Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

The atomic mass number is equal to the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. This is because the mass of an electron is negligible compared to the mass of a proton or neutron. Isotopes may have different numbers of neutrons but they still have the same number of protons, so the sum of protons and neutrons is the same for all isotopes of a given element.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Choice E includes all the correct statements about matter - it has mass and occupies space, can exist in different states (solid, liquid, gas), and has the capability to produce change. Choice A only includes the first two criteria and is missing the notion of different states of matter producing change. Choice B is incorrect as matter can have energy but it is not the same as the capacity to do work. Choice C only includes the notion of different states of matter and misses out on the criteria of matter producing change. Choice D is not entirely accurate as matter can produce change but it is not the only thing that can do so.

Question 3

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)all of these answers
E)tentative explanations that need further evaluation and not subject to proper investigation and testing

Accepted Answer

Scientific hypotheses are tentative explanations that are proposed to explain a phenomenon or an observation. They are not widely accepted like scientific theories but need to be further evaluated and investigated to either confirm or reject them. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Option A describes scientific theories, while option C is incorrect as all scientific explanations or claims need to be investigated and tested to be considered scientific. Option D is an incorrect answer as it includes options A and C, which are not accurate. Option E is also incorrect because while scientific hypotheses are tentative, they still need proper investigation and testing to be considered scientific.

Question 4

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.

Accepted Answer

Frontier science is characterized by its preliminary nature and the potential for controversy, as it often deals with new and uncertain data. It may eventually be validated or discredited, but there is no guarantee of consensus among scientists on its meaning and accuracy. Therefore, scientists do not always agree on the data involved, which means that choice D does not characterize frontier science.

Question 5

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)all of these answers, except use only mathematical modeling

Accepted Answer

Scientists follow a specific set of logical steps when conducting tests to determine facts. These steps are known as the scientific method and involve making observations, forming hypotheses, testing those hypotheses through experiments, and analyzing the results. This process helps ensure that scientific findings are objective, reliable, and repeatable.

Answer: E) 
 While scientists do use a variety of methods and approaches to test their ideas, the scientific method is generally a shared, standardized process that is followed by researchers across different fields. This process involves collecting and analyzing data, testing hypotheses, and drawing conclusions based on evidence. While mathematical modeling is a useful tool in science, it is only one of many methods that scientists use to investigate different phenomena.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The atomic number of an element is defined as the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element. It determines the chemical properties and identity of the element.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following choices best describes...

Question 8

Isotopes differ from each other by their number of
A)Ions
B)protons
C)Atoms
D)neutrons
E)electrons

Accepted Answer

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons, and thus have different atomic masses. The number of protons, electrons, and ions stay the same in isotopes of the same element.

Question 9

All of the following are elements except
A)Water
B)oxygen
C)nitrogen
D)hydrogen
E)Carbon

Accepted Answer

Water is a compound composed of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. The other choices, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon, are all elements on the periodic table.

Question 10

The Bormann-Likens controlled experiment in forest valleys in New Hampshire showed that water flowing out of deforested areas, when compared to undisturbed areas,
A)was greater in volume by 30 to 40%
B)was less in volume by 30 to 40%
C)had more soil nutrients dissolved in the water
D)was less in volume by 30 to 40% and had fewer soil nutrients dissolved in the water
E)was greater in volume by 30 to 40% and had more soil nutrients dissolved in the water

Accepted Answer

The Bormann-Likens experiment demonstrated that deforested areas had increased water runoff and higher levels of dissolved soil nutrients compared to undisturbed areas.

Question 11

A tiny, tawny colored butterfly called the Carson Wandering Skipper was always known for its small and very localized populations.
a.Typically, it was found along the western Nevada and eastern California high desert areas.
a.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.
a.Biologists became alarmed and began an intensive search for populations in locations other than the spot designated for the freeway bypass.
a.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

Accepted Answer

The decline in populations of the Carson Wandering Skipper is the identification of a problem.

Question 12

Protons, neutrons, and electrons are all
A)forms of energy
B)equal in mass
C)subatomic particles
D)negative ions
E)charged particles

Accepted Answer

Protons, neutrons, and electrons are all types of subatomic particles that make up atoms. Specifically, protons and neutrons make up the nucleus of an atom while electrons orbit around the nucleus.

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

Accepted Answer

An element can combine with one or more other element to make a compound. This is the main characteristic of elements - they can participate in chemical bonding to form compounds. Therefore, options A, B, and D are incorrect. Option E is also incorrect as it implies that more than one answer is correct, but only option C is correct.

Question 14

As they searched for previously unknown populations of the Carson Wandering Skipper, biologists wondered if hot springs were absolutely essential to its survival. a.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

Accepted Answer

Biologists are in the phase of finding out what is known (about the Carson Wandering Skipper's habitat) and asking a question (whether hot springs are essential for its survival).

Question 15

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)none of these answers

Accepted Answer

Ions are formed when an atom gains or loses one or more electrons, resulting in a net positive or negative charge. This is the most common and correct way of defining an ion.

B, C, and D are incorrect because gaining or losing a proton or neutron would result in a different element or isotope, rather than an ion.

E is incorrect because the other choices are all valid ways that ions can be formed.

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

Accepted Answer

Science is an endeavor to discover how nature works, as it involves systematic observation, testing, and analysis to develop and refine our understanding of the natural world. Option A is incorrect because science studies the natural world as it exists now, rather than focusing on its history. Option B correctly describes one of the goals of science, but it is not the primary one. Option C is incorrect because science aims to develop a coherent and consistent body of knowledge, rather than being a random collection of facts. Option D is also incorrect because scientific knowledge is based on large amounts of evidence gathered through rigorous testing and experimentation.

Question 17

The building blocks of matter are
A)Atoms
B)Ions
C)molecules
D)all of these answers
E)Matter is only made up of atoms.

Accepted Answer

Atoms, ions, and molecules are all considered building blocks of matter, as they represent different forms and combinations of matter's fundamental components.

Question 18

The Bormann-Likens study in the Hubbard Brooks Experimental Forest in New Hampshire can 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 and retain water
C)an example of how scientists learn about the effects of our actions on natural systems
D)all of these answers
E)only two of these answers

Accepted Answer

The Bormann-Likens study conducted in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire was a comparison of a control site with an experimental site in nature. The aim was to understand what can occur in a forest watershed without plants to absorb and retain water. This study is a classic example of how scientists learn about the effects of our actions on natural systems. Therefore, all three options are correct, and the best answer is D - all of these answers.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The scientists, with enough data,
A)would be able...

Question 20

Which of the following statements does not describe scientific investigations?
A)They can disprove things completely.
B)They cannot prove things completely.
C)Bias can be present but can be minimized.
D)They are limited to understanding the natural world.
E)They can utilize mathematical models.

Accepted Answer

Scientific investigations cannot completely disprove things; they can only provide evidence that supports or refutes a hypothesis.

Quiz 2: Science, Matter, and Energy

The atomic mass number is equal to the sum of the

Matter

Scientific hypotheses differ from scientific theories in that they are

Which of the following does not characterize frontier science?

When scientists are testing ideas to determine facts, they

The atomic number is the number of

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

Isotopes differ from each other by their number of

All of the following are elements except

The Bormann-Likens controlled experiment in forest valleys in New Hampshire showed that water flowing out of deforested areas, when compared to undisturbed areas,

Protons, neutrons, and electrons are all

An element

As they searched for previously unknown populations of the Carson Wandering Skipper, biologists wondered if hot springs were absolutely essential to its survival. a.This phase of the investigation is

Ions are atoms or groups of atoms that have

Science

The building blocks of matter are

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

The scientists, with enough data,

Which of the following statements does not describe scientific investigations?