SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

A student wants to test how the concentration of phosphorus in a fertilizer affects plant growth. In designing this experiement the independent variable would most likely be... 

• The height each plant grows after given fertilizer
• Type of phosphorus used
• Type of each plant used
• Amount of phosphorus used per plant

A student designs an experiment to determine how surface type affects the amount of force needed to roll a ball 20 meters. What is the independent variable? 

• The force needed to roll the ball
• The type of surface used
• The type of ball chosen
• The length of the surfaces

A student designs an experiment to measure the mass and volume of rocks found in a nearby cliff. Which tools would BEST help a student obtain accurate data?

• Oxygen probe and metric ruler
• Graduated cylinder and a balance
• pH indicator and heat sensor
• Triple-beam balance and metric ruler

By modifying the genetic structure of certain corn plants, scientists have developed a type of corn that is able to survive and even thrive in hot and dry environments with very little water. Which practice is unnessary with this new plant variety?

• Using fertilizer on the plants
• Eroding the land by tilling
• Removing weeds from crops
• Massive irrigation methods

A student is conducting an experiment to see how far a small catapult can shoot a small ball across a field. The catabult shoots the ball five times. Which tool should the student use to measure the distance the ball travels?

• Electric balance
• Spring Scale
• Meter stick
• Protractor

Ethanol, often produced from corn, is being added to gasoline in an attempt to reduce the amount of fossil fuel usage. 
Which is an unintended consequence of ethanol use? 

• The cost of corn products increases
• Improved health of the environment
• Improvement of gas milage 
• More car wrecks

Every kind of technology has benefits and unexpected problems. This includes cell phones. 
Select the answer that shows one intended benefit of cell phone technology and one unintended consequence as well.

• Benefit: stronger bones; Consequence: tooth decay
• Benefit: more communication; Consequence: More car wrecks
• Benefit: Lots of information
  Consequence: bone denisity loss
• Benefit: more communication; Consequence: bad hair

Alfred Nobel invented dynamite to help miners tunnel through mountains. However, he was later appalled to learn that his invention was being used for warfare. 
What is an unintended consequence of dynamite?

• Dynamite was used for making bombs and other explosives for combat
• His invention helped miners dig tunnels through mountains
• Road builders used dynamite to blow up rocks that were in the way
• Dynamite was used to dig holes in the ground

The main biofuel on the market today is ethanol, a fuel made from corn. Which type of bioengineered product is ethanol?

• manipulated
• resistant
• assistive
• adaptive

In order to prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, companies expose some types of fruits and vegetables to x-rays in order to kill bacteria. Which best describes irradiated fruits and vegetables? 

• adaptive products
• assistive products
• synthetic products
• natural products