SJS MEGA TRIALS, 2025

CONTEST 8

ROUND ONE

FUNDAMENTALS

PREAMBLE: The velocity at time 𝑡𝑡 of a particle of mass 𝑚𝑚 is given by 𝑣𝑣(𝑡𝑡) = 2𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝚤𝚤̂ + 𝑏𝑏𝑡𝑡 3 𝚥𝚥̂.
Find the net force on the particle for the given values of 𝑚𝑚, 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, and 𝑡𝑡.
1. 𝑚𝑚 = 2 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, 𝑎𝑎 = 5 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 −2, 𝑏𝑏 = 3 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 −4, 𝑡𝑡 = 4 𝑠𝑠. Ans: (𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝒊𝒊̂ + 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝒋𝒋̂) 𝑵𝑵

2. 𝑚𝑚 = 1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, 𝑎𝑎 = 2 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 −2, 𝑏𝑏 = 5 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 −4, 𝑡𝑡 = 2 𝑠𝑠. Ans: (𝟒𝟒𝒊𝒊̂ + 𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔𝒋𝒋̂) 𝑵𝑵

3. 𝑚𝑚 = 3 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, 𝑎𝑎 = 4 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 −2, 𝑏𝑏 = 3 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 −4, 𝑡𝑡 = 3 𝑠𝑠. Ans: (𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝒊𝒊̂ + 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝒋𝒋̂) 𝑵𝑵

4. 𝑚𝑚 = 5 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, 𝑎𝑎 = −4 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 −2 , 𝑏𝑏 = 3 𝑚𝑚 𝑠𝑠 −4 , 𝑡𝑡 = 1 𝑠𝑠. Ans: (−𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝒊𝒊̂ + 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝒋𝒋̂) 𝑵𝑵

PREAMBLE: The heat loss rate for a certain body follows Newton’s law of cooling with rate
constant 𝑘𝑘 = (𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 2 ) 𝑠𝑠 −1.

1. If the initial temperature of the body is 600.0 𝐾𝐾 and the temperature of its surroundings
is constant at 500.0 𝐾𝐾, find the temperature of the body after 3.000 𝑠𝑠. Ans: 512.5 𝐾𝐾

2. If the initial temperature of the body is 500.0 𝐾𝐾 and the temperature of its surroundings
is constant at 400.0 𝐾𝐾, find the temperature of the body after 4.000 𝑠𝑠. Ans: 406.3 𝐾𝐾

3. If the initial temperature of the body is 500.0 𝐾𝐾 and the temperature of its surroundings
is constant at 300.0 𝐾𝐾, find the temperature of the body after 2.000 𝑠𝑠.
Ans: 350.0 𝐾𝐾

4. If the initial temperature of the body is 700.0 𝐾𝐾 and the temperature of its surroundings
is constant at 400.0 𝐾𝐾, find the temperature of the body after 5.000 𝑠𝑠. Ans: 409.4 𝐾𝐾

1. For a certain zero-order reaction, it takes 50 minutes for the concentration of a reactant to
drop from 0.80 mol dm⁻³ to 0.30 mol dm⁻³. Calculate the rate constant k in
mol dm⁻³ min⁻¹ Ans: 0.01 mol dm⁻³ min⁻¹

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 2. A zero-order reaction has a rate constant of 0.01 mol dm⁻³ s⁻¹. If the initial concentration
of the reactant is 0.50 mol dm⁻³, calculate the time it will take for the concentration to fall
to 0.20 mol dm⁻³. Ans: 30 seconds

3. A zero-order reaction has a rate constant of 0.025 mol dm⁻³ hr⁻¹. What will be the
concentration of the reactant after 12 hours, if the initial concentration was 0.60
mol dm⁻³?
Ans: 0.30 mol dm⁻³

4. For a zero-order reaction with rate constant 0.020 mol dm-3s-1, the initial concentration of
the reactant is 1.20 mol dm-3. Calculate the concentration of the reactant after 30 seconds.
Ans: 0.60 mol dm-3

PREAMBLE: Give the chemical formula of the substance whose common names are given
below

1. Plaster of Paris Ans: CaSO₄·½H₂O

2. Blue vitriol Ans: CuSO₄·5H₂O
3. Laughing gas Ans: N₂O
4. Milk of magnesia Ans: Mg(OH)₂

PREAMBLE: State one of the major characteristics of nervous tissue. Not transferrable!

EXPECTED ANSWERS:
i. They make up the CNS and PNS
ii. Contains two distinct cells: neurons and glial cells
iii. Consists of dendrites
iv. Consists of axons and nerve endings
v. They secrete chemical neurotransmitters which are responsible for stimulating other
neurons as a result of other stimuli
vi. Presence of specializations at axonal terminals called synapses
vii. Nerve cells live long and cannot be divided and replaced

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PREAMBLE: A variety of human activities can lead to the contamination of soil. Mention one
of these processes. Not transferrable!
EXPECTED ANSWERS:
i. Bush burning
ii. Excessive application of fertilizers and pesticides
iii. Activities associated with metal casting
iv. Improper disposal of toxic industrial chemical waste
v. Sewage produced in urbanized areas
vi. Spillage of petrol
vii. Demolition of old buildings
viii. Underground mining activities
ix. Usage of lead-based paint during construction activities

PREAMBLE: Find a natural number n such that

1. nP2 = 182 Ans: n = 14

2. nP2 = 240 Ans: n = 16
3. nP2 = 156 Ans: n = 13
4. nP2 = 342 Ans: n = 19

PREAMBLE: Completely identify the curve defined by the given pairs of equations;

1. x = 7 cos 𝜃𝜃 + 5, y = 7 sin 𝜃𝜃 − 2 Ans: centre: (5, -2), radius = 7

2. x = 11 cos 𝜃𝜃 − 3 y = 11 sin 𝜃𝜃 − 14 Ans: centre: (-3, - 14), radius = 11
3. x = 4 cos 𝜃𝜃 + 5 y = 4 sin 𝜃𝜃 + 7 Ans: centre: (5, 7), radius = 4
4. x = 5 cos 𝜃𝜃 − 6 y = 5 sin 𝜃𝜃 + 9 Ans: centre: (-6, 9), radius = 5

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 ROUND TWO

SPEEDRACE

1. What is the wavelength of the spectral radiancy of a blackbody radiation, what the body
is at a temperature of 3770 K. Ans: 7.69 × 10−7 𝒎𝒎

2. An amplifier is composed of an op amp with a 20 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 resistor connected between ground

and its inverting input and a 140 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 resistor between its output and its inverting input.
Find the output voltage when a 2 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 signal is applied directly to the non-inverting input
of the op amp. Ans: 14 𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎

3. Find the charge on a 50 𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇 capacitor when the energy it stores is 4 𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇.
Ans: 20 𝝁𝝁𝝁𝝁

1. What term describes a plant in which individual plant bears both hermaphrodite and
staminate flowers? Ans: Andromonoecious (plant)
2. Name the type of polysaccharide in the cell wall of fleshy fruits Ans: pectin
3. Where does glycolysis occur in the cell? Ans: cytoplasm

1. Find the greatest value of the expression 81 + 18x – x2 and the corresponding value of x
Ans: 162, occurs at x = - 9
2. Eliminate 𝜃𝜃 in the given pairs of equations y = 5 sin𝜃𝜃, x = 12 cos𝜃𝜃
Ans: x2 /144 + y2 / 25 = 1
3. Solve the exponential equation (x2 - 63)x+3 = 1 Ans: x = -3, -8 0r 8

1. Determine the sum of the stoichiometric coefficients of all reactants and products in a
balanced equation of the reaction: N2 + O2 + H2O → HNO3
Ans: 13

2. How many grams of hydrogen are present in 72.0 g of a sample of water, H2O (H=1.00,
O=16.0) Ans: 8.00 g

3. How many moles of oxygen is required for the complete combustion of 1.0 mole of
butane? Ans: 6.5 mol

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 ROUND THREE

TRUE OR FALSE

1. sin 320° = sin 40° False

2. cos 280° = cos 80° True
3. sin 385° = sin 25° True
4. tan 265° = tan 85° True

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1. /13 < 13/15 True
12
2. /17 < 8/11 True
2
3. /3 < 12/19 False
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4. /7 < 2/3 False

1. Rutherford's alpha scattering experiment discovered electron orbitals False

2. Rutherford's alpha scattering experiment discovered neutrons False
3. Rutherford's alpha scattering experiment discovered neutrons and protons. False
4. Rutherford's alpha scattering experiment discovered the size of the atom False

1. Oxidation may be defined as loss of H2 atoms True

2. Reduction may be defined as gain of electrons True
3. Oxidation may be defined as gain of O2 atoms True
4. Reduction may be defined as decrease in oxidation states True

1. Insulin is produced by the adrenal glands. False

2. Adrenaline decreases blood glucose levels. False
3. The pituitary gland is called the "master gland" because it controls other endocrine
glands. True
4. Thyroxine regulates metabolic rate and growth. True

1. Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is caused by a roundworm and transmitted by the bite of

infected black flies. True
2. Symptoms of onchocerciasis include blindness, cataracts, and patchy skin. True
3. Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) is caused by a protozoan and transmitted by the
tsetse fly. True
4. Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is caused by Schistosoma parasites and is transmitted through
snail vectors. True

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 1. Nuclear charge refers to the total charge of all the protons in an atoms nucleus True
2. The nuclear charge is always equal to its atomic number True
3. Effective nuclear charge increases as one moves down the group in the periodic table
False
4. Effective increase as one moves from right to left across the period False

PREAMBLE: A heat engine operates between a hot reservoir at 1000𝐾𝐾 and a cold reservoir
800𝑘𝑘

1. The engine does work in multiples of 200𝐽𝐽 False

2. The thermal efficiency of the engine is 80% False
3. The engine dies work in multiples of 200𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 False
4. The thermal efficiency of the engine is 20% False

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 ROUND FOUR

RIDDLES

1. I am a subshell
2. I have 11 orbitals
3. Which means I can contain a maximum of 22 electrons
4. If I am the subshell corresponding to L = 5
Then Who am I? The “h” subshell

1. Even though I live on land as well as in water, I am not regarded as an amphibian.

2. This is because my body is covered all over by scales and my young also have lungs
instead of gills.
3. In addition, my young do not undergo metamorphosis.
4. Unlike amphibians, I undergo internal fertilization and the eggs I lay are shelled.
5. I have large jaws with homodont teeth and meat is my favourite diet.
6. I am regarded as one of the oldest living things on earth today.
Who am I? CROCODILE

1. I undo the work derivatives do

2. I find the area beneath curves that you can’t divide
3. To discover me, integration is the key
4. There’s nothing definite about me
5. I am the reverse of differentiation
Who am I? INDEFINITE INTEGRAL

1. I am a dynamic property
2. I am measured with various types of meters and rheometers
3. In the Newtonian fluids, I am constant over a wide range of shear rates
4. I am said to oppose the relative motion between two surfaces in contact
5. In simple terms, I am the friction between fluid molecules
Who am I? VISCOSITY