Physics Study Guide Chapters 1.1-1.6
The hypotenuse of the right triangle below is 9.4 cm long. If angle θ is 23°, how long is side a?
*a. 3.7 cm* b. 24 cm c. -8.0 cm d. 8.7 cm
Lana wants to calculate the density of an object. She knows that the volume of the solid object is 43 cm^3 and the mass is 2.6 x 10^4 g. What is the density of the object?
*a. 6.05 x 10^2 g/cm^3* b. 1.65 x 10^-2 g/cm^3 c. 6.06 x 10^2 cm^3/g d. 1.65 x 10^-2 cm^3/g tip: d=m/v
Katie is in her second week of lab classes. She must demonstrate that she is capable of using and conserving resources. Which of the following is the best example of the proper use of resources in a science lab?
*a. Katie read through the lab assignment and made sure she had enough of each resource to complete the experiment.* b. Katie followed the lab step by step only to realize that she didn't have all of the resources needed for the experiment, so she started over from the beginning the next day. c. After measuring out the amount of stain she needed for her lab, Katie noticed that only a small amount was left in the original bottle so she properly disposed of the last portion. d. The scalpel and glass containers Katie was using were going to be difficult to clean out, so she made sure to dispose of each properly.
Jakob has just measured distilled water in a glass beaker. He notices that there is a small chip on the opening of the beaker. He won\'t be heating the beaker or adding any other chemical substances to the beaker. What should he do next with the beaker to follow chemical safety guidelines?
*a. Pour the distilled water down the sink drain and dispose of the beaker by placing it in the container labeled for glass* b. No steps need to be taken because he is only using the beaker for distilled water c. Continue to use the beaker, but mark the beaker with a red X, and inform other lab students to only use it for room temperature water. d. Pour the distilled water down the sink drain and dispose of the beaker by placing it in the hazardous waste container.
In order to practice analyzing data, a student it asked to flip a coin 100 times and to record the number of times it came up heads and the number of times it came up tails. The student was to repeat this process five times. The table of their data is shown below. Determine which statement below is a valid conclusion that can be drawn from analyzing the data using only empirical evidence.
*a. This coin is more likely to come up heads than it is to come up tails* b. This data proves the expected results that a coin flipped 100 times should land heads 50% of the time and tails 50% of the time. c. There was too much variation in the data to make any valid conclusions d. This coin is more likely to come up tails than it is to come up heads
Ashley wants to record the mass of various objects using a triple beam balance. She is about to begin by placing the first object on the pan when she realizes the balance pointer is not aligned with zero. What should she do?
*a. check that all weights are moved to the far left* b. note where the pointer rests and add that to her measurements c. ignore the small difference it may make d. note where the pointer rests and subtract that from her measurements
Joshua and Tyron are trying to experimentally find the force of gravity. To do this, Joshua is dropping a marble from a height of 6 meters and Tyron is using a stopwatch to record how long it takes the marble to hit the ground. Then they calculate the final velocity and the force of gravity acting on the object as it fell. They repeat this experiment 10 times and average their data. For their lab report, the teacher asked them to indicate the amount of uncertainty in their data. How could they best quantify how uncertain they are about their data?
*a. conduct an experiment to find Tyson's response in time* b. Switch roles, conduct another experiment, and compare the data c. Compare the final velocities to the average to find the standard deviation d. Compare the forces of gravity to the average to find the standard deviaiton
According to a popular science journal, the element mercury has become very dangerous. Mercury is a naturally occurring element, but some 2,000 tons of it enter the global environment each year from human-generated sources. Deposited onto land or into water, mercury is picked up by some types of microorganisms, which convert a small portion of it to methylmercury, which is highly toxic. Methylmercury then builds up in fish that eat the microorganisms, as well as in animals that eat the fish. The primary way people in the United States are exposed to methylmercury is by eating fish and shellfish. Health effects include damage to the central nervous system, heart, and immune system. The developing brains of young and unborn children are especially vulnerable. From this data, what is the most effective action you can take to limit your personal ingestion of mercury?
*a. dont eat fish and animals from contaminated areas* b. send letters to your congressman c. find put where the mercury is coming from d. never throw mercury thermometers into the garbage
Which of the following is not a safe laboratory practice or rule that should be followed while at the lab bench?
*a. drinking water* b. using chemical splash safety goggles c. wearing a protective apron d. wearing close toed shoes
Joanna and Robert are finished with their lab on buoyancy and density. Now they are wondering what to do with their chemicals. What should they do next?
*a. follow the instructions given to them on how to dispose of the chemicals* b. pour everything in the garbage c. pour everything in the sink d. mix everything together and see what happens
Lauren is calculating the average speed required for a ball to move a distance of 50 feet in 2 minutes. According to the International System of Units (often abbreviated SI), what units should her final answer have?
*a. meters per second* b. feet per minute c. miles per hour d. kilometer per hour
Which of the following prefixes is associated with the multiplication factor 10-9?
*a. nano* b. micro c. pico d. giga
______________ is the use of evidence to construct testable explanation and predictions of natural phenomena, as well as the knowledge generated through this process
*a. science* b. sorcery c. scholarship d. statistics
In the right triangle below, side a is 13.0 cm long. If the hypotenuse is 34.0 cm long, what is the magnitude of angle θ in degrees?
a. 0.00667 *b. 22.5* c. 0.392 d. 67.5
The mass of a grain of sand is measured to be 0.000000000178 kg. What is the mass of the grain of sand in scientific notation?
a. 1.78 x 10^10 kg *b. 1.78 x 10^-10 kg* c. 178 x 10^-12 kg d. 17.8 x 10^-11 kg
Complete the calculation below. Select the answer with the correct number of significant figures.
a. 12.00 b. 12.0 *c. 12* d. 10
A barometer reads a pressure of 135000 Pa. What is the pressure in atm?
a. 135 *b. 1.33 atm* c. 1330 atm d. 1.37 x 10^10 atm
The speed limit on a nearby road is 65 miles per hour. What is this speed in meters per second?
a. 150 m/s b. 1.0 x 10^5 m/s *c. 29 m/s* d. 0.018 m/s
Use a scientific calculator to complete the calculation below. 5.6 x 10^5 ---------------- 2.7 x 10^19
a. 2.1 x 10^24 *b. 2.1 x 10^-14* c. 2.9 x 10^24 d. 2.9 x 10^-14
Joshua is calculating the gravitation force of a large object. He has three significant figures in his values, so he rounds his calculated answer to 372,000 N. Using scientific notation, how should he write his answer?
a. 37.2 x 10^4 N b. 3.72 x 10^-5 N *c. 3.72x 10^5 N* d. 372 x 10^3 N
Bob needs to measure a certain quantity of water. Bob repeats his measurement multiple times. Which set of measurements is the most precise?
a. 40.1 mL, 41.9 mL, 50.2 mL *b. 50.1 mL, 50.3 mL, 49.9 mL* c. 49.9 mL, 50 mL, 59.9 mL d. 49.1 mL, 60.2 mL, 30.9 mL
Laura pours some water into a 10-mL graduated cylinder. Which of the following is the correct amount of water present?
a. 6.3 mL b. 7.2 mL *c. 6.6 mL* d. 6.8 mL tip: its where the water is the lowest
One leg of a right triangle is 6.7 cm and the other leg is 4.1 cm. How long is the hypotenuse?
a. 62 cm b. 3.28 cm c. 3800 cm *d. 7.9*
You are asked to write a report about river pollution by pharmaceutical drugs. In the course of your research, you are required to use multiple sources of data and information. Which of the following is the most scientific source?
a. A conversation with your grandfather, who reported that the number of fish downstream in several rivers has decreased in the past 40 years b. An article on a website called "Drugs Kill Fish* *c. An article in your textbook which references a scientific study measuring pharmaceutical drug presence in fish.* d. An editorial article in the newspaper by a local professor who studies river pollution
Which of the following statements about hypothesis is FALSE?
a. A hypothesis is an educated guess as to why something happens *b. A hypothesis should be created when the outcome for its test is known* c. A hypothesis is an explanation for a natural phenomenon d. A hypothesis must be testable in a way that is replicable by others
Which one of the following statements is true about a scientific hypothesis?
a. A hypothesis is the same thing as a theory b. A hypothesis is the first step in the scientific method c. A hypothesis is also referred to as an uneducated guess *d. A hypothesis is a possible explanation of an observed set of facts*
1998, a paper was published suggesting a link between administering the MMR (measels, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and the development of autism in children. The media publicized these findings and the uptake of the vaccine went into decline. By 2000, there was a dramatic increase in the incidence of measles, a dangerous infection in children. The original research, showing a link between MMR and autism in babies, was conducted on 12 children. This information can be used most effectively when arguing for which of the following statements?
a. Further investigation into the link between MMR and autism is required. The sample size in the experiment above is too small.
Ground-level ozone is an air pollutant. High levels of ozone near the ground where people can breathe it in can cause health problems. Cities will issue Ozone Action Day warnings to alert their residents that high levels of ground-level ozone will be present. One hypothesis is that automobile exhaust causes ground level ozone. Consider the following observations. Identify which one supports the hypothesis.
a. Ground level ozone levels are highest in large cities with lots of traffic
Sir Isaac Newton, born in England in 1643, was a very famous scientist. He is said to be one of the most influential people in human history. What did Sir Isaac Newton do to become such a famous scientist?
a. He composed three laws of motion, invented calculus, and invented the reflecting telescope.
In all fields of science, scientific explanations are analyzed through empirical evidence. Which of the following is NOT an example of empirical evidence?
a. In an expirement testing gravity, the rock falls back down after it is thrown b. To determine pH, a PH strip turns pink after it is dipped into bleach c. Water is heated to 100 degrees celcius to check its boiling point *d. All of these are examples of empirical evidence in science*
Juan is preparing to conduct an experiment measuring how the freezing point of a liquid is changed by the addition of several different salts. In order to measure the freezing point depression of the liquid, what instrument is most important?
a. Light detector *b. C temperature probe* c. pH probe d. Barometric probe
Does science have any limitations?
a. No, but only some scientists can test certain topics in a way that makes them fall into the realm of science *b. Yes, there are certain things science can never test* c. Yes, but with technological improvement all things will be testable one day d. no, anyone can test anything
he smell of a solution used to clean a floor can quickly be detected throughout a house. Scientists explain this phenomenon by theorizing that gas molecules from the solution are in continuous, random high-speed motion, drifting rapidly, and permeating the air. Which fact or data would best increase the strength of this theory?
a. Opinions, as opposed to experimentation, are better thany any explanation found b. The possibility of another theory being found to explain the occurrence is going to happen c. Scientists have unanimously agreed on this theory since Albert Einstein's experiments in the 1950s. *d. Scientists have observed other gas particles spreading outward in a room, in a continuous random high-speed motion, drifting rapidly, and permeating the air.*
At a stoplight, a small red car is rear ended by an equally small blue car. The momentum of red car before and after the collision is shown below, symbolically represented by vector arrows. If instead of a equally small blue car, the red car was rear ended by a large blue truck three times its mass, which of the following vectors would most likely be the correct final momentum vector of the red car?
a. Option A b. Option B c. Option C *d. Option D* (the longest)
Vanessa is building a circuit to test the maximum current a light bulb can handle before the light bulb burns out. The circuit she builds consists of a battery with a constant voltage output combined in series with a resistor, a light bulb, and an ammeter to measure the current. She has many resistors with different resistances that she can use through her testing. Which of the following is the independent variable in this situation?
a. The light bulb brightness b. the current c. the battery voltage *d. the resistance of the resistor*
A company has produced a new brand of hand sanitizer. The company claims the sanitizer not only reduces the amount of detectable rhinovirus (common cold) considerably, but also keeps the virus off the hands for longer. Study both the graph and the table below showing the results of these studies. Select the correct conclusion from the list.
a. The sanitizer has to be used in combination with soap and water. This combination makes it the most efficient treatment. *b. while the sanitizer removes the most rhinovirus, the soap and water remove the virus for longer. The company's claim is unsupported.* c. The sanitizer is clearly the most effective at removing the virus and keeping the virus away for longer. The company's claim is unsupported. d. The sanitizer is least efficient at removing the virus and at keeping it away for longer, the company's claim is unsupported
Scientists are conducting extensive studies on atmospheric changes over 200,000 years. This information is gathered using ice cores from the Arctic. During snow, gases in the atmosphere are \'locked up\' and remain stored in ice. By using ice cores, scientists are able to build profiles of past atmospheric conditions. The main gas studied is carbon dioxide, which may be linked to global climate change. The scientists\' data from the last 300 years is displayed in the graph below. Which is the best question to ask before developing a hypothesis?
a. Why did the scientists go back as far as the 1700s? b. Why did the scientists only graph data for the last 300 years ? c. Why are there so many data points in more recent times? *d. what history was occuring in the late 1800s?*
Albert is preparing to conduct an experiment to determine if adding salt to a pot of water will cause a change in the boiling point of water. What instrument should he use during his investigation?
a. barometric probe b. triple beam balance c. light detector *d. Celsius thermometer*
A significant number of scientific hypotheses over time have all had similar results leading to the same conclusion. With continued testing and validated conclusions, these scientific hypotheses could become a ________________.
a. control group b. scientific hunch c. scientific method *d. scientific theory*
Which of the following word best finishes this paragraph? Local officials have announced that a dam will be built on a river in Paula\'s town. Paula is a graduate student concerned with the impacts that the dam may have on the eastern hellbender population. Eastern hellbenders are fully-aquatic salamanders that depend on rivers and streams for their survival. Paula has decided to base her graduate research on the dam and any impacts that it may or may not have on eastern hellbenders. In order to do this, she must create and test a/the scientific _____________.
a. data b. method c. theory *d. hypothesis*
The scientific process can be summarized into these stages: organize, analyze, evaluate, make inferences, and predict trends Doing experiments falls under which stage?
a. make inferences b. predict trends *c. analyze* d. evaluate
When collecting data, what technique will give the most accurate data?
a. measure quickly *b. measure with the same technique every time( c. have others measure for you sometimes d. measure with different devices everytime
A _______ is a based on natural and physical phenomena and states why a certain event occurs the way it does.
a. observation *b. theory* c. experiment d. law
Jacob is heating chemicals to speed up a reaction on a hot plate. He must record the time until bubbles form on a stopwatch. What is the First thing he should do when he is finished collecting his data?
a. pour the chemicals into the chemical waste bin *b. turn off the hot plate* c. turn in his stopwatch d. start answering lab questions
Susan wants to measure the resistance of resistor one (R1) in the circuit illustrated below. What tool is the best for her to use?
a. visual spectroscope *b. multimeter* c. copper wire d. knife-blade switch
Which of the following is the standard SI Unit for length?
a. yard *b. meter* c. centimeter d. kilometer
In the 17th century, Isaac Newton compiled three laws of motion that explain the motion of physical objects and systems. These laws helped explain observations and other laws that have been accepted by science, such as Kepler\'s laws of planetary motion. In the 20th century, Albert Einstein\'s theories of special and general relativity compounded Newton\'s simpler laws, arguing that high speeds and an observer\'s frame of reference must be taken into account. Which of the following statements best describes how Einstein\'s new ideas reshaped the way that we use Newton\'s laws today?
b. Newton's laws are still used as an approximation for most objects
An online magazine, Popular Science, states that one of the top ten jobs of the future will be that of a \"Space Pilot.\" In 2012, a private space company plans to launch the first commercial suborbital spaceflights, costing about $200,000 a seat. As other companies begin offering similar space experiences, that price could soon drop low enough for many people to enjoy trips into space for work or tourism, perhaps even visiting the Moon and asteroids. The magazine predicts that the demand for space pilots will grow every year. If you wanted to be a space pilot, what subject in school should you pay extra special attention?
b. Physics
Alma went to buy new tires, but found four types of tires in her car\'s size. The information from the advertisements is recreated in the table below. Which tire will give Alma the best deal (most mileage for her money)?
c. Excellandor
There is a new item on the market, a magnifying glass, that Vivian wants to buy. She looked online at the different stores selling the model she wants and recorded her observations. Based on the table below, which store should she buy it from if she wants to spend the least amount of money?
c. The science store
Empirical evidence is required to differentiate between causation and correlation and make claims about specific causes and effects. Which of the following correctly identifies a causation?
d. Causation is the capacity of one variable to directly influence the other
Kayla and Marvin noticed that the volume of liquid acetone in an open flask decreased after 5 minutes. Kayla hypothesized that the acetone evaporated, and Marvin hypothesized that the acetone reacted with the elements in the air, such as oxygen, to form a gaseous compound that escaped the container. What should Kayla and Marvin do to test their hypotheses?
d. Design an expirement that will determine the gas above the flask
As the internet and fast transfer of information become more and more accessible and significant, industries are growing to meet this need. Photonics is the study of generating, emitting, amplifying, and sensing light. In the form of special fibers, light can be used to transmit data over longer distances and at higher bandwidths than other forms of communication. Which of the following branches of physics is most likely to be used by photonic communication engineers?
d. Optical
Occasionally scientists discover certain vaccinations carry a small risk when administered to young children and infants. The media can publicize and simplify this research, and in doing so, parents of children may choose not to vaccinate their child. Select the most likely outcome from this action.
d. Parents increase the risk of an epidemic from an infection normally uncommon
Which of the following statements correctly defines scientific argumentation and identifies why it is useful in scientific investigations?
d. Scientific argumentation is a method of logical discussion and debate used to clarify the strength of relationships between ideas and evidence that may result in revision of an explanation.
Kelly's parents are expecting another child. To save money, they want to buy as many things used as possible. Kelly\'s friend Richard tells her parents that used car seats are dangerous. He claims that sunlight through car windows deteriorate plastic over time, making car seats brittle. Kelly\'s parents are not convinced, but Kelly is worried about her new sibling\'s safety. A stress test could add credit to Richard\'s claim. Which of the following pairs would be best to have a stress test conducted on them to create scientifically convincing data?
d. a new car seat subjected to sunlight and a new car seat kept in the closet
