Pre Course Knowledge Check for Physical Science
Please take this check before studying any course content material. This exercise will help determine what areas you are familiar with and where teaching help is most needed. Do the best you can. If you don’t know the answer, either write “Not sure” or circle “I am not sure”.
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Section 1. Math
1. The ratio of 20 to 4 is equal to
a. 80
b. 5
c. I am not sure
2. On a line graph which value would be furthest to the right on the x axis?
a. 19.5
b. 21.5
c. I am not sure
3. Which mathematical operation produces a negative number?
a. (- 25) + (- 25)
b. (-2) x (- 25)
c. I am not sure
4. Scientific notation
What is the number value of 2.31 x 102?
What is the number value of 2.31 x 10-2?
5. Ratios and proportion
25 percent would be equal to a ratio of 4/?.
6. Simple algebraic expressions
If P = r RT , if R and r are held constant what happens to P (increases or decreases) if T increases?
7. Simple trigonometric expressions
What are the values of the trigonometric functions of sin and cos for:
0 degrees
45 degrees
90 degrees
8. How to handle negative numbers
What are the answers to following mathematical operations:
- 7 -2 =?
- 7 + (-2) =
- 7 x - 2 = ?
-12/-3 = ?
Using the attached graph (at end of test) answer the following questions.
10. What is the value of the temperature at the 20th hour?
11. What is the minimum and maximum temperature for the entire 24 hour period?
12. What is the average slope of the temperature curve from the 8th to 12th hour? What does this slope represent?
Basic Physical Science
1. Does true science need to be observable? Does it need to be repeatable?
2.Why is it important to take good notes, and keep a notebook when doing science experiments?
3. Name some information that you should record in your notebook.
4.What is a “control” when we are doing scientific experiments? Is this important?
5.T or F: In scientific experiments, it is useful to change several things at the same time. This will save you time and help you get more things done in the same amount of time.
6.What is the scientific method? What are the steps in the scientific method?
7. Which is NOT part of the Scientific Method?
a. collecting and analyzing observational data
b. mathematically deriving a physical law
c. I am not sure
8. A measurable characteristic of something is a
a. dimension
b. unit
c. I am not sure
9. An agreed upon standard for measuring a dimension is a:
a. criterion
b. unit
c. I am not sure
10. The fundamental dimensions are:
a. height, width, and length
b. mass, length, and time
c. I am not sure
11. The following are all units of length
a. kilometer, mile, feet, centimeter
b. liter, feet, kilometer, mile
c. I am not sure
12. Describe the meaning of the following fundamental dimensions of the universe:
a. Mass
b. Length
c. Time
13. What is the difference between mass and weight?
14. The mass of an object is an example of a dimension or unit?
15. 10 kg is an example of a dimension or unit?
16. The two primary English units for length are ______and ______?
17. The two primary metric (SI) units for length are ______and ______?
18. Convert 32 degrees F to temperature in Celsius
19. Convert 32 degrees F to temperature in Kelvin.
14. Describe the meaning of the following physical scienceterms
a. Distance vs Displacement:
b. Speed vs Velocity
c. Acceleration
d. Force
e. Momentum
f. Pressure
g. Energy
h. Work
i. Power
15. To the best of your ability, draw a diagram of an atom and label its parts
16. Describe the meaning of the following physical terms
a. Quarks
b. Atoms
c. Molecules
d. Elements
e. Compounds
17. What part of the atom is the cause of electricity?
18. Describe the meaning of the following electricity terms
a. Volt
b. Ampere
c. Resistance
Meteorology
1. Which statement is true about weather and climate?
a. climate is a just another name for weather
b. climate is the average weather over many years
c. I am not sure
2. The lowest layer of the atmosphere is called the
a. Troposphere
b. Stratosphere
c. I am not sure
3. Which one of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
a. oxygen
b. nitrogen
c. I am not sure
4. Some scientists believe that an increasing amount of this gas in the atmosphere may bring about a warming of the lower atmosphere:
a. carbon dioxide
b. ozone
c. I am not sure
5. Which statement is true about temperature and heat?
a. Heat represents the average kinetic energy of a substance and temperature represents the total kinetic energy of a substance.
b. Heat represents the total kinetic energy of a substance and temperature represents the average kinetic energy of a substance.
c. I am not sure
6. The temperature in the lower 20,000 feet of the atmosphere typically
a. increases with height
b. decreases with height
c. I'm not sure
7. Which is closer to the equator?
a. 42 degrees latitude
b. 47 degrees latitude
c. I'm not sure
8. Which weather element can be used by itself to indicate the actual amount of water vapor in the air?
a. Dew point temperature
b. Relative humidity
c. I'm not sure
9. If water vapor is added to the atmosphere the air pressure and density of the air
a. increases
b. decreases
c. I'm not sure
10. What best describes the freezing and melting point water?
a. Water both freezes and melts at 0 C (32 F)
b. Water melts at 0 C (32 F) but to freeze water must be slightly lower than 0 C (32 F)
c. I'm not sure
11. Melting snowflakes in the air will
a. Warm the atmosphere
b. Cool the atmosphere
c. I'm not sure
12. Most rain forms
a. by small cloud droplets merging to form rain droplets
b. as ice crystals that melt as they fall to earth
c. I'm not sure
13. Clouds which are layered flat clouds are called
a. cumulus type clouds
b. stratus type clouds
c. I'm not sure
14. In the northern hemisphere, winds flow counterclockwise around
a. high pressure system
b. low pressure system
c. I'm not sure
15. Thunderstorm are most likely to form along a
a. warm front
b. cold front
c. I'm not sure
16. The term El Nino refers to
a. a natural phenomena of the tropical oceans
b. a large unusual storm in the atmosphere
c. I'm not sure
Geographical and Ocean Facts
1. What is the minimum value of latitude and what is it called?
2. What is the maximum value of latitude and what do we call these locations?
3. Approximately what latitude is used to define the midlatitudes?
4. What is the minimum numerical value of longitude and what is it called?
5. What is the maximum value of longitude and what is it called?
6. What are the three largest oceans of the world?
7. What are the seven continents of the world?
8. Which ocean is off of the east coast of the U.S.?
9. Which ocean is off of the west coast of the U.S.?
10. Describe where the Rocky Mountain range is located.
11. Describe where the Appalachian Mountain range is located.
12. Describe where the Great Lakes are located and how they are important to upstate NY weather.
Concepts of Biological Science
1. What is Biology?
2. Is it easy to define what is life? Why?
3. What is the smallest unit of life?
4. Define the following biological terms:
Cells:
Organs:
Organ System:
Organism:
5. What is cell theory? What are the key components?
6. Name some of the key parts of cells?
7.Do all cells have a nucleus?
8. To the best of your ability draws a cell and label its parts.
9. What is DNA and why is the DNA Molecule important for life?
10.Do all cells have DNA?
11. What is photosynthesis and why is it important?
12.T or F: Cellular respiration could be called “Cell Breathing”.
13.Tell me what you can about Osmosis. Why is it important?
14.Is there only one way to properly classify living things?
15.Name three types of Biological Molecules.
16.What is genetics?
17.Name two differences between animal cells and plant cells?
18.Are the following terms used in taxonomy: Kingdom , Class, Order, Family
19.In the past, have Christians played an important role in various parts of the science of biology? Can you name on Christian who has done so?
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