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What is the SI unit of force?
Pascal
Newton
Watt
Joule
The SI unit of force is named after Sir Isaac Newton and defined as kg·m/s². It quantifies the push or pull on an object. For more details on force and its units, see Newton (unit).
What is the standard acceleration due to gravity on Earth?
8.9 m/s²
9.81 km/s²
10 m/s²
9.81 m/s²
Standard gravity is defined as 9.80665 m/s², commonly rounded to 9.81 m/s². This value is used in physics equations for objects near Earth's surface. See Standard gravity for more.
Which law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed?
Newton's second law
Ohm's law
Hooke's law
The law of conservation of energy
The law of conservation of energy asserts that the total energy in an isolated system remains constant. It is a foundational principle in physics and chemistry. Read more at Conservation of energy.
What is the formula for speed in uniform motion?
Time divided by distance
Mass times acceleration
Distance divided by time
Force times distance
Speed is defined as the distance traveled per unit of time (v = d/t) in uniform motion. It's a scalar quantity and does not include direction. More info at Speed.
At what temperature does water freeze at standard atmospheric pressure?
100 °C
0 °C
273 °C
32 °C
Water freezes at 0 °C (32 °F) under one atmosphere of pressure. This point is a key reference in the Celsius scale. Details at Freezing.
Which state of matter has a definite volume but no definite shape?
Plasma
Gas
Solid
Liquid
Liquids have a fixed volume but take the shape of their container. Solid retains both shape and volume, while gases and plasmas expand to fill space. Read more at Liquid.
What symbol is used to represent electrical resistance?
?
V
I
R
Resistance is denoted by R in Ohm's law (V = IR). The unit is the ohm (?), but the symbol for the property is R. More at Electrical resistance.
Which particles make up the atomic nucleus?
Electrons and protons
Electrons and neutrons
Quarks and leptons
Protons and neutrons
The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons, collectively known as nucleons. Electrons orbit around the nucleus. See Atomic nucleus.
What type of wave is visible light classified as?
Mechanical wave
Matter wave
Sound wave
Electromagnetic wave
Visible light is an electromagnetic wave that does not require a medium. It travels at the speed of light in a vacuum. More details at Visible spectrum.
What is the electric charge of an electron?
-1.60 × 10?¹? C
-9.11 × 10?³¹ C
+9.11 × 10?³¹ C
+1.60 × 10?¹? C
An electron carries a negative elementary charge of approximately -1.602×10?¹? coulombs. This fundamental constant is central to electrostatics. Reference: Electron.
Which instrument measures electric current?
Ammeter
Thermometer
Barometer
Voltmeter
An ammeter measures electric current in amperes. It is connected in series with the circuit. See Ammeter for more.
At standard atmospheric pressure, what is the boiling point of water?
212 °C
100 °C
0 °C
37 °C
Water boils at 100 °C (212 °F) at one atmosphere of pressure. This is a reference point in the Celsius scale. More at Boiling point.
What is the chemical formula for water?
O?
H?O
CO?
H?O?
Water consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, giving the formula H?O. It's a polar molecule with many unique properties. Info: Water.
Which gas makes up about 78% of Earth's atmosphere?
Nitrogen
Argon
Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Nitrogen is the major component of air at ~78%. Oxygen is the next most abundant at ~21%. See Earth's atmosphere.
What is the SI base unit of mass?
Kilogram
Gram
Newton
Pound
The kilogram is the SI base unit for mass. It was originally defined by a physical prototype and now by fundamental constants. More: Kilogram.
Which instrument is used to measure atmospheric pressure?
Anemometer
Hygrometer
Thermometer
Barometer
A barometer measures atmospheric pressure, often using mercury or aneroid cells. It helps forecast weather changes. Learn more at Barometer.
A ball is thrown straight up. At its highest point, what is the acceleration acting on it?
0 m/s²
9.81 m/s² upward
9.81 m/s² downward
Depends on mass
Even at the peak where velocity is zero, gravity still accelerates the ball downward at ~9.81 m/s². Acceleration due to gravity is constant near Earth's surface. See Acceleration due to gravity.
Which equation correctly states Ohm's law?
V = I × R
V = R / I
R = V × I
I = V × R
Ohm's law states that voltage across a conductor is the product of current and resistance (V = IR). It's fundamental in circuit analysis. More at Ohm's law.
What is the energy stored in a capacitor formula?
½QV
½CV²
Q²/(2C)
CV²
A capacitor stores energy equal to ½·C·V², where C is capacitance and V is voltage. This arises from integrating the work to charge the plates. See Capacitor energy.
How is the index of refraction n of a medium defined?
c/v
?/v
v/c
v×?
The refractive index n = c/v, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is its speed in the medium. It measures optical density. See Refractive index.
According to Boyle's law for an ideal gas at constant temperature, pressure and volume are related how?
P - V = constant
P + V = constant
P/V = constant
P × V = constant
Boyle's law states that for a fixed mass at constant temperature, pressure and volume are inversely proportional (PV = constant). It's a special case of the ideal gas law. More: Boyle's law.
What is specific heat capacity?
Energy per mole
Energy required to raise 1 kg by 1 K
Heat per unit volume
Energy to evaporate 1 kg
Specific heat capacity is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 Kelvin. It varies by material. Read more at Specific heat capacity.
What phenomenon causes the pitch of a siren to change as it passes by?
Doppler effect
Refraction
Resonance
Diffraction
The Doppler effect shifts frequency as source and observer move relative to each other. This causes apparent changes in pitch. For details see Doppler effect.
Which law describes the force exerted by a spring?
F = - kx
F = k/x
F = kx²
F = k + x
Hooke's law states that force from a spring is proportional to displacement (F = - kx). The negative sign indicates restoring direction. Learn more at Hooke's law.
The period of a simple pendulum depends on which factor?
Amplitude (for small angles)
Mass of the bob
Length of the pendulum
String thickness
For small angles, the period T = 2??(L/g) depends on length L and gravity g, not mass or amplitude. This approximation holds for small oscillations. Reference: Pendulum.
In a series circuit, what is true about the current through each component?
It depends on resistance
It is the same through each
It is zero
It splits equally
In series, the same current flows through all components because there is only one path. Voltage drops vary by resistance. More at Series circuit.
Which law describes the force between two point charges?
Coulomb's law
Ampère's law
Gauss's law
Faraday's law
Coulomb's law states the electrostatic force F = kq?q?/r² between point charges. It establishes inverse-square dependence. See Coulomb's law.
What is the formula for the rms speed of gas molecules?
?(2kT/m)
?(3kT/m)
?(kT/2m)
?(kT/m)
The root-mean-square speed is ?(3kT/m) for an ideal gas, derived from kinetic theory. Here k is Boltzmann's constant. More at Maxwell - Boltzmann distribution.
What is the relationship between wavelength (?), frequency (f), and wave speed (v)?
? = v / f²
v = f × ?
v = f / ?
f = v + ?
Wave speed equals frequency times wavelength (v = f?). This holds for all wave types in a given medium. More at Wave.
What is the maximum efficiency of a heat engine operating between two reservoirs?
1 - Tc/Th
Tc/Th
Th - Tc
Th × Tc
Carnot efficiency is ? = 1 - Tc/Th, where temperatures are in Kelvin. It sets the upper limit for heat engine performance. Read Carnot heat engine.
According to Pascal's principle, pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted how?
Only downward
Unevenly
Equally in all directions
Away from the force
Pascal's principle states that any change in pressure on an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished throughout. It's the basis for hydraulic systems. Details: Pascal's law.
What is the range R of a projectile launched at speed v and angle ? (neglecting air resistance)?
(v² sin 2?)/g
(2v² sin ?)/g
(v² cos ?)/g
(v² tan 2?)/g
Projectile range on level ground is R = (v² sin2?)/g when only gravity acts. This derives from horizontal and vertical motion equations. See Range of a projectile.
How is the rotational kinetic energy of a solid disk with moment of inertia I and angular speed ? expressed?
½m?²
½I?²
I?
I?²
Rotational kinetic energy equals ½I?², analogous to translational KE = ½mv². I is the moment of inertia about the rotation axis. More: Rotational kinetic energy.
What is the Lorentz force on a charge q moving at velocity v in magnetic field B?
qE × B
q(v · B)
q(v × B)
qE + B
The magnetic component of the Lorentz force is q(v × B), perpendicular to velocity and field. The total Lorentz force includes electric field qE. See Lorentz force.
Which phenomenon demonstrates that light has particle-like properties?
Photoelectric effect
Interference
Polarization
Diffraction
The photoelectric effect shows light ejecting electrons only above a threshold frequency, evidence of photon particles. Einstein explained it using quantized energy packets. More at Photoelectric effect.
In thermodynamics, entropy is a measure of what?
Total energy
Pressure
Disorder or number of microstates
Volume
Entropy quantifies the number of microscopic configurations (disorder) consistent with macroscopic variables. It increases in spontaneous processes. See Entropy.
Which equation corrects the ideal gas law for intermolecular forces and finite volume?
Bernoulli's equation
Maxwell relations
van der Waals equation
Navier - Stokes equation
The van der Waals equation (P + a(n/V)²)(V - nb) = nRT accounts for molecular size (b) and attractions (a). It models real gas behavior. More: van der Waals equation.
What pattern emerges when electrons pass through a double-slit without observation?
Circular diffraction
No pattern
Interference pattern
Particle clumps
Unobserved electrons create an interference pattern, showing wave behavior. Observing slits collapses the pattern to particles. See Double-slit experiment.
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle relates uncertainty in position and what other quantity?
Charge
Momentum
Time
Energy
The principle states ?x·?p ? ?/2, linking position (x) and momentum (p). Greater certainty in one increases uncertainty in the other. More: Uncertainty principle.
According to special relativity, what happens to the mass of an object as its speed approaches c?
It oscillates
It remains constant
It decreases to zero
It increases toward infinity
Relativistic mass grows with speed following m = m? / ?(1 - v²/c²). Approaching light speed makes mass tend to infinity. See Relativistic mass.
What does Lenz's law describe in electromagnetic induction?
Magnetic field lines break
EMF is independent of flux change
Induced current opposes change in flux
Flux is proportional to current
Lenz's law states induced currents create magnetic fields opposing the change in original flux. It ensures energy conservation. More at Lenz's law.
What is the electric field inside a perfect conductor in electrostatic equilibrium?
Depends on shape
Zero
Uniform nonzero
Infinite
In electrostatic equilibrium, charges reside on the surface and the internal field is zero. Otherwise charges would move. See Electrostatic equilibrium.
What is the relativistic Doppler shift formula for light from a source moving directly away?
?_obs = ?_src (1 - ?)
?_obs = ?_src (1+?)
?_obs = ?_src ?((1+?)/(1 - ?))
?_obs = ?_src / (1 - ?)
Relativistic Doppler shift uses ?_obs = ?_src ?((1+?)/(1 - ?)), with ? = v/c. It accounts for time dilation. See Relativistic Doppler effect.
In an adiabatic process, which quantity remains constant?
Temperature
Volume
No heat exchange with surroundings
Pressure
An adiabatic process involves no heat transfer (Q = 0). Pressure and temperature change due to work done by or on the system. Details: Adiabatic process.
What principle explains why objects feel lighter when submerged in water?
Pascal's principle
Boyle's law
Archimedes' principle
Bernoulli's principle
Archimedes' principle states that buoyant force equals the weight of displaced fluid. This reduces apparent weight underwater. See Archimedes' principle.
What are the allowed energy levels of a hydrogen atom given by?
E_n = - 13.6 eV × n
E_n = n² / 13.6 eV
E_n = - 13.6 eV / n²
E_n = 13.6 eV / n
Bohr model predicts hydrogen energy levels E_n = - 13.6 eV / n², where n is the principal quantum number. This matches spectral lines. More: Bohr model.
Which concept did Maxwell introduce to Ampère's law to satisfy charge conservation?
Magnetic flux
Displacement current
Magnetic monopoles
Electric potential
Maxwell added the displacement current term ?? ?E/?t to Ampère's law, enabling it to respect continuity equation. This led to the full set of Maxwell's equations. See Displacement current.
Which law describes the spectral distribution of blackbody radiation?
Wien's displacement law
Planck's law
Stefan - Boltzmann law
Rayleigh - Jeans law
Planck's law gives the intensity of radiation at each wavelength for a blackbody at temperature T. It resolved the ultraviolet catastrophe. More: Planck's law.
What fundamental equation governs the quantum wave function of a nonrelativistic particle?
Heisenberg equation
Dirac equation
Klein - Gordon equation
Schrödinger equation
The time-dependent Schrödinger equation describes how quantum states evolve in time for nonrelativistic particles. It is central to wave mechanics. See Schrödinger equation.
In statistical mechanics, which function sums over all possible states weighting by e^( - E/kT)?
Free energy
Density of states
Partition function
Helmholtz function
The partition function Z = ? e^( - E_i/kT) is fundamental for deriving thermodynamic quantities. It encodes the statistical properties of a system. More: Partition function.
What phenomenon allows particles to cross energy barriers they classically cannot surmount?
Quantum tunneling
Wave-particle duality
Photoelectric effect
Quantum entanglement
Quantum tunneling occurs when a particle penetrates and crosses a potential barrier with probability despite insufficient classical energy. It's key in nuclear fusion and semiconductor physics. See Quantum tunneling.
Which concept describes gravity as curvature of spacetime?
Quantum gravity
Newtonian gravity
General relativity
Special relativity
General relativity posits that mass-energy curves spacetime, and free-falling objects follow geodesics in that curved geometry. It replaces Newton's gravitational force concept. More: General relativity.
What state of matter occurs at temperatures near absolute zero with bosonic atoms?
Bose - Einstein condensate
Fermi gas
Plasma
Supercritical fluid
A Bose - Einstein condensate forms when bosons occupy the same quantum ground state at ultra-low temperatures, exhibiting macroscopic quantum phenomena. First realized in dilute atomic gases. See Bose - Einstein condensate.
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Study Outcomes
Understand Fundamental Concepts -
Explain key principles of forces, energy, and matter through targeted science practice questions.
Apply Problem-Solving Strategies -
Use structured approaches to tackle physics practice test items and improve accuracy under timed conditions.
Analyze Physical Relationships -
Interpret the relationships between variables such as mass, acceleration, and force in real-world scenarios.
Calculate Work and Energy -
Perform calculations of work, power, and energy changes in various physical systems using standard formulas.
Predict Experimental Outcomes -
Forecast the behavior of objects in motion and interactions based on core physical science questions.
Evaluate Performance Gaps -
Assess your quiz results to pinpoint strengths and areas needing further science exam practice.
Cheat Sheet
Newton's Laws of Motion -
Understanding Newton's three laws is key to science practice questions. The second law (F = ma) directly relates net force, mass, and acceleration, while the third law is captured by the mnemonic "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction." Mastering these basics gives you confidence to predict motion and ace any quiz.
Conservation of Energy -
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed - a cornerstone concept for science exam practice. Use KE = ½ mv² and PE = m g h to calculate kinetic and potential energy conversions in closed systems. Tracking total mechanical energy helps you verify solutions and avoid common pitfalls.
States of Matter & Phase Changes -
Physical science questions often test your understanding of phase diagrams and latent heat values like enthalpy of fusion (ΔHfus) and vaporization (ΔHvap). Remember that adding heat at a constant temperature leads to phase change, not temperature rise. Visualizing a heating curve for water (e.g., ice → water → steam) can serve as a powerful study aid.
Ohm's Law & Circuit Analysis -
Ohm's Law (V = I R) forms the backbone of most physics practice test problems involving resistors and circuits. In series circuits, resistances add (Rₜ = R + R₂ + …), while in parallel 1/Rₜ = 1/R + 1/R₂ + …. Drawing clear circuit diagrams and labeling currents and voltages will streamline your calculations.
Wave Properties & Equations -
The relationship v = f λ links wave speed (v), frequency (f), and wavelength (λ) - a must-know formula for sound and light questions. Distinguish between transverse waves (e.g., light) and longitudinal waves (e.g., sound) by their particle motion relative to wave travel. Practicing with real examples, like tuning forks or water ripples, makes these concepts stick and helps you tackle any physical science question.
