Physics Vocabulary
What does scalar quantity mean?
a) a physical quantity that is described by a single value (magnitude) and has no direction. Scalars are used to represent quantities that are completely described by their magnitude alone.
b) a physical quantity that is described by multiple values (magnitude) and has bilateral direction. Scalars are used to represent quantities that are completely described by their magnitude alone.
c) a chemical quantity that is described by a single value (magnitude) and has no direction. Scalars are used to represent quantities that are completely described by their force alone.
a) a physical quantity that is described by a single value (magnitude) and has no direction. Scalars are used to represent quantities that are completely described by their magnitude alone.
Which of the following best defines the term "jovian planet" in astronomy?
A) A planet with a solid surface primarily composed of rocks and metals.
B) A planet with a large, thick atmosphere composed mainly of hydrogen and helium.
C) A planet located in the inner region of the solar system, closer to the Sun.
D) A planet with a highly elliptical orbit around its parent star.
B) A planet with a large, thick atmosphere composed mainly of hydrogen and helium.
Which pair of quantities are both scalar quantities?
(1) speed and mass
(2) speed and momentum
(3) momentum and displacement
(4) mass and displacement
(1) speed and mass
Which two characteristics classify Jupiter as a Jovian planet?
(1) low density and large diameter
(2) low density and small diameter
(3) high density and large diameter
(4) high density and small diameter
(1) low density and large diameter
What is the definition of inertia?
A) The tendency of an object to resist changes in motion.
B) The force exerted by an object against a surface in contact with it.
C) The amount of matter in an object.
D) The speed of an object in motion.
A) The tendency of an object to resist changes in motion.
Which of the following terms refers to the process by which sediment settles out of water or wind and comes to rest on the ground or bottom of a body of water?
A) Erosion
B) Deposition
C) Weathering
D) Transport
B) Deposition
An object moves a total of 15 meters in 5 seconds and winds up back in it's starting position. Determine the average speed and average velocity of the object throughout its trip.
Average velocity = 0 m/s
Average speed = 3 m/s
The rate of Earth’s revolution around the Sun is approximately
(1) 1°/day
(2) 15°/day
(3) 24°/day
(4) 360°/day
(4) 360°/day
TRUE OR FALSE:
F=ma is known as Newton's second law of motion. It describes the relationship between the force applied to an object (F), the mass of the object (m), and the resulting acceleration (a).
true
Which of the following terms refers to the process by which water vapor changes into liquid water?
A) Condensation
B) Evaporation
C) Precipitation
D) Transpiration
A) Condensation
In an attempt to get ketchup out of a bottle, a student takes off the cap, turns the bottle upside down, accelerates it downward, and then suddenly stops it. Ketchup is released from the open bottle because the ketchup doesn’t stop moving when the bottle does. The ketchup leaving the bottle illustrates (1) inertia (2) resistivity (3) resonance (4) mass being converted to energy
(1) inertia
Electromagnetic energy travels through space from the Sun to the top of Earth’s atmosphere by
(1) conduction (2) radiation (3) convection (4) infiltration
(2) radiation
Define the following terms:
Average Speed, Average Velocity, Acceleration
Average Speed - change in distance over time Average Velocity - change in displacement over time Acceleration - Change in velocity over time
As observed from Earth, the wavelengths of light from the most distant galaxies are usually:
A) Blue shifted due to an expanding universe.
B) Blue shifted due to a contracting universe.
C) Red shifted due to an expanding universe.
D) Red shifted due to a contracting universe.
The correct answer is C. This phenomenon is known as cosmological redshift. As the universe expands, the space between galaxies also expands, causing the wavelengths of light emitted by distant galaxies to be stretched, resulting in a redshift. This effect is due to the Doppler effect and the expansion of space itself, indicating that the universe is expanding. Choices A and B are incorrect because they suggest blue shifting, which would imply that the universe is contracting, which contradicts current observations. Choice D is incorrect for the same reason.
Compared to Earth’s outer core, the inner core properties are inferred to be
(1) less dense and a solid
(2) less dense and a liquid
(3) more dense and a solid
(4) more dense and a liquid
(3) more dense and a solid
The inner core of the Earth is believed to be a solid sphere composed primarily of iron and nickel. Although the inner core is solid, it is inferred to be more dense than the outer core because of the intense pressure at the Earth's center. The outer core, on the other hand, is inferred to be a liquid layer surrounding the inner core.
In an electrical circuit, which of the following quantities is directly proportional to the potential difference (voltage) across a resistor?
A) Current
B) Resistance
C) Capacitance
D) Inductance
B) Resistance
Air temperatures are recorded as a weather balloon rises from Earth’s surface. At first, the air temperature constantly decreases for 12 kilometers, then remains constant briefly before increasing for another 12 kilometers before the balloon bursts. In which layer did the balloon burst?
(1) troposphere
(2) stratosphere
(3) mesosphere
(4) thermosphere
(2) stratosphere
he troposphere is the layer closest to the Earth's surface, where temperature generally decreases with altitude. The stratosphere is the layer above the troposphere, and in this layer, the temperature remains constant or slightly increases with altitude due to the presence of the ozone layer. Above the stratosphere, in the mesosphere and thermosphere, temperatures generally decrease with altitude again. Given the temperature trends described, the balloon likely burst in the stratosphere, where temperatures briefly remain constant before increasing.
What is the resistance of a 100.-watt bulb when operating a potential difference of 120. volts?
(1) 1.20 ohms (2) 100 ohms (3) 120 ohms (4) 144 ohms
4