Science Assessment

The energy production in the core of the Sun is an example of what aspect of the special theory of relativity?

• Constancy of the speed of light

• Conversion of energy to mass

• Time slowing for moving objects

• Conversion of mass to energy

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Formation of the ozone layer helped protect which type of living organisms as they evolved?

• Marine

• Terrestrial

• Photosynthetic

• Eukaryotic

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-2

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

The saturation of surface rock with oxygen early in Earth’s history reflected a change in Earth’s atmosphere. This change directly made which life process possible?

• Photosynthesis

• Nitrogen fusion

• Sulfur reduction

• Aerobic respiration

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-7

NGSS.HS-LS2-3

The Sun has enough hydrogen to fuel a lifetime of 100 billion years. But the Sun’s life expectancy is only billion years. Which of the following accurately explains discrepancy?

• After converting ten percent of its mass to helium, the Sun will become a different kind of star and use fuel at a much faster rate.

• After a billion years of fusion, the Sun will divide and become two stars and each will use more fuel than a single star would.

• The Sun supplies gravitational potential energy to keep the planets in orbit, so the Sun uses much more fuel than it would if it existed alone.

• The nuclear reaction that powers the Sun accelerates at an exponential rate, so the longer the reaction goes on, the faster it uses fuel.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Scientists observed ice as a component of comets. This observation reinforced which model of the history of the solar system?

• Most planets in the solar system originally had water ocean.

• Comets delivered some of the water found in Earth’s oceans.

• Solar system planetary cores are generally a mix of iron and water.

• Most of the water in the solar system migrated to comets over time.

The Sun and other stars are powered by nuclear fusion. Which of these statements correctly describes one of the processes that occur during nuclear fusion in stars?

• Four hydrogen nuclei combine to become a helium nucleus, absorbing energy.

• Four helium nuclei combine to become hydrogen nucleus, releasing energy.

• Four hydrogen nuclei combine to become a helium nucleus, releasing energy.

• Four helium nuclei combine to become a hydrogen nucleus, absorbing energy.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Which discovery provides the best evidence of the age of the solar system?

• The oldest known rocks on Earth have been dated to 3.8 billion years old.

• The Apollo 17 mission found moon rocks that have been dated to 4.5 billion years old.

• The volcanic activity that occurs on Earth’s surface has recycled all its rocks at least once since its formation.

• The Apollo 11 and the Apollo 12 missions gathered moon rocks similar in age to the oldest-known Earth rocks.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-6

The stages of stars are illustrated in the diagram.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

The oldest moon rocks have been dated to a time shortly after the estimated date of the formation of the solar system. Approximately how old are these moon rocks?

• 6.4 billion years

• 4.5 billion years

• 2.8 billion years

• 1.7 billion years

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-6

Which of the following best describes a change in Earth’s atmosphere made by early photosynthetic life?

• Increased level of oxygen

• Increased level of carbon dioxide

• Decreased ability to support life

• Decreased ability to transmit light

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6