Physical Science (PHYC110) - Test 1

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1 Physical Science (PHYC110) - Test 1 Multiple Choice: Choose the one best answer for each question. 1. No hypothesis, theory, or law of nature is valid unless its predictions are in agreement with. (a) human intuition (b) results from careful logical reasoning (c) experimental results (d) beliefs from the Aristotelian system of studying nature (e) commonly accepted conjectures 2. A person blows a balloon up with regular air. She then blows up a second balloon to the same size using helium from a gas tank. The second balloon is identical to the first other than being filled with helium instead of air. The next day, she notices the helium-filled balloon is much more deflated than the one with regular air. From this observation, she suggests that helium gas atoms decrease their size more quickly than atoms from regular gas when trapped inside balloons. In the context of the modern scientific method, this suggestion is best termed a(n). (a) scientific law (b) scientific theory (c) scientific fact (d) experimental result (e) hypothesis 3. Which list contains units for three fundamental physical quantities based on the metric system that is often referred to by its acronym mks? (a) meter, kilogram, year (b) meter, kilogram, second (c) centimeter, gram, minute (d) meter, gram, minute (e) foot, pound, second 4. A mass of 10 g that takes up 4.0 cm 3 of volume would have a density of: (a) 40 g/cm 3 (b) 14 g/cm 3 (c) 10 g/cm 3 (d) 2.5 g/cm 3 (e) 0.4 g/cm 3 5. You are given two blocks of metal, one is copper and the other is aluminum. The two blocks have the same mass. Given that aluminum is less dense than copper, which of the following must be true? (a) The volumes (sizes) of the two blocks are equal. (b) The volume (size) of the copper block is less than that of the aluminum block. (c) The volume (size) of the copper block is more than that of the aluminum block. (d) There is not sufficient information to positively answer this question. 6. Both the mass and volume (size) of Mercury are less than that of Earth. From these observations what can one definitively conclude about the density of Mercury compared to that of Earth? (a) The overall density of Mercury is equal to that of Earth. (b) The overall density of Mercury is less than that of Earth. (c) The overall density of Mercury is more than that of Earth. (d) There is not sufficient information to positively answer this question. 7. What word set best completes the following sentence when used respectively in the three blanks. Half a candy bar has mass, volume, and density as does a whole candy bar. (a) less; less; the same (b) the same; less; less (c) less; more; the same (d) less; less; less (e) less; the same; less 1

2 8. A millimeter (written as mm) is: (a) or 10 6 m (b) 1000 or 10 3 m (c) 100 or 10 2 m (d) or 10-3 m (e) or 10-6 m 9. Which shows the arrangement of length (meters, m) in order from smallest to largest? (a) Mm, m, km, mm (b) Mm, km, mm, m (c) m, mm, m, km (d) km, m, m, mm (e) km, Mm, m, mm 10. Which is the best approximation for a cm, i.e., centimeter? (a) the width of a typical grain of salt that comes out of a salt shaker (b) the width of an average adult s small fingernail (c) the distance from one end of our classroom to the other (d) the length of a football field (e) the distance from Earth to the sun 11. Which shows g correctly expressed using standard powers-of-ten notation (also called scientific notation)? (a) g (b) g (c) g (d) g (e) g 12. Which shows km correctly expressed in meters (m) using standard powers-of-ten notation (also called scientific notation)? (a) m (b) m (c) m (d) m (e) m 13. Which shows 498 µg correctly expressed in grams (g) using standard powers-of-ten notation (also called scientific notation)? (a) g (b) g (c) g (d) g (e) g 14. This person formalized the geocentric view to include all the astronomical complexities observed to that time. He did not originate the geocentric system, but he finalized it a hundred years, or so, after Christ in such a complete way that it was essentially unchanged for the next 1400 years. His name is synonymous with the geocentric view. (a) Ptolemy (b) Aristotle (c) Nicolaus Copernicus (d) Johannes Kepler (e) Isaac Newton 15. This person suggested in a 1543 publication that the daily and annual motion of the sun, planets, and stars across the sky could be explained by a system where Earth orbited the sun while spinning on its own axis. He did not prove the heliocentric system was correct, but he showed the motion of stars, planets, the moon, and sun across Earth s sky could be explained by the heliocentric system. His name is synonymous with the heliocentric system. (a) Ptolemy (b) Galilee Galileo (c) Nicolaus Copernicus (d) Tyco Brahe (e) Johannes Kepler 16. What statement correctly characterizes a difference between planets and stars? (a) Planets are more reddish than stars. (b) Planets move relative to the stars when viewed night after night. (c) Stars change their positions each night, while planets remain fixed in certain places in the night sky. (d) Stars are brighter than all the planets. (e) All the planets in our solar system can be seen without telescopes, whereas some stars can only be seen with telescopes 2

3 17. According to what was emphasized in our class discussions, in the early 1600 s who did Galileo consider to be his primary intellectual opponent(s)? (a) scholars from other parts of Europe where the Reformation was taking place (b) the Pope and all clergy persons associated with the Catholic Church (c) political higher ups such as city mayors and governors (d) the wealthy citizens who lived in the area around southern Italy (e) Aristotelian scientists and philosophers 18. Which statement best summarizes the Aristotelian worldview, i.e., Aristotle s system of learning about the physical universe? (a) All ideas about the physical universe were derived from reading the Old Testament scriptures. (b) It was essentially the same as what is currently known as the scientific method and emphasized the importance of experiments. (c) The physical universe was considered to not be understandable since it was controlled by random actions from a group of almighty gods; so attempts to find coherent patterns are useless. (d) Starting with intuitive assumptions and some observations, logical deductions were made about supposed truths of the universe that were not verified through experiments. (e) Hypotheses were subjected to careful experiments in order to verify the validity of the hypotheses. 19. Why did Aristotle s system lead to incorrect results about the physical universe? (a) The underlying starting assumptions of his logical system were not sound. (b) He attempted to use logic, but did so in a haphazard and round-about way. (c) He over emphasized the use of experiments while ignoring the use of logic. (d) He jumped to conclusions or results without following any system of logical arguments. (e) He relied on evidence from ancient spiritual writings, including parts of the Torah, i.e., Old Testament. 20. According to what was emphasized in our class discussions, what statement best characterizes the essence of the conflict around the person of Galileo and his opponents in the early 1600 s? (a) It was a conflict instigated by Galileo because he believed the Aristotelian method was correct, and he did not want it to be lost or forgotten in history. (b) It was a conflict between old and new emerging ways of doing science; the church got involved at the request of the Aristotelian scientists. (c) It was a conflict that pitted the Aristotelian scientists and philosophers against the Catholic Church. (d) It was a conflict instigated by Galileo against the church authorities because he had no respect for them or others who claimed religious values were important. (e) It was conflict between those who believed the Bible and those who believed in science. 21. Which are approaches Galileo used to reconcile apparent conflicts between science and scripture? I. He argued that when science conflicts with scripture, we must accept that scripture is flawed. II. He emphasized that since God is the author of both the book of scripture and the book of nature, there is no real conflict, only supposed or apparent ones. III. He suggested there would be times when we need to reconsider our interpretation of first science and then scripture. IV. He emphasized that the Bible was not a scientific textbook, but was for our spiritual guidance. (a) I only (b) II only (c) I and III only (d) IV only (e) II, III, and IV 22. Which list contains the four jovian planets? (a) Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Pluto (c) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune (e) Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn (b) Earth, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn (d) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars 3

4 The diagram shows Earth s orbital path around the Sun as viewed from the top (north) looking down. It also shows two other hypothetical planet orbits labelled 1 and 2. Refer to this diagram in answering questions 23 and 24. Earth Sun What do we call the plane surface (on this diagram it is the surface of the sheet of paper) defined by Earth s orbital path? (a) the western elogation (b) the declination (c) the ecliptic (d) the ellipse (e) the equinox 24. Where would we find a planet that is visible only at sunrise or sunset, but never in the middle of the night? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) both 1 and 2 (d) neither 1 or 2 Questions refer to general differences between the terrestrial and jovian planets. These distinctions are mentioned in the study focus for chapter 18 and were addressed in homework assignment no Jovian planets have mass, volume, and density than/as terrestrial planets. (a) more; less; the same (b) more; more; less (c) less: less; less (d) more; more; more (e) less; more; more 26. Which statement correctly summarizes the differences and reasons for differences when comparing atmospheres on jovian planets to those on terrestrial planets? (a) Jovian planets have thicker atmospheres because they are colder and have weaker gravitational fields (b) Jovian planets have thicker atmospheres because they are warmer and have stronger gravitational fields (c) Jovian planets have thicker atmospheres because they are colder and have stronger gravitational fields (d) Jovian planets have thinner atmospheres because they are warmer and have stronger gravitational fields (e) Jovian planets have thinner atmospheres because they are colder and have weaker gravitational fields 27. Which statement best describes how the number of moons vary when comparing between jovian and terrestrial planets? (a) Jovian planets all have significantly fewer moons than do terrestrial planets. (b) Jovian planets all have significantly more moons than do terrestrial planets. (c) Jovian and terrestrial planets have approximately equal numbers of moons. (d) This comparison cannot be made in general because only one jovian planet has a moon. (e) There is no conclusive trend when comparing the number of moons around jovian planets to the number around terrestrial ones. 4

5 28. The thickness, i.e., density, of atmospheres of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars all differ markedly from each other. Which lists gives the planets in order from thickest to thinnest atmosphere? (a) Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury (b) Venus, Mercury, Mars, Earth (c) Venus, Mars, Earth, Mercury (d) Venus, Earth, Mars, Mercury (e) Mercury, Mars, Earth, Venus 29. What planet s atmosphere consists almost entirely of carbon dioxide, i.e., CO 2? (a) Saturn (b) Jupiter (c) Neptune (d) Earth (e) Venus 30. There are several similarities between Earth and Venus. Which statement below does not correctly identify one of these similarities? (a) The overall size of Venus is similar to the size of Earth. (b) Venus s mass is similar to Earth s mass. (c) Venus s gravitational field is similar to Earth s gravitational field. (d) The temperature at the surface of Venus is similar to the temperature at the surface of Earth. (e) Venus s distance to the sun is similar to Earth s distance to the sun. In other words, Venus s distance to the sun is closer to Earth s distance than any other planet. 31. According to our discussion in class, while approaching the event horizon of a black hole, time. Once inside the event horizon of the black hole, time. (a) slows down; speeds up (b) slows down; stops (c) is unaffected; speeds up (d) speeds up; slows down (e) is unaffected; stops 32. The notion that the universe began as a big bang has scientific support from three areas. Which is not one of these evidences or supports for the Big Bang Theory of cosmology? (a) There is evidence the universe is expanding since Hubble s Law indicates stars and galaxies appear to be moving apart from us on Earth and from each other. (b) The ratio of the amount of hydrogen to helium observed in stars and interstellar space is consistent with what is predicted by theoretical scientists assuming the universe started with the big bang. (c) The idea of the big bang also predicts matter is continuously being created and injected into the universe, and this is what is now observed by modern telescopes. (d) The discovery of low temperature cosmic background radiation coming in from all directions which was predicted to be present if the universe started with the big bang. 33. The idea of the Big Bang as an explanation for the origin of the universe is used by some Christian thinkers as support for the biblical account of creation because: (a) It suggests the universe has not existed forever; instead it had a starting point which is a theme in the book of Genesis. (b) It contradicts the evolutionary explanation for the origins of life on Earth. (c) Most scientists today are opposed to the idea that the universe originated via the Big Bang Theory. (d) The Big Bang implies the universe is infinite in time and space which is consistent with most Christians understanding of the biblical account of origins. (e) It is a way to keep scientific and biblical accounts of origins separate from each other. 5

6 34. What statement is true about an object that is dropped and is in freefall near Earth s surface, assuming air resistance is negligible? (a) For every second the object falls, the distance from its release point increases by 19.6 m. (b) For every second the object falls, the distance from its release point increases by 9.8 m. (c) The object will fall with a steady speed of 9.8 m/s. (d) For every second the object falls, its speed will increase by 19.6 m/s. (e) For every second the object falls, its speed will increase by 9.8 m/s. rising highest point descending For Questions 35-37, use the diagram at the left showing the motion of a ball that has been tossed up. Position 1 is just after the ball leaves the hand of the person tossing it. Position 5 is just before the ball returns to the person s hand. Each interval between dots represents one second of time. Assume effects from air resistance to be negligible The direction of velocity is (a) up everywhere (b) down everywhere (c) up at 1, 2 and down at 4,5 (d) down at 1,2 and up at 4,5 (e) up everywhere except The direction of acceleration is (a) up everywhere (b) down everywhere (c) up at 1, 2 and down at 4,5 (d) down at 1,2 and up at 4,5 (e) up everywhere except At position 3, the speed is ; at position 4, the speed is. (a) zero; 19.6 m/s (b) 9.8 m/s; 19.6 m/s (c) zero; zero (d) zero; 9.8 m/s (e) 9.8 m/s; 9.8 m/s 38. In which situation(s) is (are) acceleration occurring? I. A car maintaining a constant speed of 20 mph as it rolls down a straight hill. II. A block picking up speed as it slides down a straight wooden plank. III. A car going 50 mph on a straight road. IV. A full can of soda that you accidentally drop as it falls to the floor. (a) II and III only (b) II and IV only (c) I, II, and III only (d) II, III, and IV only (e) I, II, III, and IV 39. In which situation(s) is (are) acceleration occurring? I. A fastball on its way to homeplate thrown by University of Michigan softball pitcher Haylie Wagner. II. A car that maintains a steady speed of 25 mph as it turns a corner. III. A track athlete who is picking up speed as he runs a tight curve at an indoor track and field event. IV. The Earth in its orbit about the sun. (a) I and III only (b) II and IV only (c) I, II, and III only (d) II, III, and IV only (e) I, II, III, and IV 6

7 40. Speed is an example of a quantity, and velocity is an example of a quantity. (a) physical, non-physical (b) vector, vector (c) scalar, vector (d) scalar, scalar (e) vector, scalar Extra Questions 41. In the diagram, we have two identical balls. Ball A is rolling towards the edge of the table. Ball B is being held A above the ground at the same height as the table top. The moment ball A leaves the table, ball B will be dropped (i.e., the person holding ball B will release it without throwing it either up or down). Which ball hits the ground first if any considerations of air friction are neglected? (a) A (b) B (c) A and B hit at same time B 42. The diagram at the right is looking down on a circular exercise track for mice. The mouse in the diagram is running around the track in a counter-clockwise sense at constant speed, so that at the instant shown the mouse is running in the direction of arrow D. What arrow shows the direction of the mouse s acceleration at this instant? (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D (e) There is no acceleration since speed is constant B C D A 7

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