8th Grade PSSA Science Jeopardy

Nature of Science

100

Scientific knowledge... A. cannot be modified, even if new information challenges prevailing theories. B. was modified regularly early in human history, but it can no longer be modified. C. can be modified as new information challenges prevailing theories. D. must be modified by popular vote from the general public.

C. Scientific knowledge can be modified as new information challenges prevailing theories.

200

Joe wanted to experiment with different factors that affect the freezing rate of water. He put two cups of water into each of two identical glass bowls. Next, he stirred sugar into the water in one of the bowls, and he put both bowls in the freezer. He checked their temperatures after one hour, and measured how much water was still liquid in each bowl. What was the variable that changed in this experiment? A. the amount of sugar mixed into each bowl B. the size and shape of each bowl C. the amount of time each bowl was left in the freezer D. the amount of water each bowl contained

A. the amount of sugar mixed into each bowl

300

Nancy would like to find out how air temperature affects the rate of evaporation of water. Which of the following tools should Nancy include in her experiment’s design? A. spring scale and hand lens B. thermometer and graduated cylinder C. stopwatch and forceps D. meter stick and balance

B. thermometer and graduated clyinder

400

Don came up with the hypothesis that butterflies prefer to eat nectar from white flowers. Don conducted an experiment and learned that his hypothesis was not correct. What should Don do next? A. Don should change the data he collected to make it look like the hypothesis was correct. B. Don should communicate the results of his experiment. C. Don should test a new hypothesis. D. Don should hide his results so that nobody can see that he was wrong.

B. Don should communicate the results of his experiment.

500

A student wanted to know if plant growth was affected by the amount of light it receives.  She set up an experiment with 3 plants.  One plant received no light, a second plant received 2 hours of light per day, and a third plant received 4 hours of light per day.  What is the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE in this experiment?. 

A. The amount of fertilizer used

B. The height of each plant

C. The amount of light each day

D. The number of flowers each plant grows

C. The amount of light each day

Chemistry

100

Plants obtain their energy from light produced by the Sun. Sunlight is transferred from the Sun to the plants through a process known as A. convection. B. conduction. C. radiation. D. all of these

C. radiation

200

In which situation is a chemical reaction occurring? A. a glass breaks B. a nail rusts C. salt dissolves in water D. ice melts

B. A nail rusts This is a chemical change because the metal of the nail has changed into rust and cannot change back into a nail EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL CHANGES: Phase changes such as ice melting Shape changes such as cutting or breaking Salt dissolving in water (still salt and water, not chemically bonded)

300

What can be said about this equation? 2Na(s) + Cl2(g) → 2NaCl(s) A.There is not enough information to know anything about this reaction. B. The mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products. C. The mass of the reactants is half the mass of the products. D. The mass of the reactants is twice the mass of the products.

B. The mass of the reactants is the same as the products Reactants: 2 Na + 2Cl Products: 2 Na + 2Cl

400

A physical property of gold is _______. A. melting point of 1064.58°C B. boiling point of 2807°C C. density of 19.32 g/mL D. all of these

D. all of these PHYSICAL PROPERTIES: melting point, boiling point, density, color, hardness, magnetism

500

The _________ sodium combines with the ________ chlorine to form the _________ sodium chloride. A. element; mixture; compound B. element; compound; compound C. element; element; compound D.mixture; element; element

C. element; compound; compound

Earth and Space

100

A wind turbine is used for what kind of energy transformation? a. chemical energy to electrical energy b. sound energy to heat energy c. mechanical energy to electrical energy d. potential energy to kinetic energy

C. Mechanical energy (moving from wind) to electrical energy (electricity to power homes)

200

The MAIN energy source that drives the water cycle is A. chemical energy. B. the wind. C. hydroelectric energy. D. the Sun.

D. The Sun (sun heats up the water=evaporation-->condensation-->precipitation-->collection)

300

Which of the following is a renewable source of energy? A. coal B. natural gas C. solar D. oil

C. solar

400

What occurs during the process of condensation in the water cycle? A. a change in state from solid to liquid B. a change in state from liquid to solid C. a change in state from liquid to gas D. a change in state from gas to liquid

D. a change in state from gas to liquid

500

Larger rocks are broken into smaller pieces through _______ and carried away from their original location by _______. A. erosion; deposition B. weathering; erosion C. erosion; weathering D. weathering; deposition

B. weathering; erosion Weather- breaking down of rocks Erosion- moving rocks to another location Deposition- placing (depositing) rocks down in a new location

Physics

100

Which of the following is an example of kinetic energy in nature? A. the energy that builds up when friction prevents rocks from moving along a fault B. the stored energy of a boulder at the top of a cliff C. the energy of flowing water in a mountain stream D. the energy contained in the bonds of a sugar molecule

C. the energy of flowing water in a mountain stream KINETIC ENERGY IS ENERGY OF MOTION POTENTIAL ENERGY IS STORED ENERGY

200

Greg is trying to push a box of books across the floor of his room. The box of books doesn't move because the forces on the box are ____________. When his little brother walks in and starts pushing with him, the box begins to slide across the floor. His brother's pushing, combined with his, makes the forces on the box ______________. A. shifting; still B. balanced; unbalanced C. not acting on the box; moving D. unbalanced; balanced

B. balanced; unbalanced

300

An object's gravitational potential energy is partly dependent on its acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2 near Earth's surface). What two other factors determine the object's gravitational potential energy? A. speed and height B. time and mass C. kinetic energy and speed D. mass and height

D. mass and height

400

A force of 10 N being applied to an object to the right so it is accelerating to the right. A few seconds later, a second force of 7 N is applied to the object to the left. Which of the following will occur? A. The object will begin moving toward the left, and it will move at a slower speed. B. The object will continue moving toward the right, and its rate of acceleration will increase. C. The object will begin moving toward the left, and it will move at a faster speed. D. The object will continue moving toward the right, but its rate of acceleration will decrease.

D. The object will continue moving toward the right, but its rate of acceleration will decrease. Net force of 3N

500

A wheelchair ramp is an example of which type of simple machine?

A. lever

B. screw

C. pulley

D. Inclined Plane

D. Inclined Plane

Biology

100

Name 4 out of the 7 characteristics of living things

1. Made of cells 2. Exchange gas 3. Produce waste 4. Respond to stimuli 5. Grow and develop 6. Obtain and use energy 7. Reproduce

200

A bird with a long, pointy beak might eat a. insects off the ground b. nectar from tube shaped flowers c. fish in the ocean d. amphibians out of a pond

B. nectar from tube shaped flowers

300

A scientist on a field trip discovered a new organism. She examined its cells under a microscope and observed several different structures, including a nucleus, a cell wall, and some chloroplasts. This organism would correctly be classified in which of the following kingdoms? A. Plantae B. Bacteria C. Animalia D. Fungi

A. Plantae Plants have a cell wall and chloroplasts (use energy from the sun to make sugars via photosynthesis)

400

When a predator species is eliminated from the ecosystem, which of the following is likely to happen? A. The number of prey will decrease and amount of vegetation will increase. B. The number of prey will decrease and the amount of vegetation will decrease. C. The number of prey will stay almost the same and the amount of vegetation will increase. D. The number of prey will increase and the amount of vegetation will decrease.

B. The number of prey will decrease and the amount of vegetation will decrease.

500

In a certain plant, the gene for tall height (T) is dominant over the gene for short height (t). Create a Punnett square to show the results of a cross between a pure tall plant and a pure short plant. What percentage of the offspring would be tall plants? A. 75% B. 100% C. 25% D. 50%

100% Tall (Tt= heterozygous)