Physics Conceptual Questions

Questions and Answers

What are the base units for length, mass and time in the SI system?

Mass, Kilogram and seconds

Give 2 examples of derived units in the SI system.

Newtons and Liters

How many significant figures does 300.0 m/s have?

If two marbles roll off either side of a table at the same time but with different velocities, which marble hits the ground first?

Same time Signup and view all the answers

When a cannon launches two projectiles with the same initial speed, which launched at 20 degrees and which at 70 degrees travels a greater horizontal distance?

Same distance Signup and view all the answers

Which projectile, launched at 20 degrees or 70 degrees, spends more time in the air?

Projectile B (70 degrees) Signup and view all the answers

For a projectile launched horizontally, what happens to the horizontal component of its velocity?

Remains a non-zero constant (Vx = Vxo) Signup and view all the answers

When a golf ball reaches its maximum altitude, what is its velocity?

Horizontal Signup and view all the answers

If you want to cross a river in a boat in the least amount of time, what should you do?

Head straight across the river Signup and view all the answers

In the absence of air resistance, at what launch angle should a cannon be aimed to reach the greatest range?

45 Signup and view all the answers

When you throw a tennis ball to a friend, who catches it at the same height, how does the time to reach maximum altitude compare to total time in air?

In half the time it is in the air Signup and view all the answers

If the net force on an object is zero, what does that imply?

The object is either at rest or moving at a constant velocity Signup and view all the answers

If you apply the same force to a car and a truck, where the truck has twice the mass of the car, what can be said about their accelerations?

The car will have twice the acceleration of the truck Signup and view all the answers

If you push a heavy object with an angle, how does the normal force compare to the weight force on the object?

Normal force is greater than the weight Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a 25,000 kg truck collides with a 2,500 kg car in terms of the forces exerted?

The force on the truck is the same as the force on the car (equal and opposite reactions) Signup and view all the answers

Comparing work against gravity and power used, which twin did more work after taking the stairs when one took 30s and the other took 15s?

Twin B Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix giga- mean?

10^9 Signup and view all the answers

What can unit analysis of an equation tell you?

The equation is dimensionally correct Signup and view all the answers

What does a scalar quantity have?

Only magnitude Signup and view all the answers

What does a vector quantity have?

Both direction and magnitude Signup and view all the answers

Distance is to displacement as speed is to what?

Velocity Signup and view all the answers

An acceleration may result from what?

Increase in speed, decrease in speed, or a change in direction Signup and view all the answers

When an object is thrown straight upward, what is true at its maximum height?

Its velocity is zero Signup and view all the answers

In a constant linear acceleration scenario, the velocity time graph is described as what?

A non-horizontal and non-vertical straight line Signup and view all the answers

What type of object does free fall motion apply to?

An object dropped from rest, an object thrown vertically downward, and an object thrown vertically upwards Signup and view all the answers

What does a unit vector have?

Magnitude and direction Signup and view all the answers

What is the force required to keep a rocket ship moving at a constant velocity in deep space?

Zero Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the acceleration of an object and net force and mass?

Directly proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to its mass Signup and view all the answers

What can be said about the action-reaction forces in Newton's third law?

Act on different objects Signup and view all the answers

What can be said about the coefficient of kinetic friction?

Is usually smaller than the coefficient of static friction Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a pitcher throws a fastball and the catcher catches it?

Negative work is done Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

Work and kinetic energy Signup and view all the answers

What does a change in gravitational potential energy depend on?

Depends only on the initial and final positions Signup and view all the answers

What can the reference point for gravitational potential energy be?

Zero, negative or positive Signup and view all the answers

If a nonconservative force acts on an object and does work, what does that imply?

The mechanical energy is not conserved Signup and view all the answers

If two springs are identical except for their spring constants k2 > k1, what happens when the same force is applied?

Spring 1 will be stretched farther than spring 2 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a unit of power?

Watts x seconds Signup and view all the answers

What does impulse have the same units as?

Momentum Signup and view all the answers

Impulse is equal to what?

The change in momentum Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

SI Units

Base units in the SI system are length (meter), mass (kilogram), and time (seconds).
Derived units examples: Newtons (force) and Liters (volume).

Significant Figures and Projectile Motion

The measurement 300.0 m/s contains four significant figures.
Two marbles rolling off a table will hit the ground at the same time, regardless of their initial velocities.
Projectiles A (20 degrees) and B (70 degrees) launched with the same speed will travel the same horizontal distance but projectile B will spend more time in the air.

Projectile Motion Characteristics

A horizontally launched projectile maintains a constant horizontal velocity.
At maximum altitude, a thrown golf ball has horizontal velocity with no vertical speed.
To minimize crossing time, a boat should travel straight across the river.
For maximum range, launch angle should be 45 degrees.
A thrown tennis ball reaches its maximum altitude in half the time it is in the air.

Newton's Laws and Forces

An object with zero net force is at rest or moving at a constant velocity.
When equal forces are applied to a car and a truck, the car with half the mass will accelerate twice as much.
Normal force can be greater than the weight when an object is pushed at an angle.

Forces in Collisions

During a collision between a 25,000 kg truck and a 2,500 kg car, the forces experienced by both vehicles are equal and opposite.

Work and Power

Working against gravity, Twin B, who climbed faster, exerted more power while both twins did the same amount of work against gravity.

Units and Measurements

The prefix "giga-" represents 10^9.
Dimensional analysis checks if equations are dimensionally correct.
A scalar quantity has only magnitude, while a vector has both magnitude and direction.

Motion and Acceleration

Distance relates to displacement as speed relates to velocity.
An object can accelerate by speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.
A thrown object will have zero velocity at its maximum height.
A velocity vs. time graph for constant linear acceleration is a straight line.

Mechanical Energy

Free fall applies to objects dropped from rest or thrown vertically either upward or downward.
A unit vector has both magnitude and direction.
No force is needed to maintain constant velocity in deep space due to lack of resistance.
Acceleration depends on the net force applied and is inversely proportional to mass.

Newton's Third Law

Action-reaction forces act on different objects, maintaining conservation principles in physics.

Friction and Energy

Kinetic friction is generally less than static friction.
A pitcher throwing a fastball does negative work when caught.
Work and kinetic energy are scalar quantities.

Potential Energy

Changes in gravitational potential energy depend solely on initial and final positions.
Gravitational potential energy reference points can be set at zero, negative, or positive values.
Nonconservative forces causing work imply that mechanical energy is not conserved.

Springs and Power Units

Identical springs with different spring constants will stretch differently under the same force.
Watts x seconds is not a valid unit of power.

Impulse and Momentum

Impulse shares units with momentum and is equivalent to the change in momentum.

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