Benchmark Review

In order for a space shuttle to leave Earth, it must produce a great amount of thrust. However, once in space, the shuttle needs very little fuel. It circles Earth while gravity pulls it toward Earth. What term describes the motion of the shuttle around Earth?

• orbit
• gravity
• free fall
• weight

In order for a space shuttle to leave Earth, it must produce a great amount of thrust. However, once in space, the shuttle needs very little fuel. It circles Earth while gravity pulls it toward Earth. What term describes the motion of the shuttle around Earth?

• orbit
• gravity
• free fall
• weight

Ignacio uses a hammer to hit a nail into a board on the floor. How does gravity make it easier to hammer the nail?

• Gravity pushes the board up to help the nail go in
• Gravity pulls the board and the nail toward each other
• Gravity pulls the hammer down so that it pushes on the nail
• Gravity pulls the nail down but does not pull on the hammer

Every moving object has kinetic energy. The vehicles are and assume they are traveling at the same speed: Truck, car, pick-up truck, and motorcycle
What do you know about the kinetic energy of the vehicles?

• The motorcycle has the most kinetic energy because it is the vehicle with the least mass
• All of the vehicles have the same kinetic energy because they are moving at the same speed
• The delivery van has the greatest kinetic energy because its mass is greater than that of the other vehicles
• The delivery van has the greatest kinetic energy because it has the most tires in contact with the pavement

Andre boarded a train at Lincoln Station. The train left the station at 9:10 p.m. and traveled, without stopping, 6 miles to Union Station. What additional information does Andre need to find the average speed of the train from Lincoln Station to Union Station?

• The direction the train traveled
• the time the train left Union Station
• the initial and maximum speeds of the train
• the time the train arrived at Union Station

A weather station records the wind blowing from the northeast at 12 km/h. Which statement explains why northeast at 12 km/h is a vector?

• The speed is given in km/h.
• The speed is a constant value.
• Speed and direction are given.
• An average speed is reported.

Penny says that dust particles in space cannot be pulled together by the force of gravity because dust particles have very little mass. Ella says that as long as dust particles have mass at all, the force of gravity can pull dust particles toward each other. Who has the better argument, and why?

• Penny, because objects with only a little mass are not affected by gravity
• Penny, because dust particles in space are not orbiting Earth.
• Ella, because any two objects exert a gravitational force on each other.
• Ella, because objects with smaller mass have more gravity acting on them.

One ball rolls along a shelf at a steady rate. A second ball rolls off the shelf and gains speed as it falls in a curved path. Which must have an unbalanced force acting on it?

• the ball that is rolling along the shelf
• the ball that is falling
• both balls
• neither ball

Measuring acceleration requires appropriate units. Scientists measure acceleration using a standardized set of units that are part of the SI system. Which are the SI units for acceleration?

• N
• m/s
• m/s^2
• kg·m/s

Blair and Aaron competed in a 400-m running race. Blair finished the race in 55 s and came in first. Aaron finished the race in 58 s and came in second. Which of the following must have been greater for Blair than for Aaron?

• maximum speed during the race
• average speed for the entire race
• speed for the last 100 m of the race
• speed for the first 100 m of the race