Question 1

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 in an atom

Accepted Answer

The atomic number of an element is defined as the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element.

Question 2

What describes the measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions compared to the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution?
A) ionization
B) pH
C) alkalinity
D) covalent bonding
E) isotope

Accepted Answer

pH is a scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution, which is directly related to the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) compared to hydroxide ions (OH-) in the solution.

Question 3

What is an example of low-quality energy?
A) electricity
B) heat in the ocean
C) nuclear fission
D) gasoline
E) food

Accepted Answer

Heat in the ocean is considered low-quality energy because it is dispersed and has a low temperature, making it difficult to convert efficiently into work.

Question 4

Fossil fuels are best characterized as a type of ____.
A) atomic particle
B) renewable energy
C) nonrenewable energy
D) electromagnetic energy
E) thermal energy

Accepted Answer

Fossil fuels are considered nonrenewable energy sources because they take millions of years to form and reserves are being depleted much faster than new ones are being made.

Question 5

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) nothing and everything

Accepted Answer

The laws of thermodynamics, which include the conservation of energy and matter, indicate that while energy can be transformed, it cannot be created or destroyed. Matter can be recycled through various processes (e.g., biological decomposition, recycling of materials), but energy, once used, often dissipates into less usable forms (like heat) and cannot be "recycled" in the same way matter can.

Question 6

What does the first law of thermodynamics tell us?
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.

Accepted Answer

The first law of thermodynamics, also known as the law of energy conservation, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. This means that the total amount of energy in the universe remains constant, though it may change forms, such as from kinetic energy to potential energy.

Question 7

Scientists estimate that about _____ of the energy used in the United States is unavoidably wasted.
A) 5%
B) 18%
C) 55%
D) 84%
E) 96%

Accepted Answer

Scientists estimate that about 84% of the energy used in the United States is unavoidably wasted due to inefficiencies in energy conversion processes and other factors.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Energy is not lost but converted into lower-quality forms, such as heat, which may not be useful for performing work in the same way the original energy was.

Question 9

Energy efficiency refers to ____.
A) how much energy we use
B) how much energy is wasted
C) how much heat is produced
D) getting more work out of the energy we use
E) getting more energy out of our work

Accepted Answer

Energy efficiency is about maximizing the amount of work or output we get from the energy we consume, thereby reducing waste and increasing effectiveness.

Question 10

Heat is best characterized as a kind of ____ energy.
A) light
B) potential
C) kinetic
D) nuclear
E) low

Accepted Answer

Heat is a form of energy that is associated with the movement or kinetic energy of atoms and molecules. Therefore, it is best characterized as a kind of kinetic energy.

Question 11

Which of the following represents kinetic energy?
A) water in a reservoir behind a dam
B) a rock held in your hand
C) chemical energy stored in food
D) water in a stream
E) light from the sun

Accepted Answer

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, and water in a stream is moving, thus possessing kinetic energy.

Question 12

Which of the following best illustrates potential energy?
A) the wind blowing
B) water in a stream
C) steam
D) a car at the top of a hill
E) electricity

Accepted Answer

A car at the top of a hill has potential energy due to its position above the ground. This energy could be converted into kinetic energy if the car were to roll down the hill.

Question 13

The mass number of an atom 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

Accepted Answer

The mass number of an atom is equal to the sum of its neutrons and protons, which are found in the nucleus.

Question 14

An ion has a net positive or negative ______.
A) proton
B) isotope
C) charge
D) acid
E) electron

Accepted Answer

An ion is defined by its net positive or negative charge, which results from the loss or gain of electrons.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Energy is classified as either potential, which is stored energy, or kinetic, which is energy in motion.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Nearly all of the energy used in these processes comes from the sun, accounting for approximately 99% of the energy that heats the Earth and fuels the growth of plants, which are at the base of the food chain for living organisms.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons, which results in different mass numbers.

Question 18

Which law states that no energy can be created or destroyed?
A) The first law of thermodynamics
B) The second law of thermodynamics
C) The law of conservation of matter
D) The environmental exchange law
E) The law of homeostasis

Accepted Answer

The first law of thermodynamics, also known as the law of energy conservation, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Energy is formally defined as the ability to do work and transfer heat, reflecting its capacity to cause physical changes and move matter in a direction it would not move if left alone.

Question 20

High-quality energy can best be characterized as ____.
A) fossilized
B) pure
C) electromagnetic
D) kinetic
E) concentrated

Accepted Answer

High-quality energy is characterized as being concentrated, meaning it can perform useful work efficiently.

Quiz 2: Science, matter, energy, and Systems

The atomic number is the number of ____.

What describes the measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions compared to the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution?

What is an example of low-quality energy?

Fossil fuels are best characterized as a type of ____.

The matter and energy laws tell us that we can recycle ____.

What does the first law of thermodynamics tell us?

Scientists estimate that about _____ of the energy used in the United States is unavoidably wasted.

The energy "lost" by a system is ____.

Energy efficiency refers to ____.

Heat is best characterized as a kind of ____ energy.

Which of the following represents kinetic energy?

Which of the following best illustrates potential energy?

The mass number of an atom is equal to the sum of the ____.

An ion has a net positive or negative ______.

Scientists classify energy as either ____.

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

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

Which law states that no energy can be created or destroyed?

Energy can be formally defined as ____.

High-quality energy can best be characterized as ____.