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Course: American System Physics
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American System Physics

A Physics Toolkit

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Representing Motion

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Accelerated Motion

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Forces in One Dimension

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Displacement and Force in Two Dimensions

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Motion in Two Dimensions

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Gravitation

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Rotational Motion

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Momentum and Its Conservation

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Energy and Its Conservation

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Thermal Energy

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States of Matter

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Vibrations and Waves

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Sound

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Fundamentals of Light

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Reflection and Refraction

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Interference and Diffraction

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Electrostatics

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Electric Current and Circuits

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Magnetic Fields

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Electromagnetic Induction and Electromagnetism

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Quantum Theory and the Atom

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Solid-State Electronics

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Nuclear and Particle Physics

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Quiz

1.1 Mathematics and Physics – Quiz

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Mathematics American Physics quiz: free practice for American System Physics. Work through this Mathematics American Physics quiz and get instant feedback on every answer. If you get stuck, review the 1.1 Mathematics and Physics — Notes lesson. More practice: American System Physics — all units. Syllabus: OpenStax free science textbooks.

  • Questions count: 50
  • Passing grade: A-
  • Time limit:
Start Quiz
1.
Which description best fits a physical quantity?
A measurable property written as a number multiplied by a unit
Any number without a unit
A unit such as the metre on its own
A prediction made by a theory
2.
Why is the newton called a derived unit?
It was defined before the metre
It is built from base units: 1 N = 1 kg·m/s²
It cannot be expressed in other units
It measures an amount of substance
3.
A bacterium is 2.4 μm long. What is its length in metres?
2.4 × 10⁶ m
2.4 × 10⁻³ m
2.4 × 10⁻⁶ m
2.4 × 10⁻⁹ m
4.
A lab record says a power supply delivered "3 mJ" but the student meant 3 megajoules. By what factor is the written value wrong?
10³
10⁶
10⁻³
10⁹
5.
Earth is about 150 000 000 km from the Sun. Which is this distance in scientific notation, in metres?
1.5 × 10¹¹ m
1.5 × 10⁸ m
15 × 10¹⁰ m
1.5 × 10¹⁴ m
6.
Evaluate (3.0 × 10⁵) × (4.0 × 10⁻²) and give the answer in scientific notation.
12 × 10³
1.2 × 10⁴
1.2 × 10³
1.2 × 10⁻¹⁰
7.
Which conversion factor correctly changes 450 g into kilograms without changing the quantity?
(1000 g / 1 kg)
(1 kg / 100 g)
(1 kg / 1000 g)
(1000 kg / 1 g)
8.
A garden hose delivers 12 litres per minute. Using 1 L = 1000 cm³ and 1 min = 60 s, what is the flow rate in cm³/s?
720 cm³/s
0.2 cm³/s
12 000 cm³/s
200 cm³/s
9.
A student claims that the pressure p (unit kg/(m·s²)) on a surface is given by p = F × A, where F is force (kg·m/s²) and A is area (m²). What does dimensional analysis show?
F × A has units kg·m³/s², so the formula must be p = F/A
The units match, so p = F × A is correct
F × A has units kg/s², which is pressure
Units cannot be compared for pressure
10.
An answer to a speed question comes out in m·s instead of m/s. What is the most likely cause?
The answer only needs rounding
The equation was rearranged incorrectly
The data were given in km
Speed has no fixed unit
11.
How many significant figures are in a measured mass of 20.050 kg?
3
4
5
2
12.
A car travels 245.6 m in 12 s. How should its average speed be reported?
20.47 m/s
20.5 m/s
20.467 m/s
20 m/s
13.
In a three-step calculation, a student rounds every intermediate answer to 1 significant figure. What is the main problem?
Rounding errors build up; extra digits should be kept until the final answer
There is no problem as long as the final answer has a unit
Intermediate answers must be rounded to 5 significant figures
Rounding is only allowed in addition
14.
Which statement correctly describes a scientific model?
An exact copy of reality with every detail included
A simplified representation that explains observations and makes testable predictions
A result that can never be changed
A list of measurements without any explanation
15.
Which is a testable hypothesis?
Pendulums are interesting to watch
Pendulums swing because they want to
If the length of a pendulum is increased, the time for one swing will increase
The best pendulum is the prettiest one
16.
New measurements contradict a well-supported scientific theory and are confirmed by other labs. What should happen?
The new data are ignored because theories are proven
The theory becomes a law
The measurements are rounded until they agree
The theory is revised or replaced to fit the evidence
17.
The diagram shows the scientific method as a cycle. Which step belongs in the box labelled X?
Dr Dabour Hub Academy - figure 1
Form a testable hypothesis
Publish the final law
Round the answers
Choose the SI unit
18.
A pencil is measured against a scale marked only in whole centimetres, as shown. Which reading is recorded correctly?
Dr Dabour Hub Academy - figure 2
7 cm
7.3 cm
7.30 cm
7.325 cm
19.
The thermometer is marked every 1 °C. If the reading is recorded with all certain digits plus one estimated digit, how many significant figures does it have?
Dr Dabour Hub Academy - figure 3
2
4
3
1
20.
A digital balance shows the display pictured. How many significant figures does the reading contain?
Dr Dabour Hub Academy - figure 4
4
5
2
3
21.
A graph model of a toy train’s position is shown. Using the model, what position does it predict at t = 8.0 s?
Dr Dabour Hub Academy - figure 5
25 m
20 m
17.5 m
30 m
22.
The graph shows mass against volume for samples of one metal. Treating units algebraically, what is the unit of the slope and what does it represent?
Dr Dabour Hub Academy - figure 6
m³/kg, the density
kg/m³, the density
kg·m³, the mass
kg, the volume
23.
The sides of a rectangular label are measured as shown. What is its area, correctly rounded?
Dr Dabour Hub Academy - figure 7
39.06 cm²
39.1 cm²
39 cm²
40 cm²
24.
A driver sees the road sign shown. What is the speed limit in m/s?
Dr Dabour Hub Academy - figure 8
324 m/s
90 m/s
1.5 m/s
25 m/s
25.
The table lists quantities and a classification of their SI units. Which row is correct?
Row 2
Row 1
Row 3
Row 4
26.
Four prefix conversions are recorded in a notebook. Which one contains an error?
Row 1
Row 3
Row 2
Row 4
27.
Each value in the table is rounded to 3 significant figures. Which result follows the rule that 5 or more rounds up?
Row 1
Row 2
Row 4
Row 3
28.
A model predicts that the stopping distance of a cart is 0.50 m for every 1.0 m/s of speed. Compare the model with the data in the table. Which conclusion is best supported?
The model fits every result perfectly
The data prove the model is a law
The model fails at every speed
The model fits at low speeds but fails at higher speeds, so it needs revising
29.
The SI base unit of amount of substance is the _____.
kilogram
mole
candela
kelvin
30.
Expressed in kilograms, 2.3 × 10⁴ g is _____.
2.3 × 10⁷ kg
230 kg
23 kg
2.3 kg
31.
A runner’s speed of 7.5 m/s expressed in km/h is _____.
2.1 km/h
450 km/h
7500 km/h
27 km/h
32.
In a valid physics equation, both sides must have the same _____.
units
number of terms
significant figures
prefixes
33.
The variable that a scientist deliberately changes in an experiment is the _____ variable.
dependent
independent
control
derived
34.
There are seven SI base units. True or false?
True
False, there are three
False, there are ten
True only in Europe
35.
The kilogram is the SI base unit of mass even though it contains a prefix. True or false?
False, the gram is the base unit
True
False, mass has no base unit
True only for large masses
36.
A student converted the four times in the table into seconds. All four conversions are correct. True or false?
True
False, because 2.5 ks is 25 s
False, because 350 μs is 3.5 × 10⁻⁴ s, not 3.5 × 10⁻³ s
False, because 0.60 min is 6.0 s
37.
A number such as 23 × 10⁴ is correctly written in scientific notation. True or false?
True
True only for masses
False, because it should be 0.23 × 10⁶
False, because the coefficient must be between 1 and 10: 2.3 × 10⁵
38.
Dividing 6.0 × 10⁸ by 2.0 × 10³ gives 3.0 × 10⁵. True or false?
True
False, it is 3.0 × 10¹¹
False, it is 3.0 × 10²⁴
True only if the units are metres
39.
The equation v = d × t is dimensionally consistent when v is speed, d is distance and t is time. True or false?
True
False, because d × t has units m·s, not m/s
True only for constant speed
False, because speed has no unit
40.
The writing "5 KG" follows SI conventions for symbols. True or false?
True
True only on shop labels
False, because the correct form is 5 kg with lower-case symbols
False, because it should be 5 Kg
41.
Multiplying a quantity by a conversion factor such as (60 s / 1 min) changes its value. True or false?
True
True only for times
False, because conversion factors are never used
False, because the factor equals 1 and only the unit changes
42.
Every equation in the table is dimensionally consistent. True or false?
False, because in row 2 the unit of v × t is m, not m/s²
True
False, because row 1 gives m/s
False, because row 3 gives kg·m³
43.
Adding 14.2 cm and 0.365 cm should be reported as 14.565 cm. True or false?
True
False, because the answer keeps one decimal place: 14.6 cm
False, it should be 15 cm
True only for lengths
44.
A scientific law explains why a pattern in nature happens. True or false?
True
True only if the law is an equation
False, because a law describes the pattern; a theory explains it
False, because laws are untested
45.
Saying "a theory is just a guess" is an accurate description of a scientific theory. True or false?
True
True only for new theories
False, because theories are proven facts that cannot change
False, because a theory is a well-tested explanation supported by much evidence
46.
In a fair test, only one independent variable is changed while the others are controlled. True or false?
True
False, all variables should change together
True only when using SI units
False, no variables should be controlled
47.
The scientific method is a cycle: a conclusion can lead to new questions and further experiments. True or false?
False, it ends after one experiment
True
True only in biology
False, a conclusion can never be questioned
48.
The student’s notation for each value in the table is correct scientific notation. True or false?
True
False, because 6.4 × 10⁻² is wrong
False, because 0.72 × 10⁴ has a coefficient less than 1
True only for the first row
49.
Every row in the table gives the correct number of significant figures. True or false?
True
False, because 0.0051 has four
True only for the whole numbers
False, because 3.080 has four significant figures, not three
50.
Using an order-of-magnitude estimate is a good way to check whether a calculated answer is reasonable. True or false?
True
False, only exact values can be checked
True only for answers above 1000
False, estimates make answers less accurate
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