A ball is rolling across the floor and comes to a stop on its own. What force caused the ball to stop?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The force that caused the ball to stop rolling across the floor is air resistance. As the ball moves through the air, air resistance acts in the opposite direction of its motion, gradually slowing it down until it comes to a stop. In this scenario, the ball is not in contact with the floor, so the normal force from the floor does not play a role in stopping the ball. Gravitational force acts to pull objects towards the center of the Earth and would not directly stop the ball in this situation. Therefore, air resistance is the force that opposes the motion of the rolling ball and causes it to come to a stop.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Friction between the tires and the road. When a car travels along a curved road, the friction between the tires of the car and the road provides the necessary centripetal force required to keep the car moving in the curved path. This friction allows the tires to grip the road and prevent the car from sliding off the curve due to inertia or momentum. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because gravitational force, normal force from the road, and air resistance do not play a significant role in keeping a car moving along a curved road. While these forces may have other effects on the car's motion, they are not the primary force responsible for maintaining the car's trajectory along a curve.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A) Punctuated equilibrium refers to rapid bursts of evolution followed by long periods of stability, rather than gradual change over time in response to environmental pressures. B) Gradualism is the process by which species evolve through slow and continuous changes over time in response to environmental pressures. This gradual change can lead to the development of new traits and adaptations. C) Founder effect is a type of genetic drift that occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to a loss of genetic variation compared to the original population. It does not specifically describe the gradual change in a species over time. D) Adaptive radiation is the rapid diversification of a species into a variety of forms to exploit different ecological niches, but it does not specifically refer to the gradual change in response to environmental pressures. Therefore, the term that best describes the gradual change in a species over time in response to environmental pressures is 'Gradualism.'

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Biogeography is the scientific discipline that focuses on studying the geographical distribution of organisms and the factors that influence their patterns of distribution. This field investigates the reasons behind why species are located where they are, taking into account historical events, ecological interactions, and physical geography. Paleontology (option A) specifically deals with the study of fossils and the history of life on Earth, mainly focusing on extinct organisms. Taxonomy (option B) is the science that involves classifying and naming organisms based on their characteristics. Population genetics (option D) is concerned with the study of genetic variation and evolutionary processes within populations of organisms. Therefore, in the context of studying the distribution of organisms across space and time, biogeography is the most appropriate choice.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The diaphragm is the correct answer. It is a dome-shaped muscular structure that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm plays a crucial role in breathing by contracting and relaxing to change thoracic volume during inhalation and exhalation. The sternum is a flat bone in the center of the chest and is not the structure that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. The pericardium is a membrane that surrounds the heart, not involved in separating cavities. The trachea is the windpipe that connects the larynx to the bronchi and is not the structure that separates the chest and abdominal cavities.