College Physics 1 Midterm Exam

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1.  He formulated the laws of motion.

Explanation

Newton is the correct answer because he is the scientist who formulated the laws of motion. Newton's laws of motion are fundamental principles in physics that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting upon it. These laws revolutionized the field of physics and laid the foundation for understanding motion and mechanics. Galileo, Aristotle, and Copernicus were also influential scientists, but they did not formulate the laws of motion.

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Mechanics Quizzes & Trivia

This College Physics 1 Midterm Exam assesses foundational concepts in physics, focusing on classical mechanics. It covers historical scientific figures, basic motion principles, and laws of motion, essential for students pursuing physics or related fields.

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2. It is defined as the rate of change in velocity.

Explanation

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change in velocity. Velocity is the rate at which an object changes its position, while speed is the rate at which an object covers distance. Since acceleration specifically refers to the change in velocity, it is the correct answer.

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3. (Solve for the missing variable.)
d = 20 m t = 5 s v = ?

Explanation

The formula to solve for velocity is v = d/t, where v is the velocity, d is the distance, and t is the time. In this case, the distance (d) is given as 20 m and the time (t) is given as 5 s. Plugging these values into the formula, we get v = 20 m / 5 s = 4 m/s. Therefore, the correct answer is 4 m/s.

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4. Whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on  the first is stated by what law? 

Explanation

The correct answer is "Law of action reaction." This law, also known as Newton's third law of motion, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, when one object exerts a force on another object, the second object will exert a force back on the first object that is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. This law helps explain how forces interact between objects and is fundamental in understanding the principles of motion.

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5. (Solve for the missing variable.)
d = 30 m v = 15 m/s t = ?

Explanation

The formula to solve for time is distance divided by velocity. In this case, the distance is given as 30 meters and the velocity is given as 15 m/s. By dividing 30 meters by 15 m/s, we get a time of 2 seconds. Therefore, the correct answer is 2 seconds.

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6. The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object,          and is inversely proportional to the mass of the object.  

Explanation

The given statement is an explanation of the Law of Acceleration, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This means that the more force applied to an object, the greater its acceleration will be. Similarly, the larger the mass of an object, the smaller its acceleration will be for a given force. This law helps to understand how forces affect the motion of objects.

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7. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
A hard punching boxer has always the tendency to break his hand after the fight.

Explanation

The law of action reaction can explain the situation where a hard punching boxer has a tendency to break his hand after a fight. According to this law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the boxer throws a powerful punch, the force exerted on the opponent's body is also exerted back on the boxer's hand. This reaction force can be strong enough to cause injury or breakage in the boxer's hand. Therefore, the law of action reaction is the most suitable explanation for this situation.

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8. (Solve for the missing variable.)
t = 10 s v = 20 m/s d = ?

Explanation

The equation to solve for distance (d) is d = v * t. Given that the time (t) is 10 seconds and the velocity (v) is 20 m/s, we can substitute these values into the equation to find the distance. Multiplying 20 m/s by 10 seconds gives us a distance of 200 meters.

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9. For the following questions marked A-E, refer to this situations.
It only takes 10 seconds for a car to travel a distance of 200 meters.

A. What is the car’s speed?






Explanation

The car's speed can be calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the time it takes. In this case, the car travels a distance of 200 meters in 10 seconds. Dividing 200 meters by 10 seconds gives a speed of 20 m/s.

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10. C.  If the car’s speed is reduced to half,  how far can it travel for a minute?







Explanation

If the car's speed is reduced to half, it means that it will take twice the time to travel the same distance. Since it originally traveled 600m in a minute, if its speed is reduced to half, it will still travel the same distance of 600m but it will take 2 minutes instead of 1. Therefore, the car can travel 600m in a minute even if its speed is reduced to half.

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11. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
Pushing a cart harder can make it moves faster.

Explanation

The law of acceleration can explain the given situation. According to this law, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force applied to it and inversely proportional to its mass. When a cart is pushed harder, a greater force is applied to it, resulting in a greater acceleration. As a result, the cart moves faster.

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12. Considering that you will walk to school with this average speed, how long it takes for you to arrive to school?        




Explanation

Based on the given options, the correct answer is 16.67 minutes. This means that it will take you 16.67 minutes to arrive at school if you walk at the given average speed.

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13. For questions marked F - J, refer to the following situation.
A stone is dropped from the top of a building and it takes 3 seconds for the stone to reach the ground.


F. What is the acceleration of the stone?




Explanation

The correct answer is 9.8 m/s2. This is because the acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s2. When an object is in free fall, like the stone in this situation, it experiences a constant acceleration towards the Earth due to gravity. Therefore, the acceleration of the stone is 9.8 m/s2.

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14. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
 Punching a wall harder also cause greater damage to your hand.

Explanation

The Law of Action Reaction states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the case of punching a wall, when you punch the wall with more force, the wall exerts an equal and opposite force back on your hand. This increased force results in greater damage to your hand, as the impact is stronger. Therefore, the Law of Action Reaction can explain why punching a wall harder causes greater damage to your hand.

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15. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
A car at rest can accelerate if you push it and even accelerates more if your friend will help you pushing it.

Explanation

The given situation can be explained by the Law of Acceleration. According to this law, an object will accelerate when a net force is applied to it. In this case, when the car is pushed, a force is applied to it, causing it to accelerate. Additionally, when the friend helps in pushing the car, the force applied increases, resulting in a greater acceleration. Therefore, the Law of Acceleration best explains the situation.

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16. Compute the speed of a 1000-kg truck if its momentum is 20 000 kgm/s. a.  20 m/s b.   2 m/s c.    0.2 m/s d.   0.02 m/s

Explanation

The momentum of an object is defined as the product of its mass and velocity. In this case, the momentum of the truck is given as 20,000 kgm/s. To find the velocity, we can rearrange the equation to solve for velocity. Dividing both sides of the equation by the mass of the truck (1000 kg), we get velocity = momentum/mass. Plugging in the values, we get velocity = 20,000 kgm/s / 1000 kg = 20 m/s. Therefore, the correct answer is 20 m/s.

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17. This law states that every material object continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion
    in a straight line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it. 

Explanation

The correct answer is "Law of inertia." This law states that objects will remain at rest or continue moving in a straight line at a constant speed unless acted upon by an external force. It explains the tendency of objects to resist changes in their motion.

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18. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
You tend to be thrown forward inside a bus if the bus suddenly stops.

Explanation

The law of inertia can explain why you tend to be thrown forward inside a bus if the bus suddenly stops. According to this law, an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force. In this situation, when the bus suddenly stops, your body tends to continue moving forward due to its inertia. Since there is no external force acting on your body to stop it, you experience a forward motion, causing you to be thrown forward inside the bus.

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19. I.  What happened to the stone’s speed as it moves downward?




Explanation

As the stone moves downward, its speed increases. This is because the stone is accelerating due to the force of gravity. As it falls, the force of gravity pulls it downward, causing it to gain speed. The longer it falls, the faster it gets. Therefore, the correct answer is "increases".

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20.  It means inertia in motion.

Explanation

Momentum refers to the quantity of motion an object has, taking into account both its mass and velocity. It is a measure of how difficult it is to stop or change the motion of an object. The statement "It means inertia in motion" suggests that momentum is related to the concept of inertia, which is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion. Therefore, the correct answer is momentum.

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21. It simply means the change in momentum.

Explanation

Impulse is the correct answer because it refers to the change in momentum. Momentum is a measure of an object's motion, and impulse is the force applied to an object over a certain time period, resulting in a change in momentum. Therefore, impulse is directly related to the change in momentum. Acceleration and velocity are not the correct answers because they do not specifically refer to the change in momentum.

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22.   He was the first to direct the telescope to the sky and also known as the father of experimental science.

Explanation

Galileo is the correct answer because he was the first to direct the telescope to the sky, which allowed him to make astronomical observations and discoveries. He is also known as the father of experimental science because he conducted numerous experiments and made significant contributions to the scientific method. Aristotle, Copernicus, and Plato were all influential philosophers and thinkers, but they did not have the same impact on astronomy and experimental science as Galileo did.

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23.  It is the measure of how fast something is moving. It is the rate at which distance is covered, and is always measured in terms of a unit of distance divided by a unit of time.

Explanation

Speed is the correct answer because it is the measure of how fast something is moving. It is the rate at which distance is covered, and is always measured in terms of a unit of distance divided by a unit of time. Velocity is similar to speed but it also includes the direction of motion. Acceleration refers to the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. None of the choices does not accurately describe the measure of how fast something is moving.

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24. B.  If this speed is used by the same car to travel for a minute, how far does this car can go?






Explanation

The correct answer is 1,200 m. If the car is traveling at a certain speed for a minute, we can calculate the distance it can cover by multiplying the speed by the time. Since the speed is not given in the question, we cannot calculate the exact distance. However, based on the answer choices provided, the only reasonable option is 1,200 m.

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25. Which of the following has velocity? 

Explanation

The airplane flying through North at a distance of 100 m for every 2 seconds has velocity. Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both magnitude (speed) and direction. In this case, the airplane is moving in a specific direction (North) and covering a specific distance (100 m) in a specific time (2 seconds). Therefore, it has velocity.

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26. If you are inside a bus traveling at a constant speed of 80 km/h, your speed is also 80 km/hr as stated by what law of motion? 






Explanation

The correct answer is the Law of Inertia. According to this law, an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. In this case, the person inside the bus is also moving at a constant speed of 80 km/h because of the inertia of their own body.

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27. Always wearing your seatbelt inside a moving car to keep you safe in case of accident is the result of your awareness of what law of motion?        

Explanation

Wearing a seatbelt inside a moving car is the result of your awareness of the law of inertia. The law of inertia states that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. By wearing a seatbelt, you are protecting yourself from being thrown forward in the event of a sudden stop or collision, as the seatbelt applies an external force to keep you in place and prevent you from continuing to move forward.

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28. For questions marked K - M, refer to this situation.
The average walking speed of a person is 2 m/s. Normally, you left from home, 2km from school, at 7:00 am .


K.   If your first period class will start at 7:30 am, is this speed     enough?



Explanation

The average walking speed of a person is 2 m/s. If you left home at 7:00 am and the school is 2 km away, it will take you 2 km / 2 m/s = 1000 seconds to reach the school. Since there are 60 seconds in a minute, it will take you 1000 seconds / 60 seconds = 16.67 minutes to reach the school. Therefore, you will arrive earlier than 7:30 am.

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29.   Compute the momentum (mv) of a car 200-kg car with a speed of 10 m/s.




Explanation

The momentum of an object is calculated by multiplying its mass (m) by its velocity (v). In this case, the car has a mass of 200 kg and a speed of 10 m/s. Therefore, the momentum can be calculated as 200 kg * 10 m/s = 2000 kgm/s.

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30. J. What is the stone’s speed 1 second after it was dropped?





Explanation

The stone's speed 1 second after it was dropped is 9.8 m/s. This is because the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s², and the stone is in free fall. In the absence of any other forces, the stone's speed will increase by 9.8 m/s every second. Therefore, after 1 second, its speed will be 9.8 m/s.

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31. What time do you exactly arrive to school?




Explanation

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32. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
What law explains why an object that is dropped from a moving object always follow a curve path before it lands

Explanation

The law of inertia, also known as Newton's first law of motion, can explain why an object that is dropped from a moving object always follows a curved path before it lands. According to this law, an object at rest or in motion will continue to stay in its state of motion unless acted upon by an external force. In this case, when the object is dropped from a moving object, it continues to move forward with the same horizontal velocity as the moving object due to its inertia. However, gravity acts as an external force, causing the object to accelerate downward. This combination of horizontal motion and vertical acceleration results in a curved path before the object lands.

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33. 38. Which of the following has the momentum?

Explanation

The correct answer is an ant carrying his food towards his home. Momentum is the product of an object's mass and velocity, and it is a measure of how difficult it is to stop the object's motion. While all the other options listed are objects, only the ant carrying his food towards his home is in motion, indicating that it has momentum.

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34. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
 It is always dangerous to have no seatbelt during fast rides.

Explanation

The law of inertia can explain why it is dangerous to have no seatbelt during fast rides. According to this law, an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. Therefore, if a fast ride suddenly stops or changes direction, a person without a seatbelt will continue moving at the same speed and in the same direction, potentially causing them to be thrown from the ride or collide with other objects.

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35. D.  If the car is using the same speed as in item C, how long will it takes for the car to travel a distance of 1000 meter?





Explanation

If the car is using the same speed as in item C, it will take 100 seconds for the car to travel a distance of 1000 meters. This is because the car's speed remains constant, so it will cover the distance in the same amount of time as before.

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36.  He first proposed the heliocentric (sun is the center) theory of the universe.

Explanation

Copernicus is the correct answer because he was the first to propose the heliocentric theory of the universe, which states that the sun is at the center of the solar system and the planets revolve around it. This theory challenged the prevailing belief at the time that the Earth was the center of the universe. Copernicus' work laid the foundation for modern astronomy and had a significant impact on our understanding of the universe.

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37. E.  If the car’ speed in item D is reduced to another half, what will be the car’s speed now?








Explanation

If the car's speed is reduced to another half, it means that the current speed is halved. Therefore, if the current speed is 10 m/s, reducing it to another half would result in a speed of 5 m/s.

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38. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
 What law explains why we can walk well on a rough surface and not on the slippery one?

Explanation

The Law of Action Reaction can explain why we can walk well on a rough surface and not on a slippery one. According to this law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When we walk on a rough surface, the roughness of the surface provides friction between our feet and the ground, allowing us to push against it and move forward. This friction force is the reaction to the force we exert on the ground. On the other hand, on a slippery surface, there is less friction, resulting in a weaker reaction force that makes it difficult to maintain balance and walk effectively.

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39. G. What is the height of the building?





Explanation

The height of the building is 44.1 m.

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40. H.  What is the stone’s speed as it hits on the ground?





Explanation

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41. What is the height of the        building?





Explanation

not-available-via-ai

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42. Which of the following has the acceleration?

Explanation

The toy car running in an oval track at a constant rate of 8 m/s has acceleration. Even though the speed is constant, the car is constantly changing its direction as it moves around the oval track. Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity, which includes changes in direction as well. Therefore, the toy car has acceleration due to its constant change in direction.

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43. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
The book on top of the table is at rest due to zero net force.


Explanation

The Law of Action-Reaction can explain the given situation. According to this law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, the book on top of the table is at rest because the force of gravity pulling it downwards is balanced by the upward force exerted by the table. These two forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, resulting in a net force of zero and causing the book to remain at rest.

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44. For questions N & O, refer to this situation.
 Curious about the height of the building while he was on top of it, a 1.7-m tall guy drop a stone right beside the top of his head directed straight to the ground. Accidentally, it landed on top of a 4-m high water tank. He found out that the time it takes for the stone to land on the water tank is 5 seconds.


    What supposedly is the time it takes for the stone to land on the ground if it does not land on the water tank?




Explanation

The height of the water tank is 4 m. Since the stone takes 5 seconds to land on the water tank, we can use the equation of motion, h = (1/2)gt^2, where h is the height, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and t is the time. Plugging in the values, we get 4 = (1/2)(9.8)(5)^2. Solving for t, we find that t = 0.9 seconds. Therefore, if the stone does not land on the water tank, it would take approximately 0.9 seconds to land on the ground.

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45. (Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)
Heavier truck requires greater break force to stop it.

Explanation

The law of action reaction states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the given situation, the heavier truck requires a greater brake force to stop it because the truck's mass creates a greater force when it is in motion. The brakes of the truck exert an action force on the wheels, and according to the law of action reaction, the wheels exert an equal and opposite reaction force on the brakes. Therefore, the heavier truck requires a greater brake force to counteract its greater mass and stop it.

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 He formulated the laws of motion.
It is defined as the rate of change in velocity.
(Solve for the missing variable.) ...
Whenever one object exerts a force on a ...
(Solve for the missing variable.) ...
The acceleration of an object is directly ...
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)A hard...
(Solve for the missing variable.) ...
For the following questions marked A-E, refer to this situations.It...
C.  If the car’s speed is reduced to half,  how far...
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following...
Considering that you will walk to school ...
For questions marked F - J, refer to the following situation.A stone...
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following...
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)A car...
Compute the ...
This law states that every material object ...
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)You...
I.  What happened to the stone’s speed as it moves...
 It means inertia in motion.
It simply means the change in momentum.
  He was the first to direct the telescope to the sky and...
 It is the measure of how fast something is moving. It is the...
B.  If this speed is used by the same car to travel for a...
Which of the following has velocity? 
If you are inside a bus traveling at a ...
Always wearing your seatbelt inside a ...
For questions marked K - M, refer to this situation.The average...
  Compute the momentum (mv) of a car 200-kg car with a speed...
J. What is the stone’s speed 1 second after it was dropped?
What time do you exactly arrive to school?
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)What...
38. Which of the following has the momentum?
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following...
D.  If the car is using the same speed as in item C, how long...
 He first proposed the heliocentric (sun is ...
E.  If the car’ speed in item D is reduced to another half,...
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following...
G. What is the height of the building?
H.  What is the stone’s speed as it hits on the ground?
What is the height of the        building?
Which of the following has the acceleration?
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following situation.)The...
For questions N & O, refer to this situation. Curious about...
(Choose what law of motion can explain the following...
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