Question 1

A space satellite weighs 100,000 newtons on Earth. When orbiting at a height of 6000 km [one Earth- radius] above Earth, its weight is

Accepted Answer

A)  zero. 
B)  400,000 newtons. 
C)  25,000 newtons. 
D)  100,000 newtons. 
E)  50,000 newtons. 
A)  zero. 
B)  400,000 newtons. 
C)  25,000 newtons. 
D)  100,000 newtons. 
E)  50,000 newtons. C

Question 2

The important similarity that Newton noticed between a falling apple and the moon was that

Accepted Answer

A)  both are moving. 
B)  both are good to eat. 
C)  the accelerations of both are toward Earth's center. 
D)  the velocities of both are toward Earth's center. 
E)  the net force on both is away from Earth, i.e., outward from the center of Earth. 
A)  both are moving. 
B)  both are good to eat. 
C)  the accelerations of both are toward Earth's center. 
D)  the velocities of both are toward Earth's center. 
E)  the net force on both is away from Earth, i.e., outward from the center of Earth. C

Question 3

Suppose that Earth suddenly collapsed to one- fourth of its present radius. Compared to your present weight, your weight would then be

Accepted Answer

A)  16 times smaller. 
B)  4 times larger. 
C)  16 times larger. 
D)  8 times larger. 
E)  unchanged. 
A)  16 times smaller. 
B)  4 times larger. 
C)  16 times larger. 
D)  8 times larger. 
E)  unchanged. C

Question 4

Velma, the space woman, is orbiting above Earth's surface in a low- altitude orbit. Does she actually have weight, or is she actually weightless, and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  She actually has weight, because her weight remains the same no matter where she goes in the universe. 
B)  She actually has weight, because Earth actually is pulling on her with nearly the normal pull of gravity. 
C)  She is weightless because she is falling freely around the earth. 
D)  She is weightless because she is away from the pull of Earth's gravity. 
E)  She is weightless because she is in a vacuum. 
A)  She actually has weight, because her weight remains the same no matter where she goes in the universe. 
B)  She actually has weight, because Earth actually is pulling on her with nearly the normal pull of gravity. 
C)  She is weightless because she is falling freely around the earth. 
D)  She is weightless because she is away from the pull of Earth's gravity. 
E)  She is weightless because she is in a vacuum.

Question 5

A white dwarf star is about the size of

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth. 
B)  a highway truck. 
C)  the head of a pin. 
D)  the sun. 
E)  Actually, it doesn't have any size at all. 
A)  Earth. 
B)  a highway truck. 
C)  the head of a pin. 
D)  the sun. 
E)  Actually, it doesn't have any size at all.

Question 6

The least massive stars, including our sun, eventually end their lives as

Accepted Answer

A)  black holes. 
B)  quasars. 
C)  neutron stars. 
D)  white dwarfs. 
E)  red giants. 
A)  black holes. 
B)  quasars. 
C)  neutron stars. 
D)  white dwarfs. 
E)  red giants.

Question 7

Velma, the space woman, orbiting at 100 miles above earth's surface, feels weightless because

Accepted Answer

A)  she went on a diet. 
B)  she is falling freely around Earth. 
C)  she is in a vacuum. 
D)  she is away from the pull of earth's gravity. 
E)  Actually, she doesn't feel weightless. 
A)  she went on a diet. 
B)  she is falling freely around Earth. 
C)  she is in a vacuum. 
D)  she is away from the pull of earth's gravity. 
E)  Actually, she doesn't feel weightless.

Question 8

The figure shows the moon orbiting around Earth. Suppose that the direction of the moon's motion is counter- clockwise. Is any net force exerted on the moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes, in the direction of arrow B. 
B)  Yes, in the direction of arrow A. 
C)  Yes, in the direction of arrow C. 
D)  No, because no net force is needed to keep an object moving. 
E)  No, because the individual forces acting on the moon all balance out to yield a net force of zero. 
A)  Yes, in the direction of arrow B. 
B)  Yes, in the direction of arrow A. 
C)  Yes, in the direction of arrow C. 
D)  No, because no net force is needed to keep an object moving. 
E)  No, because the individual forces acting on the moon all balance out to yield a net force of zero.

Question 9

What originally caused the sun to heat up?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nuclear fusion reactions that occurred during the time when the sun's gases were spread out and beginning to fall together by gravitational attraction. 
B)  The gases from which it formed had already been heated by the Big Bang. 
C)  As the sun's gases gathered together by their own gravity, they accelerated inward and collided. 
D)  Electromagnetic radiation from outside the sun heated the sun's gases as they gathered together. 
E)  A nearby supernova explosion that occurred during the early stages of the formation of the sun. 
A)  Nuclear fusion reactions that occurred during the time when the sun's gases were spread out and beginning to fall together by gravitational attraction. 
B)  The gases from which it formed had already been heated by the Big Bang. 
C)  As the sun's gases gathered together by their own gravity, they accelerated inward and collided. 
D)  Electromagnetic radiation from outside the sun heated the sun's gases as they gathered together. 
E)  A nearby supernova explosion that occurred during the early stages of the formation of the sun.

Question 10

During this century, we have found that Newton's physics does not apply to

Accepted Answer

A)  very small objects. 
B)  very strong gravitational forces. 
C)  high speed objects. 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  Nonsense-- Newton's physics always applies. 
A)  very small objects. 
B)  very strong gravitational forces. 
C)  high speed objects. 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  Nonsense-- Newton's physics always applies.

Question 11

NASA satellites stay up because

Accepted Answer

A)  they are away from Earth's gravity and thus do not get pulled down toward Earth. 
B)  they are moving so fast that they are able to "fall" around Earth. 
C)  there is no air resistance in outer space and thus no downward force on an orbiting satellite. 
D)  centrifugal force pulls outward on them. 
E)  their rocket engines hold them above Earth's surface. 
A)  they are away from Earth's gravity and thus do not get pulled down toward Earth. 
B)  they are moving so fast that they are able to "fall" around Earth. 
C)  there is no air resistance in outer space and thus no downward force on an orbiting satellite. 
D)  centrifugal force pulls outward on them. 
E)  their rocket engines hold them above Earth's surface.

Question 12

How is the gravitational force between two objects affected by changes in the masses of the objects and by changes in the distance between the two objects?

Accepted Answer

A)  The force decreases with increased mass, and decreases with increased distance. 
B)  The force decreases with increased mass, and increases with increased distance. 
C)  The force increases with increased mass, and decreases with increased distance. 
D)  The force increases with increased mass, and increases with increased distance. 
A)  The force decreases with increased mass, and decreases with increased distance. 
B)  The force decreases with increased mass, and increases with increased distance. 
C)  The force increases with increased mass, and decreases with increased distance. 
D)  The force increases with increased mass, and increases with increased distance.

Question 13

The figure shows the moon orbiting around Earth. Suppose that the force of gravity between Earth and moon suddenly "switched off." Which of the three arrows point in the direction that the moon would move after gravity vanished?

Accepted Answer

A)  arrow A 
B)  arrow B 
C)  arrow C 
D)  None of them, because the moon's velocity would be zero if the gravitational force vanished. 
E)  None of them, because the correct direction is a combination of two of the directions shown in the diagram. 
A)  arrow A 
B)  arrow B 
C)  arrow C 
D)  None of them, because the moon's velocity would be zero if the gravitational force vanished. 
E)  None of them, because the correct direction is a combination of two of the directions shown in the diagram.

Question 14

There are three types of collapsed, burned- out stars: white dwarfs, neutron stars, and

Accepted Answer

A)  red giants. 
B)  black holes. 
C)  X-ray stars. 
D)  quasars. 
E)  supernova. 
A)  red giants. 
B)  black holes. 
C)  X-ray stars. 
D)  quasars. 
E)  supernova.

Question 15

Which of the following would increase the gravitational force between two objects?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reducing the mass of either one of the objects. 
B)  Moving the two objects farther apart. 
C)  Moving the two objects closer together. 
D)  None of these. 
A)  Reducing the mass of either one of the objects. 
B)  Moving the two objects farther apart. 
C)  Moving the two objects closer together. 
D)  None of these.

Question 16

Our sun will conclude its life as

Accepted Answer

A)  a white dwarf. 
B)  a daffodil. 
C)  a black hole. 
D)  a neutron star. 
E)  a red giant. 
A)  a white dwarf. 
B)  a daffodil. 
C)  a black hole. 
D)  a neutron star. 
E)  a red giant.

Question 17

What is the present scientific status of Newtonian physics?

Accepted Answer

A)  We now know that Newtonian physics is correct. 
B)  Although we cannot know for certain that Newtonian physics is correct, no violations have ever been discovered. 
C)  Newtonian physics is now known to be wrong and thus it is no longer useful in science. 
D)  Newtonian physics does not apply to very small objects, but otherwise no violations have been discovered. 
E)  Newtonian physics does not apply to very small objects, high- speed objects, and very strong gravitational forces. 
A)  We now know that Newtonian physics is correct. 
B)  Although we cannot know for certain that Newtonian physics is correct, no violations have ever been discovered. 
C)  Newtonian physics is now known to be wrong and thus it is no longer useful in science. 
D)  Newtonian physics does not apply to very small objects, but otherwise no violations have been discovered. 
E)  Newtonian physics does not apply to very small objects, high- speed objects, and very strong gravitational forces.

Question 18

When you are in a high- flying jet plane, does either your weight or your mass differ from their normal value as measured on the ground?

Accepted Answer

A)  No, both your weight and your mass are exactly the same as on the ground. 
B)  Your weight is slightly reduced, but your mass is unchanged. 
C)  Both your weight and your mass are slightly increased. 
D)  Both your weight and your mass are slightly reduced. 
E)  Your weight is slightly increased, but your mass is unchanged. 
A)  No, both your weight and your mass are exactly the same as on the ground. 
B)  Your weight is slightly reduced, but your mass is unchanged. 
C)  Both your weight and your mass are slightly increased. 
D)  Both your weight and your mass are slightly reduced. 
E)  Your weight is slightly increased, but your mass is unchanged.

Question 19

As the moon circles Earth, the net force on it is

Accepted Answer

A)  zero. 
B)  backward. 
C)  forward. 
D)  directed outward away from Earth. 
E)  directed inward toward Earth. 
A)  zero. 
B)  backward. 
C)  forward. 
D)  directed outward away from Earth. 
E)  directed inward toward Earth.

Question 20

Mort weighs 700 newtons on Earth. He takes a low- orbit voyage in an Earth satellite. While in orbit his apparent weight [his feeling of weight] is

Accepted Answer

A)  just a few newtons. 
B)  a little more than 700 newtons. 
C)  zero. 
D)  a little less than 700 newtons. 
E)  700 newtons. 
A)  just a few newtons. 
B)  a little more than 700 newtons. 
C)  zero. 
D)  a little less than 700 newtons. 
E)  700 newtons.

A space satellite weighs 100,000 newtons on Earth. When orbiting at a height of 6000 km [one Earth- radius] above Earth, its weight is

The important similarity that Newton noticed between a falling apple and the moon was that

Suppose that Earth suddenly collapsed to one- fourth of its present radius. Compared to your present weight, your weight would then be

Velma, the space woman, is orbiting above Earth's surface in a low- altitude orbit. Does she actually have weight, or is she actually weightless, and why?

A white dwarf star is about the size of

The least massive stars, including our sun, eventually end their lives as

Velma, the space woman, orbiting at 100 miles above earth's surface, feels weightless because

The figure shows the moon orbiting around Earth. Suppose that the direction of the moon's motion is counter- clockwise. Is any net force exerted on the moon?

What originally caused the sun to heat up?

During this century, we have found that Newton's physics does not apply to

NASA satellites stay up because

How is the gravitational force between two objects affected by changes in the masses of the objects and by changes in the distance between the two objects?

The figure shows the moon orbiting around Earth. Suppose that the force of gravity between Earth and moon suddenly "switched off." Which of the three arrows point in the direction that the moon would move after gravity vanished?

There are three types of collapsed, burned- out stars: white dwarfs, neutron stars, and

Which of the following would increase the gravitational force between two objects?

Our sun will conclude its life as

What is the present scientific status of Newtonian physics?

When you are in a high- flying jet plane, does either your weight or your mass differ from their normal value as measured on the ground?

As the moon circles Earth, the net force on it is

Mort weighs 700 newtons on Earth. He takes a low- orbit voyage in an Earth satellite. While in orbit his apparent weight [his feeling of weight] is

The Way of Science: Experience and Reason

Atoms: the Nature of Things

How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions

Why Things Move As They Do

Conservation of Energy: You Cant Get Ahead

Second Law of Thermodynamics: and You Cant Even Break Even

Light and Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism Radiation and Global Climate Change

The Special Theory of Relativity

The General Theory of Relativity and the New Cosmology

The Quantum Idea

The Quantum Universe

The Nucleus and Radioactivity: an New Force

Fusion and Fission: and a New Energy

The Energy Challenge

Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum

Filters

Exam 5: Newtons Universe

A space satellite weighs 100,000 newtons on Earth. When orbiting at a height of 6000 km [one Earth- radius] above Earth, its weight is

The important similarity that Newton noticed between a falling apple and the moon was that

Suppose that Earth suddenly collapsed to one- fourth of its present radius. Compared to your present weight, your weight would then be

Velma, the space woman, is orbiting above Earth's surface in a low- altitude orbit. Does she actually have weight, or is she actually weightless, and why?

A white dwarf star is about the size of

The least massive stars, including our sun, eventually end their lives as

Velma, the space woman, orbiting at 100 miles above earth's surface, feels weightless because

The figure shows the moon orbiting around Earth. Suppose that the direction of the moon's motion is counter- clockwise. Is any net force exerted on the moon?

What originally caused the sun to heat up?

During this century, we have found that Newton's physics does not apply to

NASA satellites stay up because

How is the gravitational force between two objects affected by changes in the masses of the objects and by changes in the distance between the two objects?

The figure shows the moon orbiting around Earth. Suppose that the force of gravity between Earth and moon suddenly "switched off." Which of the three arrows point in the direction that the moon would move after gravity vanished?

There are three types of collapsed, burned- out stars: white dwarfs, neutron stars, and

Which of the following would increase the gravitational force between two objects?

Our sun will conclude its life as

What is the present scientific status of Newtonian physics?

When you are in a high- flying jet plane, does either your weight or your mass differ from their normal value as measured on the ground?

As the moon circles Earth, the net force on it is

Mort weighs 700 newtons on Earth. He takes a low- orbit voyage in an Earth satellite. While in orbit his apparent weight [his feeling of weight] is

The Way of Science: Experience and Reason

Atoms: the Nature of Things

How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions

Why Things Move As They Do

Conservation of Energy: You Cant Get Ahead

Second Law of Thermodynamics: and You Cant Even Break Even

Light and Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism Radiation and Global Climate Change

The Special Theory of Relativity

The General Theory of Relativity and the New Cosmology

The Quantum Idea

The Quantum Universe

The Nucleus and Radioactivity: an New Force

Fusion and Fission: and a New Energy

The Energy Challenge

Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum

Filters