Final answer:
Rust and lightning are nonliving things, while an apple, bacteria, a dinosaur fossil, and a wasp are living things.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine if each of the following describes a living or nonliving thing:
a) Rust eating a hole in a metal bucket: Nonliving - Rust is a chemical reaction caused by the interaction of iron, oxygen, and water. It does not have the characteristics of a living thing.
b) An apple on a tree: Living - An apple is a fruit that grows on a living organism, the apple tree. It exhibits the characteristics of a living thing by responding to the environment, growing and developing, and producing offspring.
c) Bacteria: Living - Bacteria are microscopic organisms that exhibit the characteristics of a living thing. They respond to the environment, grow and reproduce, and have complex chemistry.
d) Lightning: Nonliving - Lightning is a natural electrical discharge in the atmosphere. It is not a living thing as it does not possess the characteristics of life.
e) A dinosaur fossil: Nonliving - A dinosaur fossil is the remains or traces of an ancient organism. While it was once a living thing, it is now a preserved artifact and does not exhibit the characteristics of life.
f) A wasp: Living - A wasp is an insect that exhibits the characteristics of a living thing. It responds to the environment, grows and reproduces, and has complex chemistry.