Human Systems
Muscular: Is your diaphragm (the muscle for breathing) an involuntary or voluntary muscle?
It is an involuntary muscle. Although you can control it briefly, your brain keeps it moving automatically so you breathe while you sleep.
Plant Life Cycle: What are the three essential conditions a seed needs to begin its life cycle?
To sprout and grow effectively, a seed needs water, air (oxygen), and sunlight.
States of Matter: In which state of matter are the particles moving the fastest and spread furthest apart?
Particles move fastest in a gas. They have enough energy to overcome attractions and fill whatever container they are in.
Magnetism: If you bring the North poles of two different magnets together, will they attract or repel?
They will repel. Like poles (N-N or S-S) always push away from each other.
Force Basics: What is the simplest scientific definition of a force?
A force is simply a push or a pull acting upon an object.
Skeletal: What is the difference between a ligament (which connects bone to bone) and a tendon (which connects muscle to bone)? NJR
A ligament connects bone to bone (providing joint stability), while a tendon connects muscle to bone (allowing the muscle to pull the bone and create movement).
Energy: In science, what is the basic definition of energy?
Energy is defined as the ability to do work or cause a change in matter.
Light Waves: What is the difference between an object that is translucent and one that is opaque?
A translucent object allows some light to pass through but scatters it (blurry), while an opaque object blocks all light from passing through.
Magnetism: What is the invisible area around a magnet where its magnetic force can be felt?
This is known as the magnetic field.
Newton’s 3rd Law: This law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite... what?
There is an equal and opposite reaction.
Cardiovascular: Which blood vessels carry blood away from the heart, and which bring it back?
Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body, while veins return oxygen-poor blood to the heart.
Energy: What are some common forms that energy can take?
Energy can exist in many basic forms, including heat (thermal), light, sound, electrical, and chemical energy.
States of Matter: What is the process called when a gas cools down and turns back into a liquid?
This is called condensation (for example, water droplets forming on the outside of a cold soda can).
Friction: Which force acts as a "grip" between two surfaces and works against the direction of motion?
This force is friction. It helps you walk without slipping but also creates heat when you rub your hands together.
Inertia: Which property of matter explains why your body keeps moving forward when a car suddenly stops?
This is called inertia, which is the tendency of an object to resist a change in its motion.
Cardiovascular: What is the job of the valves found inside the heart and veins?
Valves act as one-way doors that prevent blood from flowing backward, ensuring it always moves in the right direction.
Energy: What is the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy?
Potential energy is stored energy (like a ball sitting at the top of a hill), while kinetic energy is the energy of motion (like that ball rolling down the hill).
Waves: Which travels faster: light waves or sound waves?
Light waves travel much faster than sound waves. This is why you see lightning before you hear the boom of thunder.
Gravity: What two factors determine the strength of the gravitational pull between two objects?
Gravity is determined by the mass of the objects and the distance between them.
Newton’s 1st Law: This law states that an object at rest will stay at rest unless it is acted upon by what?
It must be acted upon by an unbalanced force (or an outside force)
Skeletal: Bones are not just for support; they are also "factories." What is the name of the tissue inside your bones that produces new blood cells?
Bone Marrow
Plant Life Cycle: What are the different ways that seeds can be dispersed (moved away) from the parent plant?
Seeds can be dispersed by wind (like dandelions), water (like coconuts), or animals (getting stuck in fur or being eaten).
Sound Waves: Can sound travel through the vacuum of outer space? Why or why not?
No, sound cannot travel through space because it requires a medium (like air or water) to vibrate through, and space is a vacuum with no molecules.
Gravity/Force: What is the difference between an object's mass and its weight?
Mass is the amount of matter in an object and stays the same everywhere. Weight is the measure of the pull of gravity on that mass and can change depending on where you are (like on the Moon vs. Earth).
Newton’s 2nd Law: According to the formula
F = ma
, if you increase the mass of an object, what must you do to the force to keep the acceleration the same?
You must increase the force. Heavier objects require more force to move at the same speed as lighter objects.