When a person throws a ball horizontally, what force changes the direction of the ball's motion?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When a person throws a ball horizontally, the initial force that propels the ball forward is the force of throwing (A). However, the force that changes the direction of the ball's motion is the gravitational force (B). Gravitational force acts vertically downward, causing the ball to follow a curved path. Air resistance (C) and normal force from the ground (D) do not directly change the direction of the ball's motion in this scenario.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: A) Mutations in genes can introduce new genetic variations into a population, which can be acted upon by natural selection. B) Differential survival and reproduction based on traits is a key component of natural selection, as individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation. C) Inheritance of acquired characteristics, also known as Lamarckism, is not a mechanism of evolution by natural selection. Traits acquired during an individual's lifetime (such as strong muscles from working out) are not passed on to offspring. D) Competition for resources in an environment can drive natural selection by favoring individuals with traits that help them better compete for limited resources. Therefore, the correct answer is C) Inheritance of acquired characteristics (like strong muscles from working out), as it is not a mechanism that can directly cause evolution by natural selection.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: - Adaptive radiation is a process where a single ancestral species diversifies into multiple descendant species to exploit different ecological niches within a heterogeneous environment. - This diversification occurs due to the different selective pressures present in various habitats, leading to the evolution of distinct traits and adaptations in different descendant species. - Option A accurately describes the process of adaptive radiation, where the initial species undergoes rapid speciation to occupy different ecological roles and adapt to diverse environmental conditions. - Options B, C, and D do not accurately describe adaptive radiation but refer to other evolutionary processes such as convergent evolution, natural selection, and gaps in the fossil record, respectively.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The brain is the human body's command center, responsible for integrating sensory information, coordinating movement, and regulating vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion. While the lungs, kidneys, and stomach perform crucial functions in the body, they do not have the central role of serving as the command center for these essential bodily processes. The lungs are primarily involved in respiration, the kidneys in filtering blood and regulating fluid balance, and the stomach in digestion. However, none of these organs have the comprehensive control over sensory integration, movement coordination, and vital functions like the brain does.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Schwann cells are indeed responsible for producing the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system. These cells wrap around axons to form the myelin sheath, which enhances the speed of nerve impulse conduction. In the central nervous system, oligodendrocytes are responsible for producing the myelin sheath. Astrocytes provide support and maintenance functions for neurons, while neurons are the nerve cells themselves and do not produce myelin. Therefore, the correct answer is Schwann cells as they are specifically involved in myelin production in the peripheral nervous system.