)atom
B)macromolecule
C)DNA
D)cell
E)organism

Question 37

Scientists classify energy as either

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

Question 38

Energy can be formally defined as

A)the random motion of molecules
B)the ability to do work and transfer heat
C)a force that is exerted over some distance
D)the movement of molecules
E)the loss of matter

Question 39

Which of the following is an example of low-quality energy?

A)electricity
B)heat in the ocean
C)nuclear fission
D)gasoline
E)food

Question 40

Which of the following statements is not an example of a physical change?

A)Confetti is cut from pieces of paper.
B)Water evaporates from a lake.
C)Ice cubes are formed in the freezer.
D)A plant converts carbon dioxide into carbohydrate.
E)A tree is cut down in the forest.

Question 41

Time delays in feedback systems allow changes in the environment to build slowly until the changes reach a(n)

A)synergy point
B)input
C)throughput
D)tipping point
E)bioaccumulation point

Question 42

Which of the following is a property of a system?

A)functions in a regular and predictable manner
B)highly random in its function
C)cannot be accurately modeled
D)consists solely of inputs and outputs
E)none of these

Question 43

A positive feedback loop is illustrated by all of the following except

A)melting polar ice
B)exponential population growth
C)a thermostat maintaining a certain temperature in your house
D)the greenhouse effect
E)none of these

Question 44

Which of the following is not an example of an environmental threshold having been crossed?

A)Fishing in some parts of the world is no longer profitable.
B)Deforested areas are becoming deserts.
C)Loss of biodiversity.
D)Sea levels rise.
E)Water pollution levels in developed countries have decreased.

Question 45

Which of the following is not a key component of a system?

A)throughputs
B)inputs
C)outputs
D)All are key components.
E)None are key components.

Question 46

Which of the following must obey the laws of thermodynamics?

A)organic life
B)living systems
C)economics
D)humans
E)all of these

Question 47

The matter and energy laws tell us that we can recycle

A)both matter and energy
B)neither matter nor energy
C)matter but not energy
D)energy but not matter
E)none of these

Question 48

Earth's supply of concentrated, usable energy is being steadily

A)depleted
B)recycled
C)reused
D)converted to more usable forms
E)converted to higher-quality forms

Question 49

The community knew the effects of chemical X when it was used alone.They knew the same for chemical Z, so they set safe limits for use for both chemicals.When the chemicals were released at safe levels on the same day there was a massive fish kill.The most likely explanation is

A)homeostasis
B)a synergistic interaction
C)negative feedback
D)positive feedback
E)entropy

Question 50

When someone says that evolution is not important, "after all, it's just a theory," it is probable that they do not understand how scientists use the term "theory."

Question 51

Human events that affect the environment are generally characterized by

A)predictability in what happens because the environment is so large
B)many experiences that allow for accurate generalizations
C)long delays between events and responses
D)obvious and immediate feedback
E)all of these

Question 52

Two or more processes interacting such that the combined effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects is called

A)homeostasis
B)a synergistic interaction
C)negative feedback
D)entropy
E)time delay

Question 53

The energy "lost" by a system is

A)converted into an equal amount of matter
B)equal to the energy the system creates
C)converted to lower-quality energy
D)returned to the system, eventually
E)converted to higher-quality energy

Question 54

Scientists can disprove things but they cannot prove anything absolutely, which means there is always some uncertainty in science.

Question 55

Which one of the following does not illustrate a time delay?

A)A smoker develops lung cancer.
B)CFCs deplete the ozone layer.
C)Increased carbon dioxide levels enhance the greenhouse effect.
D)A fox eats a rabbit.
E)Polar ice melting increases absorption of sunlight.

Question 56

Scientists use the statistical concept of probability to evaluate the results of experimentation.

Question 57

Tentative or frontier science is always science done by incompetent scientists whose work will never be accepted by their peers.

Question 58

Which of the following does not represent a synergistic interaction?

A)Smokers who inhale asbestos die of lung cancer.
B)Combinations of pollutants increase health hazards.
C)Bartender who doesn't smoke gets lung cancer from secondary smoke.
D)Running further when running with a partner.
E)Studying for a test with a group of students.

Question 59

Deductive reasoning goes from the specific to the general,
e.g., from the "bottom up."

Question 60

Scientists tend to be highly skeptical of new data, hypotheses, and models until they can be tested and verified.

Question 61

A(n) ____________________ occurs when an accepted theory or law of science is changed as a result of new discoveries or ideas.

Question 62

Compounds are combinations of two or more different elements held together in ____________________ proportions.

Question 63

In a nuclear fission reaction atoms are destroyed.

Question 64

According to the law of conservation of matter, once trash decomposes in a landfill we have completely gotten rid of the matter which made up the trash.

Question 65

A very useful tool in studying living systems is the use of computer models or simulations.

Question 66

Energy consumption does not mean the disappearance of energy; rather it is the conversion of energy from one form to another with no net loss.

Question 67

Atoms have a net positive electrical charge.

Question 68

Watching a variety of objects fall to earth, we can use ____________________ reasoning to propose that all objects fall to the earth's surface when dropped.

Question 69

A molecule is a combination of two or more atoms held together by forces called _______________.

Question 70

A negative feedback loop causes a system to further change in the same direction.

Question 71

Energy cannot be recycled.

Question 72

The scientific principles of sustainability show that everything we do affects someone or something in the environment in some way.

Question 73

A nuclear change in which two isotopes of light elements are forced together, releasing huge amounts of energy, is called nuclear fission.

Question 74

A chemical formula is a shorthand way of writing the symbols for atoms or ions in a compound.

Question 75

Burning coal demonstrates the conversion of energy from kinetic to potential.

Question 76

How useful matter is to humans as a resource is determined by its concentration, availability for use, and its potential.

Question 77

Science is based on the assumption that events in the natural world follow ____________________ patterns that can be understood.

Question 78

In a chemical reaction, there is a change in the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules of the substances involved

Question 79

Methane, a hydrocarbon, is considered an organic molecule even though it contains only one carbon atom.

Question 80

____________________ happens when scientists report details of their research and other scientists evaluate it.