MACC/SWAC Science Questions
Please Read Aloud: All of the questions in this match are 5-second questions, unless otherwise
noted.
This is the first directed question for team A.
1A.
Sand dollars belong to what phylum of animals? Begin (Echinoderms or Echinodermata)
This is the first directed question for team B. You have 20 seconds to answer this question.
1B.
What two products are produced from the decomposition of potassium chlorate? Begin
(potassium chloride and oxygen)
This is the second directed question for team A.
2A.
What are Russian astronauts called? Begin (cosmonauts)
This is the second directed question for team B. You have 20 seconds to answer this question.
2B.
A DC motor operates on 5 amperes at 120 volts. If the motor actually delivers only 420
watts of mechanical power, what is its percent efficiency? Begin (70)
This is the third directed question for team A.
3A.
What is the largest primate on Earth? Begin (gorilla)
This is the third directed question for team B.
3B.
What property of water causes the bristles of a paintbrush to cling together when you
remove it from water? Begin (surface tension)
This is the fourth directed question for team A.
4A.
A farad is a unit used for what? Begin (capacitance)
This is the fourth directed question for team B.
4B.
How many days elapses between full moons? Begin (29)
This is the fifth directed question for team A.
5A.
When an acid and a base react, what two types of products are formed? Begin (a salt and
water)
This is the fifth directed question for team B.
5B.
What is the class name for birds in the Vertebrate phylum? Begin (Aves)
MACC/SWAC Science Questions Page 2
This is the sixth directed question for team A.
6A.
What kind of front is formed when a cold air mass pushes a warm air mass out of its path?
Begin (cold front)
This is the sixth directed question for team B.
6B.
What type of distant celestial bodies give off light and radio waves? Begin (quasars)
This is the seventh directed question for team A.
7A.
What property of matter is the concern of the first law of motion? Begin (inertia)
This is the seventh directed question for team B.
7B.
What is the largest nerve in the human body? Begin (sciatic nerve)
This is the eighth directed question for team A. You have 20 seconds to answer this question.
8A.
What is the acceleration, in meters per second per second, of a roadrunner that takes 5
seconds to increase its speed from 1240 to 1300 meters per second? Begin (12)
This is the eighth directed question for team B.
8B.
The complete expression of an individual’s genotype is called what? Begin (phenotype)
This is the ninth directed question for team A.
9A.
What is the horizontal angle specified clockwise from true north? Begin (azimuth)
This is the ninth directed question for team B.
9B.
What is the dark-brown or black sedimentary rock, from which petroleum-like
hydrocarbons can be produced by distillation called? Begin (oil shale)
This is the tenth and final directed question for team A. You have 20 seconds to answer this
question.
10A.
What product is formed from the synthesis of diatomic nitrogen and diatomic hydrogen?
Begin (ammonia)
This is the tenth and final directed question for team B.
10B.
What are the teeth on the roof of the mouth of a frog called? Begin (vomerine)
That ends the portion of the match with directed questions. Coaches, if you have any team
member substitutions, please send those team members to the stage at this time. (Note:
Allow time for substitutes to be seated, introduce substitute team members.)
MACC/SWAC Science Questions Page 3
No form of conferring is allowed during the tossup portion of the match. Conferring includes
sharing of written or verbal information or signals. Please remove all written material
from you team tables. Writing is not permitted during tossup rounds, except in the math
round.
We will now have ten tossup questions. Remember, the person who buzzes in must give the
answer immediately. Please wait until I recognize the team before you give an answer. The
penalty for buzzing in early and giving a wrong answer is minus 2 points, and the question
will then be reread in its entirety to the other team.
This is the first tossup question.
1.
What is the chemical name for truth serum? Begin (sodium pentothal)
This is the second tossup question.
2.
What is part of the water vascular system in star fish that connects to the ring canal? Begin
(stone canal)
This is the third tossup question.
3.
Shooting stars are really what? Begin (meteor or meteorite)
This is the fourth tossup question.
4.
Fats and oils are what type of organic hydrocarbons? Begin (esters)
This is the fifth tossup question.
5.
Which Era is known as the Age of Reptiles? Begin (Mesozoic)
This is the sixth tossup question.
6.
What simple machine is described as an inclined plane wound about a cylinder? Begin
(screw)
This is the seventh tossup question.
7.
What is the anion in the salt, sodium hydroxide? Begin (hydroxide)
This is the eighth tossup question.
8.
What are the three main classes of fish in the Vertebrate phylum? Begin (Agnatha,
Chondrichthyes, and Osteichthyes or jawless fish, cartilaginous fish and bony fish)
This is the ninth tossup question.
9.
Since Pluto is no longer classified as a planet, what is the smallest planet in our solar
system? Begin (Mercury)
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This is the tenth and final tossup question.
(Emcee note – if match is tied after this question go to the three tie breakers at the end of these
questions – use all three, even if tie is broken on first or second question!)
10.
What is the chief carbohydrate used by animals for the storage of energy? Begin (glycogen)
(SWAC Emcees only – Ask if there are any appeals)
EMERGENCY QUESTIONS (To be used in an emergency only –DO NOT USE AS EXTRA TIE
BREAKERS – but they can be used in place of tie breakers as they would be used if a
question has a mistake, if the emcee “flubs” a question, etc.):
You have 5 seconds to answer this question.
1.
What do layers of large and small xylem cells in a tree trunk form? Begin (annual rings)
You have 5 seconds to answer this question.
2.
What is the heat of fusion in calories per gram of pure water? Begin (80)
TIE BREAKERS(To be used in cases of tie games – use all three questions, even if the tie is
broken with the first or second question; in case teams are still tied at the end of these
three questions – the game remains a tie.):
This is the first tiebreaker question.
1.
What class of mollusks includes the squid, octopuses and Nautilus? Begin (Cephalopoda or
Cephalopods or head-foot)
This is the second tiebreaker question.
2.
How many hours does the Earth require to complete 60 degrees of rotation? Begin (4)
This is the third tiebreaker question.
3.
What type of property is an objects tendency to rust? Begin (chemical)