AKUMFI AMEYAW SENIOR HIGH TECHNICAL SCHOOL

CONTEST 1

ROUND 1: FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: CHEMISTRY
a. State a postulate of the kinetic theory of gases related to molecular motion.
Ans: Gas molecules are in continuous, random motion.

b. State a postulate of the kinetic theory of gases related to temperature.

Ans: The average kinetic energy of gas molecules is directly proportional to the
temperature in Kelvin.
c. State a postulate of the kinetic theory of gases related to pressure.
Ans: Gas molecules exert pressure on the walls of a container due to frequent
collisions.
d. State a postulate of the kinetic theory of gases related to energy loss.
Ans: Molecular collisions are perfectly elastic, meaning no kinetic energy is lost.
QUESTION 2: BIOLOGY
a) What is the primary function of capillaries in the circulatory system?
ANS; The primary function of capillaries is to allow the exchange of gases,
nutrients, and waste products between the blood and tissues.
b) How does the structure of capillaries facilitate this function?
ANS; Capillaries have very thin walls, allowing for the easy diffusion of
substances.
c) How does the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occur in capillaries?
ANS; Oxygen and carbon dioxide move through capillary walls by simple
diffusion, from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.
d) Why are capillary walls only one cell thick?
ANS; The one-cell-thick walls of capillaries provide minimal resistance for the
exchange of materials.

QUESTION 3: PHYSICS
a) What is centripetal acceleration in circular motion?
 ANS; Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration that points towards the center
of the circle, causing the object to follow a curved path.
b) How does the centripetal force change with speed and radius in circular
motion?
ANS; Centripetal force is directly proportional to the square of the object's
speed and inversely proportional to the radius of the circle.
c) What is the relationship between centripetal acceleration and the velocity of an
object in circular motion?
ANS; Centripetal acceleration is directly proportional to the square of the
velocity of the object.
d) How does the mass of an object affect the centripetal force in circular motion?
ANS; The centripetal force is proportional to the mass of the object; as the mass
increases, the centripetal force also increases.
QUESTION 4: MATHEMATICS
Preamble: Find f(x) in a factorized form given that
a. f(x+1) = (x+2)(x-2) Ans: (x+1)(x-3)
b. f(x-1) = x(x+2) Ans: (x+1)(x+3)
c. f(x+2) = (x-1)2 Ans: (x-3)(x-3)
d. f(x-2) = x(x-2) Ans: x(x+2)

QUESTION 5; CHEMISTRY

1. Given the standard electrode potentials:

Cu2+ /Cu=+0.34V, Zn2+ /Zn=−0.76V

Calculate the standard cell potential for the reaction:

Zn + Cu2+ →Zn2+ + Cu

Answer: E∘=+1.10V

2. The standard electrode potential for the Fe3+/Fe2+ couple is +0.77V, and for
the Zn2+/Zn couple, it is −0.76V. Calculate the standard cell potential for the
reaction:
 Zn+2Fe3+ → Zn2+ + 2Fe2+

Answer: E∘=+1.53V

3. Consider the following half-reactions:

Ag+ + e− → Ag, E∘= +0.80V
Mg2+ + 2e− →Mg, E∘= −2.37V

Calculate the standard potential of a galvanic cell using these half-reactions.

Answer: E∘=+3.17V

4. The standard electrode potentials for two half-cells are:

Pb2+/Pb = −0.13V, Al3+/Al = −1.66V

Determine the standard cell potential for the reaction:

2Al + 3Pb2+ →2Al3+ + 3Pb

Answer: E∘ = +1.53V

QUESTION 6: BIOLOGY
1. How does the fluid mosaic model describe the structure of the plasma
membrane?
ANS; The fluid mosaic model describes the plasma membrane as a dynamic
structure with a phospholipid bilayer in which proteins are embedded and can
move laterally.
2. What role do proteins play in the function of the plasma membrane?
ANS; Proteins in the membrane serve various functions such as transport,
signaling, and acting as receptors.
3. How does cholesterol contribute to the fluidity of the plasma membrane?
ANS; Cholesterol helps maintain the fluidity of the plasma membrane by
preventing the fatty acid chains from packing too tightly.
4. What is the significance of membrane proteins in cellular communication?
 ANS; Membrane proteins are involved in cell signaling, receptor functions, and
communication between cells, enabling the cell to respond to external signals.
QUESTION 7: PHYSICS
a) What does the first law of thermodynamics state?
ANS; The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or
destroyed, only transferred or converted from one form to another.
b) How does energy conservation apply to thermodynamic processes?
ANS; Energy conservation means that the total energy of an isolated system
remains constant; energy can only change forms, such as from heat to work.
c) What is the difference between heat and work in the context of
thermodynamics?
ANS; Heat is the transfer of thermal energy, while work is energy transferred
by mechanical means.
d) How is the first law of thermodynamics used to explain the operation of a heat
engine?
ANS; A heat engine uses heat energy to perform work, converting thermal
energy into mechanical energy while conserving total energy.

QUESTION 8: MATHS

1. Find the sum of the first 5 terms of the geometric series where a=2 and r=2.
Answer: S5=62
2. The first term of a geometric sequence is 3, and the common ratio is 3. Find
the sum of the first 4 terms.
Answer: S4=120
3. Find the sum to infinity of the geometric series 10, 5, 2.5, …
Answer: S∞=20
4. A geometric sequence has a first term of 4 and a common ratio of ½ . Find
the sum of the first 6 terms.
Answer: S6=63/8=7.875 (accept 8)
ROUND 2; SPEED RACE
QUESTION 1: CHEMISTRY
A buffer solution is prepared by mixing 200 cm³ of 0.2 mol/dm³ ethanoic acid (Ka
= 1.8 x 10⁻⁵) with 100 cm³ of 0.1 mol/dm³ sodium ethanoate. Calculate the pH of
the resulting buffer solution.
ANS: pH = 4.74 (accept 5)

QUESTION 2: PHYSICS
A simple pendulum of length 1 meter oscillates with a small amplitude. Calculate
the period of oscillation (g = 9.8 m/s²).
ANS: T ≈ 2.01 s

QUESTION 3:BIOLOGY
Mention three key molecular products of the Krebs cycle.
ANS: ATP, NADH, FADH₂, and carbon dioxide

QUESTION 4: MATHS
Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y=x 3−2 x at the point where x = 2.
ANS: y = 10x - 18

QUESTION 5: CHEMISTRY
Briefly explain how a small difference in electronegativity influences the type of
chemical bond formed between two atoms.
ANS: A small difference in electronegativity leads to a polar covalent bond.

QUESTION 6: PHYSICS
A parallel plate capacitor has a capacitance of 10 μF. If the distance between the
plates is doubled, what is the new capacitance?
ANS: 5μF

QUESTION 7: BIOLOGY
What is the role of ribosome in the process of genetic translation?
ANS: The ribosome catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds between the amino
acids, creating a polypeptide chain.

QUESTION 8: MATHS
Evaluate the integral of sin(2x) with respect to x.
 −1
ANS: 2 cos cos ( 2 x ) +C (where C is the constant of integration)

ROUND 3 True or false

SET 1: BIOLOGY
1. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) is studded with ribosomes, which are
responsible for protein synthesis. (True)
2. The RER is involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones. (False)
3. Proteins synthesized in the RER are transported to the Golgi apparatus for
modification and packaging. (True)
4. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is primarily found in prokaryotic cells.
(False)

SET 2: CHEMISTRY
1. The rate of a chemical reaction increases when the surface area of a solid
reactant is increased. (True)
2. In a first-order reaction, the rate of reaction is directly proportional to the
concentration of the reactant. (True)
3. A reaction with a very high activation energy proceeds rapidly at room
temperature. (False)
4. The presence of a catalyst increases the number of successful collisions
between reactant molecules. (True)

SET 3: PHYSICS
1. In an inelastic collision, the total momentum before and after the collision
remains conserved. (True)
2. In a perfectly inelastic collision, the colliding objects stick together after the
collision. (True)
3. Kinetic energy is always conserved in an inelastic collision. (False)
4. An inelastic collision between two objects results in the maximum possible loss
of kinetic energy when they move as one mass after impact. (True)

SET 4: MATHEMATICS
1. The integral of sinx is cosx + C. (True)
2. The integral of tanx is ln|secx| + C. (True)
3. The integral of sec2x is tanx + C. (True)
4. The integral of cosx is −sinx + C. (False)
SET 5: BIOLOGY
1. In complete dominance, the heterozygous genotype expresses only the
dominant phenotype. (True)
2. In incomplete dominance, the heterozygous genotype expresses a phenotype
that is a blend of the dominant and recessive traits. (True)
3. A cross between a red-flowered and a white-flowered plant producing pink-
flowered offspring is an example of complete dominance. (False)
4. In incomplete dominance, heterozygous individuals express both parental traits
fully and distinctly. (False)

SET 6: CHEMISTRY
1. The conjugate base of HCl is Cl⁻. (True)
2. The conjugate acid of NH₃ is NH₄⁺. (True)
3. The conjugate base of H₂O is H₃O⁺. (False)
4. A conjugate acid-base pair differs by one proton. (True)

SET 7: PHYSICS
1. The electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is always zero.
(True)
2. The direction of the electric field is always from positive charge to negative
charge. (True)
3. The strength of an electric field is independent of the charge producing it.
(False)
4. The electric field at a point is defined as the force per unit charge acting on a
small positive test charge. (True)

SET 8: MATHEMATICS
1. Every prime number greater than 2 is odd. (True)
2. The greatest common divisor (GCD) of two prime numbers is always 1. (True)
3. There are infinitely many prime numbers. (True)
4. The sum of any two prime numbers is always a prime number. (False)

ROUND 4; RIDDLES
Mathematics Riddle
1. I can define infinitely many different objects, but I am not an object myself.
2. I am crucial in both Euclidean and non-Euclidean spaces.
3. My existence is often assumed, but I can never be measured directly.
4. In some interpretations, I have no width, yet I can create shapes.
5. Without me, angles and distances would lose their meaning.
 Who am I? Answer: A geometric point

Physics Riddle
1. I am present in every moving system, yet I am not matter or energy.
2. I can be conserved, but I can also change forms.
3. My existence is necessary for both classical and quantum mechanics.
4. Even when an object is at rest, I can still exist within it.
5. I am the product of two fundamental quantities, one of which is vectorial.
What am I? Answer: Momentum

Chemistry Riddle
1. I do not exist in nature as a single entity but always form bonds with others.
2. I can change my oxidation state in multiple ways, making me versatile in redox reactions.
3. My most common compound is essential for biological respiration.
4. Despite my essential nature, I can also be highly reactive and destructive.
5. I am responsible for the color of blood, rust, and many minerals.
What am I? Answer: Iron (Fe)

Biology Riddle
1. I am found in all living cells but never act alone.
2. I provide structure, but I am not an organelle.
3. I am assembled from repeating units, yet I can take on countless forms.
4. My function depends on the sequence in which I am built.
5. Without me, enzymes, hormones, and antibodies would not exist.
Who am I? Answer: A protein