PHYS 2102 C876 Conceptual Physics
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Free PHYS 2102 C876 Conceptual Physics Questions
Two equal masses travel in opposite directions with equal speed. If they collide in a perfectly elastic collision, then, just after the collision, their velocities will be:
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less in magnitude and opposite in direction to their original velocities.
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Zero
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equal to original velocities
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less in magnitude and in same direction as their original velocities
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equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to their original velocities
Explanation
Explanation:
In a perfectly elastic collision between two identical masses moving in opposite directions at equal speeds, they exchange velocities while conserving both momentum and kinetic energy. Since the masses are equal and speeds are equal, after the collision, each mass continues moving with the same speed but in the opposite direction to its original motion. This is a direct consequence of the symmetry and conservation laws in elastic collisions.
Correct Answer:
equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to their original velocities
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
less in magnitude and opposite in direction to their original velocities.
This is incorrect because in a perfectly elastic collision between equal masses, the speeds remain unchanged; only the direction changes.
Zero
This is incorrect because both masses do not stop; momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, so they continue moving.
equal to original velocities
This is incorrect because “equal to original velocities” implies they continue in the same direction as before, which violates momentum conservation in an opposite-direction collision.
less in magnitude and in same direction as their original velocities
This is incorrect because after an elastic collision, the direction of motion is reversed for equal masses moving head-on, and the magnitude of velocity remains unchanged.
What is the formula used to calculate the work done by a force on an object?
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Work = Force × Distance
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Work = Mass × Acceleration
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Work = Energy × Time
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Work = Power × Distance
Explanation
Explanation:
Work is defined as the product of the force applied to an object and the displacement of the object in the direction of the force. Mathematically, this is expressed as W=F×d, where W is work, F is force, and dd is the displacement. This formula captures the concept that work is done only when a force causes movement along its line of action. Other expressions like mass times acceleration or power times distance describe related physical quantities but do not work directly.
Correct Answer:
Work = Force × Distance
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Work = Mass × Acceleration
This is incorrect because mass times acceleration gives force, not work. Work requires a displacement component in the direction of the force.
Work = Energy × Time
This is incorrect because energy multiplied by time does not represent work. Power is the quantity that relates energy and time, not work.
Work = Power × Distance
This is incorrect because power multiplied by distance is not a standard physical definition of work. Power relates work to time, but distance alone does not produce work without the associated force.
What is the standard acceleration due to gravity near the surface of the Earth?
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3.2 m/s²
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9.8 m/s²
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12.5 m/s²
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15.0 m/s²
Explanation
Explanation:
The standard acceleration due to gravity near the surface of the Earth is 9.8 m/s². This value represents the acceleration experienced by any object in free fall near the Earth's surface, assuming negligible air resistance. It is a fundamental constant used in physics calculations involving weight, free fall, and projectile motion.
Correct Answer:
9.8 m/s²
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
3.2 m/s²
This is incorrect because it significantly underestimates the acceleration due to gravity. The true value at the Earth’s surface is nearly three times higher.
12.5 m/s²
This is incorrect because it overestimates the acceleration. The standard accepted value is 9.8 m/s², not 12.5 m/s².
15.0 m/s²
This is incorrect because it greatly overestimates Earth's gravitational acceleration. No location on Earth's surface has such a high standard gravity value.
A car accelerates from 0.0 to 33 m/s in 6.0 seconds. What is the magnitude of the acceleration?
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5.5 m/s^2
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198 m/s^2
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0.18 m/s^2
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594 m/s^2
Explanation
Explanation:
Acceleration is defined as the change in velocity divided by the time taken: a = ΔvΔt. The car’s velocity changes from 0.0 to 33 m/s over 6.0 seconds, so a = 33−06 =5.5 m/s. This is the magnitude of the car’s acceleration.
Correct Answer:
5.5 m/s^2
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
198 m/s^2
This is incorrect because it overestimates the acceleration. The calculation of Δv/Δt clearly gives 5.5 m/s², not 198 m/s².
0.18 m/s^2
This is incorrect because it underestimates the acceleration by a factor of approximately 30. The correct calculation produces a much larger value.
594 m/s^2
This is incorrect because it is unrealistically high for a car. The correct formula and numbers yield 5.5 m/s², not hundreds of m/s².
Which of these is an example of a fusion reaction?
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A nuclear power plant
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A solar battery
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A combustion engine
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A geiger counter
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The sun
Explanation
Explanation:
Nuclear fusion is the process where lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy. The sun produces energy through the fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium. None of the other listed devices or processes involve nuclear fusion; they operate through chemical reactions or electricity conversion.
Correct Answer:
The sun
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A nuclear power plant
This is incorrect because most nuclear power plants operate using nuclear fission, splitting heavy atoms like uranium, not fusion.
A solar battery
This is incorrect because a solar battery converts sunlight into electrical energy via the photovoltaic effect, not through nuclear fusion.
A combustion engine
This is incorrect because combustion engines release energy through chemical reactions, not nuclear fusion.
A geiger counter
This is incorrect because a Geiger counter detects ionizing radiation; it does not produce energy through fusion.
Explain how the change in internal energy is affected by the heat added to the system and the work done on the system.
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The change in internal energy increases with added heat and decreases with work done on the system.
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The change in internal energy decreases with added heat and increases with work done on the system.
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The change in internal energy is independent of heat and work.
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The change in internal energy is only affected by the work done on the system.
Explanation
Explanation:
According to the first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy ΔU of a system is given by ΔU=Q−W, where Q is the heat added to the system and W is the work done by the system on its surroundings. Heat added increases internal energy, while work done by the system reduces internal energy because energy is transferred out of the system. Therefore, the internal energy increases with heat input and decreases when the system does work.
Correct Answer:
The change in internal energy increases with added heat and decreases with work done on the system.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The change in internal energy decreases with added heat and increases with work done on the system.
This is incorrect because adding heat raises internal energy, and work done by the system reduces it, not the opposite.
The change in internal energy is independent of heat and work.
This is incorrect because internal energy is directly affected by both heat transfer and work according to the first law of thermodynamics.
The change in internal energy is only affected by the work done on the system.
This is incorrect because heat transfer also affects internal energy; both heat and work must be considered.
If an object with a mass of 3 kg has an equivalent energy of 27 J, what would be the equivalent energy of an object with a mass of 6 kg?
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54 J
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27 J
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81 J
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108 J
Explanation
Explanation:
The energy equivalent of a mass is given by Einstein’s equation E=mc2E = mc^2. Energy is directly proportional to mass, so doubling the mass doubles the equivalent energy. If a 3 kg mass corresponds to 27 J, then a 6 kg mass would correspond to 27×2=5427 \times 2 = 54 J. This linear proportionality assumes the same constant of proportionality is used for both cases.
Correct Answer:
54 J
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
27 J
This is incorrect because it represents the energy of the original 3 kg mass, not the doubled 6 kg mass. Energy scales proportionally with mass.
81 J
This is incorrect because it overestimates the energy. Tripling the energy would require tripling the mass, not doubling it.
108 J
This is incorrect because it overestimates the energy by a factor of four. Doubling the mass only doubles the energy, not quadruples it.
What is the composition of an alpha particle?
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One proton and one neutron
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Two protons and two neutrons
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Three protons and one neutron
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Two protons and one neutron
Explanation
Explanation:
An alpha particle is a type of nuclear particle emitted during alpha decay. It consists of two protons and two neutrons, which is essentially a helium-4 nucleus. Alpha particles are relatively heavy and positively charged, and they are emitted by certain radioactive elements like uranium and radium.
Correct Answer:
Two protons and two neutrons
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
One proton and one neutron
This is incorrect because that composition describes a deuteron, not an alpha particle.
Three protons and one neutron
This is incorrect because such a combination does not form an alpha particle; it would have a different mass and charge.
Two protons and one neutron
This is incorrect because an alpha particle always contains two neutrons in addition to two protons. Two protons and one neutron would form a different particle, such as a helium-3 nucleus.
If a sound wave has a wavelength of 2 meters and then changes to a wavelength of 1 meter, what can be inferred about the change in frequency of that sound wave?
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The frequency remains the same.
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The frequency decreases by half.
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The frequency doubles.
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The frequency becomes zero.
Explanation
Explanation:
The speed of sound in a given medium is constant, so the relationship between wave speed v, frequency f, and wavelength λ is v = fλ. If the wavelength decreases from 2 meters to 1 meter while the speed of sound remains constant, the frequency must increase to maintain v. Specifically, halving the wavelength doubles the frequency, since f=v/λ. This shows that the sound waves will oscillate faster as the wavelength shortens.
Correct Answer:
The frequency doubles.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The frequency remains the same.
This is incorrect because a change in wavelength at constant speed requires a corresponding change in frequency.
The frequency decreases by half.
This is incorrect because decreasing the wavelength while keeping the speed constant increases the frequency, not decreases it.
The frequency becomes zero.
This is incorrect because the wave is still propagating; zero frequency would imply no oscillations, which is not the case.
Which of the following correctly defines power in relation to work?
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Power is the total amount of work done.
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Power is the rate at which work is done.
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Power is the force applied over a distance.
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Power is the energy transferred over time.
Explanation
Explanation:
Power is defined as the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred. Mathematically, it is expressed as P = Wt, where W is work and tt is the time taken. This definition emphasizes that power measures how quickly work is performed, not the total amount of work itself.
Correct Answer:
Power is the rate at which work is done.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Power is the total amount of work done.
This is incorrect because total work measures energy transferred, but power specifically measures how fast that work is done, not the cumulative amount.
Power is the force applied over a distance.
This is incorrect because force applied over a distance defines work, not power. Power involves the additional factor of time.
Power is the energy transferred over time.
This is partially correct in concept, but the more precise definition is that power is the rate of doing work. While energy transferred over time can describe power, the standard definition in physics emphasizes work done per unit time.
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