High School Physics: Practice Exam 2 Online

Question 1

What is the SI unit of energy?

Anewton (N)Bampere (A)Cjoule (J)Dhertz (Hz)

Question 2

A student tests wires made of the same material and thickness. The student changes wire length and records resistance. Which variable is dependent?

AThe wire materialBThe wire thicknessCThe selected wire lengthDThe measured resistance

Question 3

A cable is \(1.6\times10^{2}\unit{cm}\) long. What is the cable's length in meters?

A\(16\unit{m}\)B\(1.6\times10^{4}\unit{m}\)C\(1.6\unit{m}\)D\(0.16\unit{m}\)

Question 4

A class tests whether pendulum length affects period. Which set of trials is the fairest?

AChange both pendulum length and release angle, then time several cycles.BKeep one pendulum length but use a different timer for every trial.CUse the same bob and release angle, change only length, and time several cycles.DKeep the pendulum length fixed, change only bob mass, and time several cycles.

Question 5

Two models are fitted to the same five measurements. The table lists each residual, defined as measured value minus predicted value.

Input	1	2	3	4	5
Model A	\(+0.4\)	\(+0.2\)	\(0.0\)	\(-0.2\)	\(-0.4\)
Model B	\(+0.2\)	\(-0.1\)	\(0.0\)	\(-0.2\)	\(+0.1\)

Which conclusion is best supported?

AModel B is better supported because its residuals are small and show no systematic increase or decrease with input.BModel A is better supported because its residuals change by equal steps.CThe models are equally supported because the residuals for each model add to zero.DModel B is exact because one of its residuals equals zero.

Question 6

A bicycle moves at an average speed of \(6.0\unit{m/s}\) for \(8.0\unit{s}\). How far does it travel?

A\(0.75\unit{m}\)B\(1.3\unit{m}\)C\(48\unit{m}\)D\(14\unit{m}\)

Question 7

A robot begins at \(5.0\unit{m/s}\) and maintains an acceleration of \(2.0\unit{m/s^2}\) for \(6.0\unit{s}\). What final velocity does the constant-acceleration model predict?

A\(-7.0\unit{m/s}\)B\(17\unit{m/s}\)C\(7.0\unit{m/s}\)D\(12\unit{m/s}\)

Question 8

A charged particle moves exactly parallel to a uniform magnetic field. Which statement describes the magnetic force on it?

AThe magnetic force is zero.BThe force points along the velocity.CThe force points opposite the velocity.DThe force has magnitude \(qvB\) and points perpendicular to the field.

Question 9

Two satellites orbit the same planet in circles. Which one moves faster?

AThe satellite in the larger-radius orbit, because it travels a longer path.BThey have equal speeds because they orbit the same planet.CThe satellite in the smaller-radius orbit.DThe more massive satellite, regardless of orbital radius.

Question 10

A robot starts at \(x\)\({}=-1.0\times10^{1}\unit{m}\) and reaches \(x\)\({}=3.0\times10^{1}\unit{m}\) \(8.0\unit{s}\) later. Take east as positive. What is its average velocity?

A\(4.0\times10^{1}\unit{m/s}\) eastB\(5.0\unit{m/s}\) eastC\(5.0\unit{m/s}\) westD\(2.5\unit{m/s}\) east

Question 11

A \(6.0\unit{kg}\) toolbox rests on a level floor. A person pulls with a \(16\unit{N}\) force directed \(30^\circ\) above the horizontal, and the box has no vertical acceleration. What normal force does the floor exert?

A\(59\unit{N}\)B\(51\unit{N}\)C\(43\unit{N}\)D\(67\unit{N}\)

Question 12

A \(2.0\unit{kg}\) object follows a \(4.0\unit{m}\)-radius circle under a \(32\unit{N}\) inward net force. What is its speed?

A\(8.0\unit{m/s}\)B\(64\unit{m/s}\)C\(16\unit{m/s}\)D\(4.0\unit{m/s}\)

Question 13

A \(5.0\unit{kg}\) cart has momentum \(20\unit{kg\,m/s}\) north. What is its velocity?

A\(4.0\unit{m/s}\) southB\(4.0\unit{m/s}\) northC\(15\unit{m/s}\) northD\(100\unit{m/s}\) north

Question 14

The triangular graph shows the net force on an object. It starts at \(0\unit{N}\), reaches \(20\unit{N}\) at \(0.40\unit{s}\), and returns to \(0\unit{N}\) at \(0.80\unit{s}\). What impulse does the force deliver?

Impulse equals the area between the graph and the time axis.

A\(25\unit{N\,s}\)B\(16\unit{N\,s}\)C\(0.040\unit{N\,s}\)D\(8.0\unit{N\,s}\)

Question 15

A waiter holds a tray level while walking straight across a room at constant height. What work does the waiter's upward support force do on the tray?

APositive work equal to the tray's weight times the walking distanceBWork equal to the tray's kinetic energyC\(0\unit{J}\)DNegative work because gravity points downward

Question 16

A pendulum bob swings upward after passing its lowest point. Air resistance is negligible. What happens during the rise?

AKinetic energy and gravitational potential energy both stay constant.BGravitational potential energy increases by less than the kinetic energy decreases.CTotal mechanical energy decreases by the same amount as the kinetic energy.DKinetic energy decreases while gravitational potential energy increases by the same amount.

Question 17

The top-view sketch shows a force whose line of action passes through a door's hinge axis. What torque does this force produce about the hinge?

Top view. The force points straight along the door toward the hinge.

AA torque of magnitude \(rF\)BZeroCA torque of magnitude \(\frac{F}{r}\)DThe torque cannot be found without the door's mass.

Question 18

Two paint dots lie on the same rigid turntable, one \(0.10\unit{m}\) and one \(0.30\unit{m}\) from the center, as shown. During one turn, which statement is correct?

The dots complete one turn in the same time.

AThe outer dot has three times the angular speed.BBoth dots have the same tangential speed.CThey have the same angular speed, but the outer dot has three times the tangential speed.DThe inner dot travels three times as far.

Question 19

A glass sample has density \(2.5\times10^{3}\unit{kg/m^3}\) and volume \(0.0030\unit{m^3}\). What is its mass?

A\(2.5\times10^{3}\unit{kg}\)B\(0.0075\unit{kg}\)C\(8.3\times10^{5}\unit{kg}\)D\(7.5\unit{kg}\)

Question 20

A pulley system has mechanical advantage 4. A worker pulls with \(24\unit{N}\). What ideal output force can the system provide?

A\(96\unit{N}\)B\(28\unit{N}\)C\(6.0\unit{N}\)D\(48\unit{N}\)

Question 21

A rigid tank does not leak. The table shows its initial state and final temperature.

State	Temperature (K)	Absolute pressure (kPa)
Initial	\(2.9\times10^2\)	\(1.0\times10^2\)
Final	\(3.5\times10^2\)	unknown

What final pressure does the ideal-gas model predict?

A\(1.2\times10^{2}\unit{kPa}\)B\(1.6\times10^{2}\unit{kPa}\)C\(83\unit{kPa}\)D\(1.0\times10^{2}\unit{kPa}\)

Question 22

A sample is heated without changing phase. Its measurements are shown below.

Measured quantity	Value
Mass	\(3.0\unit{kg}\)
Energy absorbed	\(1.1\times10^4\unit{J}\)
Temperature rise	\(7.0\unit{K}\)

Which specific heat capacity best matches the data?

A\(7.7\times10^{4}\unit{J/(kg\,K)}\)B\(1.6\times10^{3}\unit{J/(kg\,K)}\)C\(2.6\times10^{2}\unit{J/(kg\,K)}\)D\(5.2\times10^{2}\unit{J/(kg\,K)}\)

Question 23

A blue object reflects blue light and absorbs red light. It is illuminated only by red light in an otherwise dark room. How should it appear in this idealized model?

ABright blue, because object color is independent of illumination.BBright red, because all objects reflect the incident color.CWhite, because red and blue light always combine to make white.DDark, because it absorbs the available red light.

Question 24

Two coherent light waves have the same polarization, start in phase, and have wavelength \(600\unit{nm}\). At one point their path lengths differ by \(300\unit{nm}\). For equal amplitudes, what occurs there?

ADestructive interference, because the waves arrive half a cycle apart.BConstructive interference, because both waves have the same wavelength.CConstructive interference, because the path difference is nonzero.DNo interference, because the waves traveled different distances.

Question 25

A student keeps the same pendulum length and bob but changes the release angle. Repeated measurements give a period of \(0.90\unit{s}\) at \(5^\circ\) and \(0.94\unit{s}\) at \(45^\circ\). The difference exceeds the timing uncertainty. What is the best conclusion about the model \(T\)\({}=2\pi\sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}\)?

AThe gravitational field must become weaker whenever the bob is released higher.BThe bob gains mass at the larger release angle.CThe model proves that the two measured periods must be equal, so the data should be discarded.DThe larger-angle trial is outside the model's small-angle assumption, so the longer measured period does not by itself refute the model within its intended range.

Question 26

A wave travels at \(8.0\unit{m/s}\) while the source makes \(4.0\) cycles each second. What is the wavelength?

A\(0.50\unit{m}\)B\(2.0\unit{m}\)C\(32\unit{m}\)D\(12\unit{m}\)

Question 27

Two notes have the same pitch, but one sounds louder. Which wave feature is larger for the louder note?

AFrequencyBPeriodCSpeed in the same airDAmplitude

Question 28

An ideal horizontal mass-spring oscillator passes through equilibrium. How are its energies distributed at that instant?

AKinetic energy is greatest, and spring potential energy is least.BThe total mechanical energy suddenly increases.CBoth energies are zero.DKinetic energy is zero, and spring potential energy is greatest.

Question 29

A small outdoor speaker is modeled as a point source that radiates uniformly in all directions. A listener moves to four times the original distance from the speaker. Ignoring absorption and reflections, what fraction of the original sound intensity reaches the listener?

A\(\frac{1}{4}\) as largeB16 times as largeC\(\frac{1}{16}\) as largeD4 times as large

Question 30

The diagram shows a positive test charge to the right of a fixed positive charge. Which way does the test charge accelerate when released?

Both charges are positive.

AStraight upwardBTo the right, away from the fixed chargeCIt cannot accelerate because both charges are positive.DTo the left, toward the fixed charge

Question 31

A \(4.0\unit{\Omega}\) resistor and a \(5.0\unit{\Omega}\) resistor are connected in series. What is their equivalent resistance?

A\(1.0\unit{\Omega}\)B\(2.0\times10^{1}\unit{\Omega}\)C\(2.2\unit{\Omega}\)D\(9.0\unit{\Omega}\)

Question 32

The current through an electromagnet is reversed without changing its magnitude. In the ideal model, what happens to the magnetic field?

AIts direction and magnitude both stay unchanged.BIts direction stays unchanged while its magnitude doubles.CIts direction reverses while its magnitude stays unchanged.DIts direction reverses while its magnitude is cut in half.

Question 33

The same bar magnet is moved into two otherwise identical coils along the same path and at the same speed. Coil B has twice as many turns as Coil A. Which coil has the larger induced emf?

ACoil A, because fewer turns produce a larger emf.BCoil B, because each changing flux is linked through more turns.CThe two coils have equal induced-emf magnitudes because the magnet's motion matches.DThe induced-emf magnitudes cannot be compared without knowing the wire resistances.

Question 34

A radar echo returns \(4.0\times10^{1}\unit{\mu s}\) after a pulse is sent. Use \(c\)\({}=3.0\times10^8\unit{m/s}\). How far away is the target?

A\(6.0\unit{km}\)B\(3.0\unit{km}\)C\(4.0\times10^{1}\unit{km}\)D\(12\unit{km}\)

Question 35

A light ray leaves glass for air at a nonzero angle below the critical angle. Which change occurs?

AIt slows down and bends toward the normal.BIt speeds up and bends away from the normal.CIt speeds up and bends toward the normal.DIt slows down and bends away from the normal.

Question 36

The diagram shows an object inside the focal length of a converging lens. What image does an observer see through the lens?

An observer looks through the lens from the right.

AAn upright, enlarged virtual image on the object's side of the lensBAn inverted, reduced virtual image on the object's side of the lensCAn inverted, enlarged real image on the far side of the lensDAn upright, reduced real image on the far side of the lens

Question 37

Red light and blue light pass separately through the same narrow slit. Which color produces the wider central diffraction pattern?

ANeither diffracts because both are visible.BRed light, because its wavelength is longer.CBlue light, because its wavelength is shorter.DThey spread equally for every slit.

Question 38

Photons with wavelength \(400\unit{nm}\) strike a surface. The work function, the minimum energy needed for an electron to escape, is \(2.2\unit{eV}\). Use \(E_\gamma\)\({}\approx\frac{1240\unit{eV\,nm}}{\lambda}\). What is the greatest kinetic energy of an emitted electron?

A\(5.3\unit{eV}\)B\(3.1\unit{eV}\)C\(0.90\unit{eV}\)D\(0\unit{eV}\)

Question 39

A sample's activity falls to one eighth of its initial value. How many half-lives have passed?

A3 half-livesB4 half-livesC2 half-livesD8 half-lives

Question 40

Placing paper between a source and detector has little effect on the detector count, but inserting a thin aluminum sheet sharply reduces it. Which radiation is the best match?

AGamma radiationBAlpha radiationCA mixture of alpha and gamma radiationDBeta radiation

High School Physics: Practice Exam 2 Online

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