Chapter 1: Physics, the Fundamental Science
1. People sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between scientific explanations of common
events and other kinds of explanation (superstition, prejudice, magic, etc.). Which of the
following best helps to identify a scientific explanation?
A. The explanation violates our intuition.
B. We can test the explanation by comparing its predictions to measurement results.
C. The explanation changes according to the observer.
D. The explanation relies on local folklore.
Answer: B
2. The main reason that physics is perceived to be difficult is because people think that:
A. all its concepts seem incompatible with our everyday experience.
B. it frequently changes its explanations of common occurrences.
C. math is required to understand its ideas.
D. the conservation laws are often shown to be wrong.
Answer: C
3. The metric system of units is based on which number?
A. 10
B. 8
C. 2
D. 16
Answer: A
4. Which of the following is a correct metric unit for volume?
A. Smidgens
B. Drops
C. Microns
D. Liters
Answer: D
5. A new system of units is invented where the basic unit of length is the “dak”. The “dak” is
defined as equal to 3 inches, and there are 2.54 centimeters in an inch. How many “dak’s” are
there in a centimeter?
A. 6
B. 0.131
C. 3
D. 0.254
Answer: B
6. Suppose that as it develops, a raindrop’s diameter changes from one micrometer to one
millimeter. Its diameter has increased by a factor of
A. 10
B. 100
C. 1 000 (or, 103)
D. 100 000 (or, 105)
Answer: C
7. Your new weed-cutter requires, as fuel, a gas-to-oil mixture of 20-to-1 (20 parts of gas mixed
with one part of oil). You have 1/3 of a gallon of gas. How much oil, in gallons, should you
add to make it all into fuel for the weed-cutter?
A. 1/3
B. 1/30
C. 3
D. 1/60
Answer: D
8. Students often fail to include units with their answers. Science teachers say that units are
important. In which of the following situations would you insist that units be included?
A. Your friend asks if you would like to go out to lunch.
B. Your uncle offers to hire you at a pay scale of 25 per hour.
C. Your Mom asks you to clean your room.
D. The police department calls and asks you to stop by at your convenience.
Answer: B
9. In which of these relations will S double if T is doubled ?
A. S = 10T
B. T = 1/S
C. T = S*S
D. S = 1/T
Answer: A
10. Physics is considered the “Fundamental Science” because
A. no other science depends on the ideas and concepts of physics.
B. medical science is the only other science that depends on the concepts of physics.
C. many other sciences depend on the ideas and concepts of physics.
D. physics makes heavy use of mathematics.
Answer: C
11. The development of physics concepts depends heavily on measurements because
A. engineers make all the measurements that are really necessary for physics to survive.
B. new theories are impossible without measurements.
C. our society depends on the employment of people who make measurements.
D. without measurements, incorrect ideas and concepts may seem reasonable.
Answer: D
12. The study of everyday phenomena allows us to
A. develop an understanding of the concepts used to describe more abstract concepts.
B. develop an appreciation of the physical universe around us.
C. develop our intuition and adjust our “common sense” to understand these phenomena.
D. all of the above.
Answer: D
13. A certain building is sold for 10 Megadollars. What is the correct scientific notation for this
selling price?
A. 1.0 × 106 dollars.
B. 10 × 106 dollars.
C. 1.0 × 105 dollars.
D. 10 × 105 dollars.
Answer: B
14. You know that a quantity S will double whenever the quantity T is doubled. Which curve
on the following plot correctly expresses this relationship?
12
D
10
C
8
S 6
B
4
2
A
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
T
Answer: D
15. If 2 people can knit a total of 10 socks per hour, how may socks can five people knit in an 8
hour work day?
A. 200.
B. 150.
C. 100.
D. 75.
Answer: A
16. One inch is defined as 2.54 centimeters. The correct expression for a one-inch length,
expressed in meters, is
A. 2.54 × 102 meters.
B. 2.54 × 101 meters.
C. 2.54 × 10-2 meters.
D. 2.54 × 102 meters.
Answer: C
17. It’s well known that lightning strikes tall objects more frequently than short objects. Which
of the following explanations of this phenomenon could NOT be checked for validity?
A. Tall objects always contain more structural steel than short objects.
B. Tall objects are always pointed at the top
C. Short objects do not attract lightning because they do not conduct electricity.
D. None of the above.
Answer: D
18. While observing a rainbow, you notice that your back is to the sun. The “rain” that is
producing the “bow” is located
A. in front of you.
B. behind you.
C. at your location.
D. off to your left side someplace.
Answer: A
19. By expressing relationships between quantities using mathematics, we can
A. describe the relationships more exactly than is possible with words.
B. make our statements more compact and make manipulations easier.
C. avoid needing to be concerned with units.
D. make understanding our ideas more comfortable for everyone.
Answer: B
20. In order to gain a more scientific worldview, the student is encouraged to
A. perform simple experiments at home.
B. perform experiments, but only in the laboratory.
C. refrain from experiments, they are all too complicated.
D. consult the oldest books available.
Answer: A
21. Which of the following is not a major subfield of physics?
A. Economic theory.
B. Mechanics.
C. Thermodynamics.
D. Optics.
Answer: A
22. It’s well known that rainbows are very colorful. Which of the following is probably NOT a
valid part of the explanation for this phenomenon?
A. Sunlight consists of many colors.
B. Somehow, rain can separate white light into its basic colors.
C. Raindrops create light.
D. Rain, while the sun is shining, is necessary to produce a rainbow.
Answer: C
23. The study of rainbows would fall under what subfield of physics?
A. Mechanics.
B. Thermodynamics.
C. Electricity and Magnetism.
D. Optics.
E. Atomic Physics.
Answer: D
24. The key distinction between explanations provided by science and religion is:
A. truth.
B. simplicity.
C. testability.
Answer: C
25. The principal advantage of metric units over English units is that:
A. metric units are of more convenient size.
B. conversions between units is easier.
C. metric units are more familiar.
Answer: B
26. Suppose you are told that the distance a body travels (d) is given by the product of its speed
(v) times the time of travel (t). The mathematical equation for this is
A. d = v × t.
B. d = v + t.
C. d = v/t.
D. d = t/v.
E. d = 1/(v x t).
Answer: A
27. At night you get in your car to drive to the store. The car starts but none of the lights work.
Which of the following activities would not be considered part of the scientific method?
A. Check the fuse in the light circuit.
B. Slam the hood down hard.
C. Check the wiring from the battery to the lights.
D. Replace the light bulbs with new bulbs.
Answer: B
28. A scout steps off a distance of 110 steps. If each step is 75 cm, what is the distance in
meters?
A. 8250 m.
B. 825 m.
C. 82.5 m.
D. 8.25 m.
E. 185 m.
Answer: C
29. The metric unit most comparable in size to the English inch unit is the
A. millimeter.
B. kilometer.
C. centimeter.
D. micrometer.
E. meter.
Answer: C
30. Which of the following units is not appropriate for measuring volume?
A. Cup.
B. Liter.
C. Pint.
D. Centimeter.
E. Milliliter.
Answer: D
31. Physics has been defined as each of the following. Which of these definitions is in your
text?
A. The study of matter and energy.
B. The study of objective reality.
C. The study of the basic nature of matter and the interactions governing its behavior.
D. Doing your darnedest to understand nature.
Answer: C
32. If you start with the number 3.0 and move the decimal point one unit to the left, you wind up
with 0.30. If you move the decimal point a total of four units to the left, the result is the same as
that of dividing the original number by
A. 10.
B. 104.
C. 107.
D. 1010.
Answer: B
33. The liter is a metric unit of volume. The U.S. customary unit of volume most nearly equal to
the liter is the
A. teaspoon.
B. cup.
C. quart.
D. gallon.
Answer: C
34. Which of these is not important to the development of scientific explanations?
A. Measurement.
B. Communication.
C. Debate.
D. All of these are important.
Answer: D
35. If you have the good fortune to see a gorgeous rainbow in the early morning, you will be
looking
A. north.
B. south.
C. east.
D. west.
Answer: D
36. After making observations and finding some rules as to how nature works, a scientist
proceeds to make a __________________to explain the observed rules.
Answer: hypothesis or theory
37. To prepare four servings of hot cereal, a cook mixes 2/3 cup of ground cereal with two cups
of hot water. To prepare six servings will require ______ cups of cereal and _____ cups of hot
water.
Answer: 1 and 3
38. The metric unit of length closest to our English mile unit is the _____________.
Answer: kilometer
39. The distance around the earth at the equator is about 40,000 kilometers. This can be written
as __________ megameters.
Answer: 40