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A light woman and a heavy man jump from an airplane at the same time and open their same-size parachutes at the same time. Which person will get to the ground first? A) The light woman B) The heavy man […]

An aircraft that flies faster than the speed of sound is said to be A) subsonic. B) supersonic. C) impossible. D) none of the above Spots of sunlight on the ground cast through openings between leaves in trees above are […]

To make a profit a buyer purchases metal by weight at one altitude and sells it at the same price per pound at another altitude. The supplier should A) buy at a high altitude and sell at a low altitude. […]

In which material does light travel fastest? A) glass B) water C) plastic D) air E) same for all The reason a life jacket helps keep you afloat is A) the jacket makes you weigh less. B) the jacket has […]

In our part of the universe, antimatter is A) non-existent. B) plentiful. C) short-lived. D) long-lived. Answer: Harry pulls on the end of a spring attached to a wall. The reaction to Harry’s pull on the spring is A) the […]

Two equal-size vectors at right angles to each other have a resultant that is A) equal to that of either vector. B) √2 the length of either vector. C) twice the length of either vector. The synthesis of a large […]

Which light-emitting process is characterized by an afterglow? A) incandescence. B) fluorescence. C) phosphorescence. D) resonance. E) none of the above Which of these electromagnetic waves have the shortest wavelength? A) radio waves B) infrared waves C) X-rays D) ultraviolet […]

A motorcycle moving at 50 km/h skids 10 m with locked brakes. How far will it skid with locked brakes when traveling at 150 km/h? A) 10 m B) 30 m C) 50 m D) 90 m Answer: The equilibrium […]

A galvanometer indicates A) electric charge. B) a flow of electrons. C) electric voltage. D) magnetic field strength. When a cannonball is fired from a cannon, which undergoes the greater acceleration? A) the cannonball B) the recoiling cannon C) both […]

Phil leans over the edge of a cliff and throws a rock upward at 5 m/s. How far below the level from which it was thrown is the rock 2 seconds later? A) 5 m B) 10 m C) 15 […]

Refraction causes the bottom of a swimming pool to appear A) farther down than it actually is. B) closer to the surface than it actually is. C) neither of these A profound message from all of science is that we […]

An electric heater is rated 300W 110V. The safety fuse in the circuit can withstand 15 A of current. How many heaters can be safely operated in the circuit? A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5 E) more than […]

When ice crystals collapse at the surface of ice, the result is a A) thin film of water. B) slippery surface. C) both of these. D) none of the above Sunlight passing through a pinhole in a piece of card […]

As a solid is gradually heated, it first glows A) red. B) yellow. C) white. D) blue. The first evidence confirming the crystal structure of matter was A) the citing of experiments by Nobel Prize-winning scientists. B) testimonials by crystal-loving […]

A device that shows the bending of particle trails in liquid hydrogen is a A) streamer chamber. B) spark chamber. C) bubble chamber. D) all of the above E) none of the above Answer: In the Doppler effect it is […]

To reduce the danger of self-induction A) simply pull the circuit plug. B) turn off the switch to the circuit. C) either of these D) neither of these Answer: Which of the following are electrically neutral? A) protons B) neutrons […]

A high-frequency sound source produces a high A) speed. B) amplitude. C) pitch. D) all of the above E) none of the above A 60-W and a 100-W light bulb are connected in series to a 120-V outlet. Which bulb […]

When a parcel of air expands against the environment and no heat enters or leaves, its temperature A) increases. B) decreases. C) remains unchanged. Wobbles in the path of Uranus led to the discovery of A) Jupiter. B) Mars. C) […]

Rockets that launch satellites into orbit need less thrust when fired from A) Cape Canaveral in Florida. B) Edwards Air Force Base in California. C) Hawaii. D) location does not affect the required rocket thrust. Answer: The source of electrons […]

Which of the following is a property of light waves and NOT of sound waves? A) frequency B) wavelength C) amplitude D) polarization E) none of the above There is a greater proportion of carbon-14 in A) new bones. B) […]

Double the frequency of musical note and you double its A) wavelength. B) speed. C) amplitude. D) all of the above E) none of the above Two tuning forks produce sounds of wavelengths 3.4 meters and 3.3 meters. Approximately what […]

The work you do when pushing a shopping cart twice as far while applying the same force is A) half as much. B) twice as much. C) four times as much. D) the same amount. A floating leaf oscillates up […]

When 10 grams of hot water cool by 1oC, the amount of heat given off is A) 41.9 calories. B) 41.9 Calories. C) 41.9 joules. D) more than 41.9 joules. E) none of the above Particle A has twice the […]

According to Kepler, the paths of planets about the Sun are A) parabolas. B) circles. C) straight lines. D) ellipses. E) none of the above If a freely falling object were equipped with a speedometer on a planet where the […]

The conversion of mass to energy of other forms via nuclear fission is A) less than 1%. B) about 10%. C) about 20%. D) about 30%. E) more than 30%. Answer: A block of Styrofoam floats on water while a […]

Two light bulbs are connected to a battery, one at a time. The bulb that draws more current has the A) lower resistance, and is brightest. B) lower resistance, but is dimmer. C) higher resistance, and is brightest. D) higher […]

A bare roof on a warmly heated home on a snowy day indicates A) an unwanted flow of heat B) poor insulation. C) fairly good conductivity. D) all of the above The chef at the infamous Fattening Tower of Pizza […]

As a high-altitude balloon rises higher into the atmosphere, it undergoes a decrease in A) volume. B) density. C) weight. D) mass. E) none of the above Superconductors are noted for their A) high electric resistance. B) low electric resistance. […]

If a satellite’s radial velocity is zero at all times, its orbit must be A) parabolic. B) elliptical. C) circular. D) geosynchronous. Answer: When an object absorbs as much as it radiates A) it remains at about the same temperature. […]

Nellie tosses a ball upward at an angle. Neglecting air resistance, the horizontal component of the initial velocity A) decreases with time. B) remains constant. C) increases with time. The frequency of the second hand on a clock is A) […]

If each dimension of a steel bridge is scaled up ten times, its strength will be multiplied by about A) ten and its weight by ten also. B) one hundred, and its weight by one thousand. C) one thousand, and […]

An apple falls from a tree and hits the ground 5 meters below with a speed of about A) 5 m/s. B) 10 m/s. C) 15 m/s. D) 20 m/s. E) not enough information The secondary rainbow is dimmer than […]

The half-life of a radioactive substance is affected by A) pressure. B) temperature. C) age. D) all of the above E) none of the above Answer: A dolphin perceives greater detail by emitting sounds of A) lower frequency. B) higher […]

If a magnet produces a force on a current-carrying wire, the wire A) produces a force on the magnet. B) may or may not produce a force on the magnet. C) none of these Answer: The laser light that can […]

You can swing your legs to and fro more frequently when your legs are A) straight. B) bent. C) same either way When holes are drilled through the wall of a water tower, water will spurt out with the greatest […]

The superposition of identical waves affects A) amplitude. B) wavelength. C) speed. D) all of the above E) none of the above Answer: Which of these is correct? A) a piece of solid iron floats in molten iron. B) a […]

The principal advantage of ac power over dc power is that A) more energy is dissipated during transmission. B) ac voltage oscillates while dc voltage does not. C) ac voltage can be transformed via conventional transformers. D) ac circuits multiply […]

For lunar tides to occur in the human body A) most of the body would have to be in the liquid state. B) Earth’s gravitation would have to be incredibly small. C) parts of the body would have to be […]

A decibel is a measure of a sound’s A) frequency. B) wavelength. C) speed. D) loudness. E) all of the above The most abundant element in the universe is A) hydrogen. B) helium. C) lead. D) uranium. Answer: A If […]

When you’re ready for the hottest sips of coffee, add cream A) right away. B) at any time. C) when you are ready to drink the coffee. What characteristic of light mostly relates to color? A) frequency B) amplitude C) […]

When water is turned on in a shower, the shower curtain moves towards the water spray. This partly involves A) capillary action. B) surface tension. C) pressure changes in moving fluids. D) none of the above Interference is a property […]

If a fictional shrinking man shrinks proportionately to 1/10 his original height, his weight will be multiplied by A) 0.1. B) 0.01. C) 0.001. D) 0.0001. E) none of the above A pair of crossed Polaroids will transmit light A) […]

Radiation dosages based on potential damage is in A) rads. B) rems. C) joules. D) none of the above Answer: It would be easier to pull the evacuated Magdeburg hemispheres apart if they were A) held upside down. B) at […]

When a geyser erupts, pressure at its bottom A) increases. B) decreases. C) is unaffected D) all of the above E) none of the above Electric forces within an atomic nucleus tend to A) hold it together. B) push it […]

While you are standing in the aisle of a bus, the driver suddenly makes a left turn. You lurch to the right due to A) an unbalanced force. B) your tendency to keep moving forward. C) an equilibrium challenge. In […]

Wood does not have magnetic properties because it contains no A) iron or other metals. B) magnetic domains. C) moving electrons. D) none of the above The fact that gasoline overflows a full tank on a hot day is evidence […]

If you quickly run away from the orchestra at a concert, the frequency of the sound you hear will be A) decreased. B) increased. C) neither of these. Science and technology are A) responsible for all the good in the […]

Ice crystals in nearly frozen liquid water make up a A) microscopic slush. B) region of lower density. C) both of these D) neither of these The air that you breathe doesn’t emit visible light indicates that most of the […]

If an elephant grows proportionally to twice its height, its weight would be multiplied by about A) 2. B) 4. C) 6. D) 8. E) none of the above Due to inertia, perhaps a railroad train in motion should continue […]

Science later greatly advanced when Galileo favored A) philosophical discussions over experiment. B) experiment over philosophical discussions. C) nonmathematical thinking. D) none of the above Answer: The average speed of light is greatest in A) red glass. B) orange glass. […]

According to the well-known equation E = mc2, A) mass and energy travel at the speed of light squared. B) energy is actually mass traveling at the speed of light squared. C) mass and energy travel at twice the speed […]

Into which stable force field can a proton be placed at rest without being acted upon by a force? A) magnetic field B) electric field C) both of these D) neither of these Answer: The lower the temperature of an […]

An asteroid exerts a 360-N gravitational force on a nearby spacecraft. The 360-N force on the spacecraft is directed A) toward the asteroid. B) away from the asteroid. C) toward the Sun. A jet traveling at 1500 km/h passes overhead. […]

The mass of an atomic nucleon is nearly A) twice that of an electron. B) four times that of an electron. C) a thousand times that of an electron. D) two thousand times that of an electron. Answer: A rock […]

Assume that 10 J of work pushes a charge initially at rest into an electric field. If the charge is then released, it flies back to its starting position with a kinetic energy of A) zero. B) 5 J. C) […]

Electrical forces inside a nucleus contribute to nuclear A) stability. B) instability. C) both of these D) neither of these A single brick falls with acceleration g. The reason a double brick falls with the same acceleration is A) that […]

The absorption of an infrared photon that excites an atom to emit a green photon A) occurs in plants. B) occurs in the process of phosphorescence. C) would violate the law of energy conservation. D) all of the above E) […]

When an ice cube in a glass of water melts, the water level A) rises. B) falls. C) remains the same. When light passes through common windowpane, its angle of emergence is A) usually less than its angle of incidence. […]

When Eddie Electron experiences an electrical shock, the source of electrons composing the shock is A) the ground beneath Eddie’s feet. B) Eddie’s body. C) the power plant. D) whatever electric device being handled. E) electric field in the air. […]

An object that completes 10 vibrations in 20 seconds has a frequency of A) 0.5 hertz. B) 2 hertz. C) 200 hertz. Flatten a spherical meatball into a hamburger and you increase its A) surface area. B) volume. C) both […]

The temperature of outer space is A) zero. B) about 2.7 kelvin. C) meaningless. D) none of the above The net force acting on an insect falling downward at constant velocity is A) zero. B) the weight of the insect. […]

A skydiver’s terminal velocity will be greatest if she falls A) head first. B) lying flat on her back. C) lying flat on her stomach. D) with her parachute open. A rock weighs 30 N on Earth and another rock […]

Current that is typically 60 hertz is A) direct current. B) alternating current. C) either of these D) neither of these Answer: In an electrically neutral atom the number of protons in the nucleus is equal to the number of […]

A main difference between gravitational and electric forces is that electrical forces A) attract. B) repel or attract. C) obey the inverse-square law. D) act over shorter distances. E) are weaker. Answer: Reflected light from the Moon in a lake […]

Surface tension of liquids A) increases when wetting agents are added. B) decreases as the liquid temperature increases. C) is about the same for all liquids. D) results from a thin molecular membrane beneath the liquid surface. E) keeps steel […]

A red-hot piece of coal will cool quicker in a A) cold room. B) warm over. C) both the same. In a circuit powered by a battery, charge A) flows through the battery. B) is energized by the battery. C) […]

A large block of wood and a smaller block of iron on weighing scales both register 1 ton. Taking buoyancy of air into account, which has the greater mass? A) wood B) iron C) both have the same mass. D) […]

Your weight as measured on your bathroom scale is A) equal to your mass. B) the force due to gravity on you. C) a property of mechanical equilibrium. D) all of the above A car traveling at 100 km/h strikes […]

Sound waves can interfere with one another so that no sound results. A) True B) False C) Either, depending on the air temperature. A weightless spring is stretched 10 cm by a suspended 1-kg block. If two such springs are […]

The force responsible for a car moving steadily along a no-friction icy banked curve is due to A) centrifugal effects. B) the normal force at right angles to the curved surface. C) the radial component of the normal force. D) […]

U-235 and Pu-239 are both A) radioactive isotopes. B) fissionable isotopes. C) heavier than lead. D) all of the above E) none of the above Escape speed from Mars is A) about the same as from Earth. B) greater than […]

For an isotope with a half-life of one day, at the end of three days the amount that remains is A) none. B) one-half. C) one-quarter. D) one-eighth. E) none of the above If the volume of an object were […]

An object’s weight is properly expressed in units of A) meters. B) kilograms. C) newtons. D) cubic centimeters. The source of a sonic boom A) must be a sound emitter. B) may or may not be a sound emitter. C) […]

When bullets are fired from an airplane in the forward direction, the momentum of the airplane is A) decreased. B) unchanged. C) increased. When an elevator is accelerating upward, the frequency of a pendulum inside A) increases. B) decreases. C) […]

The best visible safety light in the darkroom that will emit low-energy photons is A) violet. B) blue. C) green. D) any of the above E) none of the above What is the threshold of hearing? A) 0.1 decibel B) […]

Distant bright snowy mountains appear yellowish because A) they are far away. B) blue has been scattered away from light reflected from the mountains. C) the color yellow looks just right. D) of nature’s wonderful preferences. Phil leans over the […]

Which of the following has the longer wavelength? A) a low-energy electron B) a high-energy electron C) both the same D) none of the above An efficient step-up transformer boosts A) energy. B) power. C) voltage. D) all of the […]

Which is an example of matter in a plasma phase? A) dry ice B) a torch flame C) molten lava D) liquid hydrogen E) none of the above Two planets in space gravitationally attract each other. If both the masses […]

Neon signs require about 12,000 volts to operate. If the circuit uses a 120-volt power source, the ratio of primary to secondary turns on the transformer should be A) 1 primary to 100 secondary. B) 100 primary to 1 secondary. […]

Whenever the net force on an object is zero, its acceleration A) may be less than zero. B) is zero. C) may be more than zero. Diffuse reflection occurs when the size of surface irregularities is A) small compared to […]

In the formation of a cloud, moist air rises and A) expands. B) cools. C) condenses. D) all of the above E) none of the above Answer: Two life preservers have identical volumes, one filled with Styrofoam and the other […]

A projectile that is fired vertically from the surface of Earth at 8 km/s will A) go into circular orbit about Earth. B) rise and fall back to Earth’s surface. C) follow an uncertain path. D) escape from Earth. A […]