CONTEST 38

ROUND 1

1. Why is DNA able to store large amounts of information?

ANSWER: Its nucleotides can be arranged in a large number of possible sequences
2. What will happen if a human gene mRNA were placed into a cell of yeast?
ANSWER: It would be translated into the protein that is found in humans.
3. Why is only one strand of DNA transcribed into a mRNA?
ANSWER: Because transcribing both DNA strands would produce different amino acid
sequences.
4. What is the percentage by weight of oxygen in the earth’s crust?
ANSWER: 47% (Accept ±1)
5. What is the percentage by volume of oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere?
ANSWER: 20.95% (Accept ± 1)
6. What is the percentage by weight of oxygen in the oceans?
ANSWER: 89% (Accept ± 2)

7. A series L-R-C circuit comprises a inductor, a capacitor, and a resistor. Find the angular

frequency of damped oscillations of the circuit.

ANSWER:

8. A series L-R-C circuit with a inductor and a resistor executes damped oscillations at an angular

frequency of . What is the capacitance of the capacitor in the circuit?

ANSWER:

9. The resistor in the series L-R-C circuit is changed to but the inductor is maintained at . What

must the capacitance be for damped oscillations at ?

ANSWER:

PREAMBLE: Expand
10. (xn + 3)(xn – 5).
ANSWER: x2n - 2xn – 15 [x2n – 5xn + 3xn – 15 = x2n – 2xn – 15]
11. (3x2 + 4)(2x2 – 7).
ANSWER: 6x4 – 13x2 – 28 [6x4 – 21x2 + 8x2 – 28 = 6x4 – 13x2 – 28]
12. (y3 – 8)(y3 – 9).
ANSWER: y6 – 17y3 + 72 [y6 – 9y3 – 8y3 + 72 = y6 – 17y3 + 72]
PREAMBLE: Give the functions of the following parts of the vertebra of mammals.
13. Vertebraterial canal.
ANSWER:
i. It serves as a channel for the vertebral artery to pass through to the brain /
ii. It protects the artery as it crosses the vulnerable region of the neck
14. The odontoid process.
ANSWER: It serves as a pivot point for the skull and first cervical vertebrae, which allows the
head to rotate side to side.
15. Olecranon process.
ANSWER: It forms the outer bump of the elbow and fits into the fossa of the humerus when the
arm is extended / It prevents the humerus from sliding backwards.
PREAMBLE: State whether a given polymer is natural or artificial, whether it is an addition or
condensation polymer and lastly, state the functional group or type of bond linking the monomers in the
polymer.
16. Nylon.
ANSWER: Artificial, condensation
Functional group/bond type: Amide group/bond
17. Rubber.
ANSWER: Natural, addition
Functional group/bond type: carbon – carbon single bond
18. Polystyrene.
ANSWER: Artificial, addition
Functional group/bond type5: carbon – carbon single bond

PREAMBLE: The mean radius of the earth is and its mass is . The mass of

the moon is and its orbital radius is . In 2004, the Aura mission injected a

spacecraft into a very nearly circular orbit about above the surface of the earth.

19. What is the approximate orbital period of Aura in minutes?

ANSWER:
20. What is the approximate orbital speed of the Aura spacecraft in ?

ANSWER:

21. What is the gravitational field strength of Earth in the orbit of Aura?

ANSWER:

PREAMBLE: If matrices A and B are given by A = and B = , find

22. 2A + B

ANSWER: [

23. A - 2B

ANSWER: [ ]

24. A + 2B

ANSWER: [ ]

25. Why is it advantageous for cells to be small?

ANSWER: Small cell has a small volume relative to surface area, thereby increasing efficient
transport of substances.
26. State the property that allows larger cells to have an effective surface area to volume ratio.
ANSWER: Having thin, finger-like projections.
27. Why do membrane-bound organelles facilitate faster chemical reactions?
ANSWER: The reactants are within close proximity to each other.
PREAMBLE: Consider the following bond energies, all in kJmol-1:
C = O 799, C – C 346, C – H 432, O – H 459, O2 494
28. Calculate the energy liberated when all the new bonds are made in the combustion of methane in
excess oxygen.
ANSWER: CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O
 Bonds formed = 2 C = O - 799*2 = - 1598
4 O – H - 459*4 = - 1836
Energy change = - 1598 – 1836= - 3434 kJ or – 3.43*103 kJ
29. Calculate the energy required to break all the bonds in the combustion of methane.
ANSWER: CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O
4 C – H 4*432 = 1728
2 O2 2*494 = 988
Energy change = 1728+ 988
= 2716 kJ or 2.71*103 kJmol-1
30. Calculate the enthalpy of combustion of 8.0 g of methane,
C= 12, H = 1
The energy required to break all bonds per mole is + 2716 kJ and energy given out per mole when
all new bonds are formed is – 3434 kJ.
ANSWER: Molar mass of methane = 12 + 4 = 16
Therefore, enthalpy of combustion per mole = (- 3434 + 2716)
For 8.0 g of CH4, ΔH = 8/16 (-718) = -359 kJ or -3.59*102 k

31. Two balls one moving at and the other at collide head-on and stick together.

Find the final common speed of the balls.

ANSWER:

32. Two balls one moving at and the other at collide head-on and one of them

continues at . Find the speed of the other ball.

ANSWER:

33. Two balls one moving at and the other at collide head-on and one of them

continues at . Find the coefficient of restitution.

ANSWER:

PREAMBLE: Find the degree measures of the angles of a triangle if they are in a ratio of
34. 2 : 3 : 5
ANSWER: 36°, 54°, 90°
 [2x + 3x + 5x = 180, x = 18, 2x = 36, 3x = 54, 5x = 90 ]
35. 3 : 4 : 5
ANSWER: 45°, 60°, 75°
[3x + 4x + 5x = 12x = 180, x = 15, 3x = 45, 4x = 60, 5x = 75]
36. 1 : 3 : 5
ANSWER: 20°, 60°, 100°
[x + 3x + 5x = 180, x = 20, 3x = 60, 5x = 100]

ROUND 2 - SPEED ROUND

1. A resistor is in series with a parallel combination of a resistor and a resistor. Which of the

resistors carries the least current when a potential difference is applied across the series combination?

ANSWER:

2. The angular magnification of a simple magnifying glass is divided by the focal length of the

magnifying glass. What does the distance in the magnification expression represent?

ANSWER: Near point of young adult or least distance of distinct vision

3. The concentration of electrons in the conduction band of an intrinsic semiconductor at is

. Determine the concentration of holes in the valence band of the semiconductor at .

ANSWER:

4. Living organisms are known to be sensitive. What does this mean?

ANSWER: This means that when they receive a stimulus, they make a response.
5. What is the main distinction between ‘breathing’ and ‘respiration’?
ANSWER: Breathing implies obtaining oxygen from the environment and the release of
carbon dioxide. Respiration is the breakdown of organic molecules (food) to release energy
which is used to drive all the living processes in an organism.
6. A woman has blood group OO and the daughter has a blood group different from the two parents.
What is the possible blood group of the girl’s father?
ANSWER: AB
7. Given that statement P is true and statement Q is false, determine the truth value of the implication ‘if
Q then P’.
 ANSWER: TRUE
8. Solve the equation 8x = 4x – 1.
ANSWER: x = -2 [23x = 22(x – 1), 3x = 2(x – 1), x = -2]
9. If sinx = a/b, find sin(180° – x) given that x is acute.
ANSWER: a/b [sin(180 – x) = sinx = a/b]
10. How would you name a system consisting of electrodes that dip in an electrolyte and in which a
chemical reaction either uses or generates an electric current?
ANSWER: Electrochemical Cell
11. The Voltaic cell is a class of electrochemical cells. What do we call the maximum potential difference
between the electrodes?
ANSWER: Electromotive Force(Emf)
12. Two half – cells, X+/X and Y+/Y where X and Y are metals, have the electrode potentials – 1.60 and
0.90 volts respectively. Which of the two metals can react with dilute mineral acid to release
hydrogen gas?
ANSWER: X (Reason: Potential for the half-cell X – e → X+ has to be positive)
 PROBLEM OF THE DAY

A kinetic experiment was performed for the reaction, A (g) → B (g). The reaction is
suspected to be first order with respect to reactant A and for a first order reaction, the
following relationships hold;
-dA/dt = k [A] ………………… (a)
log [At]/[Ao] = - kt/2.303 …….. (b)
The experimental data collected are as follows;
t (s) 0 300 600 900

Concentration A in 0.032 0.024 0.010 0.050

moldm-3

log [A] -1.530 -1.635 -1.735 -1.845

(1) Explain (in words) how you would use the data graphically to demonstrate that the
reaction is first order with respect to A
(2) Use the results at t = 300s to calculate the rate constant for the reaction assuming

that the results are consistent with first order kinetics. You may leave your answer

as an expression involving 2.303. Give the units of the constant.

SOLUTION
 1) Equation (a) may be re–arranged to give
log [At] = - kt/2.303 + log [Ao]
Plot a graph of log[At] vs. t. A straight line confirms 1st order reaction.
OR Plot a graph of log [At]/[Ao] vs. t ( award less marks for this)

2) t = 300; log [At] = - 1.635

t = 0 log [Ao] = - 1.530
- 1.635 = - k*300/2.303– 1.530
k = + (1.635 – 1.530)*2.303/300 = (0.105*2.303*10-2)/3

= (0.035*2.303)*10-2 = (3.5*2.303)*10-4 s-1

ROUND 4

TRUE OR FALSE

1. Doubling the temperature of a given amount of a gas from 30oC to 60oC doubles its pressure at a
constant volume.
ANSWER: False The temperatures have to be absolute temperature
2. 10 dm3 of Argon at 100 kPa will contain as many atoms as molecules in 10 dm3 of chlorine gas at 100
kPa.
ANSWER: True Avogadro’s law
3. Helium, molar mass 4, will diffuse half as fast as hydrogen, with molar mass 2.

ANSWER: False It will be

4. The product of a non-zero rational number and an irrational number is irrational.

ANSWER: True
5. The product of a rational number and an integer is an integer.
ANSWER: False
6. The product of two rational numbers is never a whole number.
ANSWER: False
7. The orbital speed of an artificial earth satellite in a circular orbit is proportional to the square root of
the ratio of the mass of the satellite to the radius of the orbit.
ANSWER: False
8. The orbital period of an artificial earth satellite in a circular orbit is proportional to the square root of
the cube of the radius of the orbit.
 ANSWER: True
9. The orbital period of an artificial earth satellite in an elliptic orbit does not depend on the mass of the
satellite but is proportional to the cube of the square root of the semi-major axis of the orbit.
ANSWER: True
10. The change in size of the pupil of the eye in response to light intensity is an example of a reflex
action.
ANSWER: True
11. Coughing or sneezing in response to irritation of the nasal passages and trachea or bronchi, is an
example of a reflex action.
ANSWER: True
12. The rapid removal of the hand from a hot or sharp object is an example of a reflex action.
ANSWER: True
13. Ethyl benzoate, on treatment with warm dilute HCl will yield ethanoic acid.
ANSWER: False Will yield benzoic acid
14. Ethyl benzene, on treatment with hot acidified KMnO4 will yield benzoic acid.
ANSWER: True
15. Propyl benzene, on treatment with hot acidified KMnO4 will yield propanoic acid.
ANSWER: False Will yield benzoic acid
16. Opposite angles of a rhombus are supplementary.
ANSWER: False
17. Adjacent angles of a kite are supplementary.
ANSWER: False
18. Adjacent angles of a parallelogram are supplementary.
ANSWER: True
19. As the temperature of a conductor is increased, the number of free electrons present in it decreases,
thereby decreasing its electrical conductivity.
ANSWER: False
20. A good conductor of electricity has a high electrical conductivity because its valence and conduction
bands are completely filled with electrons, thereby providing abundant electrons for current flow.
ANSWER: False
21. The conductivity of a metal decreases as temperature increases because even though its conduction
band contains free states that electrons can occupy, lattice vibrations, which impede electron flow,
become more intense as temperature increases.
ANSWER: True
22. Adrenaline increases the heart rate and reduces the release of glucose from the liver.
ANSWER: False
23. Adrenaline reduces the heart rate and increases the release of glucose from the liver.
ANSWER: False
24. Adrenaline reduces the heart rate and reduces the release of glucose from the liver.
ANSWER: False

ROUND 5
RIDDLES
RIDDLE 1

1. I am an emission process.
2. I occur in the presence of photons,
3. But I also occur when no photons are present.
4. I generate photons whose properties are not correlated with those of photons already present.
5. So my product is distinguishable from that of a stimulated process.
Who am I?

ANSWER: Spontaneous emission

RIDDLE 2

1. I am a complex structure.
2. I am initially made up of many separate bony elements.
3. During development, many of these bony elements gradually fuse together into solid bone.
4. I support the structures of the face and form a cavity for the brain.
5. I am the bony structure that forms the head in the human skeleton.
Who am I?

ANSWER: The Skull / Cranium

RIDDLE 3

1. I am a type of number.
2. People think there is something logical about me because of my name.
3. I normally comprise of two integers with the second not being zero.
4. I am just a ratio hence my name.
5. I am the quotient of two integers.
6. I am simply a fraction.
Who am I?

ANSWER: Rational Number

RIDDLE 4

1. I am a chemical with a rather long name.

2. Most chemistry students do not know that I can be used as a laxative; to them I am a kind of a
dye.
3. Like a chameleon I change my colour depending on my environment.
4. Indeed I change my colour as pH changes.
5. Obviously I am useful in Volumetric Analyses.
6. I am pink in solutions of high pH and colourless in solutions at pH 8 or lower.
Who am I?

ANSWER: Phenolphthalein