Scientific Lexicon - "A" Trivia Quiz

Answer: antigen

An antigen is any substance that triggers an immune response in the body. It is usually a protein or a molecule on the surface of pathogens like viruses, bacteria, or even foreign cells. When an antigen enters the body, the immune system recognizes it as foreign and responds by producing antibodies to fight it off. Antigens are key to how vaccines work, as they help the body recognize and prepare to defend against specific infections without causing illness.

Answer: aqueous

In chemistry, an aqueous solution is a mixture in which water is the solvent, meaning the substance being dissolved (solute) is mixed into the water. For example, salt dissolved in water forms an aqueous solution. Many reactions in biology and chemistry occur in aqueous environments because water is a common and important solvent for many substances.

Answer: antimatter

Antimatter is a type of matter that is made up of particles that are the opposite of normal matter. Each particle of normal matter, like electrons or protons, has a corresponding antimatter particle with the same mass but an opposite charge. For example, the antimatter counterpart of an electron is called a positron, which has a positive charge instead of a negative one.

When matter and antimatter meet, they annihilate each other, releasing a large amount of energy. Antimatter is rare in the universe, but it plays an important role in scientific research.

Answer: amplitude

Amplitude is a term used to describe the height or strength of a wave, such as a sound wave, light wave, or water wave. It is the distance from the middle of the wave (called the equilibrium point) to the peak (highest point) or the trough (lowest point).

In general, the larger the amplitude, the more energy the wave has. For example, in sound waves, a larger amplitude means a louder sound, and in light waves, a larger amplitude can mean a brighter light.

Answer: anaerobic

In biology, anaerobic respiration takes place when cells produce energy without using oxygen, often by breaking down glucose or other molecules. This process is common in some bacteria and muscle cells during intense exercise when oxygen levels are low. Unlike aerobic respiration, which produces a lot of energy, anaerobic respiration generates less energy but allows organisms or cells to survive in environments where oxygen is scarce or unavailable.

Answer: aphelion

Aphelion is the point in an object's orbit (e.g. planet, asteroid, etc.) where it is farthest from the Sun. Since orbits are elliptical, the distance between an object and the Sun changes throughout the orbit, and aphelion marks the farthest distance.

For example, Earth reaches aphelion once a year, usually in early July. The term "apostron" is a similar concept but applies to objects orbiting a star other than the Sun.

Answer: alkali

An alkali is a type of base that dissolves in water and has a high pH, typically greater than 7. Alkalis are substances that produce hydroxide ions when dissolved in water, making the solution basic or alkaline. Common alkalis include substances like sodium hydroxide (found in lye) and potassium hydroxide. Alkalis are often used in cleaning products because they can neutralize acids and break down fats and oils.

Answer: autotroph

An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food using simple substances from its environment, typically through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Plants and algae are the most common examples of autotrophs; they use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose, which stores energy for the organism.

This ability allows them to be self-sustaining and makes them the foundation of most food chains, as they provide energy for other organisms.

Answer: allele

Genes, which are found on chromosomes, come in pairs, and each gene in the pair can have different alleles. For example, a gene for eye color may have an allele for blue eyes and another allele for brown eyes. The combination of alleles you inherit from your parents determines your traits.

Some alleles are dominant, meaning they will express their trait if present, while others are recessive and only show their trait if both alleles in the pair are recessive. This variety in alleles is why individuals have different characteristics.

Answer: aurora

An aurora is a natural light display in the sky, often seen in polar regions, caused by the interaction between Earth's magnetic field and charged particles from the Sun (which are often referred to as "solar wind"). These charged particles, such as electrons and protons, enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with gases like oxygen and nitrogen.

These collisions cause the gases to emit light, creating the colorful glow of an aurora. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's called the aurora borealis (or Northern Lights), while in the Southern Hemisphere, it's called the aurora australis. Auroras can appear in shades of green, red, yellow, or blue, depending on the type of gas involved and the altitude of the collisions.