Evolutionary oddities
Chemistry
The Universe
Global Systems
Brainiacs (x2 points)
100
What are three ways to determine the age of a fossil.
Carbon Dating
Index fossil dating
Relative ageing
100
What is the difference between an exothermic and an endothermic reaction?
Exothermic releases energy (heat), endothermic absorbs energy.
100
What is the main fuel for a star during most of its life?
Hydrogen (undergoing nuclear fusion)
100
Name the four spheres of the Earth.
Biosphere, Lithosphere (Geosphere), Atmosphere, Hydrosphere.
100
What is one feature of the exosphere?
The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere.
Air is extremely thin, and particles can escape into space.
It contains mostly hydrogen and helium.
200
Convergent Evolution
200
Give an example of a neutralisation reaction.
Acid + base → salt + water
(e.g., HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O).
200
Name one type of telescope used to observe space.
Optical telescope, radio telescope, X-ray telescope
200
What is one layer of the atmosphere?
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere.
200
What type of graph would best show how temperature affects reaction rates?
Line graph
300
When a single species evolves different traits to help them survive, often due to environmental change or geographic isolations.
Divergent Evolution
300
What is the main difference between ionic and covalent bonds?
Ionic bonds transfer electrons; covalent bonds share electrons.
300
What is an Astronomical Unit (AU) used to measure?
distances, primarily within our solar system
The average distance between Earth and the Sun (~150 million km)
300
Give an example of how a volcanic eruption impacts all four spheres.
Lithosphere – lava flow
Atmosphere – ash
Hydrosphere – acid rain
Biosphere – destroyed habitats.
300
Explain red-shift and what it tells us about the universe.
Light from distant galaxies is shifted to longer wavelengths, indicating they are moving away → the universe is expanding.
400
What is speciation?
Formation of new species from one original species, usually due to isolation and selection pressures.
400
What is particle theory and how does it explain reaction rates?
Matter is made of tiny particles that move; increasing temperature, concentration, or surface area increases collision frequency → faster reactions.
400
On a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, where are main sequence stars located?
Diagonal band from top-left (hot, bright, more massive) to bottom-right (cool, dim, less massive).
400
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Extra warming caused by human-produced greenhouse gases trapping more heat in the atmosphere.
400
Describe how acid reacts with a metal and explain why bubbles appear.
Acid reacts with metal to form a salt and hydrogen gas; bubbles are hydrogen gas being released.
500
What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?
Homologous – same structure, different function; Analogous – different structure, same function.
500
What is the word equation for photosynthesis.
Carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen (with sunlight and chlorophyll)
500
Explain hydrogen nuclear fusion in stars and the energy it produces.
Hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium nuclei, releasing energy as light and heat.
500
Which process in the nitrogen cycle converts atmospheric nitrogen into forms plants can use?
Nitrogen fixation
500
Explain how acid rain is linked to human activity and its impact on ecosystems.
Burning fossil fuels releases Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen oxides → reacts with water → acid rain; damages plants, water quality, soil.