Physics Pre-Assessment

What is the SI unit of speed?

• m/s
• m/s²
• kg
• miles/hour

When you know speed and direction you know

• force
• acceleration
• velocity
• momentum

In a speed vs. time graph, a straight line shows that acceleration is

• decreasing
• increasing
• constatnt
• zero

On a graph showing distance versus time, a horizontal line represents an object that is

• moving at constant speed
• decreasing its speed
• increasing its speed
• not moving

How can you increase the acceleration of an object?

• decrease its mass
• increase its friction
• increase its mass
• decrease the force applied to it

You push a 10 kg cart and it accelerates at 2 m/s². What force did you push with?

• 2 Newtons
• 5 Newtons
• 10 Newtons
• 20 Newtons

What determines the strength of gravitational attraction between two objects?

• mass and distance
• size and mass
• density and mass
• density and size

If tight scissors have an efficiency of 50%, half of your work is wasted due to 

• changes in direction
• input force
• output force
• friction

Mechanical waves are created when a source of energy causes a medium to 

• move
• vibrate
• expand
• compress

The shorter the wavelength

• the higher the frequency
• the lower the frequency
• the higher the amplitude
• the lower the energy