Physics
2nd Semester
Final Review
These are answers to the T-F and
multiple choice questions on the
practice final.
Answers to all of the questions are
available at the online PCA website
(Moodle).
Qs 1 & 2
1. A transverse wave is transporting energy from east to
west. The particles of the medium will move…
A east to west only B both eastward and westward
C north to south only D both northward and southward
Answer: D
The particles would be moving back and forth in a direction
perpendicular to energy transport. (By definition of a transverse
wave.) The waves are moving westward, so the particles move
northward and southward.
2. A wave is transporting energy from left to right. The
particles of the medium are moving back and forth in a
leftward and rightward direction. This type of wave is
known as a…
A-mechanical B-electromagnetic C-transverse D-longitudinal
Answer: D
The particles are moving in the same direction that the wave is
moving. This must be a longitudinal wave. A mechanical wave is
usually longitudinal, but not always.
Qs 3 & 4
3. Describe how the fans in a stadium must move in order to
produce a longitudinal stadium wave.
Answer: The fans will need to sway side to side. Thus, as the
wave travels around the stadium they would be moving parallel to
its direction of motion. If they rise up and sit down, then they
would be creating a transverse wave.
a)
b)
c)
d)
4. A sound wave is a mechanical wave; not an
electromagnetic wave. This means that…
A - particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction
of energy transport.
B - a sound wave transports its energy best through a vacuum.
C - particles of the medium regularly and repeatedly oscillate
about their rest position.
D - a medium is required in order for sound waves to transport
energy.
Answer: C or D
The particles are moving in the same direction that the wave is
moving. This must be a longitudinal wave. A mechanical wave is
usually longitudinal, but not always. C  true for all waves.
Qs 5 & 6
a)
b)
c)
d)
5. A science fiction film depicts inhabitants of one spaceship
(in outer space) hearing the sound of a nearby spaceship as
it zooms past at high speeds. Critique the physics of this
film.
Answer: This is an example of phaulty physics in philm. Sound is a
mechanical wave and so could never be transmitted through the
vacuum of outer space, otherwise they would be creating a
transverse wave.
6. Which of the following is not a characteristic of mechanical
waves?
They consist of disturbances or oscillations of a medium.
They transport energy.
They travel in a direction which is at right angles to the direction
of the particles of the medium.
They are created by a vibrating source.
Answer: C
The characteristic described in statement C is a property of all
transverse waves, but not of mechanical waves. A mechanical wave
is almost always longitudinal.
Qs 7 & 8
7. The sonar device on a fishing boat uses
underwater sound to locate fish. Would you
expect sonar to be a longitudinal or a transverse
wave?
Answer: Longitudinal
Only longitudinal waves are capable of traveling through
fluids such as water. When a transverse wave tries to
propagate through water, the particles of the medium
slip past each other and so prevent the movement of the
energy as a wave.
8. A wave has an amplitude of 2 cm and a frequency
of 12 Hz, and the distance from a crest to the
nearest trough is measured to be 5 cm.
Determine the period of such a wave.
Answer: Here is an example of a problem with a lot of
extraneous information. The period is simply the
reciprocal of the frequency. In this case, the period is
1/(12 Hz) which is 0.083 seconds.
Qs 9 & 10
9. A fly flaps its wings back and forth 150 times
each second. The period of a wing flap is…
A 150 sec B 2.5 sec C 0.040 sec D 0.0067 sec
Answer: D
The quantity 150 times/second is the frequency. The
period is the reciprocal of the frequency.
Using T = 1/f  T=1/(150 Hz) = 0.00667 s
10. A kid on a playground swing makes a complete
to-and-fro swing each 2 seconds. The frequency
of the swing is _________.
A 0.5 Hz B 1 Hz C 2 Hz
Answer: A
Frequency refers to the number of occurrences of a
periodic event per time and is measured in
cycles/second. In this case, there is 1 cycle per 2
seconds. So the frequency is 1 cycle/2 s = 0.5 Hz.
Qs 11 & 12
11. The period of a 440Hz sound wave is ____.
Answer: 0.00227 sec. = 0.0023 sec.
The quantity 440 times/second is the frequency. The
period is the reciprocal of the frequency.
Using T = 1/f  T=1/(440 Hz) = 0.00227 s
12. If an echo is heard one second after the holler
and reflects off canyon walls which are a distance of
170 meters away, then what is the speed of
the wave?
Answer: v-sound = d/t 
v = (2*170 m)/(1 sec.) = 340 m/sec.
Q 13
13. A teacher attaches a slinky to the wall and
begins introducing pulses with different amplitude.
Which of the two pulses (A or B) below will reach
the wall first? Justify your answer.
Answer: They reach the wall at the same time. Don't
be fooled! The amplitude of a wave does not affect the
speed at which the wave travels. Both Wave A and
Wave B travel at the same speed. The speed of a wave
is only altered when it moves from one medium to
another.
Q 14
14. The teacher then begins introducing pulses with
a different wavelength. Now which of the two
pulses (C or D) will reach the wall first? Justify
your answer.
Answer: They reach the wall at the same time. Again,
don't be fooled! The wavelength of a wave does not
affect the speed at which the wave travels. Both Wave
C and Wave D travel at the same speed. The speed of a
wave is only altered when it moves from one medium to
another.
Q 15
15. Two waves are traveling through the same
container of nitrogen gas. Wave A has a
wavelength of 1.5 m. Wave B has a wavelength
of 4.5 m. The speed of wave B must be
________ the speed of wave A.
a)
b)
c)
d)
one-ninth
one-third
the same as
three times larger than
Answer: C
The medium is the same for both of these waves ("the
same container of nitrogen gas"). Thus, the speed of
the wave will be the same. Alterations in a property of
a wave (such as wavelength) will not affect the speed of
the wave. Two different waves travel with the same
speed when present in the same medium. (Third time is
a charm?)
Qs 16 & 17
16. A Doubling the frequency of a wave source
doubles the speed of the waves.
True
False
Answer: FALSE!
The speed of a wave is unaffected by changes in the
frequency. This is now the 4th time we’ve been beating
that drum.
17. The speed of a wave depends upon (i.e., is
causally effected by) ... [List all that are true
below.]
a) the properties of the medium through which the wave
travels
b) the wavelength of the wave.
c) the frequency of the wave.
d) both the wavelength and the frequency of the wave.
Answer: A
5th time?
Qs 18 & 20
18. The diagram below shows a transverse pulse
moving to the right in a string. Which diagram best
represents the motion of point P as the pulse passes
point P ?
A
B
C
D
Answer: A
20. The diagram below shows two waves traveling in
the same medium for the same length of time. the
two waves have different________?
A. amplitudes B. frequencies C. speeds D. wavelengths
Answer: A
Q 19
19. Notice that each consecutive harmonic is
characterized by having one additional node and
antinode compared to the previous one. The table
below summarizes the features of the standing wave
patterns for the first several harmonics. Just count
the peaks and valleys.
Harmonic
# of Nodes
# of Antinodes
1st
2
1
2nd
3
2
3rd
4
3
4th
5
4
5th
6
5
6th
7
6
Pattern
Q 21
21. The diagram below shows straight
wave fronts passing through an opening
in a barrier.
The wave phenomenon is called
A. Reflection
B. Refraction
C. Polarization
D. Diffraction
Answer: D
Q 22
22. The diagram below shows straight
wave fronts bending as they pass from
one medium into another.
The wave phenomenon is called
A. Reflection
B. Refraction
C. Polarization
D. Diffraction
Answer: B
Q 23
23. The water waves below are traveling along the
surface at a speed of 2 m/s and splashing periodically
against Wilbert's perch. Each adjacent crest is 4
meters apart and splashes Wilbert's feet upon
reaching his perch. How much time passes between
each successive drenching? Explain your answer.
Answer: If the wave travels 2 meters in one second
then it will travel 4 meters in 2 seconds. If Wilbert gets
drenched every time the wave has traveled 4 meters,
then he will get drenched every 2 seconds.
f=
2
m
v
s  0.5Hz



4m
T=
1
1


f 0.5Hz
2 sec.
Q 24
24. When an opera singer hits a high-pitch note, a glass
on the opposite side of the opera hall shatters. Which
statement best explains this phenomenon?
A. The frequency of the note and resonance frequency
of the glass are equal.
B. The vibrations of the note are polarized by the shape
of the opera hall.
C. The amplitude of the note increases before it
reaches the glass.
D. The singer and glass are separated by an integral
number of wavelengths
E. Mr. Bruce has been playing around with the Van de
Graph generator again.
Answer: A  This is referred to as “sympathetic
vibrations.”
Q 25
25. The diagram at the right shows a ray
of light, R , entering glass from the air.
Which path is the ray most likely to follow in
the glass?
Answer: C It is bent towards the perpendicular
(normal) in going into a more dense medium (glass).
Q 26
26. The diagram below shows sunglasses being
used to eliminate glare. Which wave phenomenon
of light is represented in the diagram
A. dispersion
C.
B. diffraction
internal reflection D. polarization
Answer: D Polarizing sunglasses allow waves to vibrate
in only one plane. (perpendicular)
Q 27
27. The diagram below represents straight wave fronts
approaching an opening in a barrier.
Which of the following best represents how the wave will
appear after passing through the opening?
A
B
C
D
Answer: D (This is referred to as “diffraction.”)
Q 28 - 31
T
F 28. There is more pressure at the
bottom of a bathtub 50 cm deep than at the
bottom of a pitcher of water 100 cm deep
because of the greater volume of water.
T
F 29. An object floating displaces water
less than its own weight.
T
F 30. An object sinking experiences a
buoyant force, though it is less than its
weight.
T
F 31. In a series circuit, the current is
the same through all series components.
Q 32 - 36
T
T
T
T
T
F 32. Density () is the ratio of mass to
volume.
F 33. Liquids cannot be compressed into
smaller volumes.
F 34. If the end of a rope is tightly tied to
a post and a wave is generated, when it reaches
the end the reflected wave will change its phase
180o.
F 35. Standing waves are actually moving,
interfering waves, though they appear to be
stationary.
F 36. If you twist two Polaroid lenses such
that one polarizes light in a plane perpendicular to
the other no light gets through.
Q 37 - 41
T
T
F
37. A decibel is an exponent – 1/10th of a
F
38. 60 dB is 100 times as loud as 40 dB.
Bel.
(20 dB difference = 102) It seems like it’s 4x to our ears.
T
F
39. The speed of sound in air is about 340
m/sec. (Memorize the speed of sound in air.)
T
F 40. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge did not
collapse in 1940 due to the extreme intensity of
the winds, but due to resonance which was set up.
T
F 41. A pendulum bob is released 20o from
its equilibrium position. Will the motion be simple
harmonic? (Honors physics only)
Q 42 - 45
(Also  1 gm/1 cm3 and 1kg/1 liter)
T
F
42. 1 cubic meter of water has a mass of
103 kg. (HONORS only)
T
F 43. A metal weight has a higher heat
capacity than glass since it gets hotter more
quickly.
T
F 44. Conduction requires actual contact
between the substances.
T
F 45. Air is a good insulator.
Q 46 - 49
T
F 46. If a person is traveling on a train and shines a
flashlight from it, someone looking at it on the ground
will say that the light is traveling faster than c—the
speed of light.
T
F 47. When traveling at relativistic speeds the
traveler is well aware of how time is slowing down for him
when he looks at his watch, as it is running slower.
T
F 48. In a series circuit, there is only one path for
the current.
T
F 49. 0 dB is the threshold of hearing, meaning that
the average person cannot hear a sound with an intensity
lower than that.
Q 50 and 51
T
F 50. 3 dB is the minimum sound loudness
difference that the average person can discern.
T
F 51. 70 dB is 103 (1000) times louder than 40 dB.
Q 52 & 53
52) Archimedes discovered his principle about buoyancy
while…
A) swimming.
B) studying about Pascal’s principle.
C) talking with Bernoulli.
D) teaching at MIT.
E) taking a bath.
53) Diffraction is…
A) the bending of a wave as it travels from one
medium to another.
B) the bending of a wave around a corner.
C) complete constructive interference.
D) the effect which causes the dual wave-particle
properties of matter
Q 54 & 55
54) Refraction is…
A) the bending of a wave as it travels from one medium
to another.
B) the bending of a wave around a corner.
C) complete constructive interference.
D) the effect which causes the dual wave-particle
properties of matter.
55) ____ of a wave will produce resonance of a sound
wave in a tube over water. (As in the lab)
A) ¼ of a wavelength
B) ½ of a wavelength
C) 1 full wavelength
D) 2 full wavelengths
Q 56 & 57
56) ____ of a wave will produce resonance of a sound
wave in a tube with both ends open.
A) ¼ of a wavelength
B) ½ of a wavelength
C) 1 full wavelength
D) 2 full wavelengths
57) In the picture shown, the ship is using ___ to
detect underwater obstacles.
A) holograms
B) stereograms
C) refraction
D) sonar
Qs 58 & 59
58) Consider the decibel chart supplied. How many
times louder is a vacuum cleaner than a mosquito
buzzing? _____ times as loud (40 dB – 70 dB)
A) 3
B) 10
C) 30
D) 1000
59) Compared to the person on the left, the
Doppler Effect tells us that the person on the
right will hear ________ pitch sound.
A) a higher
B) a lower
C) an oscillating
D) the same
Qs 61 & 60
61) What happens to the period (T) of a simple
pendulum when the length is made four times longer
l
T = 2
g
A) The period is cut in fourth.
B) The period doubles.
C) The period increases by a factor of 2.
D) The period increases by a factor of 4.
60) As a weather balloon moves higher in the
atmosphere…
A) it gains weight.
B) it loses volume.
C) it expands.
D) None of the above
Qs 62 & 63
62) Which of the following equations regarding pressure is
correct?
A) P = A
(density times area)
B) F = P/A(force is pressure per unit area)
C) P = F/A
(force per unit area)
D) P = mass/Vol. (pressure is mass per unit area –
density)
E. None of the above.
63) Which is denser, ice at 0o C or water at 4o C?
(Think: ice floats in water.)
A) Ice at 0o C
B) Water at 4o
C) Same substance, so they have the same density.
D) It depends on the phase of the moon
Q 64 (Change)
58) When jumping a car battery with cables, the last
cable (negative one) should be connected to…
A) the – terminal of the running car.
B) the – terminal of the car being jumped.
C) the + terminal of the car being jumped.
D) the metal frame of the car being jumped.
E) the + terminal of the running car.
Qs 65 – 68
Identify the following waves:
65) ___ Standing wave (Not “C”)
66) ___ Longitudinal wave
67) ___ Transverse wave
68) ___ electromagnetic wave
Q 69
69) What was the purpose of the Michelson-Morley
experiment?
A) To prove Einstein right.
B) To show that light always travels at 3.00 x 108 m/s.
C) To show that light will travel at a slightly greater
speed (about 0.01% faster) East-West as compared
to North-South.
D) To show that the nucleus is a dense center in an
atom.
E) To determine the velocity of sound in a vacuum.
Although they ended up discovering evidence which later
showed Einstein to be correct, their goal was to demonstrate
that light travels faster in a E-W direction than in N-S due
to the rotation of the earth. That was how waves behaved.
Einstein had not yet stated his special theory of relativity.
Q 70
70) How did Einstein refer to space and time in his special
theory of relativity?
A) As a quark.
B) As a gravity wave.
C) As space-time continuum.
D) As the uncertainty principle.
E) He distinguished between the 3 dimensions of space
as well as time and did not combine them in any way.
The concept of space and time being inexorably
interconnected was a revolutionary concept, and the essence
of relativity theory.
Q 71
71) When did Einstein publish his Special Relativity
theory?
A) 1881
B) 1887
C) 1900
D) 1905
E) 1916
F) 1919
G) 1921
H) 1955
67B) How about his General Relativity theory?
67C) When did a British astronomer verify his General Theory of
Relativity?
67D) When did Einstein receive his Nobel prize?
You need to memorize the dates for special and general relativity
(1905, 1916) as well as the date that Einstein received the Nobel
prize (1921) and Eddington verified his general theory through an
eclipse (1919).
Q 72
72) Einstein received the Nobel prize for…
A) the special theory of relativity.
B) the general theory of relativity.
C) explaining the photoelectric effect.
D) Explaining Brownian motion.
Although it was given for his accumulated efforts in the
field of physics – it was specifically given for explaining the
photoelectric effect!
Q 73 & 75 (74-dup of 72)
73) The thicker the wire through which current flows…
A) the less resistance to current flow.
B) the greater resistance to current flow.
C) will not affect current flow at all.
D) the less the potential difference.
Thinner wire causes greater resistance as does a longer wire, just
as a narrower river provides greater resistance to water flow.
75) When did the British astronomer Arthur Eddington verify
Einstein’s general relativity theory during an eclipse of the sun?
A) 1881
B) 1887
C) 1900
D) 1905
E) 1916
AB) 1919
AC) 1921
AD) 1955
1905-Sp. Th., 1916-Gen. Th., 1921-Nobel prize
Q 76 & 77
76) 70 dB sounds like ___ times as loud as 40dB to the human
ear.
A) 30
B) 3
C) 23 = 8
D) 103 = 1000
Though in reality it is 103 (1000 x) louder, to our ear it sounds 23
or 8 times louder.
77) A transformer which changes an AC voltage from 120VAC to
12,000VAC is referred to as a _________ transformer.
A) High voltage
B) interlocking
C) step up
D) step down
If it increases the voltage it is “step-up”; decreasing means to
“step down.”
Q 78 & 79
78) What is the charge of the following point charge? The
electric field lines should help you.
A) positive
B) negative
C) either positive or negative
D) Cannot be definitively determined from this drawing.
Remember to use a + test charge.
79) What is the charge of the following point charges, from left to
right? The electric field lines should help you:
A) positive-negative
B) negative-positive
C) negative-negative
D) positive-positive
Q 80 & 81
80) What can we say about the electric field inside the
circular conductor shown on the right side of the pic below?
A) It is pointing up out of the picture
B) It is pointing toward the right (away
from the positively charged plate)
C) It is pointing toward the left (toward
the negatively charged plate)
D) The field is zero inside an enclosed conductor.
81) What can we say about the electric field on the plates shown in
the picture below?
A) L:positive – R:negative
B) L:negative – R:positive
C) L:negative – R:negative
D) L:positive – R:positive
Remember to use that + test charge.
Q 82 & Q83
82) The globes below (not touched) have been…
A) charged by conduction
B) charged by induction
C) charged by induction through grounding
As you can see, no grounding path was provided, and since it was
never touched by the charged rod… induction.
83) The globe below and to right (touched) has been…
A) charged by conduction
B) charged by induction
C) charged by induction through grounding
Q 84 & Q85
84) The globe below (not touched) has been…
A) charged by conduction
B) charged by induction
C) charged by induction through grounding
As you can see, a grounding path was provided, and since it was never
touched by the charged rod… induction through grounding.
85) Where should the cable from the negative terminal of
the automobile which has a charged battery be connected
on the automobile with a dead battery.
A)
B)
C)
D)
If “A” and the battery has a leak, it could
easily explode.
Q 86 - 88
A) transformer B) diode bridge C) RC smoothing
circuitry
D) 1 diode
86) What is the component for step 1 above?
87) What is the component for step 2 above?
88) What is the component for step 3 above?
Q 89 - 91
A) smooth our ripples of the DC current B) convert DC to AC
C) convert AC to DC
D) lower the voltage
89)
What does the step 1 portion of circuitry do?
90) What does the step 2 portion of circuitry do?
91) What does the step 3 portion of circuitry do?