Question 1

Astronauts, in satellites orbiting Earth, feel weightless. Are they really weightless?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes, because the centrifugal force due to their circular motion balances the force of gravity. 
B)  Yes, because they are not in Earth's gravitational field. 
C)  Yes, because they are "falling" around Earth. 
D)  No, because the gravitational force is pulling downward on them. 
E)  No, because the centrifugal force is pulling outward on them. 
A)  Yes, because the centrifugal force due to their circular motion balances the force of gravity. 
B)  Yes, because they are not in Earth's gravitational field. 
C)  Yes, because they are "falling" around Earth. 
D)  No, because the gravitational force is pulling downward on them. 
E)  No, because the centrifugal force is pulling outward on them.

Question 2

The observed evidence we have for black holes includes

Accepted Answer

A)  visible light that is thought to come from the center of a black hole. 
B)  X-rays that are thought to come from the center of a black hole. 
C)  temperature measurement of certain extremely cold stars that are thought to be black holes. 
D)  X-rays that are thought to come from gases that are outside of a black hole. 
E)  observations of certain regions of space, larger than the largest known stars, that emit no light. 
A)  visible light that is thought to come from the center of a black hole. 
B)  X-rays that are thought to come from the center of a black hole. 
C)  temperature measurement of certain extremely cold stars that are thought to be black holes. 
D)  X-rays that are thought to come from gases that are outside of a black hole. 
E)  observations of certain regions of space, larger than the largest known stars, that emit no light.

Question 3

Jill's weight is 500 newtons. If Earth gravitationally collapses from its present radius of 6000 km down to a radius of only 600 km, Jill's weight would then be

Accepted Answer

A)  5000 newtons. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  2000 newtons. 
D)  50,000 newtons. 
E)  5 newtons. 
A)  5000 newtons. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  2000 newtons. 
D)  50,000 newtons. 
E)  5 newtons.

Question 4

We now know that Newtonian physics is not valid [i.e., not correct] for

Accepted Answer

A)  gases. 
B)  very fast- moving objects. 
C)  solid objects. 
D)  stationary objects. 
E)  Nonsense-- Newtonian physics has never been found to be incorrect. 
A)  gases. 
B)  very fast- moving objects. 
C)  solid objects. 
D)  stationary objects. 
E)  Nonsense-- Newtonian physics has never been found to be incorrect.

Question 5

You hold an apple in one hand and an orange in the other. If you doubled the mass of the apple and tripled the mass of the orange, without changing the distance between them, the weight of the orange [on Earth] would be

Accepted Answer

A)  doubled. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  six times larger. 
D)  tripled. 
E)  five times larger. 
A)  doubled. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  six times larger. 
D)  tripled. 
E)  five times larger.

Question 6

According to Newtonian physics, and to the philosophical views usually associated with Newtonian physics, the workings of the physical universe are

Accepted Answer

A)  an anti- American plot. 
B)  partially pre- determined and partially a matter of chance. 
C)  predetermined in their overall outlines, but with certain details [such as human decision- making] left to chance or to free will. 
D)  completely a matter of chance. 
E)  completely predetermined, just like the workings of a clock. 
A)  an anti- American plot. 
B)  partially pre- determined and partially a matter of chance. 
C)  predetermined in their overall outlines, but with certain details [such as human decision- making] left to chance or to free will. 
D)  completely a matter of chance. 
E)  completely predetermined, just like the workings of a clock.

Question 7

How did Newton deduce the dependence of the gravitational force on distance?

Accepted Answer

A)  By measuring the gravitational attraction between large massive lead spheres in the laboratory. 
B)  By observing the way that a large gravitational pendulum moved. 
C)  By comparing the accelerations of objects falling to Earth from different heights. 
D)  By comparing the time it takes Earth to orbit the sun with the time it takes to spin on its axis. 
E)  By calculating the moon's acceleration, and comparing it with the acceleration of a falling object. 
A)  By measuring the gravitational attraction between large massive lead spheres in the laboratory. 
B)  By observing the way that a large gravitational pendulum moved. 
C)  By comparing the accelerations of objects falling to Earth from different heights. 
D)  By comparing the time it takes Earth to orbit the sun with the time it takes to spin on its axis. 
E)  By calculating the moon's acceleration, and comparing it with the acceleration of a falling object.

Question 8

The law of gravity was invented by

Accepted Answer

A)  Galileo. 
B)  Kepler. 
C)  Ptolemy. 
D)  Copernicus. 
E)  Newton. 
A)  Galileo. 
B)  Kepler. 
C)  Ptolemy. 
D)  Copernicus. 
E)  Newton.

Question 9

A philosopher informs you that you do not have any free will, because Newtonian physics predicts that the physical universe and everything in it behaves in a deterministic fashion, just like the workings of a clock. A good argument against this position is that

Accepted Answer

A)  it is impossible to scientifically prove such a general statement. 
B)  Newtonian physics is now known to be incorrect in certain situations. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  None of the above. 
E)  all philosophers are knaves and fools. 
A)  it is impossible to scientifically prove such a general statement. 
B)  Newtonian physics is now known to be incorrect in certain situations. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  None of the above. 
E)  all philosophers are knaves and fools.

Question 10

An astronaut's normal weight it 600 newtons. How much will she weigh while orbiting in a satellite at 12,000 kilometers [two earth radii] above the surface of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  zero 
B)  67 newtons 
C)  300 newtons 
D)  200 newtons 
E)  150 newtons 
A)  zero 
B)  67 newtons 
C)  300 newtons 
D)  200 newtons 
E)  150 newtons

Question 11

How strongly, and in what direction, does a 1- newton apple pull on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  The apple does not pull on Earth at all; it is Earth that pulls downward on the apple. 
B)  It pulls upward, with a force that is much smaller than 1 newton. 
C)  It pulls downward, with a force of 1 newton. 
D)  It pulls upward, with a force of 1 newton. 
E)  It pulls upward, with a force that is much larger than 1 newton. 
A)  The apple does not pull on Earth at all; it is Earth that pulls downward on the apple. 
B)  It pulls upward, with a force that is much smaller than 1 newton. 
C)  It pulls downward, with a force of 1 newton. 
D)  It pulls upward, with a force of 1 newton. 
E)  It pulls upward, with a force that is much larger than 1 newton.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

Which of the following statements best describes the limitations of Newtonian physics?

Accepted Answer

A)  As far as we know, Newtonian physics is correct in all situations. 
B)  At high speeds, or at small sizes, or for large distances, Newtonian physics is incorrect. 
C)  At very high speeds, or at very small sizes, or for gases and liquids, Newtonian physics gives very incorrect predictions. 
D)  At very high speeds, Newtonian physics gives very incorrect predictions, and is correct in other situations. 
E)  Newtonian physics is approximately correct, to within 1 or 2 percent, in all situations. 
A)  As far as we know, Newtonian physics is correct in all situations. 
B)  At high speeds, or at small sizes, or for large distances, Newtonian physics is incorrect. 
C)  At very high speeds, or at very small sizes, or for gases and liquids, Newtonian physics gives very incorrect predictions. 
D)  At very high speeds, Newtonian physics gives very incorrect predictions, and is correct in other situations. 
E)  Newtonian physics is approximately correct, to within 1 or 2 percent, in all situations.

Question 14

There are three types of collapsed, burned- out stars: black holes, neutron stars, and

Accepted Answer

A)  X-ray stars. 
B)  supernova. 
C)  red giants. 
D)  quasars. 
E)  white dwarfs. 
A)  X-ray stars. 
B)  supernova. 
C)  red giants. 
D)  quasars. 
E)  white dwarfs.

Question 15

Suppose that the gravitational force by Earth on the moon suddenly shut off. How would the moon then move?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would move directly outward, away from Earth. 
B)  It would move straight ahead in a straight line, at constant speed. 
C)  It would slow down and stop. 
D)  It would go into a larger circular orbit. 
E)  It would move directly inward, toward Earth. 
A)  It would move directly outward, away from Earth. 
B)  It would move straight ahead in a straight line, at constant speed. 
C)  It would slow down and stop. 
D)  It would go into a larger circular orbit. 
E)  It would move directly inward, toward Earth.

Question 16

The acceleration of the moon is

Accepted Answer

A)  directed toward Earth 
B)  directed outward away from earth 
C)  zero. 
D)  directed along its forward direction of motion 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  directed toward Earth 
B)  directed outward away from earth 
C)  zero. 
D)  directed along its forward direction of motion 
E)  None of the above.

Question 17

Suppose we could magically triple the distance between Earth and the moon. This would cause the gravitational force by Earth on the moon to be

Accepted Answer

A)  reduced to 1/9 of its former value. 
B)  reduced to 1/4 of its former value. 
C)  increased to three times its former value. 
D)  be unchanged. 
E)  reduced to 1/3 of its former value. 
A)  reduced to 1/9 of its former value. 
B)  reduced to 1/4 of its former value. 
C)  increased to three times its former value. 
D)  be unchanged. 
E)  reduced to 1/3 of its former value.

Question 18

The pulsations from a neutron star are due to

Accepted Answer

A)  the nuclear reactions taking place in its center. 
B)  the vibrations of its neutrons. 
C)  its large mass. 
D)  its rapid spinning motion. 
E)  the gas that surrounds it. 
A)  the nuclear reactions taking place in its center. 
B)  the vibrations of its neutrons. 
C)  its large mass. 
D)  its rapid spinning motion. 
E)  the gas that surrounds it.

Question 19

Mort weighs 700 newtons on Earth. He takes a low- orbit voyage in an Earth satellite. During the voyage his weight is

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

If you weighed 800 newtons on Earth, how much would you weigh at 6000 km [one Earth radius] above the surface of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  1600 newtons 
B)  3200 newtons 
C)  200 newtons 
D)  400 newtons 
E)  800 newtons 
A)  1600 newtons 
B)  3200 newtons 
C)  200 newtons 
D)  400 newtons 
E)  800 newtons

Astronauts, in satellites orbiting Earth, feel weightless. Are they really weightless?

The observed evidence we have for black holes includes

Jill's weight is 500 newtons. If Earth gravitationally collapses from its present radius of 6000 km down to a radius of only 600 km, Jill's weight would then be

We now know that Newtonian physics is not valid [i.e., not correct] for

You hold an apple in one hand and an orange in the other. If you doubled the mass of the apple and tripled the mass of the orange, without changing the distance between them, the weight of the orange [on Earth] would be

According to Newtonian physics, and to the philosophical views usually associated with Newtonian physics, the workings of the physical universe are

How did Newton deduce the dependence of the gravitational force on distance?

The law of gravity was invented by

A philosopher informs you that you do not have any free will, because Newtonian physics predicts that the physical universe and everything in it behaves in a deterministic fashion, just like the workings of a clock. A good argument against this position is that

An astronaut's normal weight it 600 newtons. How much will she weigh while orbiting in a satellite at 12,000 kilometers [two earth radii] above the surface of Earth?

How strongly, and in what direction, does a 1- newton apple pull on Earth?

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

Which of the following statements best describes the limitations of Newtonian physics?

There are three types of collapsed, burned- out stars: black holes, neutron stars, and

Suppose that the gravitational force by Earth on the moon suddenly shut off. How would the moon then move?

The acceleration of the moon is

Suppose we could magically triple the distance between Earth and the moon. This would cause the gravitational force by Earth on the moon to be

The pulsations from a neutron star are due to

Mort weighs 700 newtons on Earth. He takes a low- orbit voyage in an Earth satellite. During the voyage his weight is

If you weighed 800 newtons on Earth, how much would you weigh at 6000 km [one Earth radius] above the surface of Earth?

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

Astronauts, in satellites orbiting Earth, feel weightless. Are they really weightless?

The observed evidence we have for black holes includes

Jill's weight is 500 newtons. If Earth gravitationally collapses from its present radius of 6000 km down to a radius of only 600 km, Jill's weight would then be

We now know that Newtonian physics is not valid [i.e., not correct] for

You hold an apple in one hand and an orange in the other. If you doubled the mass of the apple and tripled the mass of the orange, without changing the distance between them, the weight of the orange [on Earth] would be

According to Newtonian physics, and to the philosophical views usually associated with Newtonian physics, the workings of the physical universe are

How did Newton deduce the dependence of the gravitational force on distance?

The law of gravity was invented by

A philosopher informs you that you do not have any free will, because Newtonian physics predicts that the physical universe and everything in it behaves in a deterministic fashion, just like the workings of a clock. A good argument against this position is that

An astronaut's normal weight it 600 newtons. How much will she weigh while orbiting in a satellite at 12,000 kilometers [two earth radii] above the surface of Earth?

How strongly, and in what direction, does a 1- newton apple pull on Earth?

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

Which of the following statements best describes the limitations of Newtonian physics?

There are three types of collapsed, burned- out stars: black holes, neutron stars, and

Suppose that the gravitational force by Earth on the moon suddenly shut off. How would the moon then move?

The acceleration of the moon is

Suppose we could magically triple the distance between Earth and the moon. This would cause the gravitational force by Earth on the moon to be

The pulsations from a neutron star are due to

Mort weighs 700 newtons on Earth. He takes a low- orbit voyage in an Earth satellite. During the voyage his weight is

If you weighed 800 newtons on Earth, how much would you weigh at 6000 km [one Earth radius] above the surface of Earth?

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