Question 1

A motion diagram shows the position of an object at several equally spaced instants of time. If the images in the diagram are equally spaced, what does this indicate about the object's motion?

Accepted Answer

The object is moving with constant speed.

Question 2

A sprinter runs one complete lap around a 38 m track in 10 seconds, starting and ending at the same point. What is the sprinter's average velocity?

Accepted Answer

$0\ \mathrm{m/s}$

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the difference between speed and velocity?

Accepted Answer

Velocity is a vector quantity, speed is a scalar quantity.

Question 4

A car accelerates from $10\ \mathrm{m/s}$ to $30\ \mathrm{m/s}$ in $15\ \mathrm{s}$. What is its average acceleration?

Accepted Answer

$1.33\ \mathrm{m/s^2}$

Question 5

Which of the following is a derived SI unit?

Accepted Answer

Meter per second squared ($\mathrm{m/s^2}$)

Question 6

A Mars orbiter was destroyed because two engineering teams used different unit systems. Which principle of physics does this incident illustrate?

Accepted Answer

The necessity of dimensional analysis and unit consistency.

Question 7

If an object's velocity vector is increasing, what is the direction of the acceleration vector relative to the velocity vector?

Accepted Answer

Same direction.

Question 8

Convert $60\ \mathrm{miles/hour}$ to $\mathrm{m/s}$ using the conversion $1\ \mathrm{mile} = 1.61\ \mathrm{km}$.

Accepted Answer

$16.7\ \mathrm{m/s}$

Question 9

Which of the following statements about significant figures is correct?

Accepted Answer

Trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point are not significant.

Question 10

A position vs. time graph for an object moving with constant velocity is:

Accepted Answer

A straight line with constant slope.

Question 11

Which equation correctly expresses average velocity?

Accepted Answer

$\vec{v}_{avg} = \dfrac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$

Question 12

An object is slowing down while moving to the right. What is the direction of its acceleration vector?

Accepted Answer

To the left.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental SI unit?

Accepted Answer

Newton

Question 14

A student walks 500 m east in 10 minutes, then 500 m west in 10 minutes. What is the student's average speed and average velocity for the entire trip?

Accepted Answer

Average speed: $0.83\ \mathrm{m/s}$, Average velocity: $0\ \mathrm{m/s}$

Question 15

Which of the following is a correct statement about dimensional analysis?

Accepted Answer

It ensures that both sides of an equation have the same units.

Question 16

A rocket's motion diagram shows increasing spacing between consecutive positions. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

The rocket is speeding up.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

$\mathrm{m/s^2}$

Question 18

If a car stops for a red light, what does the motion diagram show about the spacing between images?

Accepted Answer

Spacing decreases.

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct conversion factor for length?

Accepted Answer

$1\ \mathrm{inch} = 2.54\ \mathrm{cm}$

Question 20

A position vs. time graph for non-uniform motion is:

Accepted Answer

A curve.

Foundations of Physics: Motion, Velocity, and Acceleration

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