Question 1

Which of the following best describes the 'particle model' in physics?

Accepted Answer

An object that can be represented as a mass at a single point in space.

Question 2

A motion diagram of a car shows the distance between each position increasing over time. What does this indicate about the car's motion?

Accepted Answer

The car is speeding up.

Question 3

Which of the following quantities is a vector and requires both magnitude and direction for its complete description?

Accepted Answer

Velocity

Question 4

Given two vectors $$\vec{A}$$ and $$\vec{B}$$, how do you graphically determine $$\vec{A} + \vec{B}$$?

Accepted Answer

Place the tail of $$\vec{B} at $$the tip of $$\vec{A}$$ and draw an arrow from the tail of $$\vec{A} to $$the tip of $$\vec{B}.$$

Question 5

A cyclist is riding at 20 mph, sees a stop sign, and comes to a complete stop in 4 s. He then accelerates back to 20 mph in 6 s. Which statement about his acceleration is correct?

Accepted Answer

His acceleration is negative while stopping and positive while speeding up.

Question 6

Which of the following is the correct SI unit for mass?

Accepted Answer

Kilogram (kg)

Question 7

A ball is tossed straight up in the air. At its very highest point, what is the direction of the ball's acceleration vector?

Accepted Answer

It points down.

Question 8

If a particle is slowing down while moving in the positive x-direction, what are the signs of its velocity $$v_x$$ and acceleration $$a_x$$?

Accepted Answer

$$v_x is $$positive, $$a_x is $$negative.

Question 9

Which of the following is the correct formula for average velocity $$\vec{v}_{avg}$$ over a time interval $$\Delta t$$ with displacement $$\Delta \vec{r}$$?

Accepted Answer

$$\vec{v}_{avg} = \frac{\Delta \vec{r}}{\Delta t}$$

Question 10

A rocket accelerates upward at $$30\ \mathrm{m/s^2$}$$ for 5 seconds before running out of fuel. Neglecting air resistance, what is the rocket's velocity at the moment it runs out of fuel?

Accepted Answer

$$v = 150\ \mathrm{m/s}$$

Question 11

Which of the following statements about significant figures is correct?

Accepted Answer

The number of significant figures in the answer should match the least precisely known input value.

Question 12

A student walks to school and her position-versus-time graph is a straight line with a positive slope. What does this indicate about her motion?

Accepted Answer

She is moving at a constant speed in the positive direction.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT part of a complete pictorial representation of a physics problem?

Accepted Answer

A written paragraph describing the object's color.

Question 14

A skier glides along horizontal snow at constant speed, then speeds up going down a hill. Which statement about the skier's acceleration is correct?

Accepted Answer

Acceleration is zero on the horizontal and positive on the hill.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of an order-of-magnitude estimate?

Accepted Answer

Estimating the mass of a car as $$\sim 10^3$ kg.

Question 16

If a car travels 100 meters in 5 seconds, what is its average speed in meters per second?

Accepted Answer

$$20\ \mathrm{m/s}$$

Question 17

Which of the following prefixes represents $$10^{-6} in SI $$units?

Accepted Answer

micro-

Question 18

A position-versus-time graph for a car shows the position decreasing over time, then remaining constant, then increasing. What is the most likely interpretation?

Accepted Answer

A car that drives to the left, stops, then drives to the right.

Question 19

Which of the following is the correct formula for average acceleration $$\vec{a}_{avg}$$?

Accepted Answer

$$\vec{a}_{avg} = \frac{\Delta \vec{v}}{\Delta t}$$

Concepts of Motion – Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Chapter 1 Study Notes)

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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