ged science and practice test

A a high school equivalency exam designed for individuals who did not graduate from high school but want to demonstrate they have the same knowledge and skills as a high school graduate

Read the brief passage about heat. After Benjamin Franklin argued that electricity was a fluid, the scientific community started discussing other phenomena as being related to fluids. In 1787, Lavoisier developed the idea that heat was an invisible fluid called a caloric fluid. This fluid would leave a hot substance and travel to a colder substance. Later, in 1783, Lavoisier demonstrated that oxygen was required for combustion. In 1798, Count Rumford observed that the process of boring out cannons from brass cylinders continuously produced heat. He also found the brass filings produced from the drilling process contained enough heat to boil water while retaining their weight. In the early 1940s, James Joule discovered that heat could be produced by moving a wire through a magnetic field.
Which statement from the passage refutes Lavoisier's idea that heat is a fluid that leaves a hot substance and travels to a colder substance?
  • A. He also found the brass filings produced from the drilling process contained enough heat to boil water while retaining their weight.
  • B. James Joule discovered that heat could be produced by moving a wire through a magnetic field.
  • C. Lavoisier demonstrated that oxygen was required for combustion.
  • D. Count Rumford observed that the process of boring out cannons from brass cylinders continuously produced heat.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A effectively refutes Lavoisier's notion of heat as a fluid by demonstrating that heat can be generated without the transfer of a fluid. The brass filings, despite retaining their weight, produced sufficient heat to boil water, indicating that heat can arise from mechanical processes rather than fluid movement. Option B, while highlighting Joule's discovery of heat production through motion, does not directly address Lavoisier's fluid concept. Option C focuses on combustion and oxygen's role, which is unrelated to the nature of heat itself. Option D describes an observation of heat generation during a mechanical process but does not emphasize the implications for Lavoisier's fluid theory as clearly as A does.

Other Related Questions

Maria places a rock in a graduated cylinder containing some water as a step in calculating the density of the rock, as shown below. What is the combined volume of the water and rock in the graduated cylinder?
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  • A. 9 mL
  • B. 26 mL
  • C. 30 mL
  • D. 15 mL
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

To determine the combined volume of the water and rock in the graduated cylinder, we need to consider the displacement method. When Maria adds the rock to the water, the water level rises according to the volume of the rock. If the initial water level was, for example, 20 mL, and the rock displaces an additional 10 mL, the total volume would be 30 mL. Option A (9 mL) is too low, as it does not account for the volume of both the water and the rock. Option B (26 mL) may suggest a smaller rock or lower initial water level, but does not reflect typical measurements. Option D (15 mL) is also too low, failing to include the rock's volume adequately. Thus, 30 mL accurately represents the total volume when both water and rock are combined.
A diagram of a PV cell being exposed to sunlight is shown below. Click on the labels you want to select and drag them into the boxes to show the components of the PV cell.
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  • A. Phosphorus-injected layer
  • B. Boron-injected layer
  • C. Electric field
  • D. Energy
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A,B,C

The components of a photovoltaic (PV) cell include the phosphorus-injected layer, which serves as the n-type semiconductor, and the boron-injected layer, acting as the p-type semiconductor. Together, these layers create a junction that facilitates the movement of electrons when exposed to sunlight. The electric field between these layers is crucial for separating charge carriers, enabling electricity generation. Option D, "Energy," is not a structural component of the PV cell but rather a result of its operation. It does not represent a physical part of the cell, making it an incorrect choice.
Which statement describes one feature of the Rutherford-Bohr atom model that the Thomson model does not share?
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  • A. The Rutherford-Bohr model identifies different elements by the numbers of particles present.
  • B. The Rutherford-Bohr model maintains the observed neutral charge of atoms.
  • C. The Rutherford-Bohr model correctly describes the types of particles in the atom.
  • D. The Rutherford-Bohr model restricts the positive charge of the atom to the nucleus.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The Rutherford-Bohr model uniquely restricts the atom's positive charge to the nucleus, a significant advancement over the Thomson model, which depicts a diffuse positive charge throughout the atom. Option A is incorrect as both models can identify elements based on particle numbers, but the Rutherford-Bohr model adds more detail about electron arrangements. Option B is misleading; both models account for atomic neutrality, but the Rutherford-Bohr model provides a clearer structure. Option C is also inaccurate; while the Rutherford-Bohr model describes particles more accurately, it does not fundamentally change the types of particles present compared to Thomson's model.
Scientists are Interested in whether certain greenhouse gases have helped cause I recent temperature increases. The graph presents data on carbon dioxide and methane gas levels in the atmosphere for the past several centuries. Human activities began producing large quantities of both gases in the 1700s. This graph, combined with information from--------------------, supports ----------------------.
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  • A. The Milankovitch climate change model
  • B. paragraph 3
  • C. The anthropogenic climate change model
  • D. Paragraph 2
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B, C

The graph illustrates the correlation between rising greenhouse gas levels and temperature increases, supporting the anthropogenic climate change model, which attributes climate change to human activities. Options B and C effectively connect the visual data with the broader context of human influence on climate. Option A, referencing the Milankovitch model, is incorrect as this model focuses on natural Earth cycles, not human impact. Option D lacks specificity and does not directly relate to the evidence presented in the graph. Thus, B and C provide the most relevant support for understanding the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.