Comprehensive Physics Exam Prep

A steam electric power plant is: A. Always based on renewable energy B. Always based on non-renewable energy C. Sometimes based on renewable, sometimes based on non-renewable energy

C. Sometimes based on renewable, sometimes based on non-renewable energy

Current from your wall sockets: A. Always travels in the same direction B. Switches direction, but is never zero C. Switches direction and is sometimes zero

C. Switches direction and is sometimes zero

What type of waves are produced by earthquakes? A. Longitudinal waves B. Transverse waves C. Circular waves D. All of the above E. No waves are produced by earthquakes

D. All of the above

What type of waves can I produce on a slinky? A. Longitudinal waves B. Transverse waves C. Circular waves D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Which of the following affects the frequency of a string on a guitar A. Mass of the string B. Tension in the string C. Length of the string D. All of the above

D. All of the above

I run 5 miles north then turn and run 5 miles east. What is my displacement? A. 0 miles B. 5 miles C. 10 miles D. Between 5 and 10 miles

D. Between 5 and 10 miles

Why does sweating cool us down? A. Because sweat carries heat from inside our body to the outside B. Because sweat reflects the heat from the sun C. Similar to how an air conditioner works D. Similar to how a swamp cooler works

D. Similar to how a swamp cooler works

At the center of a compression in a sound wave: A. Particles are displaced by the maximum distance in the same direction as the wave is moving B. Particles are displaced by the maximum distance in the direction opposite to the direction the wave is moving C. Particles are displaced by the maximum distance in the direction perpendicular to the direction the wave is moving D. The particle displacement is zero

D. The particle displacement is zero

While visiting the International Space Station (no force of gravity or air resistance), I spin a rock in a circle above my head. The rope snaps. Which of the following is true? A. The rock continues moving in a circle B. The rock immediately stops C. The rock moves in a parabola D. The rock moves in a straight line E. The rock emits noiseless shrieks, as it is lost to the vacuum of space

D. The rock moves in a straight line

Which of the following best describes the string after the first wave pulse reflects? A. The waves will constructively interfere, traveling in opposite directions B. The waves will destructively interfere, traveling in the same direction C. The waves will constructively interfere, traveling in the same direction D. The waves will destructively interfere, traveling in opposite directions

D. The waves will destructively interfere, traveling in opposite directions

A rod attracts positively charged hanging ball. The rod is: A. Positive B. Negative C. Neutral D. Either A or C E. Either B or C

E. Either B or C

What would happen if the Sun instantaneously disappeared? A. We would float off into free space B. We would freeze C. It would get extremely dark D. We would cease to exist E. Nothing. For 8 minutes and 20 seconds

E. Nothing. For 8 minutes and 20 seconds

Red light has a longer wavelength than blue light. Which of the following is true? A. Red light has a larger frequency and larger speed than blue light B. Red light has a larger frequency and the same speed as blue light C. Red light has a larger frequency and smaller speed than blue light D. Red light has a smaller frequency and smaller speed than blue light E. Red light has a smaller frequency and the same speed as blue light

E. Red light has a smaller frequency and the same speed as blue light

Can an automobile with a velocity towards the north simultaneously have an acceleration towards the south?

Yes, an automobile with a velocity to the north and an acceleration to the south would be slowing down

You drive 50m in 3 seconds. You stop for 2 seconds. You drive another 50m in the same direction for 10 seconds. You immediately turn around and drive back to your starting point in 5 seconds a. What is the total distance you drive? b. What is your total displacement at the end of your drive? c. What is your average velocity for the whole drive? d. What is your instantaneous velocity at t=10 seconds after you start driving

a. 200m b. 0 displacement c. 0 m/s d. 5 m/s

For each of the following interactions, identify action and reaction forces: A. A hammer hits a nail B. Earth gravity pulls down on a book C. A book rests on top of a table D. A helicopter blade pushes air downward

a. Action: the nail hits the hammer. Reaction: the nail hits the hammer b. Action: Earth gravity pulls down on a book. Reaction: the book pulls up on Earth c. Action: a book rests on top of a table. Reaction: the table provides a normal force acting on the book d. Action: a helicopter blade pushes air downward. Reaction: Air pushes a helicopter blade upward

Three balls of different masses are thrown straight upward. Ball A has a mass of 1kg and is thrown with a speed of 10m/s. Ball B has a mass of 1.5kg and is thrown with a speed of 15m/s. Ball C has a mass of .8kg and a speed of 3m/s a. From greatest to least, rank the acceleration of the balls 1s after being thrown b. From the greatest to least, rank the speeds of the balls 1s after bing thrown

a. After the balls are thrown, they are acted on by gravity, which gives everything a downward acceleration of -9.8 m/s^2, A =B=C b. After this, the velocity of each ball has changed by -9.8 m/s^2 ; Ball A, B, C

Which star has a higher temperature: a red star or blue star? A. A red star B. A blue star C. They have the same temperature

B. A blue star

If I instantaneously teleported to a planet 1 light year away and waved to you, when would you see my wave? A. 1 year before I waved B. Right when I waved C. 1 year after I waved D. 1 light year after I waved E. Never

C. I year after I waved

Do electric cars operate on renewable energy? A. Yes, always B. No, never C. It depends where the electricity came from

C. It depends where the electricity came from

I drip a single bouncy ball from height H. To what height will the ball bounce? A. Greater than H B. H C. Less than H D. It depends on how "springy" the ball is

C. Less than H

Gravitational force acts on all bodies in proportion to their masses. That is to say, a heavier object experiences a greater gravitational force than a lighter object. Why, then, doesn't a heavy body fall faster than a light body in the absence of air resistance?

A heavier object experiences a greater gravitational force than a lighter object, but it is also harder to accelerate owing to its larger mass. Weight W=mg, and the force required to accelerate something is F = ma. When something falls from gravity, these two equations must be equal, so mg = ma. Mass cancels out and all objects have the same acceleration due to gravity

Define a scientific theory. If I have a piece of evidence that disagrees with a scientific theory, what would you recommend that I do?

A scientific theory explains observations in the natural world. It has not been proven, but has stood up to repeated testing. If you have apiece of evidence which disagrees with a theory, you should check that evidence again. Try another experiment to see if you get the same result

Are electrons made up of anything smaller? A. Yes, definitely B. No, definitely not C. Maybe, we're not sure yet

C. Maybe, we're not sure yet

You can use the sun's rays and a lens to start a fire. To do so, you should use A. A converging lens B. A diverging lens C. Either a converging or a diverging lens will work if you use it correctly

A. A converging lens

A speaker is moving towards me. I would experience A. A shorter wavelength and larger frequency B. A longer wavelength and larger frequency C. The same wavelength and larger frequency D. The same wavelength and smaller frequency E. A shorter wavelength and smaller frequency

A. A shorter wavelength and larger frequency

If you are at rest on frictionless ground, how could you start moving? A. By pushing off a frictionless wall B. By pushing horizontally against the ground C. By throwing your shoe away from you D. By having someone collide with you E. By exhaling very hard

A. By pushing off a frictionless wall C. By throwing your shoe away from you D. By having someone collide with you

If speed is constant and velocity is always perpendicular to acceleration, the shape of the resulting motion will be: A. Circular B. Elliptical C. Spiral D. Straight line

A. Circular

I am trying to tighten a screw on my chair. I turn the screwdriver: A. Clockwise B. Counter clockwise C. Depends on the screw

A. Clockwise

While traveling on an airplane flying at constant speed, I open the window and drop a bag of peanuts. From MY perspective the bag of peanuts: A. Falls straight down B. Falls in a parabola C. Falls behind the plane

A. Falls straight down

What happens when I stretch a rubber band? A. It heats up B. It cools down C. It stays the same temperature

A. It heats up

Which of the following exposes you to the most radiation? A. Living in an adobe building B. Living near a coal power plant C. Living near a nuclear power plant D. Having smoke detectors in your home

A. Living in an adobe building

Kinetic friction can do ________ work A. Negative B. Positive C. No D. More than one of the above

A. Negative

When is evaporative cooling most effective? A. On a hot dry, day B. On a hot, moist day C. On a cool, dry day D. On a cool, moist day E. It always has the same effectiveness

A. On a hot, dry day

Power is transmitted from stations to our homes in high voltage power lines. In these lines, the current is: A. Smaller than the current in our homes B. Larger than the current in our homes C. The same as the current in our homes

A. Smaller than the current in our homes

Which friction force is typically bigger? A Static friction B. Kinetic friction C. Static and kinetic friction are typically the same

A. Static friction

I add thermal energy to a gas. What happens to the gas? A. The molecules move faster and the gas takes up more space B. The molecules move faster and the gas takes up less space C. The molecules move slower and the gas takes up more space D. The molecules move slower and the gas takes up less space

A. The molecules move faster and the gas takes up more space

I have the same mass on two strings of different lengths. I swing them as a pendulum. Which one has the larger period? A. The shorter string B. The longer string C. Both strings have the same period

A. The shorter string

Charge 1 is twice as big as charge 2. How does the electric force on charge 1 compare to the electric force on charge 2? A. They are the same size B. The force on charge 1 is bigger C. The force on charge 2 is bigger D. Not enough information to tell

A. They are the same size

Are protons made up of anything smaller? A. Yes definitely B. No, definitely not C. Maybe, we're not sure yet

A. Yes definitely

You jump into the air, and fall back down. Do you experience an acceleration? A. Yes for the whole trip B. Yes, but only for part of the trip C. No

A. Yes, for the whole trip

A large truck breaks down out on the road and receives a push back into town by a small compact car. While the car, still pushing the truck is speeding up, it exerts ___________ force on the truck as the truck exerts on the car. While the car, still pushing the truck, is moving at constant velocity, it exerts ___________ on the truck as the truck exerts on the car A. the same magnitude, the same magnitude B. a greater magnitude, the same magnitude C. a smaller magnitude, the same magnitude D. a greater magnitude, a greater magnitude E. a greater magnitude, a smaller magnitude

A. the same magnitude, the same magnitude

Alice and Bob decide to run a 100m race. They start at the same position at the same time. Alice runs with a constant speed. Bob runs with a constant, nonzero, positive acceleration. They cross the finish line at the same time a. Alice and Bob are not at the same position at all times. Explain why not b. Who has the larger speed when they cross the finish line? c. The race is shortened to 50m Alice runs at the same speed, and Bob runs with the same acceleration as before. Who would win the race, or would they still tie?

Alice and Bob must be at the same position at the same time at t=0 and at the end of the race (100 m). Alice runs with a constant speed, so her position vs. time is a straight line. Bob runs with a positive acceleration, so his position vs. time is a curve with positive concavity a. Bob gets off to a slow start, so he immediately falls behind Alice, but catches up at the end of the race b. Since Bob has to speed up to catch up, he is running faster at the end of the race. His position vs. time has a steeper slope c. If you look at the graph, Alice reaches x=50 at an earlier time than Bob, so she would win the shortened race

Why are the exhaust and intake phases necessary? A. Because the combustion gas is too hot to compress B. Because the combustion process uses up some of the air C. Because it would be dangerous to compress fuel that has already been burned D. We could, but we've found the four-stroke engine is more efficient

B. Because the combustion process uses up some of the air

A batter is a source of A. Constant current B. Constant potential C. Constant potential energy D. Constant field

B. Constant potential

An ice skater pulls her arms in towards her body while spinning on ice. Her moment of inertia: A. Increases B. decreases C. Remains the same

B. Decreases

Which of the following exposes you to the most radiation? A. Eating a banana B. Flying from LA to NY C. Walking through an airport scanner D. Getting a chest x-ray

B. Flying from LA to NY

What do cars burn in order to run? A. Liquid gasoline B. Gaseous gasoline C. Engine oil D. Water

B. Gaseous gasoline

Solar panels that you install on your roof are typically: A. Solar thermal B. Photovoltaic

B. Photovoltaic

Can anything escape from black holes? A. Yes B. Probably C. No

B. Probably

How does the force exerted by the Sun and on the Earth compare to the force exerted by the Earth on the Sun? A. Neither exerts a force on the other because in the vacuum of space, there is no medium for forces to travel through B. They exert the same magnitude forces on each other C. The Sun exerts a larger magnitude force on the Earth than the Earth exerts on the Sun D. The Sun exerts a smaller magnitude force on the Earth than the Earth exerts on the Sun E. The Earth exerts no force on the Sun, it is just the force from the Sun which keeps the Earth in orbit

B. They exert the same magnitude forces on each other

What is the basic principle behind hydroelectric power plants? A. Splitting water atoms to release chemical energy B. Turning gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy C. Using energy in water waves/currents

B. Turning gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy

You would use the term "oscillates" to refer to a spring that is: A. Undamped only B. Undamped or underdamped C. Any form of damping D. Critically damped only

B. Undamped or underdamped

A police officer pulls you over for speeding. Why do you get a ticket? A. Your average speed was above the speed limit B. Your instantaneous speed was above the speed limit C. Your displacement was above the speed limit

B. Your instantaneous speed was above the speed limit

A woman pulls on a 6-kg crate, which in turn is connected to a 4-kg crate by a light rope. The light rope remains taut. Compared to the 6-kg crate, the lighter 4-kg crate: A. is subjected to the same net force and has the same acceleration B. is subjected to a smaller net force and has the same acceleration C. is subjected to the same net force and has a smaller acceleration D. is subjected to a smaller net force and has a smaller acceleration E. none of the above

B. is subjected to a smaller net force and has the same acceleration

While standing on a skateboard, I grab the back of a friend's car while he accelerates forward. The car is doing ________ work on me, while I am doing ________ work on the car. When he brakes at a stoplight, the car does ________ on me A. positive, positive, positive B. positive, negative, negative C. negative, positive, negative D. negative, negative negative E. positive, positive, negative

B. positive, negative, negative

Ken and Joanne are astronauts floating some distance apart in space. They are joined by a safety cord whose ends are tied around their waists. If Ken starts pulling on the cord, will he pull Joanne toward him, or will he pull himself toward Joanne, or will both astronauts move?

Both astronauts will move, because they are both exerting forces on each other

Which of the following has the most entropy? A. A disordered deck of cards neatly packed in the box B. An ordered stack of cards that haven't been straightened C. 52-card pickup (cards strewn across the room

C. 52-card pickup (cards strewn across the room

In which of the following cases is there a net force on the object described? A. A hang glider flies due west at a constant speed of 10m/s without changing altitude B. A man skis straight down a 10º hill at a constant speed of 25 mph C. A hawk soars in a circle at a constant speed of 20km/h at a constant height above an open field D. There is no net force in any of the above situations

C. A hawk soars in a circle at a constant speed of 20km/h at a constant height above an open field

If your acceleration was always perpendicular to your velocity, but your speed was always increasing, what shape would your motion be making? A. A circle B. An ellipse C. A spiral D. A parabola

C. A spiral

Does renewable energy have a negative impact on the environment A. No, all of it risk-free B. Some of it has an impact, some of it does not C. All of it has an impact

C. All of it has an impact

What is the difference between a refrigerator and an air conditioner? A. An air conditioner uses water in place of a coolant B. Nothing C. An air conditioner expels the heat to the outside D. An air conditioner uses a fan

C. An air conditioner expels the heat to the outside D. An air conditioner uses a fan

How does the Sun emit radiation? A. At only one wavelength B. At a few specific wavelengths C. At a wide range of wavelengths

C. At a wide range of wavelengths

Previously, we learned that energy: A. Can be created but not destroyed B. Can be created or destroyed C. Can only change forms

C. Can only change forms

How do you think we discover planets around other stars? A. We look for their light (how we find planets in our own solar system) B. We look for movements of stars to indicate that something is orbiting it C. We look for when these planets come in between us and their respective stars D. We measure gravitational forces E. We don't know for sure that there are any

C. We look for when these planets come in between us and their respective stars

Is it possible to have a wave that does not transport energy? A. No B. Yes, but there are no uses for this type of wave C. Yes, and there are uses for this type of wave

C. Yes, and there are uses for this type of wave

If a carriage pulls on a horse with the same force that the horse pulls on the carriage, can there be any motion? A. No, the horse and carriage must both remain at rest B. Yes, but only at constant velocity since there is no net force C. Yes, because the forces act on different objects D. Yes, because the horse can push against the ground E. Yes, because the horse has muscles

C. Yes, because the forces act on different objects D. Yes because the horse can push against the ground

Is there any relationship between frequency and period of a wave? A. No, there is no relationship, they are independent B. Yes, they are directly related to each other C. Yes, they are inversely related to each other

C. Yes, they are inversely related to each other

I am on Earth. I push horizontally on a refrigerator. The refrigerator does not move. Which of the following is true? A. There are no forces acting on the fridge B. The only force acting on the fridge is gravity C. The only forces acting on the fridge are gravity and the force of my push D. There is exactly one force acting on the fridge in addition to gravity and the force of my push E. There are at least one force acting on the fridge in addition to gravity and the force of my push

E. There are at least one force acting on the fridge in addition to gravity and the force of my push

Consider two objects A and B. Object A has a net charge while B is uncharged. Based on this information, it must be true that: A. A is a conductor, B is an insulator B. A is an insulator, B is a conductor C. A and B are both insulators D. A and B are both conductors E. There's not enough information to tell

E. There's not enough information to tell

A lightweight crate and a heavy crate are side by side on a frictionless horizontal surface. If you apply a horizontal force F to create A and the crates remain in contact: A. the acceleration is greater than if B were on the left and A were on the right B. the acceleration is less than if B were on the left and A were on the right C. the crates will not move if F is less than the combined weight of A and B D. two of the above are correct E. none of the above is correct

E. none of the above is correct

A rocket becomes easier to accelerate as it travels through space. Discuss why this is so

F=ma so as mass gets smaller, it takes a smaller force to provide the same acceleration

Which contains more apples: a 1 pound bag of apples on Earth or a 1 pound bag of apples on the Moon? Which contains more apples: a 1 kilogram bag of apples on Earth or a 1 kilogram bag of apples on the Moon?

Gravity is less strong on the moon, so things weigh less on the moon than they do on the Earth. If you bought a bag of apples that weighed 1 pound on the moon, to the Earth it would weigh more than 1 pound. So a 1 pound bag of apples on the moon has more than a 1 pound bag of apples on Earth. Mass is independent of gravity, so a 1 kilogram bag would have the same number of apples on Earth and the moon

If a cannonball is fired from a tall mountain, gravity changes its speed along the trajectory. But if it is fired fast enough to go into circular orbit, gravity does not change its speed at all. Why not?

If a cannonball is fired from a tall mountain, gravity changes both the magnitude and direction of its velocity. It speeds both the magnitude and direction of its velocity. It speeds up as it falls closer to Earth. Something in circular orbit remains the same distance from the Earth, so its speed does not change

What determines the direction that water flows in a river?

It flows downhill (towards lower ground) and in the direction of decreasing gravitational potential energy

If you drop an object from rest, its acceleration towards the ground is 9.8m/s^2. If you throw it down instead, would its acceleration after throwing be greater than, less than, or equal to 9.8m/s^2 towards the ground. Ignore the effects of air resistance

Its speed would be greater, but its acceleration would still be equal to 9.8 m/s^2 towards the ground because it is not in contact with anything, so only feels the effects of gravity

Which requires less fuel: launching a rocket from the Earth to the Moon, or launching a rocket from the Moon to the Earth?

Launching a rocket from the moon to Earth takes less fuel because the size of the moon's gravitational well that needs to be "escaped" is smaller

I touch both ends of a battery. Does any current flow through me?

Yes

I'm standing still on Earth. Am I exerting any forces?

Yes

Is it possible to have a constant speed but changing velocity?

Yes

If a heavy truck and a light car have a head-on collision, upon which vehicle is the impact force greater? Which vehicle experiences the greater deceleration?

Newton's third law says that both vehicles experience the same force. However the light car will experience a greater deceleration because F = ma, so a smaller mass will feel a larger acceleration given the same force

Case A: I hold a rod in the center with one hand. Case B: I hold the same rod towards one side with one hand. Is the net force I provide with my hand any different?

No

Does Earth getting closer to and farther from the Sun during different parts of the year cause the seasons?

No

Is all radiation harmful?

No

We've said that gravity creates a constant acceleration of 9.8m/s^2 on any falling objects. Does gravity exert the same force on a heavy piano and a light feather?

No

Will I be able to "see" sound waves for any frequency of sound in the Ruben's tube?

No

Is it possible to have a constant velocity but changing speed?

No, it is not possible to have a constant velocity but changing speed. Velocity is a magnitude and a direction, so both have to remain constant. Speed is the magnitude of velocity, so it will have to stay the same

Is it possible to move in a curved path in the absence of a force?

No, traveling in a curved path means your direction is changing which means your velocity is changing. If your velocity is changing, you must have an acceleration, which indicates the presence of a force

An insulator is something that: A. Is warm B. Is cold C. Prevents the flow of heat D. Aids the flow of heat

Prevents the flow of heat

Do x-rays pass more easily through bones or soft tissue?

Soft tissue

What determines the direction that electrons flow in a wire?

The flow in the direction of decreasing electric potential energy

A farmer urges his horse to pull a wagon. The horse refuses, saying that she can't exert a greater force on the wagon than the wagon exerts on her and, therefore, that she won't be able to accelerate the wagon. Explain why the horse is wrong

The horse is wrong because it can push off the ground using static friction with a greater force than the wagon is pulling back on it. As a result, it will have a net force and therefore an acceleration

Since the Moon is gravitationally attracted to the Earth, why doesn't it simply crash into the Earth?

The moon is gravitationally attracted to the Earth, but the moon is also moving (has a velocity). This gravitational force provides an acceleration, but the acceleration is perpendicular to the velocity, so it only changes the direction of velocity, not its magnitude. The moon moves in a circle

An apple is accelerated upward by your hand. Which is larger, the apple's weight or the upward force by your hand?

The upward force by my hand must be larger than the weight of the apple because the weight acts downward, and I must not only balance this force out, but also provide some extra if I want the apple to accelerate upward

I push on a door and it doesn't open. Am I exerting a force on the door?

Yes

Charlie is sitting on a train with a ball. You are on the train platform looking onto the train. Charlie throws the ball up in the air straight above his head. Describe the motion of the ball as it appears to Charlie, and describe the motion of the ball as it appears to you in each of the cases below a. The train is not moving b. The train is moving with constant velocity c. The train is moving with constant acceleration, speeding up

a. Charlie: the ball goes straight up then straight back down. Me: the ball goes straight up and back down b. Charlie: the ball goes straight up then straight back down. Me: the ball travels in a parabola (it goes up and down while moving horizontally with constant velocity) c. Charlie: the ball goes up and a little backward, then falls on the floor behind him (he speeds past it). Me: I will see a parabola just as in part b

Consider a baseball player batting a all a. While the ball is in contact with the bat, name all forces acting on the ball b. While the ball is flying through the air, name all forces acting on the ball

a. Gravity, friction/air resistance b. Gravity, friction/air resistance

A heavy box rests on the floor. You push horizontally on the box and it does not move a. Explain what forces must be acting on the box b. Describe two changes you could make to the system so that you are able to push the box and it moves

a. Gravity, normal force, force of my push, static friction b. I could try lifting the box up while I push, or putting oil on the floor to reduce the frictional coefficient

You are standing on a scale in an elevator a. What two forces are acting on you? b. The elevator is moving up at constant speed. Which force is bigger? Will the reading on the scale be larger than, smaller than, or equal to your weight? c. The elevator is moving down and speeding up. Which force is bigger? Will the reading on the scale be larger than, smaller than, or equal to your weight

a. The normal force from the scale pushing up on your feet. Weight pulling down on you (gravitational force) b. The elevator is moving with constant speed. Constant speed means no acceleration, which means no net force. Normal force = weight, so the reading on the scale will be equal to your weight c. The elevator is moving down and speeding up. The floor is "falling away" from you, and you must be accelerating downward. Your weight must be larger than the normal force, so the scale will read less than your weight

In which direction does the friction force act in each of the following cases? a. A block sliding down a ramp b. A block sliding up a ramp c. I push a heavy box which is sliding down a ramp, with my push directed up the ramp, but the box continues sliding down the ramp d. I push horizontally to the right on a box that is not moving. The box does not move

a. Up along the ramp b. Down along the ramp c. Up along the ramp d. Horizontally to the left