General Science: 600+ Most Important Science Facts - Part 2

Question 101. In which defense mechanism does a person banish anxiety-arousing memories?
Repression (is where a person banishes anxiety-arousing memories)

Question 102. Which type of thumb helps to grasp and use tools?
Opposable (thumbs help to grasp and use tools)

Question 103. Which type of tail can grasp a branch by wrapping tightly around it?
Prehensile (tails can grasp branches by wrapping tightly around them)

Question 104. Which term means serving to cure, heal, or preserve a person’s health?
Therapeutic (means serving to cure, heal, or preserve a person’s health)

Question 105. What is the perception of being pushed outward while traveling in a circle?
Centrifugal force (is the perception of being pushed outward while traveling in a circle)

Question 106. What is the term for acceleration (which points inward) while traveling in a circle?
Centripetal (is the type of acceleration which points inward while traveling in a circle)

Question 107. What is the term for a number of the form [42] appearing in a published paper, which acknowledges the relevance of a particular work included on a list of numbered references at the end of the paper?
Citation (is the term for a number of the form [42] appearing in a published paper, which acknowledges the relevance of a particular work included on a list of numbered references at the end of the paper)

Question 108. What is the sphere surrounding a black hole from which nothing can escape?
Event horizon (surrounds a black hole, from which nothing can escape)

Question 109. What is the term for a treeless arctic plain, covered in snow much of the year?
Tundra (is a treeless arctic plain, covered in snow much of the year)

Question 110. What do scientists call a mixture of two or more metals fused together?
Alloy (is a mixture of two or more metals fused together)

Question 111. Which branch of engineering relates forces or torques of systems that are at rest?
Statics (relates forces or torques of systems that are at rest)

Question 112. What is the name for a row on the periodic table?
Period (is a row on the periodic table)

Question 113. What is the name for a column on the periodic table?
Group (is a column on the periodic table)

Question 114. What do chemists call the electrons that an atom uses to make bonds?
Valence electrons (are involved in bonding)

Question 115. How many noble gases can you name?
Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon (are noble gases); you should feel that you could have thought of at least five

Question 116. How many halogens can you name?
Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine (are halogens); you should feel that you could have thought of at least four

Question 117. Which type of skeleton grows on the outside of an animal?
Exoskeleton (is an external skeleton)

Question 118. What do engineers call a functional model built for demonstration or testing?
Prototype (is a functional model built for demonstration or testing); note that a mock-up is typically non-functional

Question 119. What is the characteristic structure of two complementary chains of nucleotides in DNA?
Double helix (is the characteristic structure of two complementary chains of nucleotides in DNA)

Question 120. According to Kepler, what is the shape of a planetary orbit around the sun?
Ellipse (is the shape of a planetary orbit around the sun, according to Kepler)

Question 121. What is the shape of the path of a projectile traveling through a uniform gravitational field in the absence of air resistance (neglecting earth’s rotation)?
Parabola (is the path of a projectile, if you neglect air resistance, neglect earth’s rotation, and assume that earth’s gravitational field is uniform – meaning to neglect the variation of gravity with altitude)

Question 122. What is the lowest possible energy level called?
Ground state (is the lowest possible energy level)

Question 123. What are the higher energy levels called?
Excited states (are the higher energy levels)

Question 124. What is the term for a person’s body rhythms as they regularly occur during a 24-hour cycle?
Circadian (rhythm refers to a person’s body rhythms as they regularly occur during a 24-hour cycle); note that “diurnal” is used in a slightly different context

Question 125. What is the outermost region of a star, which consists of low-density, high-temperature ionized gas?
Corona (is the outermost region of a star)

Question 126. What do biologists call a group of closely related orders?
Class (is a group of closely related orders)

Question 127. What do biologists call a group of closely related genera?
Family (is a group of closely related genera)

Question 128. What do biologists call a group of closely related classes?
Phylum (is a group of closely related classes)

Question 129. Which type of chemical bond is formed when atoms share one or more electrons?
Covalent bonds (are formed when atoms share electrons)

Question 130. Which type of chemical bond is formed after a transfer of electrons between atoms?
Ionic bonds (are formed after a transfer of electrons between atoms)

Question 131. What are the “classic” kingdoms in the classification of organisms on earth?
Animalia, plantae, fungi, protista, eubacteria, archaebacteria (are the names of the six kingdoms in the classification of organisms on earth, in classic textbooks in the United States); some countries used monera in place of eubacteria and archaebacteria; note that some modern views group animals differently, and may not even use the term “kingdom” (but there is still merit in knowing the history of science)

Question 132. What is the term for the irregular motion of air which disturbs an airplane in flight?
Turbulence (is the irregular motion of air which disturbs an airplane in flight)

Question 133. What is defined as a specific characteristic of an individual organism?
Trait (is defined as a specific characteristic of an individual organism)

Question 134. Which explosive sound is created by a supersonic aircraft?
Sonic boom (is created by a supersonic aircraft)

Question 135. Which medical term is used to describe something that relates to the lungs?
Pulmonary (relates to the lungs)

Question 136. What is the name of the large muscle group located on the front of the thigh?
Quadriceps (is the large muscle group located on the front of the thigh)

Question 137. Which force does a spring exert on an attached mass, pulling it toward equilibrium?
Restoring force (pulls a mass attached to a spring toward equilibrium)

Question 138. What are the smallest blood vessels called?
Capillaries (are the smallest blood vessels)

Question 139. Which type of modulus provides a measure of elasticity in length?
Young’s modulus (provides a measure of elasticity in length)

Question 140. Which type of modulus provides a measure of elasticity in shape?
Shear modulus (provides a measure of elasticity in shape)

Question 141. Which type of modulus provides a measure of elasticity in volume?
Bulk modulus (provides a measure of elasticity in volume)

Question 142. What is the term for the plane of earth’s orbit around the sun?
Ecliptic (refers to the plane of earth’s orbit around the sun)

Question 143. Which type of molecules do the atoms of nitrogen gas tend to form at STP?
Diatomic N2 molecules (are typically formed by nitrogen gas at STP)

Question 144. Which type of rock forms when magma solidifies into crystallized rock?
Igneous rock (forms when magma solidifies into crystallized rock)

Question 145. What is the term for an animal with a spinal column?
Vertebrate (is an animal with a spinal column)

Question 146. What are the three basic types of galaxies?
Elliptical, spiral, and irregular (are the three basic types of galaxies); note that a galaxy may also be referred to as peculiar if there is a major deviation

Question 147. What are the three methods of heat flow?
Conduction, convection, and radiation (are the three methods of heat flow)

Question 148. What do the symbols below represent in magnetism? Which is which?
An arrow pointing out of the page (left picture below); an arrow pointing into the page (right picture below)

Question 149. What is the source of a gravitational field?
Mass (is the source of a gravitational field)

Question 150. What is the source of an electric field?
Electric charge (is the source of an electric field)

Question 151. What is the source of a magnetic field?
Current (is the source of a magnetic field); moving charge is the same thing

Question 152. What is the term for the diffusion of a fluid through a selectively permeable membrane?
Osmosis (is the diffusion of a fluid through a selectively permeable membrane)

Question 153. Which type of twins develop from ova that are fertilized separately?
Fraternal twins (develop from ova that are fertilized separately)

Question 154. What is unconsolidated matter that is deposited by precipitation, wind, or glaciers, and which either comes from the weathering and erosion of rock or from the secretions of organisms?
Sediment (is unconsolidated matter that is deposited by precipitation, wind, or glaciers, and which either comes from the weathering and erosion of rock or from the secretions of organisms)

Question 155. What is the term for a human offspring in the uterus during its first eight weeks?
Embryo (is a human offspring in the uterus during its first eight weeks)

Question 156. What is the term for a human offspring in the uterus after its first eight weeks?
Fetus (is a human offspring in the uterus after its first eight weeks)

Question 157. What is the term for a fertilized egg?
Zygote (is a fertilized egg)

Question 158. What is the point in earth’s orbit where it is closest to the sun?
Perihelion (is the point in earth’s orbit where it is closest to the sun)

Question 159. What is the point in the moon’s orbit where it is farthest from the earth?
Apogee (is the point in the moon’s orbit where it is farthest from the earth)

Question 160. Which antibiotic discovered in 1928 is produced naturally by certain molds?
Penicillin (is an antibiotic that is produced naturally by certain molds)

Question 161. What is defined in chemistry as moles of solute per liter of solution?
Molarity (is moles of solute per liter of solution)

Question 162. What is defined in chemistry as moles of solute per kilogram of solvent?
Molality (is moles of solute per kilogram of solvent)

Question 163. What is the term for the tendency of a mineral to break along a definite plane?
Cleavage (is the tendency of a mineral to break along a definite plane)

Question 164. What provides a statistical measure of the degree to which two factors are related?
Correlation (provides a measure of the degree to which two factors are related)

Question 165. What is it called when the moon blocks sunlight from reaching part of the earth?
Solar eclipse (is when the moon blocks sunlight from reaching part of the earth)

Question 166. What is it called when the earth blocks sunlight from reaching part of the moon?
Lunar eclipse (is when the earth blocks sunlight from reaching part of the moon)

Question 167. Which layers of the earth’s atmosphere can you name?
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere (are layers of the earth’s atmosphere)

Question 168. Which layers of the earth can you name?
Inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust (are layers of the earth); some texts also divide the mantle into the upper mantle and lower mantle; some texts may also count other layers, such as the asthenosphere, as separate layers

Question 169. Which layers of the sun can you name?
Core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and corona (are layers of the sun); there is also a narrow transition region between the chromosphere and the corona

Question 170. What is a sequence of DNA which codes for a protein, and which determines a trait?
Gene (is a sequence of DNA which codes for a protein, and which determines a trait)

Question 171. Which member of a pair of hereditary factors gets used when both factors are present?
Dominant (allele gets used when it is present)

Question 172. Which member of a pair of hereditary factors remains latent when both are present?
Recessive (allele remains latent when both are present)

Question 173. Which threadlike structure of DNA and proteins carries genetic information?
Chromosome (is the threadlike structure of DNA and proteins which carries genetic information)

Question 174. Which common rapid oxidation process is accompanied by heat and light?
Combustion (can come in the form of rapid oxidation accompanied by heat and light, but can also come in other forms)

Question 175. What is it called when a metal is oxidized by a substance in its environment?
Corrosion (occurs when a metal is oxidized by a substance in its environment)

Question 176. What is it called when water or wind removes and transports soil to another location?
Erosion (occurs when water or wind removes soil and transports the soil to a different location)

Question 177. What is it called when transported material wears a rocky surface through scraping?
Abrasion (erodes a rocky surface over a long period of time as material that is being transported rubs and scrapes against the surface)

Question 178. Which extinct elephant is known for its long curled tusks and large size?
Mammoth (is an extinct elephant known for its long curled tusks and large size); bonus if you thought of both mammoths and mastodons

Question 179. What is it called when the visible face of the moon appears larger than the day before?
Waxing (occurs when the visible face of the moon appears larger)

Question 180. What is it called when the visible face of the moon appears smaller than the day before?
Waning (occurs when the visible face of the moon appears smaller)

Question 181. What is the term for a region of low pressure created as a sound wave propagates?
Rarefaction (is a region of low pressure created as a sound wave propagates); a sound wave creates alternate regions of compression and rarefaction

Question 182. What is it called when a doctor removes tissue for a diagnostic examination?
Biopsy (involves removing tissue for a diagnostic examination)

Question 183. Which branch of engineering designs, builds, and maintains public works?
Civil engineering (designs, builds, and maintains public works)

Question 184. What is a protein that speeds up the rate of a particular biological reaction?
Enzyme (is a protein that speeds up the rate of a particular biological reaction)

Question 185. What is the technical term for navel (or belly button)?
Umbilicus (is the technical term for navel or belly button)

Question 186. What is the name of our galaxy? Which type of galaxy is it?
Milky Way, which is a spiral galaxy (are the name and type of our galaxy); if you want to be more precise, it is a barred spiral galaxy

Question 187. What is the name of our nearest star (other than the earth’s sun)?
Proxima Centauri of the Alpha Centauri system (is the star nearest to our sun)

Question 188. Which weather phenomenon is associated with annual warm ocean water in the Pacific?
El Niño (is associated with annual warm ocean water in the Pacific)

Question 189. What are the technical terms for the Northern Lights and Southern Lights?
Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis (are the Northern and Southern Lights)

Question 190. What is the term for the natural tendency of an object to maintain constant momentum?
Inertia (is the natural tendency of an object to maintain constant momentum); note that momentum is mass times velocity, so for an object with constant mass, we could say that inertia is the natural tendency to maintain constant velocity

Question 191. Which force does the air exert on a moving object?
Air resistance, air drag, or air friction (are various terms used to describe the force that air exerts on a moving object); wind resistance is occasionally used, too

Question 192. Which are the four chambers of the heart and what does each do?
Left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle (are the four chambers of the heart); the ventricles pump blood into the arteries, while the atria receive blood from the body

Question 193. What consists of a large number of closely spaced parallel lines and is used in optics?
Grating (consists of a large number of closely spaced parallel lines and is used in optics)

Question 194. What is the point in the sky directly above an observer on earth?
Zenith (is the point in the sky directly above an observer on earth)

Question 195. What is it called when reduced blood flow to the heart results in chest pain?
Angina (is when reduced blood flow to the heart results in chest pain)

Question 196. What is the low point of a wave called, which is basically the opposite of a crest?
Trough (is the low point of a wave, which is basically the opposite of a crest)

Question 197. Which type of material does not allow light to pass through it?
Opaque (materials do not allow light to pass through them)

Question 198. Which type of material diffuses light so that objects on its other side aren’t seen clearly?
Translucent (materials diffuse light so that objects on the other side can’t be seen clearly)

Question 199. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
Stratosphere (is the layer of the atmosphere that contains the ozone layer)

Question 200. What provides a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract shared electrons?
Electronegativity (provides a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract shared electrons)