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Physical Science Semester Test

Total questions: 100

Worksheet time: 53mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the part of an experiment that serves as a standard for comparison?

a)

Control Group

b)

Constant

c)

Hypothesis

d)

Variable

2.

Unit One: A testable prediction that predicts a cause and effect relationship between variables is a(n) _____.

a)

analysis

b)

hypothesis

c)

observation

d)

inference

3.

Where does the dependent variable go on a graph?

a)

X-axis

b)

Y-axis

c)

In the Title

d)

In the Key

4.

Why is it advisable to use tongs when taking a beaker off a laboratory burner?

a)

It prevents spilling.

b)

It prevents the beaker from breaking.

c)

It looks cool.

d)

It allows you to move it if it is too hot.

5.

Unit One: A factor in an experiment that changes in response to the independent variable is the _____.

a)

constant

b)

control group

c)

independent variable

d)

dependent variable

6.

If your lab partner’s clothes catch on fire, you should first __________.

a)

use a fire extinguisher

b)

panic

c)

do nothing. It will burn out eventually.

d)

tell the teacher

7.

All of the following are steps in the scientific method EXCEPT

a)

observing and recording data.

b)

forming a hypothesis.

c)

developing a model.

d)

discarding data that doesn’t match the hypothesis.

8.

The best type of graph to use to show the percentages of a whole is a

a)

Bar graph

b)

Circle Graph

c)

Line Graph

d)

Scatter Graph

9.

A factor that does NOT change in an experiment is the ______

a)

constant

b)

control group

c)

dependent variable

d)

independent variable

10.

Which of the laws of motion states, "To every action there is an equal but opposite reaction"?

a)

Newton’s 1st Law

b)

Newton’s 2nd Law

c)

Newton’s 3rd Law

d)

Law of Conservation of Momentum

11.

Which of the following factors does not affect air resistance?

a)

Speed

b)

Spin

c)

Size

d)

Shape

12.

Momentum describes

a)

How much force is needed to change an object’s motion

b)

How much velocity changes in a given amount of time

c)

The tendency of an object to resist a change in motion

d)

The balanced forces on a falling object with a constant speed

13.

Which of the following items has the most inertia?

a)

A. A pencil

b)

B. Your textbook

c)

C. A water bottle

d)

D. The teacher

14.

Carl and Juan are playing catch. Carl throws a fastball to Juan and it hurts Juan’s hand. Why is this the case?

a)

Greater the acceleration, greater the force

b)

Greater the mass, greater the acceleration

c)

Greater the acceleration, the less the force

d)

Greater the mass, the less the force

15.

A person is on a paddleboard. The person exerts a force on the water with the paddle, causing the water to move. The paddleboard also moves, but in the opposite direction. Which statement best explains why this happens?

a)

Inertia

b)

Action and reaction forces

c)

Newton’s 2nd Law of motion

d)

Law of Conservation of Momentum

16.

Consider a watermelon that starts from rest and drops straight down from a tall building. Air resistance can be ignored. Which statement about the watermelon’s motion is FALSE?

a)

The watermelon falls at a constant velocity.

b)

The watermelon has a positive acceleration.

c)

The watermelon’s acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s².

d)

The watermelon speeds up as it falls.

17.

What is the weight (in Newtons) of a person with a mass of 95 kg?

a)

9.7 N

b)

95 N

c)

104.8 N

d)

931 N

18.

An object has 16 N of force being applied to the right, 16 N of force being applied to the left, and 4 N of force being applied downward. What is the net force on the object?

a)

36 N

b)

4 N downward

c)

32 N

d)

16 N to the left

19.

A 700 kg car is driving with an acceleration of 5 m/s² down the interstate. What is the force required to accelerate the car?

a)

3,500 N

b)

650 N

c)

14 N

d)

0.071 N

20.

The speed you read on a speedometer is .

a)
instantaneous speed
b)

constant speed

c)

average speed

d)

velocity

21.

2. 3 m/s north is an example of a(n) _____.

a)

A. speed

b)

B. velocity

c)

C. time

d)

D. acceleration

22.

A car moves around a wide turn going 45 mi/hr the whole time. The car has a constant _____.

a)

speed

b)

velocity

c)

direction

d)

acceleration

23.

If you ride your bicycle down a straight road for 500 m then turn around and ride back to your starting point, your distance is _____ your displacement.

a)

greater than

b)

equal to

c)

less than

d)

can't determine

24.

Motion is a change in _____.

a)

time

b)

speed

c)

velocity

d)

position

25.

An indicator that orients you when describing motion is called the __________.

a)

time

b)

speed

c)

reference point

d)

point of motion

26.

How long will it take an object traveling at 25 m/s to reach a distance of 125 meters?

a)

5 s

b)

0.2 min

c)

5 m

d)

0.2 s

27.

A high-speed train travels with an average speed of 227 km/hr. The train travels for 2 hrs. How far does the train travel?

a)

113.5 km

b)

454 km

c)

0.0088 km

d)

225 km

28.

A cross-country runner runs 10 km in 40 minutes. What is his average speed?

a)

30 km/min

b)

4 km/min

c)

400 km/hr

d)

0.25 km/min

29.

What does the slope of a distance vs. time graph tell you?

a)

the total distance traveled

b)

the speed of the object

c)

the time it took for the object to travel

d)

the acceleration

30.

31. The velocity of an object must include both a __________________ and a __________________.

a)

direction and magnitude

b)

speed and time

c)

mass and volume

d)

temperature and pressure

31.

A car slowing down as it is approaching a red traffic light has a __________________ acceleration; when the light turns green, the car’s acceleration is __________________.

a)

negative; positive

b)

positive; negative

c)

zero; positive

d)

positive; zero

32.

The _____ energy of an object increases with its height.

a)

chemical potential

b)

kinetic

c)

thermal

d)

gravitational potential

33.

An object that has kinetic energy must be

a)

lifted above Earth’s surface

b)

in motion

c)

at rest

d)

changing direction

34.

The law of _____ states that energy in a system can change forms but can never be created or destroyed.

a)

conservation of energy

b)

consecration of energy

c)

conversion of energy

d)

construction of energy

35.

The kinetic energy of an object increases as its ______ increases.

a)

height

b)

speed

c)

volume

d)

potential energy

36.

How much force is required to lift a rock a vertical distance of 8 m if 80 J of work were done?

a)

80 J

b)

10 J

c)

10 N

37.

When a ball is dropped it bounces until it eventually stops. Why does this happen?

a)

Some of the ball’s energy is lost.

b)

Some of the ball’s energy is converted to other forms, such as thermal and sound.

c)

All of the ball’s energy is eventually converted to potential energy when the ball stops bouncing.

d)

All of the ball’s energy is eventually converted to kinetic energy when the ball stops bouncing.

38.

Energy stored in food would be considered

a)

chemical potential

b)

kinetic

c)

thermal

d)

gravitational potential

39.

Conduction is the transfer of heat energy by_____

a)

direct particle contact

b)

electromagnetic waves

c)

density differences

d)

movement through a vacuum

40.

An example of an energy conversion from kinetic to thermal energy would be

a)

friction

b)

television

c)

flower

d)

gravity

41.

The mechanical energy of a coconut falling from a tree ____.

a)

doesn’t exist

b)

increases

c)

decreases

d)

remains constant

42.

A constant force of 2.0 N is used to push a box 4.0 m across the floor. How much work is done?

a)

6 J

b)

8 J

c)

12 J

d)

24 J

43.

The rate at which work is done is ____.

a)

power

b)

force

c)

efficiency

d)

momentum

44.

The force or push that causes electric charges to move is called .

a)

resistance

b)
voltage difference
c)

current

d)

static electricity

45.

Electric charges always flow from_____ areas to______ areas.

(a)  

46.

A material through which electrons do NOT flow easily is a(n) .

a)
insulator
b)

fuse

c)

conductor

d)

circuit breaker

47.

Which of the following statements about electric charge is true?

a)

Objects must be touching on another to exert electrical force.

b)

Electrical forces act at a distance.

c)

Air cannot conduct electricity; it is conducted only by solid materials.

d)

Opposite electric charges always repel one another.

48.

Mr. Robinson and his class are conducting an experiment. The class needs to choose a good insulator. Which of the following could be used as an insulator?

a)

plastic plate

b)

silver spoon

c)

copper wire

d)

gold necklace

49.

Which of the following will increase the resistance of a wire?

a)

using a thicker/wider wire

b)

using a shorter wire

c)

increasing the temperature of the wire

d)

using silver instead of copper

50.

What is the current produced by a 9-volt battery flowing through a resistance of 0.2 ohms?

a)

1.8 amps

b)

45 amps

c)

0.022 amps

d)

8.8 amps

51.

Which of the following will decrease the strength of the magnetic field around a wire?

a)

increasing the current flowing through the wire

b)

using less loops around the iron core

c)

flipping the direction of the current flowing through the wire

d)

using a larger iron core

52.

Silver has a resistance of 0.0198 ohms. What voltage would produce a current of 100 amps?

a)

1.98 V

b)

0.000198 V

c)

5.050 V

d)

100.0198 V

53.

This contains a piece of metal that melts if it gets too hot in order to open a circuit.

a)

conductor

b)

insulator

c)

fuse

d)

circuit breaker

54.

Identify the following material as a conductor or an insulator.

Rubber

a)

Rubber is an insulator.

b)

Rubber is a conductor.

c)

Rubber is a semiconductor.

d)

Rubber is a superconductor.

55.

Identify the following material as a conductor or an insulator.

Metal

a)

conductor

b)

insulator

c)

semiconductor

d)

superconductor

56.

Identify the following material as a conductor or an insulator.

Plastic

a)

Plastic is an insulator.

b)

Plastic is a conductor.

c)

Plastic is a semiconductor.

d)

Plastic is a superconductor.

57.

Identify the following material as a conductor or an insulator.

Styrofoam

a)

insulator

b)

conductor

c)

semiconductor

d)

superconductor

58.

Refraction occurs when a wave changes its ______ as it passes through a different medium.

a)

color

b)

frequency

c)

intensity

d)

speed

59.

The picture to the right shows which wave behavior?

a)

absorption

b)

reflection

c)

diffraction

d)

refraction

60.

An echo is an example of sound wave

a)

absorption

b)

reflection

c)

diffraction

d)

refraction

61.

What is the velocity of a wave having a frequency of 25 Hz and a wavelength of 10 m?

a)

250 m/s

b)

2.5 m/s

c)

35 m/s

d)

0.4 m/s

62.

A glass prism is able to bend light because

a)

A. light is refracted as it enters a different medium

b)

B. the prism creates destructive interference

c)

C. energy is diffracted when it encounters an obstacle

d)

D. the glass and the light’s wavelength create resonance

63.

In 1 second, 4 crests of a wave pass a certain point. What is the wave’s frequency?

a)

0.25 Hz

b)

0.25 m/s

c)

4 Hz

d)

4 m/s

64.

Wave A carries more energy than wave B. Wave B must have a smaller than wave A.

a)
frequency
b)

amplitude

c)

wavelength

d)

speed

65.

In order for reflection to occur, the wave must an object.

a)

bend around

b)

pass through

c)

be absorbed by

d)
bounce off
66.

The bending of light waves as they pass through one medium to another is

a)

refraction

b)

rarefaction

c)

diffraction

d)

interference

67.

14. A ray of light falls on the mirror pictured to the right. Which ray best describes the path of the light reflected from the mirror?

a)

Ray A

b)

Ray B

c)

Ray C

d)

Ray D

68.

What is the matter through which a wave travels through called?

a)

compression

b)

amplitude

c)

medium

d)

frequency

69.

Which electromagnetic wave comes from the sun to give you Vitamin D?

a)

microwaves

b)

X-rays

c)

gamma rays

d)

ultraviolet waves

70.

Visible light waves do not diffract as well as radio waves because .

a)

the speed of light waves is too slow

b)

the energy of visible light is too high

c)

the frequency of the light waves are too low

d)
the wavelength of the light waves are too small
71.

All electromagnetic waves .

a)

have the same wavelength

b)
travel at 300,000,000 m/s
c)

have the same frequency

d)

have the same energy

72.

27. Gamma rays are dangerous because they

a)

A. fluoresce

b)

B. cause sunburn

c)

C. can break down molecules and cells

d)

D. cause food to spoil

73.

Matter that has a definite volume and a definite shape is a .

a)
solid
b)

liquid

c)

gas

d)

plasma

74.

The amount of energy needed to change a material from a liquid to a gas is the heat of .

a)

evaporation

b)

fusion

c)
vaporization
d)

condensation

75.

When two or more substances are physically combined, the result is a(n) .

a)

chemical change

b)

element

c)

compound

d)
mixture
76.

The air that you breathe is an example of a(n) solution.

a)

solid

b)

liquid

c)
gaseous
d)

plasma

77.

As a sample of matter is heated, its particles ________.

a)

are unaffected

b)

move more quickly

c)

move more slowly

d)

stop moving

78.

The most common state of matter in the universe is .

a)

Solid

b)

Liquid

c)
Gas
d)

Plasma

79.

The color of ink is a .

a)

physical change

b)
physical property
c)

chemical change

d)

chemical property

80.

Three examples of physical changes are

a)

sawing wood, crushing a can, and burning a marshmallow

b)

burning of gasoline, rotting an egg, and exploding fireworks

c)

freezing of water, evaporation of gasoline, and rusting of a nail

d)

boiling of water, blowing up a balloon, and melting a candle

81.

Which of the following is evidence that a physical change has occurred?

a)

Broken glass

b)

Rust

c)

Bubbles

d)

Formation of a solid precipitate

82.

Which of the following is not a physical property?

a)

Color

b)

Odor

c)

State

d)

Reactivity with oxygen

83.

Matter in which the particles are free to move in all directions until they have spread evenly throughout their container is a .

a)

solid

b)

liquid

c)
gas
d)

plasma

84.

The amount of energy needed to change a material from the solid state to the liquid state is the heat of .

a)

condensation

b)

vaporization

c)
fusion
d)

evaporation

85.

CaCO₃ is an example of which type of matter?

a)

Element

b)

Compound

c)

Homogeneous mixture

d)

Heterogeneous mixture

86.

In which phase of matter are the molecules of the substance farthest apart from each other?

a)

solid

b)

liquid

c)

gas

d)

crystal

87.

A flask containing molecules of gas A and a separate flask containing molecules of gas B are both at the same temperature. Gases A and B must have equal

a)

volumes

b)

masses

c)

pressures

d)

average kinetic energies

88.

Hydrogen, gold, and iron are all examples of

a)

homogeneous mixtures

b)

heterogeneous mixtures

c)

elements

d)

compounds

89.

A type of matter formed by chemically joining two or more elements is known as a

a)

compound

b)

solution

c)

colloid

d)

suspension

90.

A series of steps used by scientists to solve a problem or answer a question. 

a)

scientific method

b)

recipe

c)

data collection

d)

metric system

91.

 To balance a chemical equation, it may be necessary to adjust the_______.

a)

 coefficients

b)

subscripts

c)

superscripts

d)

formulas of the compound

92.

The equation H2 + O2 🡪 H2O is unbalanced.  When balanced, what is the correct coefficient for O2?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

93.

Classify the chemical reaction below. 

CH3CH2OH + 3O2 🡪 2CO2 + 3H2O


a)

double displacement

b)

single displacement

c)

combustion

d)

synthesis

94.

The sum of kinetic energy and potential energy within a system is called

a)

thermal energy

b)

electrical energy

c)

chemical energy

d)

mechanical energy

95.

When an object (like a ball) falls, some of its__________ energy changes to________

energy, due to the law of conservation of energy.

(a)  

96.

What type of energy transfer is used for a toaster heating up waffles for breakfast.

(a)  

97.

Which of the following is not an example of a physical change?

a)

Cutting a piece of string in half.

b)

Freezing water into an ice cube.

c)

Crumpling a piece of paper into a ball

d)

Letting the food in your lunch box rot in your locker.

98.

The law of conservation of mass states that matter ______ be created or destroyed, even after a chemical change.

a)

can

b)

cannot

99.

Which of the liquids would be most viscous?

a)

syrup

b)

water

c)

lemonade

d)

soda

100.

Where are two places that you would find plasma?

(a)