CONTEST 44

ROUND 1

1. Two groups of fungi are considered as the largest and the most advanced. Name any one of them.
ANSWER: Ascomycota / Basidiomycota
2. What name is given to the flexible outer region of cytoplasm that gives members of the phylum
ciliophora a definite shape?
ANSWER: Pellicle
3. What name is given to the filaments that anchor bryophytes to their substratum?
ANSWER: Rhizoids
PREAMBLE: Find the first four terms of the sequence whose general term Un is given by:
4. Un = n/(2n – 1)
ANSWER: 1, 2/3, 3/5, 4/7 [U1= 1/1, U2 = 2/(4 – 1) = , 2/3 U3 = 3/(6 – 1) , U4 =4/(8 – 1)]
n
5. Un = 2
ANSWER: 2, 4, 8, 16 [U1 = 2, U2 = 22 = 4, U3 = 23 = 8, U4 = 24 = 16]
6. Un = 3n – 3
ANSWER: 0, 3, 6, 9 [U1 = 0, U2 = 6 – 3 = 3, U3 = 9 – 3= 6, U4 = 12 – 3 = 9
PREAMBLE: A constant 100 N force acts for 5 s on an object initially at rest, resulting in a speed of
20 m / s.
7. What is the acceleration produced by the force?
2
ANSWER: 4m/s
2
a=v / t=4 m / s
8. What is the mass of the object?
ANSWER: 25 kg
m=F / a=25 kg
9. Find the change in linear momentum of the object in the last second.
ANSWER: 100 N s=100 kg m / s
10. How many sub–shells are present at the third energy level of atoms?
ANSWER: 3, s, p and d
11. How many orbitals are present in any p–subshell?
ANSWER: 3. px, py, and pz
12. How many electrons can the d–subshell accommodate?
ANSWER: 10 electrons

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13. Name one of the basic mechanisms each by which movement across the cell surface membrane
occur.
ANSWERS:
a) Diffusion
b) Osmosis
c) Active Transport
d) Endocytosis
e) Exocytosis

PREAMBLE: Find the first three terms in the binomial expansion in ascending powers of x.
14. (1 + 2x)4
ANSWER: 1 + 8x + 24x2 [1 + 4(2x ) + 6(2x)2 + . . . = 1 + 8x + 24x2]
15. (1 – 3x)3
ANSWER: 1 – 9x + 27x2 [1 + 3(-3x) + 3(-3x)2 + . . . = 1 – 9x + 27x2]
16. (1 + 2x)5
ANSWER: 1 + 10x + 40x2 [ 1 + 5(2x) + 10(2x)2 + . . . = 1 + 10x + 40x2]
PREAMBLE: Determine the single letter represented by X and name the particle whose symbol is
given.
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17. ❑0 X
ANSWER: X =n; Neutron
1
18. ❑1 X
ANSWER: X = p; Proton
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19. ❑2 X
ANSWER: X =α ; Alpha particle (or helium nucleus)
20. Almost all sodium is made by electrolysis of molten sodium chloride. Name the product that may be
harvested at the anode.
ANSWER: Chlorine gas.
21. Some calcium chloride is added to the molten sodium chloride. What do you think is the reason for
this addition?
ANSWER: To serve as solute/impurity and lower the melting point of the sodium chloride.
22. The anode is graphite while the cathode is steel. Why is the anode not steel just like the cathode?
ANSWER: The chlorine liberated at the anode will react with the steel.
23. Which of the cells that constitute the xylem tissue is most efficient in conducting water and mineral
salts?

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 ANSWER: Vessel element
24. Which of the cells that constitute the phloem tissue is most efficient in conducting synthesized
carbohydrates?
ANSWER: Sieve tube element
25. Name the most efficient supportive cell in the xylem.
ANSWER: Tracheids
PREAMBLE: Evaluate the trigonometric expression. (You may leave answer as a surd)
26. sin240°
ANSWER: -(√3)/2 [sin240 = sin(180 + 60) = - sin60 = -(√3)/2]
27. cos(420°)
ANSWER: 1/2 [cos(420) = cos(360 + 60) = cos 60 = ½ ]
28. tan210°
ANSWER: (1/√3) [tan(210) = tan(180 + 30) = tan30 = 1/√3]]
PREAMBLE: An object 2 cm high stands on the principal axis of a concave mirror whose focal length
is 10 cm . The object is 15 cm from the mirror.
29. Find the distance of the image from the mirror.
ANSWER: 30 cm
v=uf / ( u−f )=15 cm× 10 cm÷ ( 15 cm−10 cm ) =30 cm
30. Find the height of the image.
ANSWER: 4 cm
h I =h u v / u=2 cm×30 cm ÷ 15 cm=4 cm
31. Find the distance between the image and the centre of curvature of the mirror.
ANSWER: 10 cm
v−2 f =30 cm−20 cm=10 cm
32. Give the angle of hydrogen–carbon–hydrogen in methane.
ANSWER: 109.5o (tetrahedral angle)
33. The H–O–H bond angle in water is one of the following, 109.5o, 104.5o and 120o, select the right one
and give your reason.
ANSWER: 104.5o; Reason:- Orbitals on oxygen are sp3 hybridized. The two non–
bonding orbitals carrying the lone pairs, repel each other and push the bonding orbitals
closer together. Hence the final angle is smaller than the tetrahedral angle 109.5 o
34. Describe the geometry or shape of the ethene molecule, indicating the position of the pi cloud.

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 ANSWER: The six atoms, 2C and 4H are all in the same plane, with the pi cloud extending
above and below the plane.
35. Name the hormone that is produced by the body when one is frightened, angry, or excited.
ANSWER: Adrenaline
36. Name the organ in vertebrates which is a glandular organ in the digestive system and the endocrine
system.
ANSWER: The pancreas
37. In humans, what is the exact location of the pancreas?
ANSWER: In the abdominal cavity / Behind the stomach
PREAMBLE: Evaluate x if the degree measures of the angles of …
38. a quadrilateral are x, (x – 30), 2x, and (x + 40)
ANSWER: x = 70 [ x + (x – 30) + 2x + (x + 40) = 5x + 10 = 360, 5x = 350, x = 70]
39. a pentagon are x, x, 2x, 2x, 4x
ANSWER: x = 54 [ x + x + 2x + 2x + 4x = 10x = 540, x = 54]
40. a triangle are (2x + 30), (x – 10), (3x + 40)
ANSWER: x = 20 [ (2x + 30) + (x – 10) + (3x + 40) = 6x + 60 = 180, 6x = 120,x = 20]
41. Find the work done by an ideal gas when it absorbs 20 J of heat and its internal energy decreases by 100 J .
ANSWER: 120 J
W =Q−U =20 J −(−100 J )=120 J
42. Find the heat absorbed by an ideal gas when its internal energy increases by 180 J and it does 20 J of work.
ANSWER: 200 J
Q=U + W =180 J +20 J =200 J
43. Find the change in internal energy of an ideal gas when it absorbs 100 J of heat and does 20 J of work.
ANSWER: 80 J
44. Cr2O72- ions in the presence of H+ ions oxidize SO2 molecule to give Cr3+ ions, SO42- ions and water. .
Give me a balanced equation for the reaction.
ANSWER: Cr2O72- + 3SO2 + 2H+ → 2Cr3+ + 3SO42- + H2O
45. Fe3+ ions in water oxidize SO32- ions to give Fe2+, SO42- and H+ ions. . Give me a balanced equation
for the redox reaction.
ANSWER: 2Fe3+ + SO32- + H2O → 2Fe2+ + SO42- + 2H+.
46. Manganese (IV) oxide dissolves in ice–cold concentrated HCl forming the complex ion,
hexachloromanganate (IV) ion, protons and water. Give me a balanced equation for this reaction.
ANSWER: MnO2 + 6HCl → MnCl62- + 2H+ + 2H2O

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 ROUND 2
SPEED RACE

1. Find the de Broglie wavelength associated with a particle whose linear momentum has magnitude
−15
5 ×10 kg m / s . [Take the Planck constant to be approximately 7×(10)-34 J s].
ANSWER: 1 . 4 ×1 0−19 m

λ=h / p=7 ×10−34 J s ÷ ( 5 ×10−15 kg m / s ) =1.4 ×10−19 m

2. Find the linear momentum of a particle whose de Broglie wavelength is 35 pm.
ANSWER: 2 ×1 0−23 kg m / s

p=h / λ=7 ×10−34 J s ÷ ( 35 ×10−12 m )=2 ×10−23 kg m / s

3. Expand in terms of logx, logy and logz: log(xy/√z)
ANSWER: logx + logy – ½ logz
4. What is the frequency of a green photon whose wavelength is 540 nm?
Take the speed of light in vacuum to be approximately3.0 ×10 8 m / s. Give your answer in standard form.
ANSWER: 5.5 ×1 014 Hz
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f =c / λ=5. 5̇ ×10 Hz
5. Find the ratio of the volumes of two cubes whose sides are in the ratio 1: 3.
ANSWER: 1: 27 [ V1/V2 = (x3)/(3x)3 = 1/27, hence ratio is 1: 27]
6. Find the ratio of the surface areas of two spheres whose radii are in the ratio 1: 2.
ANSWER: 1: 4 [A1/A2 = (r)2/(2r2) = ¼, hence ratio is 1: 4]
7. Find the ratio of the volumes of two cones with same height and whose radii are in the ratio 2: 1.
ANSWER: 4:1 [V1/V2 = h(2r)2/hr2 = 4/1, hence ratio is 4 : 1]25
8. Calculate the percentage oxygen in the KMnO4 molecule and give your answer to one place of
decimal. K = 39.0, Mn = 55.0, O = 16.0
ANSWER: KMnO4 = 39 + 55 + 64 = 158
%O = 64/158*100 = 40.5
PREAMBLE: A parallel plate capacitor has plate area 2 m2 and plate separation1 mm. The permittivity
of free space is approximately 9 ×10−12 F / m .
9. Find the capacitance of the capacitor when the space between the plates is evacuated.
ANSWER: 18 nF

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 C=ϵ 0 A / d=9 ×10−12 F / m× 2m2 ÷ ( 10−3 m )=1.8 ×10−8 F=18 nF
10. Solve the linear equation: (x + 2)/3 – (2x + 1)/5 = 2
ANSWER: x = -23 [5(x + 2) - 3(2x + 1) = 30, -x + 7 = 30, x = - 23
11. What is the main advantage of using active transport in the absorption of monosaccharaides and
amino acids in the small intestines?

ANSWER: It ensures that even if the molecules are in small concentrations lower than those
already in the blood they will still pass into the blood.

12. Explain why special organs for gaseous exchange are unnecessary in the earthworm?

ANSWER: The cylindrical shape of the worm gives a high surface area to volume ratio, and
their relative inactivity means that there is only a low rate of oxygen consumption.

ROUND 3

TRUE OR FALSE

1. An n type semiconductor is obtained by introducing electron donors into a pure semiconductor,

thereby creating a negatively charged material.
ANSWER: False
2. An intrinsic semiconductor contains as many electrons in the conduction band as holes in the valence
band.
ANSWER: True
3. A p type semiconductor contains more electrons in the conduction band than holes in the valence
band.
ANSWER: False

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4. A quadratic equation with real coefficients has real roots.
ANSWER: False
5. A quadratic equation can have exactly one root.
ANSWER: True
6. A quadratic equation can have more than two roots.
ANSWER: False
7. The hybridization of the bonding orbitals of boron in BCl3 is sp2.
ANSWER: True
8. The hybridization of the bonding orbitals of phosphorus in phosphine, PH3 is sp3.
ANSWER: True
9. The hybridization of the bonding orbitals of carbon in cyclohexane is sp2, just like those in ethene.
ANSWER: False [ethene (carbons) sp2, cyclohexane (carbons) sp3]
10. In glycolysis, glucose is only partly oxidized.
ANSWER: True
11. Some cells carry out fermentation in the absence of oxygen.
ANSWER: True
12. Glycolysis provides the starting materials for cellular respiration and fermentation.
ANSWER: True
13. An electron moving in a uniform magnetic field experiences a magnetic force that is perpendicular to
the magnetic field.
ANSWER: True
14. An electron moving in a uniform magnetic field experiences a magnetic force that is perpendicular to
the velocity of the electron.
ANSWER: True
15. An electron moving in a uniform magnetic field undergoes a change in kinetic energy that is
proportional to the magnetic field strength.
ANSWER: False
16. A rectangle is equiangular but not equilateral.
ANSWER: True
17. A rhombus is equilateral and equiangular.
ANSWER: False
18. In an isosceles trapezium, there are two pairs of congruent angles.
ANSWER: True
19. The electron affinity of chlorine is larger than that of sulphur.

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 ANSWER: True (Cl 348, S 200 kJmol-1)
20. Carbon has a larger electron affinity than silicon.
ANSWER: False (C 123, Si 135 kJmol-1)
21. For Groups III, IV, V and VI of the Periodic Table, electron affinity increases down each group.
ANSWER: True
22. The phenotype of an organism depends solely on its genetic makeup.
ANSWER: False
23. The genotype and the environment interact to determine the phenotype of an organism.
ANSWER: True
24. Genes at different loci on the same chromosome can separate from one another and recombine by
crossing over.
ANSWER: True

ROUND 4

RIDDLE

Riddle #1

1. I am derived from the principle of equipartition of energy.

2. I was invented to describe the radiation emitted by a heated object.
3. I am one of the precursors to the presently accepted theory for the radiation emitted by a heated
object.
4. I was successful in describing the low frequency portion of the blackbody spectrum.
5. I am associated with what has come to be known as the ultraviolet catastrophe.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Rayleigh-Jeans law

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Riddle #2
1. I am many things to different people.
2. In a way I am a root.
3. I am a set of numbers or values that satisfy an equation.
4. I also satisfy an inequality.
5. I am an answer to a problem.
6. I am also a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Solution

Riddle #3

1. I am a transition metal.
2. I have Swedish connections but I am not found there.
3. I have a melting point of 3410oC and boiling point of 5660oC.
4. I show multivalency of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in my compounds.
5. Because of my high melting point, I am used as filaments for electric lamps, electron and television
tubes.
6. My name and my symbol are as far apart as Tema and Wa.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Tungsten (W).

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Riddle #4

1. I am found in some organisms and especially common in plants.

2. I also occur in some tissues of animals that are otherwise diploid, such as human muscle tissues.
3. I may occur due to abnormal cell division, either during mitosis, or commonly during metaphase I in
meiosis,
4. I can be induced in plants and cell cultures by some chemicals: the best being colchicine,
5. I have many types that are labelled according to the number of chromosome sets in the nucleus:
6. I am used to refer to a numerical change in a whole set of chromosomes.
Who am I?
ANSWER: Polyploidy

1.

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