1st Year Physics Multiple Choice Questions
A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a tower at the same instant a ball is dropped vertically. Which object is travelling faster when it hits the level ground below? A.) It is impossible to tell from the information given. B.) The stone C.) The ball D.) Neither, since both are traveling at the same speed
B.) The stone
Two displacement vectors have magnitudes of 5.0 m and 7.0 m, respectively. When these two vectors are added, the magnitude of the sum A.) is 2.0m B.) could be any value between 2 and 12m C.) is 12 m D.) is larger than 12m
B.) could be any value between 2 and 12m
Which one of the following is a vector quantity? A.) Time B.) Average Speed C.) Displacement D.) Length E.) Distance
C.) Displacement
The acceleration of an Atwood machine is always A.) Zero B.) Negative C.) Fraction of acceleration of gravity D.) Greater than acceleration of gravity
C.) Fraction of acceleration of gravity
Which one of the following terms is used to indicate the natural tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion at a constant speed along a straight line? A.) Velocity B.) Force C.) acceleration D.) equilibrium E.) inertia
E.) inertia
Which one of the following quantities is a vector quantity? A.) The age of the earth B.) The mass of a freight train C.) The earth's pull on your body D.) The temperature of hot cup of coffee E.) The number of people attending a soccer game
c.) The earth's pull on your body
Which one of the following is a vector expression? A.) 12 N right B.) 2 N right C.) 12 N left D.) 2 N left
D.) 2 N left
Carl Lewis set a world record for the 100.0-m run with a time of 9.86 s. If, after reaching the finish line, Mr. Lewis walked directly back to his starting point in 90.9s, what is the magnitude of his average velocity for the 200.0 m? A.) 0 m/s B.) 1.10 m/s C.) 1.98 m/s D.) 5.60 m/s E.) 10.1 m/s
A.) 0 m/s
A ball is thrown vertically upward from the surface of the earth. Consider the following quantities: 1.) The speed of the ball; 2.) The velocity of the ball; 3.) The acceleration of the ball Which of these are zero when the ball has reached the maximum height? A.) 1 and 2 only B.) 1 and 3 only C.) 1 only D.) 2 only E.) 1,2, and 3
A.) 1 and 2 only
When a projectile is shot up at a 45 degree angle from the ground the speed in the horizontal direction will be _____1_______ and the speed in the vertical direction will ______2_________, on the way up and then ____3_____ on the way down. A.) 1. constant, 2. decrease, 3. increase B.) 1. increase, 2. decrease, 3. increase C.) 1. decrease, 2. increase, 3. decrease D.) 1. constant, 2. increase, 3. decrease
A.) 1. constant, 2. decrease, 3. increase
If a rock on a cliff has a mass of 15kg and is 50 meters off the ground. How much will the kinetic energy be when the rock is 25 meters off the ground. A.) 1/2 the Ui B.) 1/4 the Ui C.) 4 times the Ui D.) 2 times the Ui
A.) 1/2 the Ui
A 1-kg apple falls from rest, 5 m to the ground. The apple hits the ground with and impact speed of about A.) 10 m/s B.) 20 m/s C.) 40 m/s D.) 7.07 m/s E.) Not enough information to say
A.) 10 m/s
A train travels due south at 60 m/s. It reverses its direction and travels due north at 60 m/s. What is the change in velocity of the train? A.) 120 m/s, due north B.) 120 m/s, due south C.) 60 m/s, due north D.) 60 m/s, due south E.) zero m/s
A.) 120 m/s, due north
A person is attracted towards the center of Earth by a 440- N gravitational force. The force with which earth is attracted toward the person is A.) 440 N B.) very very small C.) very very large
A.) 440 N
Which of the following is an accurate statement? A.) A vector cannot have zero magnitude if one of its components is not zero B.) The magnitude of a vector can be less than the magnitude of one of its components. C.) If the magnitude of vector A is less than the magnitude of vector B, then the x-component of A is less than the x-component of B. D.) The magnitude of a vector can be positive or negative.
A.) A vector cannot have zero magnitude if one of its components is not zero
In all Machines Energy is lost in one form or another. There for there is no perpetual motion machine. So the only way to keep a machine going is to? A.) Do work on the system B.) Add more friction C.) Do nothing to it D.) Add more inertia
A.) Do work on the system
What force causes things to slow down and lose their energy as heat. A.) Friction B.) Tension C.) Gravitational D.) Electrical
A.) Friction
A block is at rest on an incline. The force of friction necessary to prevent the block from sliding increases when the incline angle is A.) Increased B.) Decreased C.) Neither
A.) Increased
An unfortunate bug splatters against the windshield of a moving car. Compared to the deceleration of the car, the deceleration of the bug is A.) Larger B.) The small C.) Smaller
A.) Larger
An airplane flying into a head wind loses ground speed, and an airplane flying with the wind gains ground speed. If an airplane flies at right angles to the wind, then ground speed is A.) More B.) Unchanged C.) Less
A.) More
A space vehicle of mass m has a speed v. At some instant, it separates into two pieces. Each of mass 0.5m. One of the pieces is at rest just after the separation A.) The moving piece has speed 2v B.) This process conserves kinetic energy. C.) The piece at rest possesses kinetic energy D.) The process does not conserve total energy E.) This process does not conserve momentum.
A.) The moving piece has speed 2v
You are standing in a moving bus, facing forward, and you suddenly fall forward. You can imply from this that the bus's A.) Velocity decreased B.) Velocity increased C.) Speed remained the same, but it's turning to the right D.) Speed remained the same, but its turning to the left
A.) Velocity decreased
A women can lift barrels a vertical distance of 1 m or can roll them up a 2 m long ramp to the same elevation. If she uses the ramp to do the same amount of work, how much force is applied to the barrel to move it to the same height? A.) 1/4 as much B.) 1/2 as much C.) the same amount D.) 2 times as much E.) 4 times as much
B.) 1/2 as much
A piece of putty moving with 2 units of momentum strikes and sticks to a heavy bowling ball that is initially at rest. After the putty sticks to the ball, both are set in motion with a combined momentum that is A.) Less than 2 unites B.) 2 Units C.) More than 2 units D.) There is not enough information to say.
B.) 2 units
You pull horizontally on a 50-kg crate with a force of 450 N and the friction force on the crate is 250 N. The acceleration of the crate is A.) 2 m/s^2 B.) 4 m/s^2 C.) 9 m/s^2 D.) 14 m/s^2
B.) 4 m/s^2
The horizontal component of a projectile's velocity is A.) Effected by the acceleration of gravity B.) A constant value throughout the trip C.) zero throughout the motion of the object
B.) A constant value throughout the trip
In which one of the following systems is there a decrease in gravitational potential energy? A.) A boy stretches a horizontal spring B.) A girl jumps down from a bed C.) A crate rests at the bottom of an inclined plane D.) A car ascends a steep hill E.) water is forced upward through a pipe.
B.) A girl jumps down from a bed
Which has more kinetic energy? A.) An elephant sleeping B.) A small but not so normal mouse flying through the air at 100 m/s C.) A normal cat running behind the mouse at 1 m/s
B.) A small but not so normal mouse flying through the air at 100 m/s
Which one of the following is not a vector quantity? A.) Acceleration B.) Average speed C.) Displacement D.) Average velocity E.) Instantaneous velocity
B.) Average speed
A cannon recoils from launching a cannonball. The speed of the cannon's recoil is small because the A.) impulse on the cannon is less than the impulse on the cannonball B.) Cannon has far more mass than the cannonball C.) The momentum of the cannon is unchanged D.) The force against the cannon is relatively small.
B.) Cannon has far more mass than the cannonball
10-N force is applied to push a block across a friction free surface for a displacement of 5.0 m to the right. Determine which force(s) have work done on them. A.) Fnorm B.) Fapp C.) Fgrav
B.) Fapp
When a football in a field goal attempt reaches its maximum height, how does its speed compare to its initial speed? A.) It is zero B.) It is less than its initial speed C.) It is equal to its initial speed D.) It is greater than its initial speed
B.) It is less than its initial speed
Two objects A and B accelerate from rest with the same constant acceleration. Object A accelerates for twice as much time as object B, however. Which one of the following statements is true concerning these objects at the end of their respective periods of acceleration? A.) Object A will travel twice as far as object B. B.) Object A will travel four times as far as object B C.) Object A will travel eight times further than object B D.) Object A will be moving four times faster than object B E.) Object A will be moving eight times faster than object B
B.) Object A will travel four times as far as object B
Two objects constitute an isolated system. In an elastic collision between the two objects, which one of the following statements is a false statement? A.) The total kinetic energy is conserved B.) The kinetic energy of each object is the same before and after the collision C.) The total momentum is conserved. D.) The magnitude of the force exerted by each object on the other object is equal E.) The total kinetic energy before the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision
B.) The kinetic energy of each object is the same before and after the collision
Two balls of equal size are dropped from the same height from the roof of a building. One ball has twice the mass of the other. When the balls reach the ground, how do the kinetic energies of the two balls compare? A.) The lighter one has one fourth as much kinetic energy as the other does. B.) The lighter one has one half as much kinetic energy as the other does. C.) The lighter one has the same kinetic energy as the other does D.) The lighter one has twice as much kinetic energy as the other does E.) The lighter one has four times as much kinetic energy as the other does.
B.) The lighter one has one half as much kinetic energy as the other does.
A rock is thrown vertically upward from the surface of the earth. The rock rises to some maximum height and falls back toward the surface of the earth. Which one of the following statements concerning this situation is true if air resistance is neglected? A.) As the rock rises, its acceleration vector points upward. B.) The rock is a freely falling body for the duration of its flight. C.) The acceleration of the rock is zero when the rock is at its highest point. D.) The speed of the rock is negative while the ball falls back to the earth E.) The velocity and acceleration are always in the same direction.
B.) The rock is a freely falling body for the duration of its flight
A net force F is required to give an object with mass m an acceleration a. If a net force 6F is applied to an object with mass 2m, what is the acceleration of this object? A.) a B.) 2a C.) 3a D.) 4a E.) 6a
C.) 3a
A woman stands on the edge of a cliff and throws a stone vertically downward with an initial speed of 10 m/s. The instant before the stone hits the ground below, it has 459 J of kinetic energy. If she were to throw the stone horizontally outward from the cliff with the same initial speed of 10 m/s, how much kinetic energy would it have just before it hits the ground? A.) 0 J B.) less than 450 J C.) 450 J D.) greater than 450 J
C.) 450 J
If you push with 6 Newtons on an object to the right along a surgace of a table and it moves at a constant velocity of 2 m/s, determine the magnitude friction force on the object. A.) 0 N B.) 12 N C.) 6 N D.) 3 N
C.) 6 N
Which of the following would be considered a projectile? A.) A cannonball thrown straight up B.) A cannonball rolling down a level street C.) A cannonball rolling off the edge of a table D.) A cannonball dropped from the side of a cliff E.) All of the above are projectiles
C.) A cannonball dropped off the edge of a table
A new car manufacturer advertises that their car can go "from zero to sixty in 8s" This is a description of A.) Average speed B.) Instantaneous speed C.) Average acceleration D.) Instantaneous acceleration
C.) Average acceleration
Two balls are thrown horizontally with different speeds from the same height. Which one is in the air longer? A.) The faster object B.) The slower object C.) Both at the same time
C.) Both at the same time
If Bronco Billy the skydiver is falling he is losing potential energy as he gets closer to the ground, but after a while he stops accelerating. So what is happening to the energy? A.) It is destroyed B.) It is transformed into greater Kinetic Energy C.) It is transformed into greater Thermal Energy
C.) It is transformed into greater Thermal Energy.
A ball is thrown into the air with 100 J of kinetic energy, which is transformed to gravitational potential energy at the top of its trajectory. When it returns to its original level after encountering air resistance, its kinetic energy is? A.) 100 J B.) more than 100 J C.) less than 100 J D.) Not enough information given
C.) Less than 100 J
Two cars collide head-on. At every moment during the collision, the magnitude of the force the first car exerts on the second is exactly equal to the magnitude of the force the second car exerts on the first. This is an example of A.) Newton's first law B.) Newton's second law C.) Newton's third law D.) Newton's law of gravitation
C.) Newton's third law
Which of the following quantities is a vector quantity? A.) The age of the earth B.) The mass of a freight train C.) The earth's pull on your body D.) The temperature of hot cup of coffee E.) The number of people attending a soccer game
C.) The earth's pull on your body
A spring-loaded gun is aimed horizontally and is used to launch identical balls with different initial speeds. The gun is at a fixed position above the floor. The balls are fired one at a time. If the speed of the second ball fired is twice the speed of the first ball fired, how is the horizontal range affected? A.) The rang for both ball with be the same B.) The range of the second ball will be half as much as that of the first ball C.) The range of the second ball will be twice as large as that of the first ball D.) The range of the second ball is about 1.4 times larger than that of the first ball E.) The range of the second ball will be smaller than that of the first ball by a factor of 1.4.
C.) The range of the second ball will be twice as large as that of the first ball
Starting from rest, a particle confined to move along a straight line is accelerated at a rate of 5.0 m/s^2. Which one of the following statements accurately describes the motion of this particle? A.) The particle travels 5.0 m during each second. B.) The particle travels 5.0 m only during the first second C.) The speed of the particle increases by 5.0 m/s during each second. D.) The acceleration of the particle increases by 5.0 m/s^2 during each second. E.) The final speed of the particle will be proportional to the distance that the particle covers.
C.) The speed of the particle increases by 5.0 m/s during each second
A rock is suspended from a string and moves downward at constant speed. Which statement is true concerning the tension in the string if air resistance is ignored? A.) The tension is zero newtons. B.) The tension points downward. C.) The tension is equal to the weight of the rock. D.) The tension is less than the weight of the rock. E.) The tension is greater than the weight of the rock
C.) The tension is equal to the weight of the rock
A bullet is fired horizontally, and at the same instant a second bullet is dropped from the same height. Ignore air resistance. Compare the times of fall of the two bullets. A.) The fired bullet hits first B.) The dropped bullet hits first C.) They hit at the same time D.) cannot tell without knowing the masses
C.) They hit at the same time
When the angle of an incline with a block resting on it increases, the normal support force A.) Increases B.) stays the same C.) decreases
C.) decreases
A bicyclist is riding at a constant speed along a straight-line path. The rider throws a ball straight up to a height a few meters above her head. Ignoring air resistance, where will the ball land? A.) behind the rider B.) in front of the rider C.) in the same hand that threw the ball D.) in the opposite hand to the one that threw it E.) This cannot be determined
C.) in the same hand that threw the ball
The particle travels along a curved path from point P to point Q as shown. The velocity of the particle does not depend on A.) the location of P B.) the location of Q C.) the distance traveled from P to Q. D.) the shortest distance between P and Q. E.) the direction of Q from P
C.) the distance traveled from P to Q
A red marble moving to the right at 0.40 m/s has a head- on, elastic collision with a blue marble of the same mass sitting at rest on a smooth, level surface. Which of the following are the correct magnitudes and directions of the velocities of the two marbles after the collision? Red Marble Blue Marble A.) .35 m/s left .25 m/s, right B.) .40 m/s left .30 m/s, right C.) zero m/s left .40 m/s, right D.) .20 m/s left .20 m/s, right E.) .40 m/s left zero m/s
C.) zero m/s left .40 m/s, right
An Olympic athlete throws a javelin at four different angles above the horizontal, each with the same speed: 30, 40, 60, and 80 degrees. Which two throws cause the javelin to land the same distance away? A.) 30 and 80 B.) 40 and 60 C.) 40 and 80 D.) 30 and 60
D.) 30 and 60
A motorcycle has a velocity of 15 m/s, due north as it passes a car with a velocity of 24 m/s, due south. What is the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the motorcycle as seen by the driver of the car? A.) 9 m/s, north B.) 9m/s, south C.) 15 m/s, north D.) 39 m/s, north E.) 39 m/s, south
D.) 39 m/s, north
How much force is needed to accelerate a 4.0-kg physics book the an acceleration of 2.0 m/s^2? A.) 0 N B.) 2.0 N C.) 0.5 N D.) 8.0 N E.) 24.0 N
D.) 8.0 N
Two vectors A and B are added to form a vector C. The relationship between the magnitudes of the vectors is given by A + B = C. Which one of the following statements concerning these vectors is true? A.) A and B must be displacements B.) A and B must have equal lengths C.) A and B must point in opposite directions D.) A and B must point in the same direction E.) A and B must be at right angles to each other
D.) A and B must point in the same direction.
In which one of the following situations is zero net work done? A.) A ball rolls down an inclined plane B.) A physics student stretches a spring C.) A projectile falls toward the surface of Earth D.) A box is pulled across a rough floor at constant velocity. E.) A child pulls a wagon across a rough surface causing it to accelerate
D.) A box is pulled across a rough floor at constant velocity
Ball A is dropped from rest from a window. At the same instant, ball B is thrown downward; and ball C is thrown upward from the same window. Which statement concerning the balls after their release is necessarily true if air resistance is neglected? A.) At some instant after it is thrown the acceleration of ball C is zero. B.) All three balls strike the ground at the same time C.) All three balls have the same velocity at any instant D.) All three balls have the same acceleration at any instant E.) All three balls reach the ground with the same velocity
D.) All three balls have the same acceleration at any instant
When you look at the speedometer in a moving car, you can see the car's A.) Average distance traveled B.) Instantaneous acceleration C.) Average speed D.) Instantaneous speed E.) Average acceleration
D.) Instantaneous speed
In which one of the following situations does the car have a westward acceleration? A.) The car travels westward at constant speed. B.) The car travels eastward and speeds up. C.) The car travels westward and slows down. D.) The car travels eastward and slows down. E.) The car starts from rest and moves toward the east.
D.) The car travels eastward and slows down.
In which ones of the following situations does the car have an eastward acceleration? A.) The car travels westward at constant speed B.) The car travels westward and speeds up C.) The car travels eastward and slows down D.) The car travels westward and slows down E.) The car starts from rest and moves toward the west
D.) The car travels westward and slows down
A rock is thrown straight up from the surface of the Earth. Which one of the following statements describes the energy transformation of the rock as it rises? Neglect air resistance A.) The total energy of the rock increases B.) The kinetic energy increases and the potential energy decreases C.) Both the potential energy and the total energy of the rock increase D.) The kinetic energy decreases and the potential energy increases E.) Both the kinetic energy and the potential energy of the rock remain
D.) The kinetic energy decreases and the potential energy increases
Starting from rest, a particle is confined to move along a straight line is accelerated at a rate of 5.0 m/s^2. Which statement concerning the slope of the position versus time graph for this particle is true? A.) The slope has a constant value of 5.0 m/s B.) The slope has a constant value of 5.0 m/s^2 C.) The slope is both constant and negative D.) The slope is not constant and increases with increasing time E.) The slope is not constant and decreases with increasing time
D.) The slope is not constant and increases with increasing time
Stationary firework explodes in space breaking into a number of small fragments. At the location of the explosion, the net force due to gravity is zero newtons. Which one of the following statements concerning this event is true? A.) Kinetic energy is conserved in this process B.) The fragments must have equal kinetic energies C.) The sum of the kinetic energies of the fragments must be zero D.) The vector sum of the linear momentum of the fragments must be zero. E.) The velocity of any one fragment must be equal to the velocity of any other fragment
D.) The vector sum of the linear momentum of the fragments must be zero
A baseball is hit upward and travels along a parabolic arc before it strikes the ground. Which one of the following statements is necessarily true? A.) The acceleration of the ball decreases as the ball moves upward B.) The velocity of the ball is zero m/s when the ball is at the highest point in the arc C.) The acceleration of the ball is zero m/s^2 when the ball is at the highest point in the arc D.) The x-component of the velocity of the ball is the same throughout the ball's flight E.) The velocity of the ball is a maximum when the ball is at the highest point in the arc
D.) The x-component of the velocity of the ball is the same throughout the ball's flight
If you lift one load up two stories, how much work do you do compared to lifting one load up only one story? A.) One quarter as much B.) One half as much C.) The same amount D.) Twice as much E.) Four times as much
D.) Twice as much
A stone is thrown straight up. At the top of its path, the net force acting on it is A.) greater than its weight B.) greater than zero, but less than its weight C.) Instantaneously equal to zero D.) equal to its weight
D.) equal to its weight
You are trying to cross a river that flows due south with a strong current. You start out in your motorboat on the east bank desiring to reach the west bank directly west from your starting point. You should head your motorboat... A.) due west B.) due north C.) in a southwesterly direction D.) in a northwesterly direction
D.) in a northwesterly direction
In the absence of an external force, a moving object will A.) stop immediately B.) slow down and eventually come to a stop C.) go faster and faster D.) move with constant velocity
D.) move with constant velocity
A rocket moves through empty space in a straight line with constant speed. It is far from the gravitational effect of any star or planet. Under these conditions, the force that must be applied to the rocket in order to sustain its motion is A.) equal to its weight B.) equal to its mass C.) dependent on how fast it is moving D.) zero
D.) zero
Estimate the amount of power needed to life a 10 kg box 2m in 1 second? A.) 50 W B.) 5 W C.) 20 W D.) 230 W E.) 200 W
E.) 200 W
A police car is in pursuit of a stolen pickup truck. At one instant, the car has a speed of 35 m/s and is 250 m behind the truck. At the same time, the truck has a speed of 30 m/s. If neither vehicle accelerates, how long will it take the police to catch up to the truck? A.) 5 s B.) 65 s C.) 30 s D.) 82 s E.) 50 s
E.) 50 s
What is the estimate of the weight of a kid that has a mass of 66.0 kg A.) 660 N up B.) 660 kg down C.) 66.0 N down D.) 66.0 kg up E.) 660 N down
E.) 660 N down
As a pendulum swings back and forth A.) at the end points of its swing, its energy is all potential B.) at the lowest part of its swing, its energy is all kinetic C.) kinetic energy is transformed into potential energy D.) potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy E.) All of the above
E.) All of the above
In Physics, work is defined as A.) Work times time B.) Force divided by distance C.) Distance divided by time D.) Force divided by time E.) Force times distance
E.) Force times distance
A physics student adds two displacement vectors with magnitudes of 8.0 km and 6.0 km. Which one of the following statements is true concerning the magnitude of the resultant displacement? A.) It must be 10.0 km B.) It must be 14.0 km C.) It could be equal to zero kilometers, depending on how the vectors are oriented D.) No conclusion can be reached without knowing the direction of the vectors. E.) It could have any value between 2.0 km and 14.0 km depending on how the vectors are oriented
E.) It could have any value between 2.0 km and 14.0 km depending on how the vectors are oriented
An elevator supported by a single cable descends a shaft at a constant speed. The only forces acting on the elevator are the tension in the cable and the gravitational force. Which one of the following statements is true? A.) The magnitude of the work done by the tension force is larger than that done by the gravitational force B.) The magnitude of the work done by gravitational force is larger than that done by the tension force C.) The work done by the tension force is zero joules D.) The work done by the gravitational force is zero joules E.) The net work done by the two forces is zero joules
E.) The net work done by the two forces is zero joules
A rock is suspended from a string and is accelerating upward. Which statement is true concerning the tension in the string if air resistance is ignored? A.) The tension is zero newtons B.) The tension points downward C.) The tension is equal to the weight of the rock D.) The tension is less than the weight of the rock E.) The tension is greater than the weight of the rock
E.) The tension is greater than the weight of the rock