HiSET Science Practice Test #3 2 Flashcards

What type of energy is stored in the chemical bonds of food?

Answer: Chemical potential energy

Chemical potential energy is stored in the molecular bonds of substances like food, fuel, and batteries. When these bonds are broken (e.g., during digestion or combustion), the energy is released.

Which of the following best explains why the ocean absorbs large amounts of solar heat without dramatic temperature changes?

Answer: Water has a high specific heat capacity

Water has a very high specific heat capacity, meaning it requires a large amount of energy to raise its temperature. This property makes oceans effective at absorbing and storing heat, moderating Earth's climate.

An animal has bilateral symmetry. This means the animal:

Answer: Can be divided into equal halves along only one plane

Bilateral symmetry means the organism can be divided into two mirror-image halves along a single (sagittal) plane. Most animals, including humans, have bilateral symmetry.

Which of the following is an example of a chemical change rather than a physical change?

Answer: Iron rusting

A chemical change produces new substances with different properties. Iron rusting (oxidation) forms iron oxide, a new substance. Melting, cutting, and dissolving are physical changes — no new substance is formed.

What happens during the process of osmosis?

Answer: Water molecules move across a semipermeable membrane from high to low water concentration

Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration (lower solute) to an area of lower water concentration (higher solute), equalizing concentrations.

The Richter scale measures which natural phenomenon?

Answer: Earthquake magnitude

The Richter scale measures the magnitude (energy released) of earthquakes. Each whole number increase represents approximately 31.6 times more energy released. Today, the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw) is more commonly used by seismologists.