The patella, commonly known as the kneecap, is an example of a:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The patella, also known as the kneecap, is an example of a sesamoid bone. Sesamoid bones develop within tendons, such as the patellar tendon in this case. The patella is embedded in the tendon of the quadriceps muscle, enhancing the mechanical advantage of the muscle and protecting the knee joint. Long bones, like the femur, are characterized by their elongated shape with growth plates at the ends. Short bones, such as those in the wrist and ankle, are cube-shaped bones. Irregular bones, like vertebrae, do not fit into the other bone shape categories due to their unique shapes and functions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A liquid is the state of matter that has a definite volume but can flow and take the shape of its container. Solids have a definite shape and volume but do not flow as liquids do. Gases do not have a definite shape or volume but can flow to fill their container. Plasma is a state of matter where the particles are highly energized and do not have a definite shape or volume, thus not fitting the description of having a definite shape and volume while being able to flow.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rainbows are formed due to the refraction and dispersion of sunlight by water droplets in the atmosphere. When sunlight enters a water droplet, it is refracted, then internally reflected, and finally refracted again as it exits the droplet. This dispersion of light into its component colors creates the beautiful rainbow we see in the sky. Choice A, diffraction, involves bending of light around obstacles or through narrow openings, not the splitting of light into colors as seen in rainbows. Choice B, interference, refers to the phenomenon where two or more light waves overlap and interact, producing a pattern of light and dark bands, which is not the case with rainbows. Choice D, reflection from clouds, does not accurately describe the process involved in the formation of rainbows through refraction and dispersion of light by water droplets.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for half of the initial sample to decay. After one half-life, half of the radioactive atoms have decayed. The decay rate, however, refers to the rate at which radioactive atoms decay, which is not directly related to the half-life. Choice B is incorrect because it does not correctly define the half-life. Choice C is incorrect as it refers to the creation of new isotopes, not the decay process. Choice D is incorrect as it describes the energy released during decay, which is not the same as the concept of half-life.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Homozygous refers to an organism with two identical alleles for a gene, either both dominant or both recessive. Heterozygous, the correct answer, refers to an organism with two different alleles for a gene, one dominant and one recessive. Dominant and recessive describe the relationship between alleles, where dominant alleles are expressed over recessive alleles in heterozygous individuals. Therefore, the term for an organism with two different alleles for a gene is 'heterozygous.'