Physics Final Exam Multiple Choice

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  • 1/18 Questions

    Which of the following statements is true about an object in 2-d projectile motion with no air resistance? 

    • The acceleration of the object is +g when the object is rising and -g when it is falling
    • The acceleration of the object is zero at its highest point
    • The speed of the object is constant but the velocity is not constant
    • The horizontal acceleration is always zero and the vertical acceleration is always a non-zero constant downward
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About This Quiz

This Physics Final Exam Multiple Choice assesses understanding of mechanics, specifically concepts like acceleration, projectile motion, and rotational dynamics. It's designed to test knowledge crucial for students in advanced physics courses, enhancing problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios.

Mechanics Quizzes & Trivia

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  • 2. 

    A small car meshes with a large truck in a head-on collision. Which of the following statements concerning the momentum during the collision are correct?

    • The momentum of the car and the momentum of the truck are each conserved

    • The momentum of the car is conserved

    • The momentum of the truck is conserved

    • The momentum of the car-truck system is conserved, but the momentum of each one separately is conserved

    Correct Answer
    A. The momentum of the car-truck system is conserved, but the momentum of each one separately is conserved
    Explanation
    During a head-on collision between a small car and a large truck, the momentum of the car and the momentum of the truck are each conserved. However, the momentum of the car-truck system is also conserved. This means that the total momentum of the system before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. While the individual momenta of the car and the truck may change, their combined momentum remains constant.

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  • 3. 

    On a cold day, a piece of metal feels much colder to the touch than a piece of wood. This is due to the difference in which one of the following physical properties of these materials?

    • Density

    • Specific heat

    • Emissivity

    • Thermal conductivity

    Correct Answer
    A. Thermal conductivity
    Explanation
    On a cold day, a piece of metal feels much colder to the touch than a piece of wood because of the difference in their thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity refers to the ability of a material to conduct heat. Metal has a higher thermal conductivity compared to wood, meaning it can transfer heat more efficiently. Therefore, when we touch a piece of metal, it quickly absorbs the heat from our skin, making it feel colder. On the other hand, wood has lower thermal conductivity, so it does not absorb heat as quickly, resulting in a less cold sensation when touched.

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  • 4. 

    When a rigid object rotates about a fixed axis, what is true about all the points in the object?

    • They all have the same tangential acceleration

    • They all have the same angular speed

    • They all have the same radial acceleration

    • They all have the same tangential speed

    Correct Answer
    A. They all have the same angular speed
    Explanation
    When a rigid object rotates about a fixed axis, all the points in the object have the same angular speed. This means that each point in the object travels through the same angle in the same amount of time. The angular speed is a measure of how quickly the object rotates, and it is constant for all points in the object because they are all rotating about the same axis. This is true regardless of the distance from the axis or the size of the object.

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  • 5. 

    A thermally isolated system is made up of a hot piece of aluminum and a cold piece of copper, with the aluminum an the copper in thermal contact. The specific heat capacity of aluminum is more than double that of copper. Which object experiences the greater magnitude gain or loss of heat during the time they system takes to reach thermal equilibrium?

    • The aluminum

    • The copper

    • Neither one; both of them experience the same size gain or loss of heat

    • It is impossible to tell without knowing the volumes

    Correct Answer
    A. Neither one; both of them experience the same size gain or loss of heat
    Explanation
    The specific heat capacity is a measure of the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance. In this case, the specific heat capacity of aluminum is more than double that of copper, which means that aluminum can absorb more heat energy per unit mass compared to copper. However, the question states that both the aluminum and copper are in thermal contact, which means that they will exchange heat until they reach thermal equilibrium. During this process, the aluminum will transfer heat to the copper, causing its temperature to rise, while the copper will transfer heat to the aluminum, causing its temperature to decrease. As a result, both objects will experience the same magnitude of gain or loss of heat.

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  • 6. 

    A gas is taken through the cycle in the pV diagram below. During one cycle, how much work is done by the gas?

    • P0v0

    • 4 p0v0

    • 3 p0v0

    • 2 p0v0

    Correct Answer
    A. 3 p0v0
    Explanation
    The gas does work during one cycle when it undergoes a change in volume and pressure. In this case, the gas goes from p0v0 to 3 p0v0 on the pV diagram. The work done by the gas can be calculated by finding the area under the curve on the pV diagram. Since the gas expands and does work, the area under the curve is positive. Therefore, the work done by the gas during one cycle is 3 p0v0.

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  • 7. 
    As shown in the figure, fluid fills a container having several sections. At which of the indicated points is the pressure greatest? - ProProfs

    As shown in the figure, fluid fills a container having several sections. At which of the indicated points is the pressure greatest?

    • A

    • B

    • C

    • D

    • The pressure is the same at each of the labeled points

    Correct Answer
    A. The pressure is the same at each of the labeled points
    Explanation
    The pressure is the same at each of the labeled points because the fluid is in equilibrium. In a fluid at rest, the pressure is determined by the depth of the fluid and the density of the fluid. Since the fluid in each section is at the same height and density, the pressure at each point will be the same.

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  • 8. 

     Suppose that a car traveling to the west begins to slow down as it approaches a traffic light. Which of the following statements about its acceleration is correct?

    • The acceleration is toward the west.

    • The acceleration is zero.

    • The acceleration is toward the east.

    • Since the car is slowing down, its acceleration must be negative.

    Correct Answer
    A. The acceleration is toward the east.
    Explanation
    Since the car is slowing down, its acceleration must be negative. As the car is traveling to the west and slowing down, the acceleration is in the opposite direction to its motion. Therefore, the acceleration is toward the east.

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  • 9. 

    As shown in the figure, a bimetallic strip, consisting of metal G on the top and metal H on the bottom, is rigidly attached to a wall at the left. The coefficient of thermal expansion for metal G is greater than that of metal H. If the strip is uniformly heated, it will 

    • Curve upward

    • Curve downward

    • Remain horizontal and get longer

    • Remain horizontal and get shorter

    Correct Answer
    A. Curve downward
    Explanation
    When the bimetallic strip is uniformly heated, the metal with the higher coefficient of thermal expansion (metal G) will expand more than the metal with the lower coefficient of thermal expansion (metal H). This causes the strip to curve downward because metal G is expanding more and pushing against metal H, causing the strip to bend in that direction.

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  • 10. 

    In simple harmonic motion, when is the magnitude of the acceleration the greatest?

    • When the kinetic energy is a minimum

    • When the displacement is zero

    • When the speed is a maximum

    • When the displacement is half of the amplitude

    Correct Answer
    A. When the kinetic energy is a minimum
    Explanation
    The magnitude of acceleration is the greatest when the kinetic energy is a minimum. This is because in simple harmonic motion, the acceleration is directly proportional to the displacement from the equilibrium position. When the kinetic energy is at a minimum, the velocity and displacement are also at a minimum, which means the object is closest to the equilibrium position. At this point, the acceleration is the greatest as the object is rapidly changing direction and accelerating towards the equilibrium position.

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  • 11. 

    A car goes around a circular curve on a horizontal road at constant speed. What is the direction of the friction force on the car due to the road? 

    • Tangent to the curve in the forward direction

    • Perpendicular to the curve inward

    • There is no friction on the car because its speed is constant

    • Perpendicular to the curve outward

    Correct Answer
    A. Perpendicular to the curve inward
    Explanation
    The friction force on the car due to the road is directed perpendicular to the curve inward. This is because the car is moving in a circular path, and in order to maintain this curved motion, there must be a force acting towards the center of the circle. This inward-directed friction force provides the necessary centripetal force to keep the car moving in the circular curve.

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  • 12. 

    In simple harmonic motion, when is the speed the greatest?

    • When the displacement is a maximum

    • When the magnitude of the acceleration is a maximum

    • When the potential energy is a maximum

    • When the magnitude of the acceleration is a minimum

    Correct Answer
    A. When the magnitude of the acceleration is a minimum
    Explanation
    In simple harmonic motion, the speed is greatest when the magnitude of the acceleration is a minimum. This is because the acceleration is directly proportional to the displacement and opposite in direction. When the displacement is at its maximum, the acceleration is at its minimum, resulting in the highest speed. Conversely, when the displacement is at its minimum, the acceleration is at its maximum, resulting in the lowest speed. Therefore, the speed is greatest when the magnitude of the acceleration is a minimum.

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  • 13. 

    For general projectile motion with no air resistance, the vertical component of a projectile's acceleration

    • Remains a non-zero constant

    • First decreases then increases

    • Continuously decreases

    • Is always zero

    • Continuously increases

    Correct Answer
    A. Remains a non-zero constant
    Explanation
    In general projectile motion with no air resistance, the vertical component of a projectile's acceleration remains a non-zero constant. This means that throughout the entire motion, the acceleration in the vertical direction remains the same and does not change. The force of gravity acts vertically downward, causing the object to accelerate downward at a constant rate. This constant acceleration is what allows the projectile to follow a curved path in the vertical direction.

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  • 14. 

    Consider a flat steel plate with a hole through its center. When the temperature of the plate is increased, the hole will

    • Expand only if it takes up more than half the plate's surface area

    • Contract if it takes up less than half the plate's surface area

    • Always contract as the plate expands into it

    • Always expand with the plate

    Correct Answer
    A. Always expand with the plate
    Explanation
    When the temperature of the flat steel plate is increased, the plate expands due to thermal expansion. Since the hole is a part of the plate, it will also expand along with the plate. This is because the material of the plate and the hole have similar properties and will expand or contract in the same way when subjected to temperature changes. Therefore, the hole will always expand with the plate.

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  • 15. 

    Salt water is denser than fresh water. A ship floats in both fresh water and salt water. Compared to the fresh water, the volume of water displaced in the salt water is 

    • The same

    • Less

    • More

    • Cannot be determined because we don't know the volume of the ship

    Correct Answer
    A. Less
    Explanation
    Salt water is denser than fresh water because it contains more dissolved salts and minerals. When a ship floats in water, it displaces a volume of water equal to its own weight. Since salt water is denser, it requires less volume to support the same weight compared to fresh water. Therefore, the volume of water displaced in salt water is less than in fresh water.

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  • 16. 

    You throw a baseball straight up. Compare the sign of the word done by gravity while the ball goes up with the sign of the work done by gravity while it goes down. 

    • The work is negative on the way up and on the way down because gravity is always downward

    • The work is positive on the way up and negative on the way down

    • The work is negative on the way up and positive on the way down.

    • The work is positive on the way up and positive on the way down

    Correct Answer
    A. The work is negative on the way up and positive on the way down.
    Explanation
    The work done by gravity is negative on the way up because the force of gravity acts in the opposite direction of the displacement. When the ball goes down, the work done by gravity is positive because the force of gravity is in the same direction as the displacement.

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  • 17. 

    Which of the following situations is impossible?

    • An object has velocity directed east and acceleration directed east

    • An object has constant non-zero velocity and changing acceleration

    • An object has zero velocity but non-zero acceleration

    • An object has constant non-zero acceleration and changing velocity

    • An object has velocity directed east and acceleration directed west

    Correct Answer
    A. An object has constant non-zero velocity and changing acceleration
    Explanation
    An object having constant non-zero velocity means that its speed and direction of motion are constant. On the other hand, changing acceleration implies that the rate of change of velocity is not constant. This situation is impossible because if the velocity is constant, there should be no change in acceleration. Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes, so if the velocity is constant, there should be no changing acceleration.

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  • 18. 

    The process shown on the pV diagram in the figure is an 

    • Adiabatic expansion

    • Isothermal expansion

    • Isometric expansion

    • Isobaric expansion

    Correct Answer
    A. Isobaric expansion
    Explanation
    The process shown on the pV diagram is an isobaric expansion because the pressure remains constant throughout the process. In an isobaric expansion, the volume of the system increases while the pressure remains the same. This can be seen in the diagram where the line representing the process is horizontal, indicating that the pressure is constant.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 22, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Dec 10, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    Marissa_santana
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