Concept Items

1 .

Which statement best compares and contrasts the aims and topics of natural philosophy had versus physics?

Natural philosophy included all aspects of nature including physics.
Natural philosophy included all aspects of nature excluding physics.
Natural philosophy and physics are different.
Natural philosophy and physics are essentially the same thing.

Which of the following is not an underlying assumption essential to scientific understanding?

Characteristics of the physical universe can be perceived and objectively measured by human beings.
Explanations of natural phenomena can be established with absolute certainty.
Fundamental physical processes dictate how characteristics of the physical universe evolve.
The fundamental processes of nature operate the same way everywhere and at all times.

Which of the following questions regarding a strain of genetically modified rice is not one that can be answered by science?

How does the yield of the genetically modified rice compare with that of existing rice?
Is the genetically modified rice more resistant to infestation than existing rice?
How does the nutritional value of the genetically modified rice compare to that of existing rice?
Should the genetically modified rice be grown commercially and sold in the marketplace?

What conditions imply that we can use classical physics without considering special relativity or quantum mechanics?

1. matter is moving at speeds of less than roughly 1 percent the speed of light,
2. objects are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, and
3. there is the involvement of a strong gravitational field.
1. matter is moving at speeds greater than roughly 1 percent the speed of light,
2. objects are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, and
3. there is the involvement of a strong gravitational field.
1. matter is moving at speeds of less than roughly 1 percent the speed of light,
2. objects are too small to be seen with the naked eye, and
3. there is the involvement of only a weak gravitational field.
1. matter is moving at speeds of less than roughly 1 percent the speed of light,
2. objects are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, and
3. there is the involvement of a weak gravitational field.

5 .

How could physics be useful in weather prediction?

Physics helps in predicting how burning fossil fuel releases pollutants.
Physics helps in predicting dynamics and movement of weather phenomena.
Physics helps in predicting the motion of tectonic plates.
Physics helps in predicting how the flowing water affects Earth’s surface.

6 .

How do physical therapists use physics while on the job? Explain.

Physical therapists do not require knowledge of physics because their job is mainly therapy and not physics.
Physical therapists do not require knowledge of physics because their job is more social in nature and unscientific.
Physical therapists require knowledge of physics know about muscle contraction and release of energy.
Physical therapists require knowledge of physics to know about chemical reactions inside the body and make decisions accordingly.

7 .

What is meant when a physical law is said to be universal?

The law can explain everything in the universe.
The law is applicable to all physical phenomena.
The law applies everywhere in the universe.
The law is the most basic one and all laws are derived from it.

8 .

What subfield of physics could describe small objects traveling at high speeds or experiencing a strong gravitational field?

general theory of relativity
classical physics
quantum relativity
special theory of relativity

Why is Einstein’s theory of relativity considered part of modern physics, as opposed to classical physics?

Because it was considered less outstanding than the classics of physics, such as classical mechanics.
Because it was popular physics enjoyed by average people today, instead of physics studied by the elite.
Because the theory deals with very slow-moving objects and weak gravitational fields.
Because it was among the new 19th-century discoveries that changed physics.

10 .

Describe the difference between an observation and a hypothesis.

An observation is seeing what happens; a hypothesis is a testable, educated guess.
An observation is a hypothesis that has been confirmed.
Hypotheses and observations are independent of each other.
Hypotheses are conclusions based on some observations.

11 .

Describe how modeling is useful in studying the structure of the atom.

Modeling replaces the real system by something similar but easier to examine.
Modeling replaces the real system by something more interesting to examine.
Modeling replaces the real system by something with more realistic properties.
Modeling includes more details than are present in the real system.

12 .

How strongly is a hypothesis supported by evidence compared to a theory?

A theory is supported by little evidence, if any, at first, while a hypothesis is supported by a large amount of available evidence.
A hypothesis is supported by little evidence, if any, at first. A theory is supported by a large amount of available evidence.
A hypothesis is supported by little evidence, if any, at first. A theory does not need any experiments in support.
A theory is supported by little evidence, if any, at first. A hypothesis does not need any experiments in support.

13 .

Which of the following does not contribute to the uncertainty?

the limitations of the measuring device
the skill of the person making the measurement
the regularities in the object being measured
other factors that affect the outcome (depending on the situation)

14.

How does the independent variable in a graph differ from the dependent variable?

The dependent variable varies linearly with the independent variable.
The dependent variable depends on the scale of the axis chosen while independent variable does not.
The independent variable is directly manipulated or controlled by the person doing the experiment, while dependent variable is the one that changes as a result.
The dependent and independent variables are fixed by a convention and hence they are the same.

15 .

What could you conclude about these two lines?

Line A has a slope of $- 4.7$ .
Line B has a slope of $12.0$ .

Line A is a decreasing line while line B is an increasing line, with line A being much steeper than line B.
Line A is a decreasing line while line B is an increasing line, with line B being much steeper than line A.
Line B is a decreasing line while line A is an increasing line, with line A being much steeper than line B.
Line B is a decreasing line while line A is an increasing line, with line B being much steeper than line A.

16.

Velocity, or speed, is measured using the following formula: $v = \frac{d}{t}, v = \frac{d}{t},$ where v is velocity, d is the distance travelled, and t is the time the object took to travel the distance. If the velocity-time data are plotted on a graph, which variable will be on which axis? Why?

Time would be on the x-axis and velocity on the y-axis, because time is an independent variable and velocity is a dependent variable.
Velocity would be on the x-axis and time on the y-axis, because time is the independent variable and velocity is the dependent variable.
Time would be on the x-axis and velocity on the y-axis, because time is a dependent variable and velocity is a independent variable.
Velocity would be on x-axis and time on the y-axis, because time is a dependent variable and velocity is a independent variable.

17 .

The uncertainty of a triple-beam balance is

0.05 g

. What is the percent uncertainty in a measurement of

0.445 kg

$0.011 %$
$0.11 %$
$1.1 %$
$11 %$

18 .

What is the definition of uncertainty?

Uncertainty is the number of assumptions made prior to the measurement of a physical quantity.
Uncertainty is a measure of error in a measurement due to the use of a non-calibrated instrument.
Uncertainty is a measure of deviation of the measured value from the standard value.
Uncertainty is a measure of error in measurement due to external factors like air friction and temperature.