TOPICS OF STUDY FOR THE NEW JERSEY SCIENCE LEAGUE 2019 SEASON
All topics of study were updated October 2018
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BIOLOGY I : No AP or second year students in this category.
60 multiple choice questions per exam with emphasis on
analysis.
Each exam will consists of drawings, diagrams, graphs, as
well as lab experiments with results.
JANUARY
EXAM – Carbon Compounds
(carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids)
and basic chemistry including the
chemistry of water and pH, Chemical Reactions,
Enzymes, Cell structure and function,
Levels of Cellular Organization, Organelles,
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic, Cell
membrane structure and function, Cellular and
Intracellular transport, Tonicity,
Homeostasis, Cellular Energy Flow, Photosynthesis and Respiration
FEBRUARY EXAM – Cellular Division - Mitosis,
Meiosis, Cell Regulation, Alterations of chromosome
numbers, Karyotyping, Mendelian genetics,
one and two factor crosses, incomplete dominance,
codominance, pleiotropy,
polygenic inheritance, sex-linked disorders, mutations and causes,
human genetic diseases including
chromosomal analysis, Variation of Traits, Pedigrees,
Structure and function of nucleic
acids, Experiments identifying DNA as the hereditary molecule,
DNA replication, Roles of DNA and
RNA, Protein synthesis, Viral DNA, Gene regulation and expression,
Genetic engineering, DNA technology
and genomics,
Plus review of the Jan exam.
MARCH EXAM - Darwin’s Theory of natural
Selection, Fossil records, Gene pool, Hardy Weinberg
equations and word problems based on Hardy
Weinberg equations, Speciation and its causes,
adaptive radiation, Evidence for evolution:
historical thought/experimental theories of evolution…..
Biogenesis/Abiogenesis, Comparative
anatomy and comparative embryology, Taxonomy: Cladograms and
Phylogenetic Trees, Genetic change in
a population, Patterns and causes of Evolution, Coacervate formation,
Miller/Urey experiment. Molecular evidence
(nucleotide
sequence analysis, amino acid sequence analysis),
Plus review of the Jan and Feb exams.
APRIL EXAM - Evidence of diversity, Adaptation of organism to the
environment, Types of biomes,
Limiting factors in Biomes,
Population density and dispersal patterns, Population structure and dynamics,
Carrying capacity of a population,
Exponential Growth, Human population, Boom-and-bust growth cycles,
structural features of Communities,
Interactions of autotrophs and heterotrophs, Flow of energy
through an ecosystem, Symbiosis, Food cycles
and webs, Cycles of Matter-Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, and
Phosphorus cycles, Ecological
succession, Ecosystem models of energy flow,
Ecological experimentation and
analysis, Biomagnification and bioaccumulation,
Factors affecting biodiversity in a
population, Human Influence on ecosystems,
Plus review of Jan, Feb, and March
exams.
BIOLOGY 11 For AP and second year
biology students.
50 Multiple Choice
Question topics for each test will
include questions which relate to the Big Ideas I –IV listed
below taken from the Advanced Placement
Curriculum designed by The College Board.
Questions will involve science
practices such as analysis of data and evidence to
support biological principles. All levels of
life (molecules through ecosystems)
will be explored on each exam. In addition, for each exam the
identified content (e.g. osmoregulation) is
linked to the excretory system.
For example students should be able
to answer,
how does osmoregulation occur in the
nephron in the excretory system.
Big Idea 1: The process of
evolution drives diversity and unity of life
Big Idea 2: Biological Systems
utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow,
reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis
Big Idea 3: Living Systems store,
retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential
to life processes.Big
Idea 4: Biological Systems interact, and
these systems and their
interactions possess complex properties.
JANUARY:
Structure and function of Biological Molecules, Protein Folding,
Bonding in Polymers, Enzymes,
Coenzymes, Cofactors, Lipid and their Properties,
Carbohydrates.
Structure and function of Cells, Organelles and subcellular structures.
Cell and tissue types, Germ layers
and development.
Free Energy and Gibbs Reactions,
Enthalpy in Biological Systems,
Biological Applications to the Laws of Thermodynamics,
Endothermic/Exothermic Reactions,
Coupled Reactions,
Photosynthesis, Cellular
Respiration,
Endotherm/Exotherm
in Body Temperature Regulation, Cell Types, Surface Area/Volume Ratios,
Fluid Mosaic Model of the Membrane,
Properties of Water, Osmoregulation, Membrane Transport,
Cellular Feedback Mechanisms,
Metabolic Processes and Metabolism, Communication; signaling,
reception, transduction and response.
FEBRUARY: DNA and replication, RNA and Protein
Production, RNA Types, Cell Cycle
and Controls,
Mitosis, Meiosis, Application of
Mendel’s Laws, Mendelian and
NonMendieian Genetics, Genetic Disorders, Cancer, Genetic Engineering Techniques,
Nonnuclear Inheritance, Transposons, Crossover, Gene Regulation, Apoptosis,
Developmental Genes, Mutations, Biotechnology, Embryonic Development in
Plants and Animals, Signaling
Mechanisms,
Transmission and Transduction Pathways,
Polyploidy, Sex Inheritance, Mutation
Effects, Viral Replication,
Genetic Variation Processes, Mating Types, Behaviors and
Parenting,
Bacteria and Yeast Reproduction and
use in Biotech,
Review of Jan topics.
MARCH: Evolution,
Natural Selection, Artificial Selection, Mechanisms for Evolution,
Hardy Weinberg Principles, Genetic
Drift, Gene flow, Evidences for Evolution,
Blast Genomic Analysis, Cladogram ,
Evolutionary Trees, Evolution of the Domains,
Adaptive Radiation, Island Biogeography Theory,
Speciation, Prezygotic and
Postzygotic Mechanisms, Energy in Reproductive
Strategies Hypothesis on Origins of Life,
Virus and Bacteria types and
adaptations.
Evolution of systems in plants and
animals.
Review of Jan and Feb topics.
APRIL: Ecosystem Energy Pyramid Structure, Food Web
Alterations, Organ and
System Specialization, Interactions and Coordination
in Plants and Animals,
Organism Responses Adaptation to Environment,
Ecosystem Transformations,
Components of a community, Transpiration,
Population: Variation, Growth,
Dynamics and Distribution, Exponential and Logistic
Population Growth Models,
Population Density, Limiting Factors, Species
Richness, Species Diversity,
Competition, Bacteria, Fungi, Symbiotic
Relationships, Food Webs,
Productivity, Energy Dynamics, Keystone species, Exotic
and Alien Species
Biogeochemical Cycles, Energy of Reproductive Strategies, Behavioral and
Physiological Response to Environmental Stress,
Taxis and Kinesis,
Tropisms, Biological Rhythms, Behavioral Biology.
Review
of Jan, Feb, and March topics.
CHEMISTRY
1 For Honor’s, Enriched or College
Prep.
Not for AP or Second year students.
25 multiple choice questions per exam.
JANUARY: scientific method, measurement, factor label conversions,
properties,
graphing, mixtures,
compounds, formulas, mole, weight percent, chemical reactions,
using the metal and
non-metal activity series for writing chemical reactions,
types of reactions,
stoichiometry, atomic structure and history which includes alpha,
beta, gamma
radiation, but not electronic configuration.
FEBRUARY:
Quantum Theory, Electronic structure, orbital notation, dot notation,
Coulomb’s Law, periodic behavior, specific heat, heat of
phase changes,
molar
heat of fusion, molar heat of vaporization, graphs of phase changes,
plus January
topics.
MARCH:
Chemical bonding, molecular structure, simple isomers,
intermolecular
attractions, redox but not balancing redox equations,
kinetic theory,
solids, liquids, gases, gas laws, gas Stoichiometry,
mole fraction as
applied to gases,
plus January and
February topics.
APRIL:
solutions, use of solubility rules, reaction rates, chemical equilibrium,
entropy, reaction
spontaneity, Keq, acids, bases, salts, net ionic
equations,
thermo chemistry, DH, Hess’s law, radioactive decay reactions,
plus January,
February, and March topics.
JANUARY: matter and measurement, atomic theory
(sub-atomic particles, atomic masses), spectroscopy (Beer’s Law),
Mass Spectroscopy graphs of elements (not compounds), chemical formulas,
chemical equations (precipitation reactions, ionic equations, solubility,
acid-base reactions, gas forming reactions, oxidation reduction reactions,
balancing redox reactions by oxidation state method, activity series,
mole relationships, mass-mass problems¸ stoichiometry of redox solutions,
solutions stoichiometry, light , photoelectron effect, emission and absorption spectra,
electronic structure and periodic table/periodicity.
FEBRUARY: chemical bonding, bond order (no molecular orbital theory),
doping and semiconductors, paramagnetism, and diamagnetism, electronegativity,
Lewis structures, molecular geometry, polarity of molecules,
hybridization(sp, sp2, sp3), intermolecular forces (van der Waals forces,
relations between boiling point and vapor pressure),
thermo chemistry (enthalpy, Hess’s Law, heats of formation, bond energies, calorimetry),
phase changes (not PT diagrams), gases and gas laws,
plus January topics.
MARCH: non-metals, metals (not unit cells), solutions, energetics of solution formation,
kinetics, reaction mechanisms, chemical equilibrium, descriptive chemistry of the elements,
plus Jan and Feb topics.
APRIL: acids, bases, and salts (hydrolysis), pH, Ka, Kb, buffers, titration curves,
solution equilibria, redox, voltaic cells, electrochemistry, thermodynamics
(DS, DH, and DG) , descriptive chemistry of the elements,
plus Jan, Feb, and March topics.
EARTH SCIENCE 72
multiple choice questions per exam.
Each
exam (Jan, Feb, March, and April)
will
consists of the following distribution of topics.
This subject is open to all students.
GEOLOGY: Approximately 44 questions: minerals, rocks, structure, tectonics, fault/folding,
volcanisms, glaciation, rivers ground water, ocean shore, weathering, historical, maps,
projections/lat./long./time,
ASTRONOMY: Approximately 14 questions: sun, moon, earth/moon/sun system,
planets,
stars, galaxies, cosmology.
METEORLOGY: Approximately 14 questions: temperature/air masses,
pressure/highs/lows, moisture in atmosphere, weather fronts, weather maps.
Environmental Science
65 multiple choice questions per exam.
Open to all students.
Each exam will have questions
which require an understanding of general science practices
such as interpretation, evaluation & analysis of methods,
readings, models, data tables and graphs
JANUARY TOPICS:
Ecosystem structure: species types & interactions, competition, niche and habitats
Succession: Primary, secondary, old field, hydrosphere and indicator species.
Forests & Federal Land Use: Cutting methods, greenbelts, ecotones, land preserves
Convection currents in water, air & land; deep and surface currents.
“Spheres” hydrosphere, geosphere, atmosphere: layers & composition
Biogeochemical cycles: carbon & hydrologic cycles; Biomes & their soil characteristics
Water - Distribution, ocean, estuary & river systems, upwelling, El and La Nino,
Salt water intrusion, thermohaline currents, Coriolis Effect, permeability & porosity of water in soil
FEBRUARY
TOPICS:
Soil Dynamics –
structure/development, profile and reading soil triangle, depletion of nutrients,
biogeochemical
cycles. Succession: primary and secondary
Water:
ocean zones, streams and rivers, estuary areas and wetlands, testing methods.
Agriculture
and Soil and Water: traditional & sustainable;
erosion, irrigation issues, pest controls,
salt water
intrusion,; salinization, fertilizer issues, conservation
Population Dynamics:
I. Biological population dynamics: distribution, density, carrying
capacity, niche
II. Reproductive strategies: r & K strategists
, survivorship, interactions,
III. Human Population Dynamics: Demographic
Transition Model, growth rates
Pollution and Health/Disease issues related to the
environment.
Plus January Topics.
MARCH
TEST
Population Dynamics:
I. Biological population dynamics: distribution patterns, density,
carrying capacity, niche
II. Reproductive strategies: r and K strategists
, survivorship curves, species:
interactions, keystone, diversity
III. Changes in Population:
growth rates, doubling times, exponential growth,
counting techniques, interaction between species
Energy Concepts:
Productivity,
trophic levels, food chains and webs
Water Resources, Use, Pollution –zones, freshwater/saltwater concepts,
eutrophication, surface & groundwater issues, irrigation,
marine concepts, waterway issues
Waste-Wastewater
treatment process, point & non-point, degradation & health
issues
Mining, Fishing, Biodiversity: extinction, loss,
habitat destruction, laws. January & February Topics
APRIL
TEST
Waste: Wastewater treatment process
Stratospheric Ozone - Air Pollution – Sources, primary
& secondary; major air pollutants;
heat islands,
remediation and reduction strategies
Climate Change -
Greenhouse gases & effect; impacts of global warming;
Energy –
traditional and renewable forms of energy, power; conversions;
safety issues;
radiation & health; radioactive wastes
Pollution: Issues and ways to remediate Plus Jan, Feb, and March topics.
JANUARY: scalars, vectors, kinematics, projectiles, mass, Newton’s Laws, forces
(mechanical, gravitational, frictional, centripetal),
FEBRUARY: impulse, linear momentum and its conservation,
elastic and inelastic collisions, work, potential and kinetic energy and
its conservation of energy, power, plus January Topics
MARCH: Simple harmonic motion of simple pendulae and mass-spring systems.
Wave propagation, standing waves, sound, plus January and February topics.
.
APRIL: electrical charges, fields and force, Coulombs Law,
voltage sources and resistances, series/parallel networks, magnetism.
Optics: light, index of refraction, color, lenses, mirrors, interference phenomena,
plus January, February, and March Topics.
JANUARY: Kinematic, Dynamics, Circular Motion, Universal
Gravitation.
MARCH: Rotational
kinematics, torque, rotational dynamics, Conservation
of angular momentum, Simple
Harmonic motion: simple pendulum, Mass-spring systems
Plus review of Jan and Feb topics
APRIL: Introductory electrostatics:
Concepts of electric charge:
Conservation of electric charge,
Coulomb’s Law, DC circuits (resistors only)
Mechanical waves and sound,
Plus review of Jan, Feb, and March topics.
JANUARY: Fluid Statics and Dynamics; Heat & Thermodynamics:
laws of thermodynamics, ideal gases, and kinetic theory, PV diagrams,
FEBRUARY: Electrostatics: electric force, fields, & potential, DC Circuits and RC Circuits,
plus January Topics
MARCH: Magnetics and Electromagnetic induction, Geometric & Physical optics,
plus Jan and Feb Topics
APRIL Quantum physics, atomic and nuclear physics,
plus Jan, Feb and March topics.
JANUARY: kinematics in one and two dimensions; Newton's laws including
resistance forces and dynamics of circular motion; vector algebra
(mostly assumed as needed); energy and its conservation including potential energy
and conservative forces, momentum and its conservation including
two-dimensional situations.
FEBRUARY: angular mechanics including
rotational equilibrium,
rotational dynamics, rotational energy, and angular momentum;
oscillatory motion including kinematics, dynamics, energy, and damping;
gravitation including kinematics and dynamics of planetary motion,
angular momentum, and energy as applied to gravitation.
Plus Jan topics
MARCH: electrostatics including electrostatic forces, electrostatic
field,
electrostatic field flux and Gauss's Law; electrostatic potential and potential energy;
dc electrical circuits including multi-loop circuits and power; capacitors, dielectrics,
and circuits with capacitors.
Plus Jan and Feb topics
APRIL:
Magnetic Fields and Forces including the applications of the Lorenz force,
the Law of Biot-Savart, Ampere's Law, magnetic field flux and Faraday's Law,
Lenz's Law for electromagnetic induction; magnetic materials, applications of
electromagnetic induction, and circuits with inductors.
Plus Jan, Feb, and March topics
TESTING DATES FOR THE NEW JERSEY SCIENCE LEAGUE
Thursday March 14, 2019 Thursday
April 11, 2019
All schools must complete the April exam and mail in the results
by April 30th, 2019
No area may take the April exam during the
first week of April or the first week of May
PO Box 65 Stewartsville, NJ 08886-0065
Phone # 908-213-8923 fax # 908-213-9272 email newjsl@ptd.net Web address http:entnet.com/~personal/njscil/html/