Biology Quiz on Nitrogen and Water Cycles

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following processes converts nitrogen gas directly into a form usable by plants?

Nitrification

Assimilation

Nitrogen Fixation (correct)

Denitrification

In the water cycle, what process involves the release of water vapor from plants into the atmosphere?

Transpiration (correct)

Condensation

Evaporation

Seepage

What role do nitrites and nitrates play in the nitrogen cycle?

Conversion of organic nitrogen into ammonia

Conversion of ammonia into nitrogen gas

Building blocks of plant proteins

Intermediate products in converting ammonia to forms plants can use (correct)

Which process involves water moving through the ground and into underground lakes or aquifers?

Seepage Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of glucose in plants?

To serve as food for the plant. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

They are reverse processes that work together to balance oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Signup and view all the answers

In the chemical equation for photosynthesis, what does $6CO_2$ represent?

6 molecules of carbon dioxide Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of ATP in cellular respiration?

To fuel cellular processes and growth Signup and view all the answers

How does pollution primarily affect ecosystems?

By limiting the number of species that can respond to change Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of habitat loss on ecosystems?

Causes fragmentation and reduces overall biodiversity Signup and view all the answers

In an ecological pyramid of energy, where is energy the highest?

At the producer level. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of plastic pollution?

Disruption of food chains, harming wildlife. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the flow of energy through a standard energy pyramid?

Energy is transferred between trophic levels, with roughly 10% being lost at each step. Signup and view all the answers

According to Lindeman's 10% rule, what is the primary reason energy is lost when it moves between trophic levels?

It is primarily lost as heat due to processes like breathing or other physiological cycles. Signup and view all the answers

How does the biomass pyramid of a forest ecosystem differ from that of an ocean ecosystem?

In the forest, the biomass pyramid is upright, with producers at the base, while in the ocean, it can be inverted with less biomass in the producers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that determines the shape of an ecological pyramid of numbers?

The number of individual organisms at each trophic level. Signup and view all the answers

Which level of an energy pyramid has the greatest amount of energy?

The producer level. Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate percentage of biomass that is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next within an ecosystem?

15-20% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of an ecological pyramid of numbers?

It can be inverted based on the number of creatures at each level. Signup and view all the answers

What role do decomposers play in the energy pyramid?

They break down dead biological matter, returning nutrients to the ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

When dividing values in scientific notation, which step is performed with the exponents?

The exponents are subtracted Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of dimensional analysis?

It is used to convert between units of measurement Signup and view all the answers

Which celestial object is described as a small rocky object that orbits the Sun, located primarily between Mars and Jupiter?

Asteroid Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes comets from asteroids and meteors?

Comets are made of ice and dust and often display a tail Signup and view all the answers

Why do we always see the same side of the Moon from Earth?

The Moon’s rotation and orbit around the Earth take approximately the same time Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'waxing crescent' moon?

When less than half of the Moon is lit and increasing in size Signup and view all the answers

What is a lunar eclipse?

The Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary energy source of stars?

Nuclear fusion in their core Signup and view all the answers

If a star has a luminosity of 1, how does its brightness compare to that of the Sun?

The star is 100x brighter than the Sun Signup and view all the answers

In the detritus food chain, what is the relationship between the number of creatures and the position in the pyramid?

The number of creatures diminishes as one travels up the pyramid. Signup and view all the answers

What color would a star with a surface temperature of approximately 10,000° Celsius likely appear?

White Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines 'mass' in the context of matter?

The amount of matter in an object. Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the Sun is considered the reaction center?

Core Signup and view all the answers

What is a solar flare?

A sudden eruption of plasma and magnetic energy on the surface of the Sun Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is the key difference in particle arrangement between solids and liquids?

Solids have closely packed, ordered particles, while liquids have less closely packed, disordered particles. Signup and view all the answers

How does the motion of particles in a gas differ from the motion of particles in a liquid?

Gas particles move freely at high speeds in random motion, whereas liquid particles slide and roll past one another in random motion. Signup and view all the answers

According to the Nebula theory, how did the Sun form?

Dust and gas contracted under gravity into a hot sphere Signup and view all the answers

Based on the content, which statement accurately describes the attraction between particles in different states of matter?

The attraction between particles is strongest in solids and weakest in gases. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a component of a galaxy?

Satellites orbiting Earth Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic that distinguishes a pure substance from a mixture?

Pure substances are made up of only one type of particle, while mixtures are made up of at least two types. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the amount of energy a star produces each second?

Luminosity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the best example of a mechanical (heterogeneous) mixture, as described in the content?

A chocolate chip cookie Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between elements and compounds?

Elements are made of one type of atom while compounds are made of two or more types of atoms or elements. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the best example of a physical change?

Melting ice Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a chemical change?

Change of state Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of an element?

It is a pure substance that cannot be broken down further by chemical means Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the formation of an ionic bond?

Transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct name for the compound with the formula $N_2O_5$?

Dinitrogen pentoxide Signup and view all the answers

Which group of the periodic table are known for being the most reactive nonmetals?

Halogens Signup and view all the answers

What type of bond involves the sharing of electrons between two nonmetal atoms?

Covalent bond Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following would you most likely find a cation?

Ionic compound Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Astronomy

Earth's axis tilt (23.5 degrees) creates seasons as Earth orbits the sun
Seasons change due to the tilt and revolution of Earth.
When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Planets

Planets orbit the sun due to their velocity and the sun's gravity.
Greater mass means a greater gravitational pull.
Inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) are primarily composed of rock.
Outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) are primarily composed of gas.
Dwarf planets (Pluto, Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, Eris) fulfill some but not all the criteria for being a planet. They are large enough to be pulled into a spherical shape by gravity, and they orbit a star, but they haven't cleared all the objects from their orbit.

Distances in Space

Astronomical Unit (AU): Used to measure distances in our solar system.
1 AU is the distance between Earth and the Sun (149,000,000 km).
Light year (ly): Used to measure distances in interstellar space.
Light travels at a speed of 9.461 x 10^12 km per year (1 light year = 9.461 x 10¹² km).

Scientific Notation

Used to concisely write very large or very small numbers
A coefficient multiplied by a power of 10 (e.g., 5 x 10³ or 2 x 10^-6).

Satellites

Moons are natural satellites which orbit planets.
Artificial satellites are put into orbit by humans (e.g. internet, cellphones, TV).

Asteroids

Thousands of smaller objects between Mars and Jupiter called asteroids.
This area is known as the asteroid belt.
Small rocky objects orbiting the sun.

Comets

Revolve around the sun in fixed orbits.
Different from asteroids and meteors, mostly made of ice and dust.

Meteoroids

Small rocky objects traveling through space.
Much smaller than asteroids.

Meteors

Meteoroid that has entered Earth's atmosphere.
Burns up and creates a bright streak in the sky ("shooting star").

Meteorites

Meteors that don't burn up completely and land on Earth's surface.
Can cause damage if large enough.

Moon

Takes 27.3 days to orbit Earth and rotate on its axis.
We always see the same side of the moon.
Non-luminous, reflects sunlight.
No atmosphere.

Phases of the Moon

Different appearances of the moon as it orbits Earth due to its position relative to the sun. (new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent).

Solar Eclipse

Moon passes directly between the sun and Earth.
Earth is temporarily in shadow.

Lunar Eclipse

Earth passes directly between the sun and moon
Moon is temporarily in shadow.

Planetary Transits

When a planet passes directly between Earth and the sun.

Stars

Hot balls of electrically charged gas.
Luminous (produce energy through nuclear fusion)
Primarily composed of hydrogen.
Differ in luminosity, colour, and temperature.

Sun

Our star, a hot ball of plasma.
Central to our solar system
Has a structure with a core, radiative zone, convective zone.

Big Bang Theory

Exploding hot ball of matter leading to the expansion of the universe, creating everything.

Nebula Theory

Hypothesis stating how the solar system is formed from a nebula.

Greenhouse Effect

Earth absorbs 50% of the sun's energy which is released back as heat.

Ecology

Study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Ecological Pyramids

Diagrammatic representation of energy flow, biomass, or number in an ecosystem.

Biomass Pyramid

Total mass/weight of each trophic level in an ecosystem.
Amount of biomass is largest at the producer level.

Pyramid of Numbers

Represents the number of individual organisms in each trophic level.
Often upright, representing more producers to consumers, but Can be inverted, as in some ocean ecosystems.
The number of organisms diminishes as one moves up the food chain.

Chemistry

G – Given; R – Required; A – Analysis; S – Solution; S – Statement
Matter: Anything that occupies space and has mass.
States of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and particle arrangement.
Particles in matter are always in motion
Relationship between temperature and the motion of particles.
Pure substances: Elements and compounds
Mixtures: Mechanical (heterogeneous) and solutions (homogeneous).
Physical properties (e.g., state, color, density, melting point, solubility) and how to observe them
Chemical properties (e.g., flammability, reactivity) and how to identify them.
Distinguish Physical changes vs Chemical Changes
Difference between elements and compounds.

Atomic Notation

How atoms are represented with their atomic number (protons) and mass number (protons + neutrons).

Ionic Bonds

Bond formed between a metal and a nonmetal.
Formation of ions due to the transfer of electrons.

Covalent Bonds

Bonds formed between nonmetals.
Sharing of electrons.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key biological cycles, including the nitrogen and water cycles. This quiz explores how these processes impact ecosystems, plant growth, and energy flow. Ideal for biology students wanting to assess their understanding of essential concepts.