Position and Motion
What three pieces of information are required to completely describe the position of an object?
reference point, distance, and direction.
Which of Newton’s Laws is called the Law of Inertia?
1st Law
Which simple machine is a flat, sloped surface?
Inclined plane.
A student counts 8 waves passing a buoy in 16 seconds. What is the frequency in hertz?
Frequency = 0.5Hz
Which principle explains why an object submerged in water experiences an upward buoyant force?
Archimedes’ Principle.
Define the difference between distance and displacement.
Distance = the total length an object has traveled.
Displacement = The difference between initial position and final position of an object.
If one person pushes right with 5 N and another pushes left with 8N, what is the net force and its direction?
Net force = 8N left minus 5N right → 3N left (so 3 N Left).
What is the definition of work?
Work is done on an object when force is applied and causes displacement.
A wave has wavelength 5 m and frequency 8 Hz. What is the wave speed? Show calculation.
Wave speed = wavelength × frequency = 5 m×8 Hz=40 m/s.
Where is a magnetic field strongest around a bar magnet?
At the poles of the magnet.
A student rides a bike 220 meters in 40 seconds. What is the student's speed? Answer using units.
Speed = 5.5 m/s.
A student pushes a 15 kg cart and it accelerates at 3 m/s2. Using Newton's 2nd Law, what force did the student apply? Show calculation.
F=ma=15 kg×3 m/s2=45 N.
As a roller coaster moves down a hill, which energy transformation happens?
Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
Sound waves are what type of waves, and do they require a medium or vacuum to travel?
Sound waves are longitudinal and require a medium (air, water, solid).
What happens when two positive electric charges are brought near each other?
They will repel each other.
A student travels at a constant speed of 5.5 m/s5.5 m/s toward the school. Write the student's velocity including direction.
5.5 m/s toward the school.
State Newton’s 3rd Law by filling in the blank: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite ______.”
Reaction.
State the Law of Conservation of Energy.
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
Why does a blue shirt look blue?
Because the fabric reflects blue wavelengths to your eyes and absorbs others.
How does distance affect the strength of a magnetic or electric field?
Field strength decreases as distance increases
A student speeds up from 2 m/s2 m/s to 8 m/s8 m/s over 10 s10 s. What is the acceleration? Show calculation.
Acceleration = 8−210=610=0.6 m/s2108−2=106=0.6 m/s2.
Explain why a dog running in a perfect circle at constant speed is accelerating. Use the word direction change in your answer.
The dog is constantly changing direction when running in a perfect circle.
A student lifts a box using a ramp (inclined plane) instead of lifting it straight up. Explain how using the ramp changes the force required and the distance over which the force acts, and why work can be (approximately) the same.
Using a ramp increases distance traveled but decreases the required input force (mechanical advantage). Work (force × distance) is approximately the same (neglecting friction).
What is the term for the bending of a wave as it moves from one medium to another? Give an example.
Refraction. Example: A straw appears bent when placed in water because light changes speed and direction entering water from air.
Give one real-world example showing Bernoulli’s Principle or Archimedes’ Principle and explain the physics behind it.
Example (Archimedes): A boat floats because the weight of water displaced equals the boat’s weight — buoyant force upwards. (Bernoulli example): Airplane wing: faster air over top reduces pressure and generates lift.