Dense irregular connective tissue, found in tendons and ligaments, provides:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Dense irregular connective tissue, found in tendons and ligaments, provides tensile strength. Tendons and ligaments need to withstand tension and forces acting upon them, and the dense irregular connective tissue helps provide this strength and support. Choice A, flexibility, is incorrect because tendons and ligaments primarily provide support and stability rather than flexibility. Choice B, lubrication, is not the main function of dense irregular connective tissue in tendons and ligaments. Choice C, insulation, is also incorrect as this tissue type is not primarily involved in providing insulation.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: To find the acceleration, we use the formula: acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time. Given that the final velocity is 0 m/s (as the object stops), the initial velocity is 20 m/s, and the time taken is 5 seconds. Substituting these values into the formula, we get acceleration = (0 m/s - 20 m/s) / 5 s = -20 m/s / 5 s = -4 m/s². Therefore, the acceleration is -4 m/s², indicating that the object decelerated at a rate of 4 m/s² to come to a complete stop. Choice A is incorrect because the object does experience acceleration as it changes its speed from 20 m/s to 0 m/s. Choice B is incorrect as it represents acceleration in the wrong direction, considering the object is decelerating. Choice D is incorrect as there is sufficient information provided to calculate the acceleration based on the given data.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When a sound wave travels from air to water, the speed of sound decreases because sound travels faster in denser mediums. Water, being denser than air, causes the speed of sound to slow down. Choice A is incorrect because sound travels faster in denser mediums, so the speed would not increase. Choice C is incorrect because the speed of sound changes when transitioning between different mediums. Choice D is incorrect because while frequency does affect sound, the medium it travels through also plays a significant role in determining the speed of sound.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The high surface tension of water is primarily due to the strong hydrogen bonding between water molecules. Hydrogen bonding is a specific type of intermolecular force that occurs between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom, like oxygen in water, and another electronegative atom nearby. This unique interaction results in a strong attraction between water molecules at the surface, leading to the cohesive forces responsible for the high surface tension of water. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because London dispersion forces, ionic bonding, and metallic bonding do not account for the high surface tension observed in water. London dispersion forces are relatively weaker intermolecular forces, while ionic and metallic bonding are types of intramolecular forces that do not directly contribute to the surface tension of water.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another of different density. In deserts, the temperature gradient causes light to bend, creating the mirage effect where distant objects appear distorted or displaced. Diffraction refers to the bending of light around obstacles or apertures, not the cause of mirages. Interference involves the superposition of two or more waves, which is not the mechanism behind mirages. Polarization refers to the orientation of light waves in a specific plane and is not responsible for the mirage effect in deserts. Therefore, the correct answer is refraction.