Using Numbers and Graphics in Science Flashcards
Suppose Charles Darwin was able to count the populations of finches on three small islands and record his findings in a table.
If Charles Darwin wanted to select one finch from each island for future study, how many different ways would he be able to select these finches?
Allopatric Speciatio
Speciation is the evolutionary process by which biological populations evolve to become distinct species. The biologist Orator F. Cook coined the term speciation in 1906, but Charles Darwin was the first to describe the role of speciation in his 1859 book The Origin of Species.
There are four geographic modes of speciation in nature, based on the extent to which speciating populations are isolated from one another: allopatric, peripatric, parapatric, and sympatric. Allopatric is the most observed mode of speciation. During allopatric speciation, a population splits into two geographically isolated populations. The isolated populations then undergo genotypic or phenotypic divergence as they become subjected to dissimilar selective pressures and as different mutations arise. When the populations come back into contact, they have evolved such that they are reproductively isolated and are no longer capable of exchanging genes
The Galápagos Islands are particularly famous for their confirmation of allopatric speciation. During Charles Darwin’s five weeks on the Galápagos Islands, he noticed that finches differed from one island to another. When he returned to England, his speculation on evolution deepened after experts informed him that these were separate species, not just varieties. Darwin’s finches are now one of the most well-known examples of adaptive evolution and allopatric speciation discussed in biology today.
Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speciation
A 3
B 1,200
C 1,200,000
D 60,000,000
The correct answer is D.
Explanation:
The fundamental counting principle states that when selecting only one object (finch) from separate groups (islands), the number of total combinations is found by multiplying the total number of options per group (the number of finches on each island).
Which point on the longitudinal wave picture identifies a rarefaction?
A point A
B point B
C point C
D point D
A- The passage states, “locations where the particles are separated are known as rarefactions.”
Consider the following Bohr model:
Which chemical element is shown in this Bohr model?
The correct answer is C.
Explanation:
To determine the mass number, count the number of total particles in the nucleus (protons + neutrons).
To determine the atomic number, count the number of protons.
The image shows an element with a mass number of 9 (4 protons + 5 neutrons) and an atomic number of 4 (4 protons).
The only answer choice with a mass number of 9 and an atomic number of 4:
The correct answer is B.
Explanation:
To determine the mass number, count the number of total particles in the nucleus (protons + neutrons).
To determine the atomic number, count the number of protons.
In the nucleus of the atom, there are two protons and two neutrons.
The image shows an element with a mass number of 4 (2 protons + 2 neutrons) and an atomic number of 2 (2 protons).
The only answer choice with a mass number of 4 and an atomic number of 2 is
The average pH level of these five samples is 7.28. Is using the average appropriate in this scenario?
Swimming at the Pool
It is summer time and the lifeguards at the local swimming pool want to make sure all the chemicals in the pool are appropriately balanced. To be considered safe, a pool should have a pH level anywhere from 7.0 to 7.6.
The pool’s pH level is tested at five different times throughout the day. The results are shown in the table.
A No. The average is not an appropriate measure, because it does not show that some samples are outside of the “safe” range.
B No. The average is not an appropriate measure, because none of the samples actually have a pH of 7.28.
C Yes. The average is an appropriate measure, because it gives an overall picture of the pH on that day.
D Yes. The average is an appropriate measure, because it shows that the water is safe the entire day.
The correct answer is A.
Explanation:
In an example like this, the “outliers” in a sample are important. Outliers refer to data points that are either much larger or much smaller than the average. Due to safety concerns, the average pH is much less important than the individual pH measures.
A chemistry professor tells the class that a weak solution will produce a brightness of less than 500500 lumens. She then randomly assigns each lab group one of the solutions listed in the table.
What is the probability that Hannah and her lab group will receive a strong solution?
Strong or Weak Solutions Based on the Light Bulb Experiment
A solution is said to be strong or weak based on whether or not it can conduct electricity. If a solution contains a large number of ions, it will conduct electricity more easily. Therefore, the stronger the solution, the brighter the lightbulb (the more lumens it produces).
An experiment was set up with a light bulb in order to test if a variety of solutions were able to conduct electricity. The results are shown in the following table.
A 10%
B 20%
C 40%
D 60%
The correct answer is C.
Explanation:
Strong solutions have a lumen value over 500500. Only 22 solutions, NaOHNaOH and HClHCl, have a brightness of more than 500500 lumens.
Assuming an original DNA sequence is GCGAGTCATGCGAGTCAT, which of the following examples shows a frameshift insertion mutation?
Insertion Mutation
“In genetics, an insertion (also called an insertion mutation) is the addition of one or more nucleotide base pairs into a DNA sequence. Insertions can be anywhere in size from one base pair incorrectly inserted into a DNA sequence to a whole section of a chromosome inserted into another.”
Within DNA, there are four nucleotide bases: guanine, cytosine, adenine, and thymine. Each group of three bases is called a codon. Codons specify which amino acids should be added when a cell is building a protein.
For example, the DNA sequence 𝐺𝐺𝐺𝑇𝐺𝐴𝑇𝐶𝑇 will produce three distinct codons - 𝐺𝐺𝐺, 𝑇𝐺𝐴, and 𝑇𝐶𝑇. When an insertion occurs, the codons are changed, which changes the proteins the cell will produce. An insertion of an A at the beginning of the sequence would change the sequence to 𝐴𝐺𝐺𝐺𝑇𝐺𝐴𝑇𝐶𝑇, which would change the codons to 𝐴𝐺𝐺, 𝐺𝑇𝐺, 𝐴𝑇𝐶,”and” 𝑇. This is called a frameshift insertion mutation, since the insertion caused all the codons following the mutation to change.
Another type of insertion mutation is called a non-frameshift insertion mutation. This occurs when three bases are inserted, causing a whole new codon to be created. The rest of the codons are unchanged. For example, if the initial DNA sequence is 𝐺𝐺𝐺𝑇𝐺𝐴𝑇𝐶𝑇, then a non-frameshift insertion mutation would be 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐺𝐺𝐺𝑇𝐺𝐴𝑇𝐶𝑇. The resulting codons would be 𝐴𝐴𝐴, 𝐺𝐺𝐺, 𝑇𝐺𝐴, and 𝑇𝐶𝑇.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insertion_(genetics)
A) GCG AGT CATGCG AGT CAT
B) GCG TAG TCA TGCG TAG TCA T
C) GCG AGT CCC CATGCG AGT CCC CAT
D) GCG AGT CA
The correct answer is B.
Explanation:
The passage states, “a frameshift insertion mutation” will result in “all the codons following the mutation to change.”
How many lionfish were observed in the East Flower Garden Bank region of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) in 2013?
Invasive Lionfish
The common name “lionfish” refers to two closely related and nearly indistinguishable species that are invasive in US waters. Lionfish, which are native to the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, were first detected along Florida coasts in the mid-1980s, but their populations have swelled dramatically in the past 1515 years. Lionfish are popular aquarium fish, so it is plausible that repeated escapes into the wild via aquarium releases are the cause for the invasion. Lionfish now inhabit reefs, wrecks, and other habitat types in the warm marine waters of the greater Atlantic.
As lionfish populations grow, they put additional stress on coral reefs already struggling from the effects of climate change, pollution, disease, overfishing, sedimentation, and other stressors. For example, lionfish eat herbivores and herbivores eat algae from coral reefs. Without herbivores, algal growth goes unchecked, which can be detrimental to the health of coral reefs.
Adult lionfish are primarily fish-eaters and have very few predators outside of their home range. Because lionfish feed on prey normally consumed by snappers, groupers, and other commercially important native species, their presence could negatively affect the well-being of valuable commercial and recreational fisheries.
Lionfish continue to expand at astonishing speeds and are harming native coral reef ecosystems in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean. The first lionfish recorded in the Western Atlantic (east coast of the United States, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico) was a specimen captured near Dania, Florida in 1985. No other lionfish sightings were reported until 1992. The most likely source of these fish was the home aquarium trade.
At first, the spread of the lionfish population was rather gradual, but in 2000 the number of sightings began to increase exponentially. By 2009, lionfish were pretty well established along the Atlantic coast and throughout the Caribbea
In 2010, sightings were also recorded in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, along the coasts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. In July 2011, the first lionfish was observed in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). By the end of 2015, over 2,6002,600 lionfish were observed within the sanctuary. About 1,500 of those were successfully removed and analyzed for important data.
Experts say it is unlikely that we will ever be able to completely eliminate lionfish from the Western Atlantic. So, the objective now is to minimize their impact on sanctuary resources. At this time, sanctuary policy is to remove any lionfish encountered. Research has shown that targeted removals in localized areas can be an effective control mechanism.
A 89
B 172
C 232
D 265
The correct answer is B.
Explanation:
Based on the information in the table, there were 172 lionfish sightings reported in the East Flower Garden Bank region of the FGBNMS.
Veronica is sick and her doctor is trying to determine the cause of her illness. Her doctor has recommended 9 different tests. He wants to complete 4 of the tests today and 5 of the tests tomorrow. The order of the tests is important, as some tests have to be complete before others.
How many ways can the doctor pick the 4 tests to be run today?
A 36
B 45
C 120
D 3,024
The correct answer is D.
Explanation:
A permutation is the number of ways objects or items can be chosen from a group when order is important. In this case, the order of tests is important to the doctor because each test provides him with more information. It is possible that not all 9 tests are not necessary. This is a permutation problem: 9*8*7*6
Remember that ! is called a factorial. When there is a factorial, multiply every whole number from the given value down to 11. (For example, 4!=4⋅3⋅2⋅1=244!=4⋅3⋅2⋅1=24.)
A patient walks into an outpatient clinic in the second week of 2017, what is the chance that they are experiencing influenza-like symptoms?
A 2.5%
B 2.8%
C 3.1%
D 3.9%
According to the diagram, which of the following is a way that water enters the atmosphere?
A groundwater
B precipitation
C surface runoff
D transpiration from plants
The correct answer is D.
Explanation:
An upward-pointing arrow indicates the movement of water from the transpiration of plants to the atmosphere.
In our solar system alone, eight known planets orbit around our sun. Knowing this, approximately how many planets orbit other stars within the Milky Way Galaxy?
The Milky Way Galaxy
The Milky Way Galaxy is home to hundreds of billions of stars, including our sun. Stars are often so large, that they have their own gravitational pull. This means that other celestial bodies tend to get drawn into the orbits of stars, becoming what we call planets. The group of celestial bodies within a star’s orbit is collectively called a solar system.
A It is not possible to determine the average number of planets in other solar systems, because a sample size of one is too small to make accurate predictions.
B It is not possible to determine the average number of planets in other solar systems, because we would have to physically travel to every single planet in our solar system.
C The other solar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy will have approximately eight planets on average, because the sun is very similar to all other stars in our solar system.
D The other solar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy will have more than eight planets on average, because the sun is only a medium-sized star in our solar system.
The correct answer is A.
Explanation:
Even though our sun has 8 planets, it does not mean that every other star in the Milky Way Galaxy has 8 planets. In fact, one star (our sun) out of billions of stars in our galaxy is far too small a sample size to make a meaningful prediction about the number of planets found in other solar systems.
Bernice has an unknown solution. She drops ten raisins in the solution. Five fall to the bottom and five float to the top.
What conclusions can Bernice draw?
Raisins in Solutions
A raisin is a dried grape. Raisins are interesting objects to use in science experiments because they have many wrinkles on the surface and they usually have fairly low density (approximately 0.7g/cm3 ). This means that when raisins are put into solutions, they sometimes float on top of the solution and sometimes fall to the bottom of the solution.
Whether raisin float or sink in solution depends on two factors: carbonation and density of the solution. If a solution is highly carbonated (has a high amount of carbon dioxide gas), raisins will float to the top of the solution.
Density of a solution is defined as the mass per volume. If a solution has a higher density than the raisin, the raisin will float on top of the solution. If the raisin has more density, it will fall to the bottom of the solution.
A Bernice can conclude that the solution is very carbonated, since five of the raisins floated on top of the solution.
B Bernice can conclude that the solution’s density is greater than 0.7g/cm3 , since five of the raisins floated on top of the solution.
C Bernice can conclude that the solution’s density is less than 0.7g/cm3 , since five of the raisins fell to the bottom of the solution.
D Bernice cannot make valid conclusions, as half of her sample fell to the bottom and half of her sample floated on top of the solution.
D
Bernice cannot make valid conclusions, as half of her sample fell to the bottom and half of her sample floated on top of the solution.
The correct answer is D.
Explanation:
Half of the sample fell to the bottom of the solution and half of the sample floated on top of the solution. Because of these results, Bernice cannot draw completely valid conclusions on the density or carbonation of the solution. Instead, she should use other tests to determine the carbonation levels and density of the solution.
Natasha is learning about states of matter. She has the option of studying the compounds and elements in the table.
Natasha wants to experiment with states of matter in the future. How many ways can she choose one solid, one liquid, and one gas for her future experiment?
A 3
B 9
C 24
D 27
The correct answer is C.
Explanation:
The fundamental counting principle states that when selecting only one object (element/compound) from separate groups (states of matter), the number of total combinations is found by multiplying the total number of options per group.
3*2*4
A 0.25 M
B 0.50 M
C 2.00 M
D 2.50 M
The correct answer is A.
Explanation:
To calculate the molarity of the solution, use the given equation.
There are 0.50 mol of NaCl that are dissolved in water to make 2.00 L of solution. 0.5/2 = 0.25
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence:
The chemical reaction steps of photosynthesis require _____ and produce _____.
Photosynthesis
Nearly all life on earth depends upon photosynthesis, a process used by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria to convert light energy into chemical energy. Pigment molecules within the organism capture energy from sunlight and, through a series of chemical reaction steps, use that energy to build glucose (C6H12O6) molecules from carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules. In this way, the organism is able to make and store its own food. Therefore, photosynthetic organisms are referred to as producers. In addition to providing a source of food for producers, photosynthesis also provides a source of food for most other organisms on earth: the consumers that eat producers or other consumers.
In plants and algae, photosynthesis takes place in organelles called chloroplasts. A typical plant cell contains about 10 to 100 chloroplasts. Although all cells in the green parts of a plant have chloroplasts, most are found in the plant’s leaves. Pigment molecules embedded within the chloroplast’s complex membrane system capture sunlight energy. Chlorophyll is the most abundant photosynthetic pigment in plants. Chlorophyll does not absorb the green portion of the visible light spectrum, but instead reflects it. This is the reason that most plants appear green. Besides chlorophyll, plants and algae also use other pigments such as carotenes and xanthophylls.
In addition to sunlight, water (H2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) are also required for photosynthesis. Plants generally take up water through their roots, which then travels up through stems and into the leaves. Carbon dioxide from the air enters the plant through tiny pores in the plant’s leaves or stems called stomata.
As the reaction steps of photosynthesis take place within a plant or other photosynthetic organism, some of the sunlight energy that was captured by the pigment molecules becomes stored in the glucose molecules that are produced. In addition, oxygen (O2) is produced as a byproduct and is released into the environment.
A carbon dioxide; water
B glucose; oxygen gas
C sunlight energy; carbon dioxide
D water; glucose
The correct answer is D.
Explanation:
As shown in the image, the chemical reaction steps of photosynthesis require sunlight energy, carbon dioxide, and water. The reactions produce glucose and oxygen.
A forest park ranger has noticed a new plant growing in the woods. He knows this plant is not native to the ecosystem and wants to make sure that it is not becoming an invasive species.
He divides the forest into 9 smaller areas, as shown.
How many different ways could he select three of the nine smaller areas to observe more closely?
Invasive Species
An ecosystem is a community of living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components. Living organisms include plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. Nonliving components include air, water, and soil. Nutrients and energy flow through the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem, allowing all biotic organisms to live, grow, and reproduce. Ecosystems have evolved over time, creating a delicate balance between all biotic and abiotic components. However, when new species are introduced to ecosystems, the balance is disrupted.
When a new species is introduced to an ecosystem, it is referred to as an introduced species. While sometimes introduced species are beneficial to an ecosystem, oftentimes introduced species cause damage to the ecosystem. Introduced species that cause damage to an ecosystem are called invasive species. Invasive species damage ecosystems, because the ecosystem may not have a way to control the new species’ reproduction and growth. Invasive species tend to spread throughout an ecosystem and use the ecosystem’s resources.
A 3
B 6
C 27
D 84
D) 84
