Science & Mathematics Challenge for Young Women

Science & Mathematics Challenge for Young Women

Begun in 1990, The Challenge encourages young women to study and enter STEM fields. Each year, up to 15 high schools from around the Kansas City metropolitan area – with teams comprised of up to eight students each – compete by testing their knowledge in subjects that include biology, chemistry, computer technology, physics, and environmental science.

Sample Questions:

Biology: An organelle found in plant cells but not in animal cells is the
A. nucleus.
B. mitochondrion.
C. chloroplast.
D. Golgi apparatus.

Modern-day ferns (Pterophyta) and club mosses (Lycophyta) are
A. nonvascular and seedless.
B. nonvascular, but make seeds.
C. vascular and seedless.
D. vascular, and make seeds.

Chemistry: The oxidation number of N in NH3 is
A. +5.
B. +3.
C. -3.
D. -5.

A compound containing 7 carbon atoms is
A. heptane.
B. hexane.
C. nonane.
D. octane.

Environmental Science: The process by which water evaporates from plants is called…
A. transpiration.
B. advection.
C. exhalation.
D. vapor release.

The region of the atmosphere which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation is the…
A. ionosphere.
B. heterosphere.
C. ozone layer.
D. thermosphere.

Mathematics: The graph of 3x2 + 3y2 – x = 20 is a(n)
A. parabola
B. circle
C. ellipse
D. hyperbola

The equation x2 – 9y2 + 2 = 0 is symmetric with respect to the 
A. origin only
B. x – axis only
C. y – axis only
D. x – axis, y – axis and origin

Physics: A car moving west at 35 m/s and accelerating east at 3.0 m/s2 is
A. decreasing speed.
B. increasing speed.
C. maintaining speed.
D. this question needs more data to determine what is happening.

A ball is thrown straight up, and comes back down. At its highest point, it has
A. Zero velocity only.
B. Zero velocity and zero acceleration.
C. Zero acceleration only.
D. Neither velocity nor acceleration are zero.

Computer Technology: A song in an MP3 file on a computer is in ___ format and must be converted to ___ to be heard.
A. machine language / executable
B. digital / analog
C. binary / source
D. object / program

The decimal number 8 is represented in hexadecimal as ____.
A.  8
B. 10
C. 1000
D. A

Answers to the questions above:
Biology: c, c
Chemistry: c, a
Environmental Science: a, c
Mathematics: b, d
Physics: a, a
Computer Technology: b, a

RULES:Each school may bring a team of no more than eight female students, grades 9-12, to the contest. Three students from each team may compete in a given event. Because of limited space NO MORE THAN EIGHT STUDENTS AND TWO COACHES from each school may attend.

Each event will consist of 16 multiple choice questions. The team will choose an answer to each question, write the answer on a card, and hold the card up for a facilitator to collect. Points will be awarded for both accuracy and the speed of the correct answer.

Plaques will be awarded to the three overall highest scoring teams. Certificates will be awarded to teams winning in the individual categories.
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