BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: FULLTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 21 AUGUST 2015
POLYTECHNIC OF NAMIBIA
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND APPLIED SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES
BASIC SCIENCE FULLTIME TEST 1
INITIALS:
SURNAME:
STUDENT NUMBER:
MODE OF STUDY:
QUALIFICATION:
LECTURE VENUE:
COURSE NAME:
COURSE CODE:
BASIC SCIENCE
BSC410S
DATE:
21 AUGUST 2015
DURATION:
1H30
MARKS:
/55
THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF 5 PAGES INCLUDING THIS FRONT
COVER
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Answer all questions
2. Please write neatly and legibly
3. Show all steps used in calculations where required.
4. No books, notes and other additional aids are allowed.
5. Only a scientific calculator is allowed
Page 1 of 5
BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: FULLTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 21 AUGUST 2015
SECTION A: BIOLOGY
[20 MARKS]
QUESTION 1 [20 MARKS]
Question Type: Multiple Choices. Each answer equals 2 marks.
1.1 All of the following statements about ecology are correct except:
A. Ecology is the study of the interactions between biotic and abiotic aspects of
the environment.
B. Ecology is a discipline that is independent from natural selection and
evolutionary history.
C. Ecologists may study populations and communities of organisms.
D. Ecology spans increasingly comprehensive levels of organization, from
individuals to ecosystems.
E. Ecological studies may involve the use of models and computers.
1.2 Ecology as a discipline directly deals with all of the following levels of biological
organization except:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
community.
population.
organismal.
cellular.
ecosystem.
1.3 In a terrestrial ecosystem, the trophic level that would contain the largest biomass
would be the:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
producers.
primary consumers.
secondary consumers.
highest order consumers.
decomposers.
1.4 Which of the following are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and
organization of biological communities?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
nutrient availability, soil pH, light intensity
precipitation, wind, temperature
predation, competition, disease
A and B only
A, B, and C
1.5 You are working for the Environmental Protection Agency considering the effect of
a potentially toxic chemical in drinking water. There is as yet no documented scientific
evidence against the chemical, but many suspect it to be a health hazard. Using the
Precautionary Principle, what would be a reasonable environmental policy?
Page 2 of 5
BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: FULLTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 21 AUGUST 2015
A. Establish a contingency fund to handle insurance claims in the event that
the chemical turns out to produce negative health effects.
B. Caution individuals to use their own judgment in deciding whether to drink
water from a potentially contaminated area.
C. Set the acceptable levels conservatively low, and keep them there unless
future studies show that they can be safely raised.
D. Set the acceptable levels at the highest levels encountered, and keep them
there unless future studies demonstrate negative health effects.
E. Establish no regulations until there are conclusive scientific studies.
1.6 All of the following statements concerning characteristics of predator-prey
relationships are correct EXCEPT:
A. A rise in the population of prey is often followed by a rise in the population
of predators.
B. A rise in the population of predators is followed by a decrease in the
population of prey.
C. Camouflage is an adaptation that protects prey.
D. The production of large numbers of offspring within very short periods of
time ensures the survival of some prey populations.
E. The population of predators most often eliminates the population of prey.
1.7 Which of the following is true about secondary consumers in an ecosystem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
They eat only plants.
They are eaten by primary consumers.
They are smaller and weaker than are primary consumers.
They are fewer in number than are primary consumers.
They contain the greatest total biomass in the system.
Question 1.8 – 1.10 (Please refer to the diagram below)
1.8 Which of the following organisms is most likely to be located at the apex of the
pyramid of biomass?
A. grass
B. grasshopper
Page 3 of 5
BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: FULLTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 21 AUGUST 2015
C. snake
D. mouse
E. hawk
1.9 All of the following statements about the above diagram are correct EXCEPT:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
The grasshopper is an herbivore.
Only two trophic levels are depicted.
The mouse and grasshopper are at the same trophic level.
The grass is a producer.
All of the organisms except grass are consumers, regardless of position.
1.10 The organic and inorganic materials in all the organisms in the diagram will
eventually return to the environment by the action of:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
decomposers
producers
primary consumers
secondary consumers
top carnivores
SECTION B: CHEMISTRY
[15 MARKS]
QUESTION 2 [15 MARKS]
2.1 In each of the following lists, identify the two terms which are related and provide
an explanation as to either why the two terms you have chosen are related or why the
third is not related.
[3]
a. Kelvin, Decimetre and Kilometre
Kilogram, Cubic centimetre and litre
Time, Distance and seconds
2.2 Perform the following mathematical operations and express each of the answers
in scientific notation.
[2]
a. (2.74 x 103) – (4.22 x 105) + (6.35 x 104)
b.
6.48 x 105
2.4 x103
X (1.8 X108)
2.3 Differentiate between the terms accuracy and precision.
[2]
2.4 Using a Kelvin thermometer, the temperature in a freezer was recorded to be 169
K. Convert the temperature to Degree Celsius (oC) and Fahrenheit (oF) using the
appropriate formulae.
[3]
Page 4 of 5
BSC410S – BASIC SCIENCE: FULLTIME TEST 1 QUESTION PAPER – 21 AUGUST 2015
2.5 Do the following calculations and record the answer to the correct number of
significant figures or where applicable, to the correct number of decimal places. [3]
a. (0.250 / 25.00) x 1.010
b. 8.78 – 0.558 + 4.22
c.
(120.25 – 110.75) / (6.025 -3.075)
2.6 Apply the rules of rounding off numbers and round off the numbers below to the
number of significant figures stated.
[2]
a. Round off 0.0285 nm to two significant figures
b. Round off 9.998 g to three significant figures
SECTION C: PHYSICS
[20 MARKS]
QUESTION 3 [10 MARKS]
3.1 Define the following characteristics of a wave.
a. Amplitude
[2]
b. Frequency
3.2 Distinguish between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.
[2]
3.3 State whether sound travels faster or slower in a denser medium. Provide an
explanation to support your statement.
[2]
3.4 A radio station broadcasts at a frequency of 200 kHz. If the speed of the wave is
3 x 108 m/s. Determine:
a. The time for one complete oscillation.
[2]
b. The distance between successive troughs.
[2]
QUESTION 4 [10 MARKS]
4.1 Briefly explain what happens when the elastic limit or limit of proportionality of an
elastic body is exceeded.
[2]
4.2 Determine the deceleration of a car with a mass of 1.2 X 106 g when a Force of
445 N is applied on the brakes.
[3]
4.3 Define the term vector.
[2]
4.4 List three effects a force can have on a stationary object.
[3]
END
TOTAL: 55 MARKS
Page 5 of 5