Testing their knowledge of math, science and physics

As a percentage by volume in Earth’s atmosphere, what are the two most abundant gasses in the Earth’s atmosphere?

What is the most common term in physics for the product of mass times velocity?

What planet has the greatest variation in temperature over a single one of its planetary days?

Questions like these challenged Ogden High School students Zane Satre and Kara Kieffer (seniors), William Brandt (junior) and Austin Bebb (freshman) as they competed in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Science Bowl.

From this January through the end of March, about 9,000 high school students on some 1,850 teams are expected to compete in 69 high school regional competitions.  The local team competed Saturday, Jan. 25 on the campus of Iowa State University. 

Teams of four faced off against one another in a fast-paced question and answer format. They were challenged to solve mathematical problems and tested on their knowledge of a wide range of disciplines including astronomy, biology, earth science and physics. 

How did you fare in answering the above questions? Answers: 1) nitrogen and oxygen; 2) momentum; 3) Mercury. Those were a quick sampling from Round 1 of a practice set that goes all the way up to Round 17.

Winners from each of the regional competitions receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the DOE Office of Science National Science Bowl.