Describing the Physical Universe

____ is exchanged any time something gets hotter, colder, faster, slower, or changes in any other observable way.
1. matter
2. energy
____ are those that are changed in an experiment to test some aspect of a physical system.
1. Control variables
2. Experimental variables
3. Control analysis
4. Experimental analysis
Generally, as more energy is added to a system it becomes:
1. less stable.
2. more stable.
The distance an object travels may be calculated by ____ the speed of an object by the time of travel.
1. dividing
2. adding
3. multiplying
4. subtracting
All of these are very important parts of studying physics EXCEPT:
1. describing the organization of the universe.
2. understanding natural laws.
3. memorizing complicated explanations.
4. deducing and applying natural laws.
A carefully designed test done under controlled conditions is called a(n):
1. natural law.
2. experiment.
3. common law.
4. analysis.
A factor that affects the behavior of a system is called a(n):
1. natural law.
2. experiment.
3. analysis.
4. variable.
The scientific method is a process used to solve many problems. One of the first steps is:
1. collecting data.
2. analyzing data.
3. asking a question.
4. drawing a conclusion.
A variable that remains unchanged throughout an experiment is called the:
1. control variable.
2. experimental variable.
3. independent variable.
4. dependent variable.
Compared to a laboratory cart at the top of a ramp, a cart at the bottom of the ramp has:
1. more energy and less stability.
2. less energy and more stability.
3. more energy and more stability.
4. less energy and less stability.
Of the following objects, the one which has the most mass is:
1. the Goodyear blimp.
2. a silver dollar.
3. a piece of notebook paper.
4. a physics textbook.
Robin measures the force needed to pull a wagon up an incline as more weight is added. In this investigation, weight is the ____ variable.
1. control
2. dependent
3. independent
4. natural
The unit of time used most commonly by physicists and other scientists is the ____.
1. second
2. minute
3. hour
4. light year
The independent variable on a graph can be described as the variable:
1. represented on the x-axis.
2. causing the change in the experimental system.
3. over which a scientist has direct control when designing the experiment.
4. defined by all of these statements.
The conversion factor for changing one unit of length to another in the metric system is a multiple of:
1. 3.
2. 10.
3. 12.
4. 5,280.
Because it is based on factors of 10 and is easy to work with, scientists prefer to use the ____ system.
1. metric
2. English
3. scientific
4. control
The length of a new pencil is closest to:
1. 5 millimeters.
2. 20 centimeters.
3. 1.5 meters.
4. 2 kilometers.
Which of the lists show units arranged in order from smallest to largest?
1. Millimeter, centimeter, kilometer, meter
2. Centimeter, meter, kilometer, millimeter
3. Millimeter, centimeter, meter, kilometer
4. Meter, kilometer, millimeter, centimeter
Which of the following lists of mass units are arranged in order from smallest to largest?
1. Gigagram, microgram, kilogram, megagram
2. Microgram, centigram, kilogram, gigagram
3. Milligram, microgram, centigram, kilogram
4. Megagram, kilogram, centigram, milligram
How many seconds are in a stopwatch showing 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 5 seconds?
1. 68 seconds
2. 245 seconds
3. 3,785 seconds
4. 10,805 seconds
Orlando measures the brightness of a flashlight bulb as he adds more batteries to the circuit. If he prepares a graph of the data:
1. the number of batteries should be represented on the x-axis.
2. the brightness of the flashlight bulb should be represented on the x-axis.
3. it doesn’t matter which variable he places on the x-axis.
4. he will need more information before deciding where to place the variables.
On his way to a concert, John stops at the mall to buy some camera film. If you divide the distance he travels to the concert by his average speed for the entire trip, you are calculating:
1. speed.
2. distance.
3. time interval.
4. mixed units.
If you know the distance traveled and the amount of time it took, speed may be calculated by:
1. dividing time by distance.
2. multiplying time by distance.
3. dividing distance by time.
4. multiplying distance squared by time.
Of the following, which equation does NOT correctly represent a relationship between distance, time and speed?
1. Distance equals speed multiplied by time.
2. Speed equals time multiplied by distance.
3. Time equals distance divided by speed.
4. Speed equals distance divided by time.
The speed of a cheetah running 300 yards in 10 seconds is:
1. 30 yards per second.
2. 3,000 yards per minute.
3. 30,000 miles per hour.
4. None of these.
Doug rides a motorcycle at an average speed of 42 miles per hour for 3.6 hours. The distance he travels is about ____ miles.
1. 11
2. 38
3. 47
4. 150
Gwennen rides her bicycle 2.4 kilometers up a steep hill in 8 minutes. Her speed is ____ kilometers per minute.
1. 0.3
2. 0.6
3. 3.3
4. 19
A professional LPGA golfer walks at an average rate of 3.20 feet per second on the golf course. The amount of time required for her to walk from the tee to a green 612 feet away is:
1. 0.544 minutes.
2. 1.91 minutes.
3. 1,958 seconds.
4. 191 seconds.

Describing the Physical Universe

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