Definitions and Applications
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.
Natural philosophy included all aspects of nature including physics.
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.
The law applies everywhere in the universe.
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.
An observation is seeing what happens; a hypothesis is a testable, educated guess.
When a large body of experimental evidence supports a hypothesis, what may the hypothesis eventually be considered?
observation
insight
conclusion
law
law
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)
the regularities in the object being measured
Which of the following is not an underlying assumption essential to scientific understanding?
Explanations of natural phenomena can be established with absolute certainty.
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
general theory of relativity
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.
Modeling replaces the real system by something similar but easier to examine.
While watching some ants outside of your house, you notice that the worker ants gather in a specific area on your lawn. Which of the following is a testable hypothesis that attempts to explain why the ants gather in that specific area on the lawn.
The worker thought it was a nice location.
because ants may have to find a spot for the queen to lay eggs
because there may be some food particles lying there
because the worker ants are supposed to group together at a place.
because there may be some food particles lying there
How does the independent variable in a graph differ from the dependent variable?
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.
Which of the following questions regarding a strain of genetically modified rice is not one that can be answered by science?
Should the genetically modified rice be grown commercially and sold in the marketplace?
Why is Einstein’s theory of relativity considered part of modern physics, as opposed to classical physics?
Because it was among the new 19th-century discoveries that changed physics.
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.
A hypothesis is supported by little evidence, if any, at first. A theory is supported by a large amount of available evidence.
Explain why scientists sometimes use a model rather than trying to analyze the behavior of the real system.
Models are simpler to analyze.
Models give more accurate results.
Models provide more reliable predictions.
Models do not require any computer calculations.
Models are simpler to analyze.
What could you conclude about these two lines?
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.
Line A is a decreasing line while line B is an increasing line, with line B being much steeper than line A.
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.
Physics helps in predicting dynamics and movement of weather phenomena.
Modern physics could best be described as the combination of which theories?
quantum mechanics and Einstein’s theory of relativity
quantum mechanics and classical physics
Newton’s laws of motion and classical physics
Newton’s laws of motion and Einstein’s theory of relativity
quantum mechanics and Einstein’s theory of relativity
The free-electron model of metals explains some of the important behaviors of metals by assuming the metal’s electrons move freely through the metal without repelling one another. In what sense is the free-electron theory based on a model?
Its use requires constructing replicas of the metal wire in the lab.
It involves analyzing an imaginary system simpler than the real wire it resembles.
It examines a model, or ideal, behavior that other metals should imitate.
It attempts to examine the metal in a very realistic, or model, way.
It involves analyzing an imaginary system simpler than the real wire it resembles.
Describe the difference between a question, generated through observation, and a hypothesis.
They are the same.
A hypothesis has been thoroughly tested and found to be true.
A hypothesis is a tentative assumption based on what is already known.
A hypothesis is a broad explanation firmly supported by evidence.
A hypothesis is a tentative assumption based on what is already known.
Velocity, or speed, is measured using the following formula: v = dt, 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.
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.
Physical therapists require knowledge of physics know about muscle contraction and release of energy.
Which of the following could be studied accurately using classical physics?
the strength of gravity within a black hole
the motion of a plane through the sky
the collisions of subatomic particles
the effect of gravity on the passage of time
the motion of a plane through the sky
A scientist wishes to study the motion of about 1,000 molecules of gas in a container by modeling them as tiny billiard balls bouncing randomly off one another. Which of the following is needed to calculate and store data on their detailed motion?
a computer that can store and perform calculations on large data sets
What is a scientific model and how is it useful?
A scientific model is a representation of something that can be easily studied directly. It is useful for studying things that can be easily analyzed by humans.
A scientific model is a representation of something that is often too difficult to study directly. It is useful for studying a complex system or systems that humans cannot observe directly.
A scientific model is a representation of scientific equipment. It is useful for studying working principles of scientific equipment.
A scientific model is a representation of a laboratory where experiments are performed. It is useful for studying requirements needed inside the laboratory.
A scientific model is a representation of something that is often too difficult to study directly. It is useful for studying a complex system or systems that humans cannot observe directly.
The uncertainty of a triple-beam balance is 0.05g. What is the percent uncertainty in a measurement of 0.445kg?
0.011%
0.11%
1.1%
11%
0.011%