Back-to-School Science Launch

Scientific Inquiry

1. 100 What empirical method acquires knowledge through observation and testing? Response: scientific method The scientific method is an empirical method for acquiring knowledge through careful observation, rigorous skepticism, hypothesis testing, and experimental validation. Source: Wikipedia, “Scientific method”
2. 200 The scientific method gains knowledge through careful what? Response: observation The scientific method is an empirical method for acquiring knowledge through careful observation, rigorous skepticism, hypothesis testing, and experimental validation. Source: Wikipedia, “Scientific method”
3. 300 Since at least which century has the scientific method shaped science? Response: 17th century The scientific method has characterized science since at least the 17th century. Source: Wikipedia, “Scientific method”
4. 400 What proposed explanation must be testable during scientific inquiry? Response: hypothesis Scientific inquiry includes creating a testable hypothesis through inductive reasoning, testing it through experiments and statistical analysis, and adjusting or discarding the hypothesis based on the results. Source: Wikipedia, “Scientific method”
5. 500 When test results do not support a hypothesis, what two things can a scientist do with it? Response: adjusting or discarding the hypothesis Scientific inquiry includes creating a testable hypothesis through inductive reasoning, testing it through experiments and statistical analysis, and adjusting or discarding the hypothesis based on the results. Source: Wikipedia, “Scientific method”

Cells

1. 100 What is the basic structural and functional unit of living organisms? Response: cell The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all forms of life or organisms. Source: Wikipedia, “Cell (biology)”
2. 200 Which material is enclosed by the semipermeable cell membrane? Response: cytoplasm A biological cell basically consists of a semipermeable cell membrane enclosing cytoplasm that contains genetic material. Source: Wikipedia, “Cell (biology)”
3. 300 What genetic information does the cytoplasm contain? Response: genetic material A biological cell basically consists of a semipermeable cell membrane enclosing cytoplasm that contains genetic material. Source: Wikipedia, “Cell (biology)”
4. 400 Which organelles provide energy for a cell's functions? Response: mitochondria Eukaryotic cells contain other membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, which provide energy for cell functions, and chloroplasts, in plants that create sugars by photosynthesis. Source: Wikipedia, “Cell (biology)”
5. 500 A cell's nucleus is enclosed in a nuclear membrane. What broad type of cell is it? Response: eukaryotic cells In eukaryotic cells, the nucleus is enclosed in the nuclear membrane. Source: Wikipedia, “Cell (biology)”

Solar System

1. 100 What gravitationally bound system contains the Sun and the masses orbiting it? Response: Solar System The Solar System is the gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the masses that orbit it, most prominently its eight planets, of which Earth is one. Source: Wikipedia, “Solar System”
2. 200 Which star is at the center of our solar system? Response: Sun The Solar System is the gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the masses that orbit it, most prominently its eight planets, of which Earth is one. Source: Wikipedia, “Solar System”
3. 300 How many major planets are in our solar system? Response: eight planets The Solar System is the gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the masses that orbit it, most prominently its eight planets, of which Earth is one. Source: Wikipedia, “Solar System”
4. 400 From the collapse of what dense region did the system begin forming? Response: a molecular cloud The system formed about 4.6 billion years ago when a dense region of a molecular cloud collapsed, creating the Sun and a protoplanetary disc from which the orbiting bodies assembled. Source: Wikipedia, “Solar System”
5. 500 About how long ago did the solar system form? Response: about 4.6 billion years ago The system formed about 4.6 billion years ago when a dense region of a molecular cloud collapsed, creating the Sun and a protoplanetary disc from which the orbiting bodies assembled. Source: Wikipedia, “Solar System”

Water Cycle

1. 100 Which biogeochemical cycle continuously changes water's form around Earth? Response: water cycle The water cycle (or hydrologic cycle or hydrological cycle) is a biogeochemical cycle that involves the continuous change in form of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth across different reservoirs. Source: Wikipedia, “Water cycle”
2. 200 What process changes liquid water into vapor? Response: evaporation The processes that drive these movements, or fluxes, are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, sublimation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow. Source: Wikipedia, “Water cycle”
3. 300 Which plant process adds water vapor to the cycle? Response: transpiration The processes that drive these movements, or fluxes, are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, sublimation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow. Source: Wikipedia, “Water cycle”
4. 400 What vapor-to-liquid process precedes cloud droplets? Response: condensation The processes that drive these movements, or fluxes, are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, sublimation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow. Source: Wikipedia, “Water cycle”
5. 500 What is it called when rain or snow falls from clouds to the ground? Response: precipitation The processes that drive these movements, or fluxes, are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, sublimation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow. Source: Wikipedia, “Water cycle”

Ecosystems

1. 100 What system is formed by organisms interacting with their environment? Response: ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by organisms in interaction with their environment. Source: Wikipedia, “Ecosystem”
2. 200 What are the living parts of an ecosystem called? Response: biotic components The biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Source: Wikipedia, “Ecosystem”
3. 300 What are the nonliving parts of an ecosystem called? Response: abiotic components The biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Source: Wikipedia, “Ecosystem”
4. 400 Through what process does matter move repeatedly among ecosystem components? Response: nutrient cycles The biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Source: Wikipedia, “Ecosystem”
5. 500 Living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem are linked by nutrient cycles and what else? Response: energy flows The biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Source: Wikipedia, “Ecosystem”

Final round: Earth Systems

Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation are processes within this continuous movement of water. Response: water cycle The water cycle (or hydrologic cycle or hydrological cycle) is a biogeochemical cycle that involves the continuous change in form of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth across different reservoirs. Source: Wikipedia, “Water cycle”