Science Exam

General: Observe data within a table or graph and interpret it.

Analyze the axes, headings, and data points to draw conclusions, compare values, or identify trends.

General: Identify patterns, trends, and outliers within a data set.

Pattern/Trend: A general direction or repeating sequence in which data changes. Outlier: A data point that differs significantly from all other observations.

Chemistry: What are the three states of matter and what terms are used to turn one state into another?

Solid, Liquid, Gas. Changes: Melting (Solid to Liquid), Freezing (Liquid to Solid), Evaporation/Boiling (Liquid to Gas), Condensation (Gas to Liquid), Sublimation (Solid to Gas), Deposition (Gas to Solid).

Chemistry: What is the difference between a pure substance and a mixture? (With examples)

Pure substance: Made of only one type of particle (e.g., Distilled water, Gold). Mixture: Made of two or more substances physically combined (e.g., Saltwater, Air).

Chemistry: List evidence of when a Physical and Chemical change occur.

Physical change: Change in state or shape, easily reversible, no new substance formed (e.g., melting ice). Chemical change: New color, heat/light produced, bubbles/gas formed, precipitate forms, difficult to reverse (e.g., burning wood).

Chemistry: Illustrate a Bohr diagram for an atom and an ion.

Atom: Protons and neutrons in the nucleus, electrons in shells matching the atomic number. Ion: Same nucleus, but electrons are added or removed to fill the outer valence shell (drawn with square brackets and the charge outside).

Chemistry: Illustrate a Lewis Dot diagram for an atom and an ion.

Atom: Chemical symbol surrounded by dots representing only valence electrons. Ion: Symbol with full or zero valence dots, enclosed in square brackets with the ionic charge written at the top right.

Chemistry: Identify multiple patterns on the periodic table (columns, rows, categories, locations).

Columns = Groups/Families (same number of valence electrons). Rows = Periods (same number of electron shells). Metals are on the left, Non

Chemistry: Use Lewis Dot diagrams to illustrate how compounds are formed.

Ionic: Show arrows moving electrons from the metal to the non

Chemistry: Identify proper chemical names and formulas for compounds.

Ionic: Cation name + Anion name ending in "

Electricity: State the name, charge, and location of each (3) subatomic particles.

Proton (Positive, Nucleus), Neutron (Neutral, Nucleus), Electron (Negative, Orbiting shells).

Electricity: How to read the Electrostatic Series.

A list of materials ranked by their tendency to gain or lose electrons. Materials higher up tend to lose electrons (become positive), while those lower down tend to gain them (become negative).

Electricity: Use the electrostatic series to illustrate charging by friction.

When two different materials are rubbed together, friction causes electrons to transfer from the material higher on the series to the one lower, creating opposite static charges.

Electricity: Explain how an object becomes charged by induction.

A charged object is brought near (but not touching) a neutral object, causing the electrons in the neutral object to shift away or attract, creating a temporary polarized charge.

Electricity: Explain how lightning occurs.

Friction in clouds separates charges (negatives pool at the bottom). This repels electrons in the ground (making the ground positive). A stepped leader of negative charge travels down, meeting a positive streamer from the ground, creating a strike.

Electricity: Explain how a lightning rod works.

A conductive metal rod placed on a building and connected to the ground by a wire. It provides a safe, low

Electricity: Properly illustrate all the components of a Schematic Diagram.

Battery (long/short parallel lines), Wire (straight line), Resistor (zig

Electricity: Illustrate a schematic diagram of a series and parallel circuit.

Series: Components are connected end

Electricity: Rules for voltage and current in a series and parallel circuit.

Series: Current is the same everywhere; Voltage is shared/divided among loads. Parallel: Current is divided among the branches; Voltage is the same across each branch.

Electricity: Ohms Law and how to apply it to calculate voltage, current, and resistance.

Formula: V = I x R. Voltage (V) = Current (I) x Resistance (R). To find Current: I = V / R. To find Resistance: R = V / I.

Ecology: What is the greenhouse effect and why is it necessary?

Natural gases in the atmosphere trap the sun's thermal energy, keeping the Earth warm enough to sustain life. Without it, the Earth would be freezing.

Ecology: How humans have an impact on climate change.

Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial agriculture release excess greenhouse gases (like CO2 and methane), trapping too much heat and accelerating global warming.

Ecology: Difference between an Abiotic and Biotic factor (with examples).

Biotic: Living or once

Ecology: Difference between a Food Chain and Food Web.

Food Chain: A single, linear pathway showing energy flow from a producer to a chain of consumers. Food Web: A complex network of many interconnected food chains within an ecosystem.

Ecology: Difference between direct and indirect impacts within a food web.

Direct: One species directly eating or affecting another (e.g., a hawk eating a mouse). Indirect: A change in one population affecting another through an intermediate species (e.g., hawks eating mice leads to more seeds growing into plants).

Ecology: Name all four spheres and explain how nutrients (H2O and C) can enter and exit each one.

Biosphere (living things), Lithosphere (land/rocks), Atmosphere (air), Hydrosphere (water). Nutrients cycle via processes like photosynthesis/respiration (Carbon) and evaporation/precipitation (Water).

Ecology: What "eutrophication" is and how it occurs.

Excess nutrients (often from fertilizer runoff) enter a body of water, causing massive algae blooms. When the algae die, decomposers consume the water's oxygen, creating "dead zones" where aquatic life suffocates.

Ecology: Population dynamic terminology (exponential growth, carrying capacity, niche).

Exponential growth: Rapid, unchecked population increase. Carrying capacity: The maximum population size an environment can sustainably support. Niche: The specific role or job a species plays in its ecosystem.

Ecology: How species interact and symbiotic relationships.

Mutualism (both benefit), Commensalism (one benefits, one unaffected), Parasitism (one benefits, one is harmed), Competition (fighting for same resources), Predation (one hunts the other).

Ecology: What biodiversity is and how it can impact sustainability.

Biodiversity is the variety of different life forms in an ecosystem. High biodiversity increases an ecosystem's resilience and sustainability, allowing it to better survive diseases or environmental changes.

Astronomy: Why we have different seasons and why leap years are needed.

Seasons: Caused by the Earth's 23.5

Astronomy: Difference between a lunar and solar eclipse.

Solar Eclipse: Moon passes directly between Earth and Sun, casting a shadow on Earth (Sun

Astronomy: The life cycle of a star (high mass and low mass).

Low/Medium Mass: Nebula

Astronomy: Understand the terms waxing, waning, crescent, gibbous.

Waxing: Growing more illuminated (light on the right). Waning: Shrinking/less illuminated (light on the left). Crescent: Less than half of the moon is illuminated. Gibbous: More than half of the moon is illuminated.

Astronomy: The 8 phases of the moon in the correct order.

1. New Moon, 2. Waxing Crescent, 3. First Quarter, 4. Waxing Gibbous, 5. Full Moon, 6. Waning Gibbous, 7. Third (Last) Quarter, 8. Waning Crescent.