Intro to Physics

Which of the following is not an essential feature of scientific explanations?

• They must be subject to testing.

• They strictly pertain to the physical world.

• Their validity is judged based on objective observations.

• Once supported by observation, they can be viewed as a fact.

Which of the following does not represent a question that can be answered by science?

• How much energy is released in a given nuclear chain reaction?

• Can a nuclear chain reaction be controlled?

• Should uncontrolled nuclear reactions be used for military applications?

• What is the half-life of a waste product of a nuclear reaction?

What are the three conditions under which classical physics provides an excellent description of our universe?

• 1. Matter is moving at speeds less than about 1 percent of the speed of light.
  2. Objects dealt with must be large enough to be seen with the naked eye.
  3. Strong electromagnetic fields are involved.
• 1. Matter is moving at speeds less than about 1 percent of the speed of light.
  2. Objects dealt with must be large enough to be seen with the naked eye.
  3. Only weak gravitational fields are involved.
• 1. Matter is moving at great speeds, comparable to the speed of light.
  2. Objects dealt with are large enough to be seen with the naked eye.
  3. Strong gravitational fields are involved.
• 1. Matter is moving at great speeds, comparable to the speed of light.
  2. Objects are just large enough to be visible through the most powerful telescope.
  3. Only weak gravitational fields are involved.

Why is the Greek word for nature appropriate in describing the field of physics?

• Physics is a natural science that studies life and living organism on habitable planets like Earth.

• Physics is a natural science that studies the laws and principles of our universe.

• Physics is a physical science that studies the composition, structure, and changes of matter in our universe.

• Physics is a social science that studies the social behavior of living beings on habitable planets like Earth.

Which aspect of the universe is studied by quantum mechanics?

• objects at the galactic level

• objects at the classical level

• objects at the subatomic level

• objects at all levels, from subatomic to galactic

.

Explain why scientists sometimes use a model rather than trying to analyze the behavior of the real system.

• Models are simpler to analyze.

• Models give more accurate results.

• Models provide more reliable predictions.

• Models do not require any computer calculations.

Describe the difference between a question, generated through observation, and a hypothesis.

• They are the same.

• A hypothesis has been thoroughly tested and found to be true.

• A hypothesis is a tentative assumption based on what is already known.

• A hypothesis is a broad explanation firmly supported by evidence.

What is a scientific model and how is it useful?

• A scientific model is a representation of something that can be easily studied directly. It is useful for studying things that can be easily analyzed by humans.

• A scientific model is a representation of something that is often too difficult to study directly. It is useful for studying a complex system or systems that humans cannot observe directly.

• A scientific model is a representation of scientific equipment. It is useful for studying working principles of scientific equipment.

• A scientific model is a representation of a laboratory where experiments are performed. It is useful for studying requirements needed inside the laboratory.

Which of the following statements is correct about the hypothesis?

• The hypothesis must be validated by scientific experiments.

• The hypothesis must not include any physical quantity.

• The hypothesis must be a short and concise statement.

• The hypothesis must apply to all the situations in the universe.

What is a scientific theory?

• A scientific theory is an explanation of natural phenomena that is supported by evidence.

• A scientific theory is an explanation of natural phenomena without the support of evidence.

• A scientific theory is an educated guess about the natural phenomena occurring in nature.

• A scientific theory is an uneducated guess about natural phenomena occurring in nature.