High School Physics: Practice Exam 1 Online

Question 1

Two lamps are connected in parallel to an ideal battery. One lamp burns out, opening only its own branch. What happens to the potential difference across the other lamp?

AIt becomes zero.BIt stays equal to the battery voltage.CIt doubles.DIt is halved.

Question 2

A student releases the same ball from several heights on one ramp and measures its travel time over a fixed path. Which variable is independent?

AThe ball's release heightBThe measured travel timeCThe ramp's angleDThe length of the measured path

Question 3

A telescope image contains approximately 30,000 recorded pixels, reported to two significant figures. Which choice writes that count in normalized scientific notation?

A\(3.0\times10^{5}\)B\(3.0\times10^{3}\)C\(3.0\times10^{4}\)D\(30\times10^{3}\)

Question 4

The storage case carries \(1.3\times10^{3}\unit{g}\) of samples. What is the sample mass in kilograms?

A\(1.3\unit{kg}\)B\(1.3\times10^{3}\unit{kg}\)C\(1.3\times10^{6}\unit{kg}\)D\(13\unit{kg}\)

Question 5

Two points lie on a straight position-time best-fit line that models a cart's motion.

Point	Time (s)	Position (m)
1	2.0	6.0
2	7.0	31.0

If the same linear model continues, what position does it predict at \(t\)\({}=10.0\unit{s}\)?

The same straight-line model is assumed to continue past the second point.

A\(15.0\unit{m}\)B\(46.0\unit{m}\)C\(40.0\unit{m}\)D\(50.0\unit{m}\)

Question 6

Light travels inside glass with refractive index \(1.50\) toward air with refractive index \(1.00\). Which incident angle is the closest estimate of the critical angle?

A\(42^\circ\)B\(25^\circ\)C\(48^\circ\)D\(90^\circ\)

Question 7

A cart's velocity increases from \(2.0\unit{m/s}\) to \(14\unit{m/s}\) in \(4.0\unit{s}\). What is its average acceleration?

A\(48\unit{m/s^2}\)B\(3.0\unit{m/s^2}\)C\(4.0\unit{m/s^2}\)D\(16\unit{m/s^2}\)

Question 8

Linearly polarized light of intensity \(I_0\) reaches an ideal polarizer whose transmission axis is \(60^\circ\) from the light’s polarization direction. What intensity is transmitted?

A\(\frac{I_0}{2}\)B\(\frac{3I_0}{4}\)C\(\frac{I_0}{4}\)D\(I_0\)

Question 9

Why does a satellite in a circular orbit keep turning instead of moving along a straight tangent?

AIts velocity points toward the planet's center at every moment.BGravity acts only when the satellite begins to fall downward.CGravity supplies the inward acceleration that bends its path.DAn outward force balances gravity, so the net force is zero.

Question 10

A ball is released from rest and falls for \(1.2\unit{s}\). Take upward as positive and ignore air resistance. What is the ball's velocity?

A\(-12\unit{m/s}\)B\(-9.8\unit{m/s}\)C\(+12\unit{m/s}\)D\(-5.9\unit{m/s}\)

Question 11

Lena pushes the crate horizontally, but it remains at rest on the floor. Which force statement is best?

Side view. Nothing about the crate moves while the push is applied.

AStatic friction is always at its maximum value when an object is at rest.BThe applied force and static friction have equal magnitudes and opposite directions, so the net horizontal force is zero.CThe normal force balances the horizontal applied force.DThe applied force is larger than friction, but the crate has not had time to accelerate.

Question 12

A \(3.0\unit{kg}\) sensor moves at \(4.0\unit{m/s}\) in a circle of radius \(2.0\unit{m}\). What inward net force is required?

A\(6.0\unit{N}\)B\(12\unit{N}\)C\(96\unit{N}\)D\(24\unit{N}\)

Question 13

A \(6.0\unit{kg}\) cart moves east at \(2.5\unit{m/s}\). What is its momentum?

A\(8.5\unit{kg\,m/s}\) eastB\(2.4\unit{kg\,m/s}\) eastC\(15\unit{kg\,m/s}\) eastD\(15\unit{kg\,m/s}\) west

Question 14

The table gives the magnitude of a force that acts in one fixed direction on a cart. A force-time graph is drawn by connecting the points with a horizontal line.

Time (s)	Force magnitude (N)
0.00	12
0.20	12
0.40	12
0.60	12

What is the magnitude of the impulse from \(0.00\unit{s}\) to \(0.60\unit{s}\)?

The force magnitude does not change over the interval.

A\(7.2\unit{N\,s}\)B\(2.0\times10^{1}\unit{N\,s}\)C\(3.6\unit{N\,s}\)D\(12\unit{N\,s}\)

Question 15

A horizontal \(2.0\times10^{1}\unit{N}\) push moves a box \(3.0\unit{m}\) in the push's direction. How much work does the push do?

A\(6.7\unit{J}\)B\(6.0\times10^{1}\unit{J}\)C\(6.0\times10^{1}\unit{N}\)D\(17\unit{J}\)

Question 16

A sled rolls down a smooth ramp. Friction and air drag are negligible. Which energy statement describes the descent?

AThe gain in kinetic energy is smaller than the loss of gravitational potential energy.BThe loss of gravitational potential energy equals the gain in kinetic energy.CKinetic energy stays constant while gravitational potential energy decreases.DGravitational potential energy and kinetic energy decrease by equal amounts.

Question 17

A mechanic applies a perpendicular \(4.0\times10^{1}\unit{N}\) force \(0.25\unit{m}\) from a bolt. What torque magnitude acts on the bolt?

The force is perpendicular to the handle, so the lever arm is the full 0.25 m.

A\(5.0\unit{N\,m}\)B\(4.0\times10^{1}\unit{N\,m}\)C\(1.6\times10^{2}\unit{N\,m}\)D\(1.0\times10^{1}\unit{N\,m}\)

Question 18

A point on a wheel is \(0.25\unit{m}\) from the axle. The wheel has angular speed \(5.0\unit{rad/s}\). What is the point's tangential speed?

A\(1.3\unit{m/s}\)B\(2.5\unit{m/s}\)C\(0.050\unit{m/s}\)D\(2.0\times10^{1}\unit{m/s}\)

Question 19

A force sensor is calibrated using loads from \(0\) to \(20\unit{N}\). Its straight-line calibration is then used for a \(200\unit{N}\) load without further checks. What is the main scientific concern?

AA straight line cannot describe any sensor.BConverting newtons to another unit would validate the result.CCalibration removes all uncertainty at every possible load.DThe response may stop being linear outside the tested range.

Question 20

Two methods give lengths of \((20.1\pm0.3)\unit{cm}\) and \((20.4\pm0.3)\unit{cm}\), where each interval represents the stated measurement uncertainty. What conclusion is best supported?

AThe second object is certainly longer by exactly \(0.3\unit{cm}\).BThe first method must be defective.CThe objects must have exactly the same length.DThe intervals overlap, so these measurements alone do not establish a resolved difference.

Question 21

A sealed rigid container holds a fixed amount of gas. The table shows two states.

State	Temperature (K)	Volume
1	285	fixed
2	342	fixed

How does the absolute pressure in State 2 compare with the pressure in State 1?

AIt becomes 0.80 times its initial value.BIt stays fixed because the volume is fixed.CThe absolute pressure becomes 1.20 times its initial value.DIt becomes 20 times its initial value.

Question 22

A \(2.0\unit{kg}\) block with specific heat capacity \(5.2\times10^{2}\unit{J/(kg\,K)}\) warms by \(6.0\unit{K}\). How much energy does it absorb?

A\(6.2\times10^{3}\unit{J}\)B\(3.1\times10^{3}\unit{J}\)C\(1.0\times10^{3}\unit{J}\)D\(6.2\times10^{2}\unit{J}\)

Question 23

A metal rod carries \(2.2\times10^{3}\unit{N}\) of tension across a cross-sectional area of \(300\unit{mm^2}\). What tensile stress acts in the rod?

A\(7.3\unit{Pa}\)B\(7.3\times10^{6}\unit{Pa}\)C\(7.3\times10^{9}\unit{Pa}\)D\(6.6\times10^{5}\unit{Pa}\)

Question 24

The toolbox presses on the floor with \(1.30\times10^{2}\unit{N}\) over \(0.300\unit{m^2}\). What pressure does it exert?

A\(39.0\unit{Pa}\)B\(4.33\times10^{2}\unit{Pa}\)C\(0.00231\unit{Pa}\)D\(1.30\times10^{2}\unit{Pa}\)

Question 25

A \(2.0\unit{kg}\) cart oscillates on an ideal spring with \(k\)\({}=8.0\unit{N/m}\). What is its period?

A\(0.50\unit{s}\)B\(13\unit{s}\)C\(3.1\unit{s}\)D\(1.6\unit{s}\)

Question 26

Crests on a rope are \(1.5\unit{m}\) apart and pass a point at \(3.0\unit{Hz}\). What is the wave speed?

A\(4.5\unit{Hz}\)B\(4.5\unit{m/s}\)C\(0.50\unit{m/s}\)D\(2.0\unit{m/s}\)

Question 27

Tone A has a higher pitch than Tone B in the same air. What is greater for Tone A?

Awave speedBperiodCamplitudeDfrequency

Question 28

A pendulum completes \(3.0\) cycles each second. How long does one cycle take?

A\(3.0\unit{s}\)B\(6.0\unit{s}\)C\(0.11\unit{s}\)D\(0.33\unit{s}\)

Question 29

A pulse echo returns from a wall after \(0.32\unit{s}\). Using \(3.4\times10^{2}\unit{m/s}\) for sound speed, how far away is the wall?

A\(1.1\times10^{2}\unit{m}\)B\(1.1\times10^{3}\unit{m}\)C\(54\unit{m}\)D\(27\unit{m}\)

Question 30

The distance between two unchanged point charges is doubled. How does the electric-force magnitude change?

AIt becomes one fourth as large.BIt doubles.CIt becomes one half as large.DIt becomes 4 times as large.

Question 31

A bench supply drives \(2.0\unit{A}\) through a \(4.0\unit{\Omega}\) resistor. What potential difference is across the resistor?

A\(0.50\unit{V}\)B\(2.0\unit{V}\)C\(8.0\unit{V}\)D\(6.0\unit{V}\)

Question 32

A coil's shape, turn count, and core stay fixed. Which change makes its magnetic field stronger?

ADecrease the current.BIncrease the current through the coil.CReverse the current without changing its magnitude.DOpen the circuit.

Question 33

A 100-turn coil experiences a given magnetic-flux change through each turn in \(0.20\unit{s}\). A second coil experiences the same flux change through each turn but has 200 turns and completes the change in \(0.10\unit{s}\). How does the second coil's average induced-emf magnitude compare with the first coil's?

AIt is 4 times as large.BIt is 2 times as large.CIt is unchanged.DIt is one fourth as large.

Question 34

Which region has the lowest frequency in the usual electromagnetic-spectrum ordering?

AGamma raysBUltraviolet radiationCVisible lightDRadio waves

Question 35

A light ray strikes a plane mirror at \(24^\circ\) from the normal. What is its angle of reflection, measured from the normal?

A\(48^\circ\)B\(66^\circ\)C\(24^\circ\)D\(12^\circ\)

Question 36

An object is \(30\unit{cm}\) from a converging lens with focal length \(10\unit{cm}\). Which description matches the image?

The object sits beyond twice the focal length on the left of the lens.

AIt is virtual, upright, and enlarged, \(15\unit{cm}\) from the lens on the object's side.BIt is real, inverted, and enlarged, \(30\unit{cm}\) from the lens on the far side.CIt is virtual, inverted, and reduced, \(10\unit{cm}\) from the lens on the object's side.DIt is real, inverted, and reduced, \(15\unit{cm}\) from the lens on the far side.

Question 37

For small angles, bright-fringe spacing is \(\Delta y\)\({}\approx\frac{\lambda L}{d}\). A double slit uses wavelength \(4.2\times10^{2}\unit{nm}\), screen distance \(1.1\unit{m}\), and slit separation \(0.21\unit{mm}\). What is the fringe spacing?

A\(4.4\unit{mm}\)B\(22\unit{mm}\)C\(2.2\unit{mm}\)D\(0.22\unit{mm}\)

Question 38

Photon B has 3 times the frequency of Photon A. How does Photon B's energy compare with Photon A's?

A3 times as largeB\(\frac{1}{3}\) as largeC9 times as largeDunchanged

Question 39

A source has a half-life of \(3.0\unit{h}\). Complete the pattern in its background-subtracted detector data.

Time (h)	Count rate (counts/min)
0.0	640
3.0	320
6.0	160
9.0	?

What count rate belongs in the last row?

A320 counts per minuteB160 counts per minuteC40 counts per minuteD80 counts per minute

Question 40

A carbon nucleus contains 6 protons and 8 neutrons. What is its mass number?

A2B6C8D14

High School Physics: Practice Exam 1 Online

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