60QuestionsBasicPhysics

PaulG.Hewitt
Challenge:Hereare60questionsonbasicphysicsthatyoulikelythinkyourstudentscanhandle.Butif yourenotfocusingonthequalitativequestionsetsinadditiontoproblemsetsinyouralgebraorcalculus basedintroductorycourse,bepreparedforyourstudentstodopoorlywiththesequestionsaboutbasic contentwetakeforgranted. ThepeopleworkingonPhysicsEducationResearch,PER,havemadegreatstridesinvalidatingtheuseof multiplechoicequestionstotestforconceptualunderstanding.Thequestionspresentedherehavenot beenthroughtherigorousvalidationprocessofquestionsontestsliketheForceConceptInventory,FCI. Rather,theyaresomeofmyfavorites,honedbyuseandreuseovermyteachingcareeratCityCollegeof SanFrancisco.Iseethequestionsasstraightforward,withouttricksorsubtleties,treatingonlyessential content,whicheverystudentshouldbeabletoansweraftercompletinganintroductoryphysicscourse particularlythecourseforengineersandscientists. Thequestionscanalsobegiventostudentsbeforethebeginningofacourse,toletaninstructorknowof theirstudentsinitialgraspofthematerialthatliesahead.Ifmarkedimprovementisobservedbetween thebeginningandendofacourse,orgoodperformanceisdemonstratedwithoutthepretest,then successfulteachingeffortscanbebetterseenasverified.Ifclassesdopoorly,thenforonething,perhaps moreattentionshouldbepaidtothequalitativequestionsintheendofchaptermaterialofalmostevery physicstextbook. Fromthe60questionsinthisinventory,choosethosethatarerelevanttoyourcourse.Detailedanswers areavailable.

BasicPhysicsContent
ChoosetheBESTanswertothefollowing: 1.Intheabsenceofairresistance,aballofmassmistossedupwardtoreachaheightof20m.Atthe10m position,halfwayup,thenetforceontheballis A.2mg. B.mg. C.mg/2. D.mg/4. 2.Whenyoudropaballitacceleratesdownwardat9.8m/s2.Ifyouinsteadthrowitdownward,thenits accelerationimmediatelyafterleavingyourhand,assumingnoairresistance,is A.9.8m/s2. B.morethan9.8m/s2. C.lessthan9.8m/s2. D.Cannotsay,unlessthespeedofthrowisgiven. 3.Aheavyrockandalightrockinfreefall(zeroairresistance)havethesameacceleration.Thereasonthe heavyrockdoesnthaveagreateraccelerationisthatthe A.forceduetogravityisthesameoneach. B.airresistanceisalwayszeroinfreefall. C.inertiaofbothrocksisthesame. D.ratioofforcetomassisthesame. E.Noneofthese. 4.Acannonballisfiredhorizontallyat10m/sfromacliff.Itsspeedonesecondafterbeingfiredisabout A.10m/s. B.14m/s. C.16m/s. D.20m/s. 5.Relativetotheground,anairplanegainsspeedwhenitencounterswindfrombehind,andlosesspeed whenitencounterswindheadon.Whenitencounterswindatarightangletothedirectionitispointing, itsspeedrelativetothegroundbelow A.increases. B.decreases. C.isthesameasiftherewerenowind. D.Needmoreinformation. 6.Akaratechopdeliversaforceof3000Ntoaboardthatbreaks.Theforcethattheboardexertsonthe handduringthiseventis A.lessthan3000N. B.3000N. C.greaterthan3000N. D.Needmoreinformation.

7.Amathbookandaphysicsbookaretiedtogetherwithalengthofstring.Withthestringtaut,onebook ispushedofftheedgeofatable.Asitfalls,theotherbookisdraggedhorizontallyacrossthetable surface.Withnofriction,accelerationofthebooksis A.zero. B.g/2. C.g. D.avaluebetweenzeroandg. E.avaluethatcouldbegreaterthang. 8.Whenanincreaseinspeeddoublesthemomentumofamovingbody,itskineticenergy A.increases,butlessthandoubles. B.doubles. C.morethandoubles. D.dependsonfactorsnotstated. 9.Whenanincreaseinspeeddoublesthekineticenergyofamovingbody,itsmomentum A.increases,butlessthandoubles. B.doubles. C.morethandoubles. D.dependsonfactorsnotstated. 10.Bigbrotherandlittlesistercanbalanceonaseesawbecauseofbalanced A.forces. B.torques. C.energies. D.Allofthese. 11.Whenaspinningsystemcontractsintheabsenceofanexternaltorque,itsrotationalspeedincreases anditsangularmomentum A.decreases. B.increases. C.remainsunchanged. D.mayincreaseordecrease. 12.Consideraballrollingdownaninclinedplane.Thenormalforceontheball(theforceperpendicular totheplane). A.ismg. B.isgreaterthanmg,always. C.maybegreaterorlessthanmg. D.islessthanmg,always. 13.Consideraballrollinginahorizontalcircularpathontheinsidesurfaceofacone.Thenormalforce ontheball A.ismg. B.isgreaterthanmg,always. C.maybegreaterorlessthanmg. D.islessthanmg,always.

14.Whenaballatresthangsbyasingleverticalstring,tensioninthestringismg.Iftheballismadeto moveinahorizontalcirclesothatthestringdescribesacone,stringtension A.ismg. B.isgreaterthanmg,always. C.islessthanmg,always. D.maybegreaterorlessthanmgdependingonthespeedoftheball. 15.Imagineyou'restandingonthesurfaceofashrinkingplanet.Ifitshrinkstoonetenthitsoriginal diameterwithnochangeinmass,ontheshrunkensurfaceyou'dweigh A.1/100asmuch. B.10timesasmuch. C.100timesasmuch. D.1000timesasmuch. E.Noneofthese. 16.ThefactthattheMoonalwaysshowsitssamefacetoEarthisevidencethattheMoonrotatesaboutits axisaboutonceper A.day. B.month. C.year. D.Noneofthese,forthemoondoesnotrotateaboutanaxis. 17.TheMoonismostresponsibleforEarthstides.WhichpullsmorestronglyontheEarthandits oceans? A.Moon. B.Sun. C.Bothaboutequally. 18.AspacecraftonitswayfromEarthtotheMoonispulledequallybyEarthandMoonwhenitis A.closertotheEarthssurface. B.closertotheMoonssurface. C.halfwayfromEarthtoMoon. D.Atnopoint,sinceEarthalwayspullsmorestrongly. 19.EarthsatellitessuchastheSpaceShuttleorbitataltitudesthatareabovetheEarths A.atmosphere. B.gravitationalfield. C.Bothofthese. 20.Themassofaclassicalatomcomesmostlyfromits____;anditsvolumefromits______. A.nucleons;nucleons. B.electrons;electrons. C.electrons;nucleons. D.nucleons;electrons. 21.Considerablockofwoodfloatingonwater.Ifyoupushdownonthetopoftheblockuntilits completelysubmerged,thebuoyantforceonit A.increases. B.decreases. C.remainsthesame.

D.dependsonhowfarbeneaththewatersurfaceitispushed.

22.Aninflatedballoonwithaheavyrocktiedtoitsubmergesinwater.Astheballoonsinksdeeperand deeper,thebuoyantforceactingonit A.increases. B.decreases. C.remainslargelyunchanged. D.Needmoreinformation. 23.TheprincipalsourceoftheEarthsinternalenergyis A.tidalfriction. B.gravitationalpressure. C.radioactivity. D.geothermalheat. 24.ThesurfaceofPlanetEarthlosesenergytoouterspaceduemostlyto A.conduction. B.convection. C.radiation. D.radioactivity. 25.The"greenhousegases"thatcontributetoglobalwarmingabsorb A.morevisibleradiationthaninfrared. B.moreinfraredradiationthanvisible. C.visibleandinfraredaboutequally. D.verylittleradiationofanykind. 26.Inamixtureofhydrogen,oxygen,andnitrogengasesatagiventemperature,themoleculeshaving thegreatestaveragespeedarethoseof A.hydrogen. B.oxygen. C.nitrogen. D.Butallhavethesamespeedonaverage. 27.Theelectricalforceofattractionbetweenanelectronandaprotonisgreateronthe A.proton. B.electron. C.Neither;botharethesame. 28.Immediatelyaftertwoseparatedchargedparticlesarereleasedfromrest,bothincreaseinspeed.The particlesthereforehave A.thesamesignofcharge. B.oppositesignsofcharge. C.eitherthesameoroppositesignsofcharge. D.Needmoreinformation. 29.Comparedwiththecurrentinthewhitehotfilamentofacommonlamp,thecurrentintheconnecting wireis A.less. B.more. C.thesame. D.Needmoreinformation.

30.Asmorelampsareconnectedinaseriescircuit,thecurrentinthepowersource A.increases. B.decreases. C.remainsmuchthesame. D.Needmoreinformation. 31.Asmorelampsareconnectedinparallelinacircuit,thecurrentinthepowersource A.increases. B.decreases. C.remainsmuchthesame. D.Needmoreinformation. 32.Acapacitorloseshalfitschargeeverysecond.Ifafterfivesecondsitschargeisq,whatwasitsinitial charge? A.4q. B.8q. C.16q. D.32q. E.Noneofthese. 33.Themagneticforceonamovingchargedparticlecanchangetheparticles A.speed. B.direction. C.Bothofthese. D.Neitherofthese. 34.Astepuptransformerinanelectricalcircuitcanstepup A.voltage. B.energy. C.Bothofthese. D.Neitherofthese. 35.Themutualinductionofelectricandmagneticfieldscanproduce A.light. B.energy. C.Bothofthese. D.Neitherofthese. 36.AllofthefollowingareelectromagneticwavesEXCEPT A.radiowaves. B.microwaves. C.lightwaves. D.Xrays. E.Noneisoutsidethefamily;allareelectromagneticwaves. 37.Youswingtoandfroonaplaygroundswing.Ifyoustandratherthansit,thetimeforatoandfro swingis A.lengthened. B.shortened. C.unchanged.

38.Comparedwiththesoundyouhearfromthesirenofastationaryfireengine,thesoundyouhear whenitapproachesyouhasanincreased A.speed. B.frequency. C.Bothofthese. D.Neitherofthese. 39.Duringthetimeanaircraftproducesasonicboom,theaircraftis A.breakingthesoundbarrier. B.pullingoutofasubsonicdive. C.flyingfasterthansound. D.Eachoftheseproducesasonicboom. 40.Thephenomenonofinterferenceoccursfor A.soundwaves. B.lightwaves. C.Bothofthese. D.Neitherofthese. 41.Thespeedofsoundinairdependson A.frequency. B.wavelength. C.airtemperature. D.Allofthese. E.Noneofthese. 42.Yourfriendstatesthatunderallconditions,anyradiowavetravelsfasterthananysoundwave.You A.agreewithyourfriend. B.disagreewithyourfriend. 43.Thephenomenonofbeatsresultsfromsound A.reflection. B.refraction. C.interference. D.Allofthese. E.Noneofthese. 44.Toviewyourfullfaceimageinasteamymirror,comparedtotheheightofyourface,theminimum heightofthepatchtowipeawayis A.onequarter. B.onehalf. C.thesame. D.dependentonyourdistancefromthemirror. 45.Lightreflectingfromasmoothsurfaceundergoesachangein A.frequency. B.speed. C.wavelength. D.Allofthese. E.Noneofthese.

46.Whichofthesechangeswhenlightrefractsinpassingfromonemediumtoanother? A.Speed. B.Wavelength. C.Bothofthese. D.Neitherofthese. 47.Whenwhitelightpassesthroughaprism,greenlightisbentmorethan A.bluelight. B.violetlight. C.redlight. D.Twoofthesechoicesarecorrect. E.Noneofthesechoicesiscorrect. 48.Whenyoulookattheredpetalsofarose,thecolorlightyou'reseeingis A.red. B.green. C.whiteminusred. D.amixtureofgreenandyellow. E.cyan. 49.WhenthecoloryellowisseenonyourTVscreen,thephosphorsbeingactivatedonthescreenare A.mainlyyellow. B.blueandred. C.greenandyellow. D.redandgreen. 50.Theredglowintheneontubeofanadvertisingsignisaresultof A.fluorescence. B.incandescence. C.polarization. D.coherence. E.deexcitation. 51.Polarizationisapropertyof A.transversewaves. B.longitudinalwaves. C.allwaves. D.Noneofthese. 52.Astrophysicistsareabletoidentifytheelementsintheouterlayersofastarbystudyingits A.Dopplereffect. B.molecularstructure. C.temperature. D.spectrum. 53.IftheSuncollapsedtobecomeablackhole,PlanetEarthwould A.continueinitspresentorbit. B.flyoffinatangentpath. C.likelybesuckedintotheblackhole. D.bepulledapartbytidalforces.

E.BothCandD.

54.Anyatomthatemitsanalphaparticleorbetaparticle A.becomesanatomofadifferentelement,always. B.maybecomeanatomofadifferentelement. C.becomesadifferentisotopeofthesameelement. D.increasesitsmass. 55.Supposethenumberofneutronsinareactorthatisstartingupdoubleseachminute,reachingone billionneutronsin10minutes.Whendidthenumberofneutronsreachhalfabillion? A.1minute. B.2minutes. C.5minutes. D.9minutes. E.Noneofthese. 56.Whenauraniumnucleusundergoesfission,theenergyreleasedisprimarilyintheformof A.gammaradiation. B.kineticenergyoffissionfragments. C.kineticenergyofejectedneutrons. D.Alloftheseaboutequally. 57.Whenafusionreactionconvertsapairofhydrogenisotopestoanalphaparticleandaneutron,most oftheenergyreleasedisintheformof A.gammaradiation. B.kineticenergyofthealphaparticle. C.kineticenergyoftheneutron. D.Alloftheseaboutequally. 58.Becausethereisanupperlimitonthespeedofparticles,thereisalsoanupperlimiton A.momentum. B.kineticenergy. C.temperature. D.Allofthese. E.Noneofthese. 59.Relativisticequationsfortimedilation,lengthcontraction,andrelativisticmomentumandenergy holdtrueat A.speedsnearthatoflight. B.everydaylowspeeds. C.allspeeds. D.onlyapproximately. 60.TheequationE=mc2indicatesthatenergy A.equalsmassmovingatthespeedoflightsquared. B.equalsmovingmass. C.isfundamentallydifferentthanmass. D.andmassarecloselyrelated.