High school students are taking more advanced science and math courses than ever, and graduating with many more science credits that could pave the way to careers in science and technology.
We invited high school teachers and other educators to send us their favorite questions. Try taking a short quiz and see how well you match up.
Biology
Nearly half of all high school graduates take an advanced biology course, as offerings have expanded to include physiology, anatomy and genetics.
Percentage of high school graduates who earned
credit
Which of the following conditions on Mars would be
the first to kill a human who is unprotected and unassisted by life
support?
AColder than Antarctic
temperatures.
BLow air pressure.
CHigh CO2
atmosphere.
DExcess solar radiation due to
a missing magnetic field.
Submitted
by Edmund Smith, teacherTwo Rivers Magnet Middle School, East Hartford, Conn.
Why?
Exposure to the atmophere on Mars would likely kill a human in within minutes. Cold temperatures would take longer to kill somebody because heat does not transfer away from the body as quickly in a near-vacuum. High levels of solar radiation could lead to skin cancer, but it would not kill somebody immediately.
Exposure to the atmophere on Mars would likely kill a human in within minutes. Cold temperatures would take longer to kill somebody because heat does not transfer away from the body as quickly in a near-vacuum. High levels of solar radiation could lead to skin cancer, but it would not kill somebody immediately.
Two avatars are expecting a baby. The father and
mother both have turquoise skin and are heterozygous for the trait. Turquoise
(T) alleles are completely dominant to blue (t) alleles. What is the probability
of their baby having blue skin?
A10%
B25%
C50%
D75%
Submitted
by Sarah Kelsey Evans, science teacherForrest M. Bird Charter School, Sandpoint, Idaho
Why?
Both parent avatars have the genotype Tt. The probability that the baby avatar has the genotype TT is 25%, Tt is 50%, and tt is 25%. Because turqoise (T) alleles are completely dominant, the baby avatar will only have blue skin when it has a tt genotype.
Both parent avatars have the genotype Tt. The probability that the baby avatar has the genotype TT is 25%, Tt is 50%, and tt is 25%. Because turqoise (T) alleles are completely dominant, the baby avatar will only have blue skin when it has a tt genotype.
Chemistry
As schools have added more science credits to their graduation requirements, chemistry has had the sharpest rise: to 70 percent from 45 percent.
Percentage of high school graduates who earned
credit
Raha Moharrak, the first Saudi woman to climb
Everest, is trying to boil water for rice at base camp. How should she alter her
recipe at a high elevation?
AShe should simmer the rice for
less time. Because air pressure is lower at high altitudes, water boils at a
lower temperature.
BShe should simmer the rice for
more time. Because air pressure is lower at high altitudes, water boils at a
lower temperature.
CShe should cook the rice at a
lower temperature. Because air pressure is lower at high altitudes, water boils
at a lower temperature.
DShe should cook the rice at a
higher temperature. Because air pressure is lower at high altitudes, water boils
at a lower temperature.
Submitted
by Melissa Hirsch, chemistry teacherNorthfield Mount Hermon School, Gill, Mass.
Why?
The lower air pressure at high altitudes allows water to boil at a lower temperature. Because the water temperature does not increase after reaching the boiling point, the cooking time must be extended.
The lower air pressure at high altitudes allows water to boil at a lower temperature. Because the water temperature does not increase after reaching the boiling point, the cooking time must be extended.
Table salt, NaCl, is made from:
ATwo unreactive
nonmetals.
BTwo highly reactive
metals.
CA highly reactive metal and a
toxic gas.
DTwo toxic
gases.
Submitted
by Lisa Paschall, teacherFriends Seminary, New York, N.Y.
Why?
Sodium (Na) is a metal that can explode when exposed to water, while chlorine (Cl) is a toxic gas.
Sodium (Na) is a metal that can explode when exposed to water, while chlorine (Cl) is a toxic gas.
Computer ScienceAlthough technology jobs are abundant, the demand for computer science
courses has fallen. Fewer than one in five students take it before graduation.
Percentage of high school graduates who earned
credit
Given this pseudocode:
- Tim is not allowed to drive.
- Tim's_Age is 1
- While Tim's_Age < 17, increase Tim's_Age by 1
- Allow Tim to drive.
What will Tim's_Age be when he is allowed to
drive?
A1
B16
C17
D18
Submitted
by Mike Schmelder, computer science teacher
Lancaster
Country Day School, Lancaster, Pa.
Why?
Tim's age will increase until it reaches 17, when it
will no longer satisfy the condition of being less than 17 and Tim will be
allowed to drive.
The terms "floating-point error" or
"machine-precision error" refer to:
AThe inability of computers to
accurately represent decimal numbers.
BThe random error introduced by
computer hardware variation.
CThe possibility for computers
to accidentally shift decimal points in numbers.
DThe pitfalls of humans blindly
trusting computer calculations
Submitted
by Elizabeth Qian
M.I.T. Educational Studies Program,
Cambridge, Mass.
Why?
Because of how computers store information, they
cannot precisely represent decimal numbers, which can lead to very small but
measurable math errors.
Given this pseudocode:
- Tim is not allowed to drive.
- Tim's_Age is 1
- While Tim's_Age < 17, increase Tim's_Age by 1
- Allow Tim to drive.
A1
B16
C17
D18
Submitted
by Mike Schmelder, computer science teacherLancaster Country Day School, Lancaster, Pa.
Why?
Tim's age will increase until it reaches 17, when it will no longer satisfy the condition of being less than 17 and Tim will be allowed to drive.
Tim's age will increase until it reaches 17, when it will no longer satisfy the condition of being less than 17 and Tim will be allowed to drive.
The terms "floating-point error" or
"machine-precision error" refer to:
AThe inability of computers to
accurately represent decimal numbers.
BThe random error introduced by
computer hardware variation.
CThe possibility for computers
to accidentally shift decimal points in numbers.
DThe pitfalls of humans blindly
trusting computer calculations
Submitted
by Elizabeth QianM.I.T. Educational Studies Program, Cambridge, Mass.
Why?
Because of how computers store information, they cannot precisely represent decimal numbers, which can lead to very small but measurable math errors.
Because of how computers store information, they cannot precisely represent decimal numbers, which can lead to very small but measurable math errors.
Algebra
In 1990, about half of graduating seniors had taken second-year algebra. Now,
that number has shot up to 76 percent.
Percentage of high school graduates who earned
credit
If two chickens lay two eggs in two days, how long
does it take 100 chickens to lay 100 eggs?
AOne day.
BTwo days.
C100 days.
DThe problem can't be answered
with the information given.
Submitted
by Jan Gombert, former teacher
Detroit Community High
School, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Why?
For two chickens to lay two eggs in two days, each
chicken must lay eggs at a rate of 0.5 eggs per day. At that rate, 100 chickens
would lay 50 eggs per day, or 100 eggs every two days.
A horse runs a two-lap race around a circular track.
During the first lap, its average speed is 20 miles per hour. What must the
horse's average speed be during the second lap so its average speed over the
course of the entire two-lap race is 40 m.p.h.?
A60 mph.
B100mph.
CAn irrational number between
100mph and 1000mph.
DInfinitely
fast.
Submitted
by Zev Aber, private tutor
New York, N.Y.
Why?
Imagine each lap is 20 miles long. During the first
lap, the horse runs at 20 m.p.h., taking an hour to run the 20-mile lap. To run
the whole 40-mile race at 40 m.p.h., the horse would have to travel the next
20-mile lap without taking up any more time – infinitely
fast.
If two chickens lay two eggs in two days, how long
does it take 100 chickens to lay 100 eggs?
AOne day.
BTwo days.
C100 days.
DThe problem can't be answered
with the information given.
Submitted
by Jan Gombert, former teacherDetroit Community High School, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Why?
For two chickens to lay two eggs in two days, each chicken must lay eggs at a rate of 0.5 eggs per day. At that rate, 100 chickens would lay 50 eggs per day, or 100 eggs every two days.
For two chickens to lay two eggs in two days, each chicken must lay eggs at a rate of 0.5 eggs per day. At that rate, 100 chickens would lay 50 eggs per day, or 100 eggs every two days.
A horse runs a two-lap race around a circular track.
During the first lap, its average speed is 20 miles per hour. What must the
horse's average speed be during the second lap so its average speed over the
course of the entire two-lap race is 40 m.p.h.?
A60 mph.
B100mph.
CAn irrational number between
100mph and 1000mph.
DInfinitely
fast.
Submitted
by Zev Aber, private tutorNew York, N.Y.
Why?
Imagine each lap is 20 miles long. During the first lap, the horse runs at 20 m.p.h., taking an hour to run the 20-mile lap. To run the whole 40-mile race at 40 m.p.h., the horse would have to travel the next 20-mile lap without taking up any more time – infinitely fast.
Imagine each lap is 20 miles long. During the first lap, the horse runs at 20 m.p.h., taking an hour to run the 20-mile lap. To run the whole 40-mile race at 40 m.p.h., the horse would have to travel the next 20-mile lap without taking up any more time – infinitely fast.
Precalculus
The percentage of students taking calculus and precalculus courses has more
than doubled, making it more mainstream than it was 20 years ago.
Percentage of high school graduates who earned
credit
If you wrap a rubber band around a ball 10 cm in
diameter, then lift the band 1 cm off the ball all the way around, the band will
be 6.28 cm longer. If you wrap a rubber band around the earth (radius=6,378 km)
and again lift it up 1 cm all the way around, how much longer is the rubber
band?
A4,005 km longer.
B8,011 km longer.
C6,378 km longer.
D6.28 cm
longer.
Submitted
by Jim Palfreyman
If you wrap a rubber band around a ball 10 cm in
diameter, then lift the band 1 cm off the ball all the way around, the band will
be 6.28 cm longer. If you wrap a rubber band around the earth (radius=6,378 km)
and again lift it up 1 cm all the way around, how much longer is the rubber
band?
A4,005 km longer.
B8,011 km longer.
C6,378 km longer.
D6.28 cm
longer.
Submitted
by Jim Palfreyman
Why?
The answer may be counterintuitive – the length of a
gigantic rubber band would seem to grow faster than the length of a small rubber
band.
But the relationship between circumference (C, the length of the
rubber band) and radius (r, the amount lifted up) of a circle is linear, given
by the equation C = 2πr. For each increase in the radius of a circle by 1 cm, C
grows by 6.28 cm, or 2 * π * 1.
A talented math student, while walking his girlfriend
home, suggests the following: "Let's use the half method. Every time we travel
half the remaining distance, I get a kiss." When asked to explain further, he
said, "The total distance is four miles, so I get a kiss after we have traveled
two miles. I will also get a kiss after we have traveled half of the remaining
two miles, half of the remaining one mile, and so on." How many kisses does he
get?
AThree kisses.
BFour kisses.
CThere is no
solution.
DInfinite
kisses.
Submitted
by Carolyn Stewart, math and computer science
teacher
Franklin Regional Senior High School, Murrysville, Pa.
Why?
The talented math student gets a kiss after two
miles, and then after one mile, and then after a half mile, and then a quarter
mile, and so on. The distance he will travel before receiving another kiss is an
infinite series: 2 + 1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + 1/32 + 1/64 ... While the
distance gets smaller, it never reaches zero.
The answer may be counterintuitive – the length of a gigantic rubber band would seem to grow faster than the length of a small rubber band.
But the relationship between circumference (C, the length of the rubber band) and radius (r, the amount lifted up) of a circle is linear, given by the equation C = 2πr. For each increase in the radius of a circle by 1 cm, C grows by 6.28 cm, or 2 * π * 1.
A talented math student, while walking his girlfriend
home, suggests the following: "Let's use the half method. Every time we travel
half the remaining distance, I get a kiss." When asked to explain further, he
said, "The total distance is four miles, so I get a kiss after we have traveled
two miles. I will also get a kiss after we have traveled half of the remaining
two miles, half of the remaining one mile, and so on." How many kisses does he
get?
AThree kisses.
BFour kisses.
CThere is no
solution.
DInfinite
kisses.
Submitted
by Carolyn Stewart, math and computer science
teacherFranklin Regional Senior High School, Murrysville, Pa.
Why?
The talented math student gets a kiss after two miles, and then after one mile, and then after a half mile, and then a quarter mile, and so on. The distance he will travel before receiving another kiss is an infinite series: 2 + 1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + 1/32 + 1/64 ... While the distance gets smaller, it never reaches zero.
The talented math student gets a kiss after two miles, and then after one mile, and then after a half mile, and then a quarter mile, and so on. The distance he will travel before receiving another kiss is an infinite series: 2 + 1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + 1/32 + 1/64 ... While the distance gets smaller, it never reaches zero.
Physics
Physics, which can draw students to careers in engineering, has had a smaller
jump than either biology or chemistry.
Percentage of high school graduates who earned
credit
Sam has one pound of gold on the Moon, while Dylan
has one pound of gold on Earth. Who has more gold?
ASam.
BDylan.
CThey have the same amount of
gold.
DIt depends on how long Sam has
been on the Moon.
Submitted
by Marilyn Salagaj, physics teacher
Concord High School,
Manchester, N.H.
Why?
Weight is a measure of the force on an object due to
gravity. If Sam's gold weighs the same as Dylan's, he must have more of it,
because the gravity pulling the gold to the ground is less on the Moon than it
is on Earth.
If the Sun is a basketball, then Earth is:
AA tennis ball, 1 meter (3
feet) away
BA walnut, 3 meters (10 feet)
away
CA pea, 6 meters (20 feet)
away
DA fruit fly, 25 meters (85
feet) away
Submitted by Sebastian Popa
Bucharest,
Romania
Why?
The Sun is 1,391,000 km in diameter. Earth is 12,742
km in diameter and is 149,600,000 km from the Sun. A standard basketball is
about 24 cm in diameter, or 0.00024 km.
That means the diameter of the
Sun is 5,795,833,333 times greater than the diameter of a basketball. (1,391,000
km / 0.00024 km = 5,795,833,333). If the distance of Earth were reduced by the
same amount, it would be .025 km, or 25 meters (149,600,000 km / 5,795,833,333 =
.025). If the diameter of Earth were reduced by the same amount, it would
,795,833,333 = 0.0000022 km).
Sam has one pound of gold on the Moon, while Dylan
has one pound of gold on Earth. Who has more gold?
ASam.
BDylan.
CThey have the same amount of
gold.
DIt depends on how long Sam has
been on the Moon.
Submitted
by Marilyn Salagaj, physics teacherConcord High School, Manchester, N.H.
Why?
Weight is a measure of the force on an object due to gravity. If Sam's gold weighs the same as Dylan's, he must have more of it, because the gravity pulling the gold to the ground is less on the Moon than it is on Earth.
Weight is a measure of the force on an object due to gravity. If Sam's gold weighs the same as Dylan's, he must have more of it, because the gravity pulling the gold to the ground is less on the Moon than it is on Earth.
If the Sun is a basketball, then Earth is:
AA tennis ball, 1 meter (3
feet) away
BA walnut, 3 meters (10 feet)
away
CA pea, 6 meters (20 feet)
away
DA fruit fly, 25 meters (85
feet) away
Submitted by Sebastian Popa
Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest, Romania
Why?
The Sun is 1,391,000 km in diameter. Earth is 12,742 km in diameter and is 149,600,000 km from the Sun. A standard basketball is about 24 cm in diameter, or 0.00024 km.
That means the diameter of the Sun is 5,795,833,333 times greater than the diameter of a basketball. (1,391,000 km / 0.00024 km = 5,795,833,333). If the distance of Earth were reduced by the same amount, it would be .025 km, or 25 meters (149,600,000 km / 5,795,833,333 = .025). If the diameter of Earth were reduced by the same amount, it would ,795,833,333 = 0.0000022 km).
The Sun is 1,391,000 km in diameter. Earth is 12,742 km in diameter and is 149,600,000 km from the Sun. A standard basketball is about 24 cm in diameter, or 0.00024 km.
That means the diameter of the Sun is 5,795,833,333 times greater than the diameter of a basketball. (1,391,000 km / 0.00024 km = 5,795,833,333). If the distance of Earth were reduced by the same amount, it would be .025 km, or 25 meters (149,600,000 km / 5,795,833,333 = .025). If the diameter of Earth were reduced by the same amount, it would ,795,833,333 = 0.0000022 km).
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