NM-MSSA Science 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of energy is stored in chemical bonds of food?
- Kinetic energy
- Thermal energy
- Chemical potential energy (Correct answer)
- Radiant energy
Correct answer: Chemical potential energy
Chemical potential energy is stored in the bonds between atoms in molecules, including the molecules in food.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a physical change?
- Iron rusting
- Wood burning
- Ice melting (Correct answer)
- Milk souring
Correct answer: Ice melting
Melting ice is a physical change because only the state of matter changes—the water molecules remain the same.
Question 3: What is the function of the mitochondria in a cell?
- Store genetic information
- Produce proteins
- Generate energy (Correct answer)
- Control what enters the cell
Correct answer: Generate energy
Mitochondria are the organelles that produce ATP (energy) through cellular respiration, earning them the nickname 'powerhouse of the cell.'
Question 4: In which phase of the water cycle does liquid water become water vapor?
- Condensation
- Precipitation
- Evaporation (Correct answer)
- Runoff
Correct answer: Evaporation
Evaporation is the process by which liquid water absorbs heat energy and transforms into water vapor.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT a renewable energy source?
- Solar
- Wind
- Coal (Correct answer)
- Hydroelectric
Correct answer: Coal
Coal is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years and cannot be replenished on a human timescale, making it non-renewable.
Question 6: What happens to the speed of light when it passes from air into glass?
- It increases
- It stays the same
- It decreases (Correct answer)
- It doubles
Correct answer: It decreases
Light slows down when it passes from a less dense medium (air) into a more dense medium (glass), which also causes refraction.
Question 7: Which organelle controls the activities of the cell?
- Ribosome
- Nucleus (Correct answer)
- Vacuole
- Cell membrane
Correct answer: Nucleus
The nucleus contains the cell's DNA and directs cell activities including growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
NM-MSSA Science 3
What type of energy is stored in chemical bonds of food?