AMANIAMPONG

SHS
[CONTEST 3]
20TH JUNE, 2025
ROUND 1 - FUNDAMENTALS
PREAMBLE
Find the value of x given that:
sin(3𝑥−33)
1. =1 ANS: x = 28
cos(2𝑥−17)
2. sec(𝑥 + 11) sin(𝑥 + 53) = 1 ANS: x = 13
3. tan( 𝑥 + 25) tan( 3𝑥 − 27) = 1 ANS: x = 23
4. sec( 5𝑥 − 51 ) = cosec(18 − 2𝑥) ANS: x = 41
PREAMBLE
Find the critical values of the given functions:
𝑥 2 +1
5. y = ANS: 0, ±1
𝑥
4𝑥 2 +1 1
6. y = ANS: 0, ±
𝑥 2
9𝑥 2 +4 2
7. y = ANS: 0, ±
𝑥 3
25𝑥 2 +4 2
8. y = ANS: 0, ±
𝑥 5

1. State the type of hybridization in the carbon atom of ethyne. ANS: sp

2. What is the shape of the ammonia molecule? ANS: Trigonal pyramidal
3. What is the bond angle in a tetrahedral molecule? ANS: 109.5°
4. Name the type of intermolecular force between water molecules. ANS:
Hydrogen bonding

5. How many moles of oxygen will be needed to react with 60 g of calcium metal
to form calcium oxide? Ca = 40.0, O = 16.0

Kontonkyi!
 ANS: 60 gof Ca = 60/40 mol = 1.5 mol
Reaction of Ca with O2
Ca + ½ O2 → CaO
Moles of O2 = 1.5/2 = 0.75 mol.

6. Calculate the volumes in dm3 of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas at STP that
should be mixed to give exactly one mole of ammonia. The molar volume of
a gas at STP is 22.4 dm3.
ANS: N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3
0.5mol 1.5mol 1.0mol
Therefore, volume of N2 = 22.4/2 = 11.2 dm3
Volume of H2 = 22.4*3/2 = 33.6 dm3

7. Calculate the mass of hydrogen required to reduce a mole of benzene to

cyclohexane.
H = 1.0
ANS: C6H6 + 3 H2 → C6H12
Moles of H2 required = 3
Mass of H2 required = 3×2 = 6.0 g

8. Calculate the volume of chlorine gas at STP that will react completely with
10.5 g of propene. Molar volume of a gas at STP = 22.4 dm3; Molecular wt.
of propene] = 42
ANS: CH2 = CHCH3 + C12 → CH2C1CH2C1CH3
42 g 22.4 dm3
42 g propene react with 22.4 dm3 chlorine at STP
Hence, 10.5 g propene will react with; (10.5/42) × 22.4 = 5.6 dm3

Kontonkyi!
PREAMBLE
Describe the light stage of photosynthesis based on the following
1. Where it occurs. ANS: The thylakoid membranes of the grana

2. Function of light in the process. ANS: It excites electrons in the chloroplast

It splits water molecules
3. What are the end products. ANS: ATP, NADPH2 and Oxygen

4. What is the use of the hydrogen ion from the photolysis of water. ANS: it is
used to reduce the hydrogen acceptor molecule NADP to NADH2

PREAMBLE
A young man has a blood pressure of 120/80mmHg.
5. What does the figure 120 represents? ANS: it represents the systolic
pressure; the highest pressure attained when the ventricles contract
6. Calculate the pulse pressure. ANS: 120 – 80 = 40mmHg

7. What is the health implication of the blood pressure recorded. ANS: This
implies the young man has a normal blood pressure
8. What is the effect on the blood pressure if the arteries are constricted? ANS:
The blood pressure increases since the heart has to pump against higher
resistance due to the narrowing of the arteries.

1. What is the activity of 2.0 × 1015 atoms of a radio-isotope with a half-life of

6.93 × 105 s? ANS: 𝟐. 𝟎 𝐆𝐁𝐪

2. Pb 203 has a half-life of 1.17 × 104 s. How many atoms of Pb 203 have an
activity of 56 MBq? ANS:𝟗. 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎11

104
3. Rh has a half-life of 42.3 s. How many atoms of Rh 104 have an activity of
96 MBq? ANS: 𝟓. 𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎9

Kontonkyi!
 4. A sample of a radioisotope has a half- life of 3.5 x 103 s. If the sample
contains 1.2 x 1013 atoms, what is it activity in MBq? ANS: 2.38 x 10 3 MBq

5. The limiting coefficient of static friction between a 200 N block and a

horizontal surface is 0.28. Find the greatest magnitude of the horizontal
force that is unable to initiate motion of the block on the horizontal surface.
ANS: 56N

6. A 180 N block just begins to slide down on a horizontal surface when a

horizontal force of 63 N is applied. Find the limiting coefficient of the static
friction between the block and the surface. ANS: 0.35

7. A 300 N block remains stationary when a horizontal force of 90 N is

applied. What is the coefficient of the static friction between the block and
the surface? ANS: 0.30

8. If the coefficient of static friction between a 120N block and a surface is

0.25, what is the minimum horizontal force needed to just start moving the
block? ANS: 30 N

ROUND 2 – SPEED RACE

1. Find the values of k for which the quadratic equation x2 – 2kx + (2k–1)=0
has distinct real roots. ANS: {k: k ∈ R, k ≠1}
2. Find the coordinate of the vertex D of rectangle ABCD, given that
vertices A (3, 2), B (-1, 4) and C (2, 5). ANS: D (6, 3)
2
3. Simplify ANS: 1 − i
i+1
4. Which part of the brain controls emotions ANS: Limbic system

5. What is the main driving force for ascent of sap ANS: Transpirational
pull

6. How many ATPs are required by the Calvin-Benson cycle ANS:18

Kontonkyi!
 7. The galvanometer of a potentiometer with a 1.02 V standard cell displays
zero current when the jockey is on the 50.0 cm mark against the
potentiometer wire. The galvanometer again displays zero current with
the jockey on the 75.0 cm mark when the standard cell is replaced with
another cell. Find the emf of the cell. ANS: 𝟏. 𝟓𝟑V

8. The angular acceleration of a disc is constant at 10 rad s −2. Find the

angular speed of the disc 2 s after its angular speed attains 10 rad s −1.
ANS:𝟑𝟎 𝐫𝐚𝐝/s

9. Name the type of lens used for the correction of astigmatism. ANS:
Cylindrical lens

10.The recommended limit to exposure to benzene vapour because of its

caesenogenic nature is about 3.0mg/m3. Express this concentration as
ppm. ANS: 0.003ppm
1.0mg/m3 = 1*10-3ppm
11.Determine the sum of the stoichiometric coefficients of all reactants and
products present in a balanced equation of the reaction: C6H8 + O2 →
CO2 + H2O ANS: 19
12.A gas occupies 400 cm³ at 300 K. What will be its volume at 600 K,
assuming constant pressure? ANS: 800 cm³

ROUND 3 – TRUE/ FALSE

1. During protein synthesis, DNA is directly translated into proteins ANS:

FALSE

2. Messenger RNA carries the genetic code form the nucleus to the ribosome.
ANS: TRUE

3. Transfer RNA gives the shape the proteins. ANS: FALSE

4. Ribosomal RNA can only translate the mRNA into proteins. ANS: FALSE

Kontonkyi!
PREAMBLE
In insects,
5. The prothorax cannot bear wings. ANS: TRUE

6. There is no respiratory pigment. ANS: TRUE

7. They can have more than three pair of legs. ANS: FALSE
8. Each thorax bear one leg. ANS: FALSE

1. The mean is always greater than the median ANS: FALSE

2. The mode is unique. ANS: FALSE
3. Outliers can significantly affect the mean of a data set. ANS: TRUE
4. The range is not affected by extreme values. ANS: FALSE

5. Binomial coefficients are symmetric. ANS: TRUE

6. The middle term in the expansion of (𝑎 + 𝑏)6 is the fourth term. ANS:
TRUE
7. The term with the largest binomial coefficient in (𝑎 + 𝑏)10 is the 6th term.
ANS: TRUE
8. The term nCr an-rbr is known as the (r + 1)th term. ANS: TRUE

1. At minimum deviation of light passing through a triangular prism, the angle

of deviation equals the angle of the prism. ANS: FALSE
2. At minimum deviation of light passing through a triangular prism, the angle
of incidence equals the angle of the prism. ANS: FALSE
3. At minimum deviation of light passing through a triangular prism, the angle
of incidence on one face equals the angle of refraction at the second face.
ANS: TRUE
4. At minimum deviation, the light ray passes symmetrically through the
prism and the angles of incidence and emergence are equal. ANS: TRUE
5. The period of small amplitude oscillations of a simple pendulum is
proportional to the square root of the pendulum length. ANS: TRUE

Kontonkyi!
 6. The period of small amplitude oscillations of a simple pendulum is
independent of the mass of the pendulum bob. ANS: TRUE

7. The period of small amplitude oscillations of a simple pendulum is

independent of the location of the pendulum. ANS: FALSE

8. The period of a simple pendulum increases as the mass of the bob increases.
ANS: FALSE

1. The molar ratio between hydrogen and oxygen in the formation of water is
2:1. ANS: TRUE
2. The total mass of reactants is greater than the mass of products in a chemical
reaction. ANS: FALSE
3. One mole of CO₂ contains more atoms than one mole of O₂. ANS: TRUE
4. Balancing chemical equations ensures conservation of atoms. ANS: TRUE

5. Ionization energy generally increases across a period. ANS: TRUE

6. Atomic radius increases from top to bottom in a group. ANS: TRUE
7. Group 1 metals are more reactive than group 2 metals. ANS: FALSE
8. Fluorine is more electronegative than oxygen. ANS: TRUE

ROUND 4 – RIDDLES

1. I am a tough fibrous connective tissue, composed primarily of densely

packed collagen fibers.
2. I limit excessive joint movement, thereby preventing dislocation
3. Unlike tendons, I connect bone to bone, helping stabilize joints.
4. In the knee, famous example of me include the anterior and posterior
cruciate types

Kontonkyi!
 5. My name sounds like “legal mint” but I have nothing to do with laws or
flavor just bone connections.
WHO AM I? ANS: LIGAMENT

1. I am not linear, yet I describe how motion changes with time

2. You’ll find me when a rotating object spins faster or slower
3. My presence means torque is likely acting somewhere
4. I am to angular velocity as what acceleration is to linear speed
5. My unit includes radians, though I’m not an angle myself.
WHO AM I? ANS: ANGULAR ACCELERATION

1. I help you wrap, build or fill

2. From classroom to construction, I am there
3. I work with lines, flats and solids
4. I measure length, area and space
5. I am found in every toolbox of geometry.
WHO AM I? ANS: MENSURATION

1. I am a property, that has nothing to do with a path.

2. My value can be measured without knowing my history; how I arrived, nor
where I've been.
3. Whether I take a shortcut or a detour, my final value will be the same, for
sure.
4. I’m key in the world of thermodynamics,
5. Though I have no function in the State of a country, I play a very important
role in a system
WHO AM I? ANS: STATE FUNCTION

Kontonkyi!