CONTEST 35

ROUND 1
1. An aqueous solution of a drug is labelled 142 ppm. Explain how 1 dm3 of the solution was prepared
from a 100% pure drug.
ANSWER: 142 ppm ≡ 142 parts of drug per million parts of water
Therefore, 142 g in 106 cm3of water
i.e. 142 g in 103 dm3
Therefore, mass of drug dissolved in 1 dm3 of water = 0.142 g
2. An aqueous solution of a disinfectant is labelled as having a concentration of 37% w/v. Explain how
5 dm3 solution of this disinfectant may have been prepared.
ANSWER: 37 w/v means:
100 cm3 solution contain 37 g of pure disinfectant
Therefore, 1 dm3 solution contain 370 g of pure disinfectant
Therefore, mass of disinfectant required in 5 dm3 of solution = 5*370 = 1850 g
Hence, weigh 1850 g (or 1.85 kg) of the disinfectant and add water till volume is up to 5
dm3 (do not accept addition of 5 dm3of water because the disinfectant may be a liquid)
3. Convert the concentration of 0.0025 moldm-3 of NaOH to ppm NaOH.
Na = 23.0, O = 16.0, H = 1.0
ANSWER: Molar mass of NaOH = 40g
Concentration in gdm-3 = 40*0.0025 = 0.1 g
Therefore, 1000 cm3 contain 0.1g
Hence, 106 cm3 contain100g
Therefore, concentration in ppm = 100

PREAMBLE: The position of a particle of mass moving along the -axis is given in meters as a

function of time in seconds by .

4. Determine the initial net force on the particle.

ANSWER:

5. Determine the linear momentum of the particle at .

ANSWER:

6. Determine the work of the net force on the particle from to .

 ANSWER:

7. What name is given to the partially developed plant found in seeds?

ANSWER: Embryo
8. Name the process in flowering plants that will be first affected if the stigma of the flowers is
removed.
ANSWER: Pollination
9. A plant that has colourful flowers and produces nectar is probably pollinated by what agent?
ANSWER: Insects
PREAMBLE: Find the number of significant figures for the given number.
10. 0.0350.
ANSWER: 3 sig. fig
11. 2,070.
ANSWER: 3 sig. fig.
12. 7.0205.
ANSWER: 5 sig. fig.
13. What is the oxidation state of phosphorus in the acid H3PO4?
ANSWER: +5
14. Determine the oxidation state of phosphorus in the compound PH3.
ANSWER: -3
15. What is the oxidation of nitrogen in the molecule NH2OH?
ANSWER: -1

16. A potential divider comprises a resistor in series with a resistor. Find the potential difference

across the resistor when the potential difference across the series combination is .

ANSWER:

17. A transistor bias circuit comprises a potential divider with a resistor in series with a second resistor

which has a potential difference of at across the series combination. What is the resistance of the

second resistor?

ANSWER:
18. A resistor in series with a resistor has a potential difference of . Find the potential

difference across the series combination.

ANSWER:

PREAMBLE: Fill in the blank.

19. A field of sunflowers facing the sun is an example of …….
ANSWER: Responsiveness
20. The changes in human babies during their first year of life is an example of ….
ANSWER: Development
21. The analysis of biological traits to identify people is known as ……
ANSWER: Biometrics
PREAMBLE: Find the numbers a and b such that…
22. x2 – 4x – 5 = a + (x + b)2.
ANSWER: a = -9, b = -2 [ (x – 2)2 – 4 – 5 = (x – 2)2 – 9, a = -9, b = -2]
23. x2 + 6x + 7 = a + (x + b)2.
ANSWER: a = -2, b = 3 [ (x + 3)2 – 9 + 7 = (x + 3)2 – 2, a = -2, b = 3 ]
24. x2 + 8x + 20 = a + (x + b)2
ANSWER: a = 4, b = 4 [ (x + 4)2 – 16 + 20 = (x + 4)2 + 4, a = 4, b = 4]
25. Explain why endothermic compounds are not supposed to be stable to heat.
ANSWER: Endothermic compounds contain more internal energy than their elements in
their standard states from which they are formed. OR They are less stable than the
reactants from which they are formed
26. Explain why exothermic reactions are supposed to occur spontaneously.
ANSWER: In exothermic reaction, the products formed are more stable OR
Contain less energy than the reactants.
27. The combustion of butane is highly exothermic yet it does not occur spontaneously in our cookers
unless or until we strike a match, why?
ANSWER: Reaction of butane gas with oxygen has high activation energy and needs
external energy to initiate the reaction.

PREAMBLE: A fixed quantity of ideal gas at an initial pressure of undergoes an isobaric

process in which its volume is doubled followed by an isothermal process which returns it to its initial
volume.
28. Find its final pressure.

ANSWER:

29. If its initial temperature is , find its final temperature.

ANSWER:

30. Find the final molar density of the gas. The molar ideal gas constant is approximately .

ANSWER:

31. What name is given to the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with the
non-living part of the environment?
ANSWER: Ecology
32. What name is given to the branch of biology that involves the study of change in types of organism
over time?
ANSWER: Evolution
33. What name is given to biological studies that involve finding out how diseases are spread?
ANSWER: Epidemiology
PREAMBLE: Find the next prime number after
34. 173.
ANSWER: 179 [174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179]
35. 183.
ANSWER: 191 [184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191]
36. 193.
ANSWER: 197 [194, 195, 196, 197]
 ROUND 2 - SPEED ROUND

1. In the cathode ray experiment by J. J. Thompson which plate in the electric field was the ray deflected
away from?
ANSWER: From the negative plate
2. In the cathode ray experiment by J. J. Thompson, what was the source of the ray formed?
ANSWER: From the very small amount of the gas in the evacuated tube
3. What was the model of the atom proposed by J. J. Thompson based on the results of his experiment?
ANSWER: He described the atom as a solid sphere with electrons stuck uniformly in it
4. The ratio of the volumes of two cones with the same height is 9 : 16. Find the ratio of their radii.
ANSWER: 3 : 4
[V =πr2h, V1/V2 = r12/r22 = 9/16, hence r1/r2 = ¾, r1 : r2 = 3 : 4]
5. Evaluate sin(315°).
ANSWER: -1/√2 or -√2/2 [sin315 = sin(360 – 45) = -sin45 = -1/√2]
6. If f(x ) = 2x - 5, evaluate f – 1(13).
ANSWER: 9 [2x - 5 = 13, 2x = 18, x = 9]
7. What is the target isotope in uranium enrichment?
ANSWER: Uranium-235

8. What is the period of small amplitude oscillations of a simple pendulum of length whose bob has a

mass of ?

ANSWER:

9. Find the emf of a homopolar generator comprising a disc of radius rotating at in a uniform

field parallel to the axis of the generator.

 ANSWER:

10. What name is given to the anti-bacterial substances produced by lymphocytes?

ANSWER: Antibodies
11. The model for the dihybrid cross of two heterozygotes predicts what phenotypic ratio?
ANSWER: [Link].
12. A man with blood group AB marries a woman who is heterozygous A. Among the blood types of
their children, how many different genotypes and phenotypes are possible?
ANSWER: 4 genotypes and 3 phenotypes
PROBLEM OF THE DAY

1. The figure shows a simple circuit for rectification.

Output Load
Input

a) Identify the components labeled and in the figure.

b) What is the function of the component labeled in the circuit?

 c) Sketch on the given graph, the output wave form corresponding to the input wave form
given on the graph when the component is removed from the circuit.

Input wave form

d) Determine the average and rms values of the input signal if it is a pure sine wave with an
amplitude of 10 V.

SOLUTION

a) The components labeled are diodes; the component labeled is a capacitor.

b) The capacitor smooths the output (or it reduces output ripple/output fluctuation).
c) When the capacitor is removed, no smoothing occurs and the output displays the full-wave ripple.

d) The mean of a sinusoid is zero. Its rms value is .

 ROUND 4

TRUE OR FALSE

1. A kite has a center of symmetry.

ANSWER: False
2. An equilateral triangle has a center of symmetry.
ANSWER: False
3. A rectangle has a center of symmetry.
ANSWER: True
4. Tapeworms belong to the genus Schistosoma.
ANSWER: False
5. Tapeworms have a fluid filled cavity between the gut and the body wall.
ANSWER: False
6. Tapeworms do not have a digestive system,
ANSWER: True
7. When two objects with different heat capacities but the same temperature are brought into thermal
contact, heat spontaneously flows from the object with a higher heat capacity to the object with the
lower heat capacity.
ANSWER: False
8. If two objects have different heat capacities, the object with the larger heat capacity requires a greater
quantity of heat for the same temperature change as does the other object.
ANSWER: True
9. When two objects with different heat capacities but the same temperature are brought into thermal
contact, heat spontaneously flows from the object with the lower heat capacity to the object with the
higher heat capacity.
ANSWER: False
10. 3–undecanone has 11 carbons and one oxygen atom in its molecule.
ANSWER: True
11. There are 18–hydrogen atoms in a molecule of 3–nonyne.
ANSWER: False There should be 16. C2H5C ≡ CC5H11
12. There are 14 hydrogen atoms in a molecule of 2–heptanone.
ANSWER: True CH3COC5H11
13. The mode of a set of numbers is unique.
ANSWER: False
14. The median of a set of numbers is unique.
ANSWER: True
15. The median is the second quartile.
ANSWER: True
16. Herbaceous plants have non woody stems.
ANSWER: True
17. Sapwood contains xylem vessels that cannot conduct water.
ANSWER: False
18. Fruit is a characteristic associated only with flowering plants.
ANSWER: True
19. The fundamental mode of a vibrating string fixed at both ends has two nodes.
ANSWER: False
20. The fundamental mode of a vibrating string fixed at both ends has one node.
ANSWER: False
21. The fundamental mode of a vibrating string fixed at both ends has no antinodes.
ANSWER: False
22. The two half cells Ag+/Ag and H+/H2/Pt with electrode potentials 0.80 and 0.0 V respectively can be
used in principle to set up a voltaic cell.
ANSWER: True
23. The two half cells Ni2+/Ni and Cu2+/Cu with electrode potentials - 0.23 and + 0.34 V respectively can
be used to set up a voltaic cell.
ANSWER: True
24. The two half cells Fe2+/Fe and Cd2+/Cd with electrode potentials - 0.40 and - 0.40 V respectively
cannot be used to set up a voltaic cell.
ANSWER: True (Emf = 0 V)

ROUND 5
 RIDDLES
RIDDLE 1
1. Scientifically, I am divided into lentic systems and lotic systems.
2. I am a renewable and variable, but finite natural resource.
3. I am an important natural resource necessary for the survival of all ecosystems.
4. I create a hypotonic environment for aquatic organisms.
5. I can be defined as water with less than 500 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved salts.
Who am I?

ANSWER: Freshwater

RIDDLE 2

1. I am a two digit number.

2. I am an odd number.
3. The sum of my digits is a cube of an even prime.
4. My last digit is an identity for an arithmetical operation.
5. I am just short of 6 dozens.
Who am I?

ANSWER: 71
 RIDDLE 3

1. I am a salt, comprising a simple cation and a simple anion.

2. I am soluble in cold water but insoluble in petroleum ether.
3. If a drop of my aqueous solution is dropped into a colourless flame, the flame will become
intense golden yellow.
4. My anion is derived from an element in Group 7 or 17.
5. The alcoholic aqueous solution of that element can be used as an antiseptic.
6. That same element forms a blue complex with starch.
Who am I?

ANSWER: Sodium iodide or NaI

RIDDLE 4

1. I am one of the particles that make up matter.

2. I have mass so I can interact with other particles via the gravitational force.
3. However, my principal interaction is electromagnetic.
4. I have been described as the real object that comes closest to a mathematical point.

5. But I am no mere point: a mass of order , spin- , charge of order , and extra

nuclear in atoms;
6. I give electricity both its name and character.
Who am I?

ANSWER: Electron