ACT Science : Earth and Space Sciences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Science

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Example Questions

Example Question #171 : Earth And Space Sciences

 

Displaying FotorPhoto.jpg

Above is the deer population of Routt County National Forest between 1905 and 2005. The First White-tail deer were introduced to the forest for hunting in 1905. They are not native to the area, though they thrived in the environment.

White tailed deer eat the seeds of coniferous trees, berries, and an assortment of other plants. They tend to roam in small family herds and stick to areas where water is abundant and is unlikely to freeze completely in the winter.

In 1995, an environmental scientist watched a small herd of deer for ten days, recording their movements and taking note of herd size and stopping place. Below is a chart of his results.

 

Day

Travel distance (mi)

Herd size

Stopping place

1

21

13

Bear Creek

2

15

13

Yampa Valley

5

19

13

Bear Creek

8

11

10

Gilpin Lake

10

22

10

Yampa Valley

 

What was the deer population in 1980, approximately?

Possible Answers:

300

157,000

3 million

300,000

Correct answer:

300,000

Explanation:

This is a simple matter of interpolating the data, or reading the graph carefully. 1980 would be 75 years after the population was introduced (note the graph begins in 1905 and not 1900), or halfway between the 50 and 100 year mark. The closest answer is 300,000 (notice the population is counted in thousands). Be carefuly when considering units of measurement; consider every piece of data the graph gives you. In this case it is that 1980 is the 75 year mark, and that the population is counted in thousands.

Example Question #21 : How To Find Data Representation In Earth And Space Sciences

 

Displaying FotorPhoto.jpg

Above is the deer population of Routt County National Forest between 1905 and 2005. The First White-tail deer were introduced to the forest for hunting in 1905. They are not native to the area, though they thrived in the environment.

White tailed deer eat the seeds of coniferous trees, berries, and an assortment of other plants. They tend to roam in small family herds and stick to areas where water is abundant and is unlikely to freeze completely in the winter.

In 1995, an environmental scientist watched a small herd of deer for ten days, recording their movements and taking note of herd size and stopping place. Below is a chart of his results.

 

Day

Travel distance (mi)

Herd size

Stopping place

1

21

13

Bear Creek

2

15

13

Yampa Valley

5

19

13

Bear Creek

8

11

10

Gilpin Lake

10

22

10

Yampa Valley

 

Given the current trend in population, what will the deer population likely be in 2015?

Possible Answers:

470,000

505,000

510

600,000

Correct answer:

505,000

Explanation:

The deer population is just under 500 thousand in 2005, and steadily increasing, though not too rapidly. It would stand to reason that ten years later the population will be just over 500,000, given this trend.

This question requires an inference based on data extrapolation, or consdering the current trend and assuming nothing drastic will happen to change that trend. In this case, the data suggests the deer population will continue to gently increase into 2015 and, saving a drastic population drop, will be around 500,000 at that time. 

Example Question #173 : Earth And Space Sciences

A scientist has observed a new planet, Planet H. It was discovered that Planet H has water on its surface. As a result, it is being investigated to determine if it is possible for Planet H to sustain human life. Futhermore, observations revealed that Planet H has four moons: Moon J, Moon K, Moon L, and Moon M. Each moon's radius, distance to Planet H, and time to orbit Planet H have been recorded in the provided table. 

Act 2

On Earth the moon has a large effect on ocean tides. If it was found that the moons have a tidal affect on Planet H, then which of Planet H's moons would have the largest affect on its oceans? 

Possible Answers:

Moon L

Moon K

Moon J

It cannot be determined from the given information

All of the moons have an equal affect on Planet H's oceans

Correct answer:

It cannot be determined from the given information

Explanation:

It is not stated what causes moons to affect the tides on the planet's oceans. The mass of the moon, radius of the moon and distance from Planet H to each moon could impact the affect on the oceans due to the moons. However, it is not stated how each parameter will affect each moon's impact on the tides on Planet H. For example, the mass of the moon could be the largest determining factor or the distance from planet H to each moon could be the largest determining factor on the impact of each moon's affect on the tides. Therefore, the answer cannot be determined from the given information.

Example Question #1101 : Act Science

Researchers have discovered a new planet, Planet Z. This planet is orbited by several comets, A, B, C and D. Researchers have calculated the time it takes each comet to orbit Planet Z, the closest the comet gets to Planet Z and the diameter of the comet.

Act 1

What is the relationship between comet diameter and orbit time? 

Possible Answers:

There is no relationship between diameter and orbit time

The larger the comet's diameter, the longer the orbit time

The smaller the diameter, the longer the orbit time

The larger the diameter, the shorter the orbit time

Correct answer:

The larger the comet's diameter, the longer the orbit time

Explanation:

Comet A has the largest diameter at 11.3km and the longest orbit time at 82.3 years. This suggests a direct relationship. Comet B has the shortest diameter of 5.2km and the shortest orbit time at 47.8 years. This also suggests a direct relationship and this trend can be seen in the other two comets. The correct answer is the larger the diameter, the longer the orbit time.

Example Question #175 : Earth And Space Sciences

Researchers have discovered a new planet, Planet Z. This planet is orbited by several comets, A, B, C and D. Researchers have calculated the time it takes each comet to orbit Planet Z, the closest the comet gets to Planet Z and the diameter of the comet.

Act 1

Another comet that orbits Planet Z was found and the comet has a diameter of 4.6km. Which of the following would be the best estimate of orbit time around Planet Z in Earth years? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

It can be seen in the data that the smaller the diameter, the shorter the orbit time of each comet. The smallest comet previously observed was Comet B that had a diameter of 5.2km and an orbit time of 47.8 years. Since the new found comet has a smaller diameter than Comet B, it should be estimated that the new comet has a shorter orbit time than Comet B. In other words, the new comet's orbit time should be less than 47.8 years. The correct answer is 41.3 years.

Example Question #176 : Earth And Space Sciences

Scientists have recorded data in Region A, Region B, Region C and Region D. The data collected include the average daily temperature, the annual rainfall for the past year and the number of fresh water reservoirs. The scientists want to perform an experiment on wild life migration patterns. 

Act 3

If another region was found to have 20 fresh water reservoirs, what could be the amount of annual rainfall for that region in inches? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There is a trend in the data between the number of fresh water reservoirs and annual rainfall. As the amount of annual rainfall increases, so does the number of fresh water reservoirs. In Region B the annual rainfall was 51.3 inches and has the most reservoirs with 16. Since we are looking at region with 20 reservoirs and there is a direct relationship, the possible amount of annual rainfall must be larger than 51.3 inches. The correct answer is 64.3 inches. Note that Region C has more rainfall than Region A, but both have zero fresh water reservoirs. This can be do to that fact that there may be a minimum value of annual rainfall to maintain a fresh water reservoir.

Example Question #1111 : Act Science

Scientists have recorded data in Region A, Region B, Region C and Region D. The data collected include the average daily temperature, the annual rainfall for the past year and the number of fresh water reservoirs. The scientists want to perform an experiment on wild life migration patterns. 

Act 3

What is the relationship between average annual temperature and the number of fresh water reservoirs? 

Possible Answers:

As the temperature increases, the number of water reservoirs increases

There is no relationship

As the temperature decreases, the number of water reservoirs increases

As the temperature increases, the number of water reservoirs decreases

Correct answer:

There is no relationship

Explanation:

Region A has the highest average temperature at 102.4 Fahrenheit, while Region C has the lowest average temperature at 0.4 Fahrenheit. Both of these regions have zero fresh water reservoirs. Since Region A has the highest temperature with zero reservoirs and Region C has the lowest temperature with zero reservoirs there is no clear relationship between the temperature and number of fresh water reservoirs in given data. 

Example Question #1112 : Act Science

In a specific region, a scientist recorded the rainfall, in inches, during the months of May, June, July and August. The scientist recorded this data in the same spot each month over four years. The purpose of this study was to see how the new factories built in the area impacted the rainfall in that location. 

Act 3

How have the factories impacted the rainfall that was recorded each year? 

Possible Answers:

Cannot be determined from the given information

Rainfall increased from Year 1 to Year 2, but decreased afterwards

Each year rainfall has increased

Each year rainfall has decrease

Correct answer:

Cannot be determined from the given information

Explanation:

It is true that the rainfall recorded increases each year. However there is nothing that indicates what is causing this increase. Furthermore it is not noted when the factories were built so it is not possible to determine how the factories affected the rainfall. The answer cannot be determined from the given information. 

Example Question #1111 : Act Science

In a specific region, a scientist recorded the rainfall, in inches, during the months of May, June, July and August. The scientist recorded this data in the same spot each month over four years. The purpose of this study was to see how the new factories built in the area impacted the rainfall in that location. 

Act 3

What trend can be noticed in the data? 

Possible Answers:

As the year increases so does the rainfall for that year; August has the most rain of any month per a year

As the year increases, the rainfall for that year decreases; July has the most rain of any month per year

As the year increases so does the rainfall for that year; July has the most rain of a month per year

As the year increases, the rainfall for that year decreases; August has the most rain of any month per year

Correct answer:

As the year increases so does the rainfall for that year; July has the most rain of a month per year

Explanation:

Looking at the month with the most rainfall, one will notice in year 1 that July has the most rainfall with 3.8", in year 2 it is also July with 4.1" and so on. Therefore in any year of the given data the month with the most rain is always July. In year 1 the total rainfall for the months was 11.8", in year 2 it was 13.8", in year 3 it was 15.4" and in year 4 it was 18.5" indicating that the rainfall increases each year. 

Example Question #1112 : Act Science

Displaying FotorPhoto.jpg

Above is the deer population of Routt County National Forest between 1905 and 2005. The First White-tail deer were introduced to the forest for hunting in 1905. They are not native to the area, though they thrived in the environment.

White tailed deer eat the seeds of coniferous trees, berries, and an assortment of other plants. They tend to roam in small family herds and stick to areas where water is abundant and is unlikely to freeze completely in the winter.

In 1995, an environmental scientist watched a small herd of deer for ten days, recording their movements and taking note of herd size and stopping place. Below is a chart of his results.

 

Day

Travel distance (mi)

Herd size

Stopping place

1

21

13

Bear Creek

2

15

13

Yampa Valley

5

19

13

Bear Creek

8

11

10

Gilpin Lake

10

22

10

Yampa Valley

 

Aproximately how many deer per year were added to the population between 1905 and 1920, assuming 1905 marks the 'zero hour' when the deer were first introduced?

Possible Answers:

17,300.

135.

19,000.

1,730.

Correct answer:

17,300.

Explanation:

After 15 years the deer population peaked for the first time at around 260,000 deer. 260,000 deer total / 15 years= 17,333. The closest answer is 17,300.  

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