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Cultura Documentos
Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of Saint John was a
treatise by this member of Parliament. A supporter of the Law of Queen Anne, he moved
England to the gold standard while serving as Master of the Mint. He also demonstrated
the generalized (*) binomial theorem and invented calculus. For 10 points—name this
scientist who developed three laws of motion.
answer: (Sir) Isaac Newton
3. About 18 hours before supernova 1987A was visually observed, detectors registered a
burst of these particles. They streamed almost freely through the outer layers of
supernova 1987A, so they arrived before the photons despite traveling slower than (*)
light, a fact that was established in 2002 when flavor oscillation showed they have mass. For
10 points—name these neutral leptons produced in beta decay.
answer: neutrinos
2. Along with Alfred RadcliffeBrown, this man is considered the founder of social
anthropology, and he held the first chair of that subject at the London School of
Economics. He pioneered the practice of ”participant observation” in the (*) Trobriand
Islands, work that resulted in Argonauts of the Western Pacific. For 10 points—name this
Polishborn anthropologist who wrote The Scientific Theory of Culture.
answer: Bronislaw (Kasper) Malinowski [BRAHnihswahf maluhNOFFskee]
13. Pencil and paper ready. You usually do all your work in Fahrenheit, but a certain
machine component is specified to operate under temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius.
(*) For 10 points—what is the component's maximum operating temperature in degrees
Fahrenheit?
answer: 158 degrees Fahrenheit [(9/5 x 70)+32]
24. A 2007 book by Fred Pearce describes the coming scarcity of this resource as “the defining
crisis of the 21st century.” In May 2008, Turkish leaders denied offering it to Syria as part
of a peace with Israel. A 2007 shortage in Australia helped force John Howard from
power and contributed to the global shortage of (*) rice. For 10 points—name this
compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
answer: water (accept clearknowledge equivalents)
18. This element has the heaviest stable isotope that consists of equal numbers of protons
and neutrons, and its presence in nature complicates potassiumargon dating. Originally
isolated through the electrolysis of (*) lime in mercury, in biology this alkaline earth metal
combines with phosphate to form the main mineral found in bones. For 10 points—name
this element also found in milk.
answer: calcium
9. Like other animals from this phylum, the asconoid [ASKuhnoyd] has a body largely
made up of mesohyl [MEZuhhyle]. They also contains cells that feature a flagellum
surrounded by microvilli that function as a rudimentary digestive system; those cells are
known as (*) choanocytes [kohANuhsytes]. For 10 points—name these simplest animals,
belonging to the phylum Porifera [puhRIHfuhruh].
answer: sponges (accept Porifera or poriferans early)
12. The USDA classifies them into orders including spodosols, oxisols, and histosols. They
usually have layers, designated O, A, E, C, B, and R; those layers, some of which may be
absent, are called horizons. Their texture refers to the prevalence of (*) sands, silts, and
clays. For 10 points—name these collections of decaying organic matter and broken rock
particles that covers most of the Earth not covered by water.
answer: soils (prompt on “earth” before mention)
4. They were predicted following the development of a relativistic wave equation with
solutions associated with negative energy levels. Some betadecaying nuclei emit these,
leaving the baryon number unchanged but reducing the nuclear charge by one. (*) PET
scanners image the body using light these particles create when they interact with tissue.
For 10 points—name these antiparticles of electrons.
answer: positrons (or antielectron before “antiparticle”; prompt on “antiparticle(s)”)
16. Cheiloplasty [KYlohplastee] is the medical term for surgery on these structures, one of
which contains a groove known as the philtrum [FILtrum]. Their edges are known as the
(*) vermilion border, and the muscles that control them are innervated by the facial nerve.
For 10 points—name these structures used to produce labial [LAYbeeul] consonants,
which, when closed, hide the teeth.
answer: lips (accept labia early)
13. Substances with this property include ubiquinol, the pigment lycopene, and superoxide
dismutase [disMYOOtayss]. Those substances can terminate destructive chain reactions
caused by species with odd numbers of (*) electrons, species formed by peroxide ions, and
similar agents. Speculative cures for cancer and aging are linked to—for 10 points—what
molecules that prevent free radicals from causing oxidation?
answer: antioxidants
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14. Princeton researchers announced in February 2008 that liquid nitrogen could be used to
defeat this process. Even after power is shut off, DRAM [Dram] chips will maintain the
same state for several seconds, an interval that can be increased to hours by rapid cooling.
(*) Pattern recognition could then detect security keys, thus foiling—for 10 points—what
type of algorithm used to keep data secret?
answer: encryption (accept clearknowledge equivalents)
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19. The van't Hoff equation gives its logarithmic temperature dependence. Its logarithm is
proportional to the standard potential for a redox reaction, or to the change in Gibbs free
energy for a general reaction. The (*) law of mass action can be used to calculate—for 10
points—what reactionspecific constant that gives the relative amounts of substances present
when a reaction's forward rate and reverse rates are equal?
answer: equilibrium constant
11. The Kordofan and Masai [mahSYE] are among the nine subspecies of this animal. The
largest ruminants, they average less than two hours of sleep per day. They have horns
known as ossicones; in males, those horns tend to be bald because of combat. The (*)
okapi is the closest relative of—for 10 points—what African herbivore whose height may
reach 18 feet, much of which is its neck?
answer: giraffe(s) or Giraffa camelopardalis
16. These compounds disproportionate in the Canizzaro reaction, and they produce a silver
mirror in Tollens' test. They are oxidized by potassium permanganate to yield carboxylic
acids. Their simplest member, once used as a preservative for (*) anatomical samples, is
also called methanal. For 10 points—name these organic molecules that have terminal
carbonyl groups, not the internal ones of ketones.
answer: aldehydes (prompt on “carbonyl”; do not prompt on “ketone”)
5. This organ releases bicarbonate ions in response to secretin [suhKREEtin]. Its
namesake duct forms the ampulla of Vater [VAHtur] where it merges with the common
(*) bile duct. Secretions from its acinar [ASSihnur] cells include inactive forms of trypsin
[TRIPSin] and chymotrypsin [KYEmuhTRIPSin], but it is better known for its endocrine
secretions. For 10 points—name this organ whose islets of Langerhans [LANgurhanz]
secrete glucagon [GLOOkuhgon] and insulin.
answer: pancreas
21. Supersymmetry predicts that fermions have superpartners that are these. The W, Z, and
mesons are known massive ones. They are not subject to the Pauli (*) exclusion principle,
so these particles can occupy the same energy states, and there is evidence for a Higgs one at
150 MeV. For 10 points—gluons, gravitons, and photons are what type of forcecarrying,
integralspin particle named for an Indian scientist?
answer: boson(s)
14. This man calculated the average trajectory of a particle buffeted by random collisions
with molecules in a fluid or gas, thereby explaining Brownian motion. That came while
he was working in the Swiss (*) patent office in the same year he produced the work that
won him the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics. For 10 points—name this man also known for
explaining the photoelectric effect and for his theory of relativity.
answer: Albert Einstein
18. Tincal from the Mojave [moHAHvee] Desert is an important source of this element. It
forms many compounds with banana bonds, and its nitride is isoelectronic with carbon,
forming graphite and diamond analogues. It is electrondeficient, with only three valence
electrons, so it cannot satisfy the (*) octet rule. For 10 points—name this trivalent nonmetal
with atomic symbol B.
answer: boron
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24. Hardin proposed one of these statements for ecology that quantifies man's impact on the
environment. In thermodynamics, this statement holds that a perfect crystal's entropy at
absolute zero is zero. (*) Johannes Kepler's says the square of an orbital period is
proportional to the cube of an orbital radius. For 10 points—what ordinal number do these
laws share with Newton's law about the existence of reaction forces?
answer: third law(s)
12. This phenomenon has an amplitude given by the product of a sine factor with frequency
f1 [“f sub one”] plus f2 over 2 and a cosine factor of frequency f1 minus f2 over 2. The latter
acts as an “envelope” so the dominant sensation is that of a sound whose volume (*)
varies with frequency f1 minus f2. For 10 points—name this acoustical phenomenon
occurring when two sounds of similar frequency are heard together.
answer: beat frequency or beats
16. In spherical geometry, these entities play the role of lines in Euclid's postulates. On an
idealized Earth, they include every meridian, but exclude every parallel of (*) latitude
except one. They also have the property of being geodesics; that is, the shortest distance
between any two points lies along the arc of one. The equator is an example of—for 10
points—what largest circles that can be drawn on a sphere?
answer: great circle(s)
24. Many countries require advertised values for this quantity to be calculated using the
average of the R and M values. Additives such as MTBE and ethanol have scores above
(*) 100, the value of an isomer of its namesake, while 0 corresponds to pure nheptane. For
10 points—name this rating system for the ability to prevent knocking in gasoline engines.
answer: octane rating (accept octane number)
14. For 10 points each—which Italianborn scientist is the namesake of . . .
A. Particles, such as the electron, whose spin is a halfintegral multiple of h bar?
answer: Enrico Fermi [FAIRmee] (accept fermions)
B. The SI unit of potential difference?
answer: Alessandro Volta (prompt on “volt”)
C. The 3,000milewide division between the A and B Rings of Saturn?
answer: Giovanni Domenico Cassini (or Giandomenico Cassini) (accept Cassini division)
18. For 10 points each—name these substances that can go boom:
A. Alfred Nobel perfected this explosive, made from sawdust mixed with nitroglycerin and
formed into a cylindrical stick.
answer: dynamite (do not accept or prompt on “TNT”)
B. Contrary to popular belief—and an AC/DC song—dynamite did not originally contain this
substance which is chemically synthesized from toluene.
answer: TNT or trinitrotoluene
C. This term describes explosives, such as Semtex and C4, that can be formed into almost any
desired shape.
answer: plastic explosives (accept plastique)
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23. They can exist whenever a molecule has a chiral center bound to four different groups. For
10 points each—
A. Name these molecules that are nonsuperimposable mirror images, and thus have nearly
indistinguishable properties.
answer: enantiomers [eeNANshuhmurs or eeNANteeuhmurs] (accept word forms)
B. All or nothing—in the CahnIngoldPrelog [PRAYlog] system, what two adjacent letters of
the alphabet are used to denote the stereochemistry of those chiral centers?
answer: R and S
C. The only physical property that can be used to distinguish enantiomers is how they rotate
this type of light.
answer: (plane)polarized light
22. A transformation from Cartesian to these coordinates has a Jacobian determinant of rho
squared sinephi drho dphi dtheta. Positions are represented by a (*) zenith, ranging
from zero to pi, an azimuth, between zero and twopi, and a distance. For 10 points—name
this coordinate system, the 3D analogue of polar coordinates.
answer: spherical coordinates
10. For 5 points for one, 10 for two, 20 for three, or 30 for all four—are these statements true of
direct current, alternating current, both, or neither?
A. The voltage drop across a resistor is proportional to the square of the current.
answer: neither
B. A capacitor and a resistor hooked to a voltage source will approach an equilibrium state.
answer: direct current (or dc)
C. It can be used to light a standard incandescent light bulb.
answer: both
D. The voltage can be “stepped up” with a transformer.
answer: alternating current (or ac)
13. For 10 points each—name these substances used as antiseptics:
A. A tincture, or alcohol solution of this halogen, is commonly used as an antiseptic in
hospitals. It is a constituent of thyroid hormones.
answer: iodine
B. The nitrate salt of this transition metal is used in developing photographs, and is also placed
in newborns' eyes to prevent perinatal infections.
answer: silver nitrate or AgNO3
C. Somewhat rather inaccurately called “carbolic acid,” this aromatic compound with chemical
formula C6H6O was the antiseptic whose use was pioneered by Joseph Lister.
answer: phenol or hydroxybenzene
16. For 5 points for one, 10 for two, 20 for three, or 30 for all four—are these statements true of
transfer RNA, messenger RNA, both, or neither?
A. They contain uracil rather than thymine.
answer: both
B. They have a cloverleafshaped secondary structure.
answer: transfer RNA or tRNA
C. They are needed for translation to take place.
answer: both
D. They are produced by transcription.
answer: messenger RNA or mRNA
23. This type of machine transforms rotational energy into an electrical current. For 10 points
each—
A. Name this type of device.
answer: electrical generator (or dynamo)
B. A generator can be described as one of these devices, which turn electrical energy into
mechanical energy, run in reverse.
answer: motor
C. Generators work via this principle discovered by Michael Faraday that links electromotive
force to changes in electrical flux.
answer: Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction (accept word forms; accept variants)
17. The use of this ionic compound, first sold by Japan's Ajinomoto company, is
controversial because the anion functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter. It was
commercially extracted from wheat gluten, a protein that contains about 25% by mass of
this compound's anion. It triggers (*) “umami” taste buds, and has been linked to Chinese
restaurant syndrome. For 10 points—name this amino acid salt abbreviated MSG.
answer: monosodium glutamate or sodium glutamate (accept MSG early; prompt on
“glutamate”)
24. These substances are associated with positive radiative forcing, and the release of one of
them is the subject of the Clathrate Gun Hypothesis. They are opaque to 10micron
radiation, but transparent to shorter wavelength (*) photons emitted by the Sun. Water
vapor and carbon dioxide are examples of these substances that warm the Earth. For 10
points—name these gases that act like transparent houses for plants.
answer: greenhouse gases (accept greenhouse effect)
5. For 10 points each—name these types of clouds:
A. These clouds, normally formed by rising parcels of warm air, have defined edges and flat
bases and often look “puffy” in appearance.
answer: cumulus clouds
B. Calvus [KALvuss] and capillatus [kapilLATuss] are types of these clouds, present at up
to 16,000 feet, from which thunderstorms often arise.
answer: cumulonimbus [KYOOMyoolohNIMbuss] cloud
C. These thin, wispy clouds form from ice crystals and are usually found above 26,000 feet.
answer: cirrus clouds
4. The 2005 E158 experiment finally confirmed that this force is distancedependent and the
only fundamental force to exhibit parity violation. It is responsible for all forms of beta
decay, and is carried by the (*) W and Z particles, whose discovery experimentally
confirmed theories unifying it with the electromagnetic force. For 10 points—name this
fundamental force, which is less powerful than the strong nuclear force.
answer: weak nuclear force