Question 1

Is there any actual evidence that our solar system originate from a collapsing cloud of gas, as described in the textbook?

Accepted Answer

A)  Evidence comes from observations of the moon, meteorites, other planets, and other moons. 
B)  Evidence comes from observations of gas clouds around new stars elsewhere in our galaxy. 
C)  Evidence comes from observations of Earth's oldest rocks. 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  No, this description is based only on the theory of gravity and other theories. 
A)  Evidence comes from observations of the moon, meteorites, other planets, and other moons. 
B)  Evidence comes from observations of gas clouds around new stars elsewhere in our galaxy. 
C)  Evidence comes from observations of Earth's oldest rocks. 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  No, this description is based only on the theory of gravity and other theories.

Question 2

In the final phases of its "life", our sun will

Accepted Answer

A)  collapse and continue to collapse, forever. 
B)  collapse to become a white dwarf. 
C)  turn into a cockroach. 
D)  blow up in a supernova explosion. 
E)  pass through the white dwarf state, then the neutron star state, and finally the black hole state. 
A)  collapse and continue to collapse, forever. 
B)  collapse to become a white dwarf. 
C)  turn into a cockroach. 
D)  blow up in a supernova explosion. 
E)  pass through the white dwarf state, then the neutron star state, and finally the black hole state.

Question 3

Suppose you throw an apple horizontally. Neglecting air resistance, just after you release the apple from your hand, the net force on the apple is

Accepted Answer

A)  directed horizontally forward. 
B)  directed upward. 
C)  directed horizontally backward. 
D)  zero. 
E)  directed downward. 
A)  directed horizontally forward. 
B)  directed upward. 
C)  directed horizontally backward. 
D)  zero. 
E)  directed downward.

Question 4

If gold were always sold by weight, could you make money buying gold at one altitude above the ground and selling it at a different altitude?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes, you could make money by buying gold at a lower altitude and selling it at a higher altitude. 
B)  Yes, you could make money by buying gold at a higher altitude and selling it at a lower altitude. 
C)  Yes, you could make money by buying it at either a lower or higher altitude, and then selling it at the other altitude. 
D)  No, you couldn't make any money this way because the mass of the gold would be the same at both altitudes. 
E)  No, you couldn't make any money this way because the weight of the gold would be the same at both altitudes. 
A)  Yes, you could make money by buying gold at a lower altitude and selling it at a higher altitude. 
B)  Yes, you could make money by buying gold at a higher altitude and selling it at a lower altitude. 
C)  Yes, you could make money by buying it at either a lower or higher altitude, and then selling it at the other altitude. 
D)  No, you couldn't make any money this way because the mass of the gold would be the same at both altitudes. 
E)  No, you couldn't make any money this way because the weight of the gold would be the same at both altitudes.

Question 5

Today, we know that Newton's "laws" are

Accepted Answer

A)  in agreement with all known experimental evidence. 
B)  incapable of explaining the motions of the planets. 
C)  often incorrect when applied to liquids. 
D)  often incorrect when applied to molecular- sized objects. 
E)  no longer useful as scientific principles. 
A)  in agreement with all known experimental evidence. 
B)  incapable of explaining the motions of the planets. 
C)  often incorrect when applied to liquids. 
D)  often incorrect when applied to molecular- sized objects. 
E)  no longer useful as scientific principles.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A)  both have an acceleration that is directed toward the center of Earth. 
B)  the force on both is directed toward Earth's center. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  Actually there is no important similarity between these two. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  both have an acceleration that is directed toward the center of Earth. 
B)  the force on both is directed toward Earth's center. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  Actually there is no important similarity between these two. 
E)  None of the above.

Question 7

Suppose Earth collapsed down to one- tenth of its present radius, while retaining all of its present mass. Compared to your present mass, your mass would be

Accepted Answer

A)  increased by a factor of 100. 
B)  reduced by a factor of 10. 
C)  increased by a factor of 10. 
D)  reduced by a factor of 100. 
E)  unchanged. 
A)  increased by a factor of 100. 
B)  reduced by a factor of 10. 
C)  increased by a factor of 10. 
D)  reduced by a factor of 100. 
E)  unchanged.

Question 8

Is the moon accelerated?

Accepted Answer

A)  No, because there is no gravity in space. 
B)  No, because the gravitational force on it is balanced by the centrifugal force. 
C)  Yes, its acceleration is directed forward, along its direction of motion. 
D)  Yes, its acceleration is directed outward away from Earth. 
E)  Yes, its acceleration is directed inward toward Earth. 
A)  No, because there is no gravity in space. 
B)  No, because the gravitational force on it is balanced by the centrifugal force. 
C)  Yes, its acceleration is directed forward, along its direction of motion. 
D)  Yes, its acceleration is directed outward away from Earth. 
E)  Yes, its acceleration is directed inward toward Earth.

Question 9

Suppose Earth collapsed down to one- tenth of its present radius, while retaining all of its present mass. Compared to your present weight, your weight would then be

Accepted Answer

A)  increased by a factor of 100. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  reduced by a factor of 10. 
D)  increased by a factor of 10. 
E)  reduced by a factor of 100. 
A)  increased by a factor of 100. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  reduced by a factor of 10. 
D)  increased by a factor of 10. 
E)  reduced by a factor of 100.

Question 10

The moon's velocity is directed

Accepted Answer

A)  forward, along its direction of motion. 
B)  outward, away from Earth. 
C)  inward, toward the center of Earth. 
D)  zero. 
E)  backward, opposite to its direction of motion. 
A)  forward, along its direction of motion. 
B)  outward, away from Earth. 
C)  inward, toward the center of Earth. 
D)  zero. 
E)  backward, opposite to its direction of motion.

Question 11

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)  stars near the center of our galaxy that are being pulled inward and disappearing due to a very massive but small object in the center. 
C)  stars near the center of our galaxy that are moving so fast that they must be held in orbit by a massive black hole. 
D)  observations of certain regions of space, larger than the largest known stars, but that emit no light. 
E)  X-rays that are thought to come from the center of a black hole. 
A)  visible light that is thought to come from the center of a black hole. 
B)  stars near the center of our galaxy that are being pulled inward and disappearing due to a very massive but small object in the center. 
C)  stars near the center of our galaxy that are moving so fast that they must be held in orbit by a massive black hole. 
D)  observations of certain regions of space, larger than the largest known stars, but that emit no light. 
E)  X-rays that are thought to come from the center of a black hole.

Question 12

The cause of the pulsations we see in the light from neutron stars is

Accepted Answer

A)  pulsations of its neutrons. 
B)  motions of electrons within the star. 
C)  the spinning motion of the star. 
D)  the in and out pulsations of star's radius, as the star gets rapidly larger and then smaller. 
E)  Nonsense-- neutron stars do not pulsate. 
A)  pulsations of its neutrons. 
B)  motions of electrons within the star. 
C)  the spinning motion of the star. 
D)  the in and out pulsations of star's radius, as the star gets rapidly larger and then smaller. 
E)  Nonsense-- neutron stars do not pulsate.

Question 13

Astronauts in orbit around Earth feel weightless because

Accepted Answer

A)  there is no gravity out there. 
B)  they must lose weight for the space program. 
C)  they are in "free fall" around Earth. 
D)  no forces at all are acting on them. 
E)  they are moving with constant velocity. 
A)  there is no gravity out there. 
B)  they must lose weight for the space program. 
C)  they are in "free fall" around Earth. 
D)  no forces at all are acting on them. 
E)  they are moving with constant velocity.

Question 14

Astronauts inside Earth satellites such as the space shuttle are usually said to be "in orbit" around Earth. Are you "in orbit" around anything?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes, around both Earth and the sun. 
B)  Yes, around the sun due to Earth's motion through space [but not around Earth]. 
C)  Yes, around Earth due to Earth's spinning motion [but not around the sun]. 
D)  No. 
E)  Only on Saturdays. 
A)  Yes, around both Earth and the sun. 
B)  Yes, around the sun due to Earth's motion through space [but not around Earth]. 
C)  Yes, around Earth due to Earth's spinning motion [but not around the sun]. 
D)  No. 
E)  Only on Saturdays.

Question 15

Which one [or ones] of the following is a possible final state for a star that has come to the end of its "lifetime" by running out of fuel and then gravitationally collapsing?

Accepted Answer

A)  black hole 
B)  white dwarf 
C)  neutron star 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  black hole 
B)  white dwarf 
C)  neutron star 
D)  All of the above. 
E)  None of the above.

Question 16

According to current theories, how did the sun's planets get here?

Accepted Answer

A)  Stars such as the sun, and planets such as those around the sun, all formed shortly after the big bang, and then gathered into "solar systems" such as we see today. 
B)  The sun was originally part of the two- star system, the second star split up into pieces, and these pieces developed into the planets. 
C)  After the sun had formed, it gathered fully- formed planets from various places as the sun moved through the galaxy. 
D)  A passing star tore off part of the sun, and this part separated into pieces to form the planets. 
E)  Part of the gas and dust that gathered together to form the sun went into orbit around the sun instead of falling into the sun, and this part formed the planets. 
A)  Stars such as the sun, and planets such as those around the sun, all formed shortly after the big bang, and then gathered into "solar systems" such as we see today. 
B)  The sun was originally part of the two- star system, the second star split up into pieces, and these pieces developed into the planets. 
C)  After the sun had formed, it gathered fully- formed planets from various places as the sun moved through the galaxy. 
D)  A passing star tore off part of the sun, and this part separated into pieces to form the planets. 
E)  Part of the gas and dust that gathered together to form the sun went into orbit around the sun instead of falling into the sun, and this part formed the planets.

Question 17

Suppose Earth collapsed down to one- hundredth [1/100] of its present radius. How would this affect your weight? Your weight would be

Accepted Answer

A)  increased by a factor of 100. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  increased by a factor of 10,000. 
D)  reduced by a factor of 100. 
E)  increased by a factor of 1000. 
A)  increased by a factor of 100. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  increased by a factor of 10,000. 
D)  reduced by a factor of 100. 
E)  increased by a factor of 1000.

Question 18

Are you in orbit around anything?

Accepted Answer

A)  No, because you are at rest relative to space. 
B)  No, because you are at rest relative to Earth's surface. 
C)  Yes, you are in orbit around the sun. 
D)  Yes, you are in orbit both around the sun and around Earth's center. 
E)  Yes, you are in orbit around Earth's center. 
A)  No, because you are at rest relative to space. 
B)  No, because you are at rest relative to Earth's surface. 
C)  Yes, you are in orbit around the sun. 
D)  Yes, you are in orbit both around the sun and around Earth's center. 
E)  Yes, you are in orbit around Earth's center.

Question 19

A common belief is that everything that happens is predetermined by the predetermined mechanical motions of atoms, much as a clock operates. A good argument against this position is

Accepted Answer

A)  many great scientists, such as Democritus, Kepler, and Newton, dispute this belief. 
B)  science is not really relevant to our lives anyway. 
C)  Newtonian physics, on which this idea is based, cannot be conclusively proven to be true. 
D)  All of the above are good answers. 
E)  Actually, there isn't any good answer to this position. 
A)  many great scientists, such as Democritus, Kepler, and Newton, dispute this belief. 
B)  science is not really relevant to our lives anyway. 
C)  Newtonian physics, on which this idea is based, cannot be conclusively proven to be true. 
D)  All of the above are good answers. 
E)  Actually, there isn't any good answer to this position.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A)  the net force on both is toward the center of Earth. 
B)  the accelerations of both are toward the center of Earth. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  the velocity of both is toward the center of Earth. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  the net force on both is toward the center of Earth. 
B)  the accelerations of both are toward the center of Earth. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  the velocity of both is toward the center of Earth. 
E)  All of the above.

Is there any actual evidence that our solar system originate from a collapsing cloud of gas, as described in the textbook?

In the final phases of its "life", our sun will

Suppose you throw an apple horizontally. Neglecting air resistance, just after you release the apple from your hand, the net force on the apple is

If gold were always sold by weight, could you make money buying gold at one altitude above the ground and selling it at a different altitude?

Today, we know that Newton's "laws" are

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

Suppose Earth collapsed down to one- tenth of its present radius, while retaining all of its present mass. Compared to your present mass, your mass would be

Is the moon accelerated?

Suppose Earth collapsed down to one- tenth of its present radius, while retaining all of its present mass. Compared to your present weight, your weight would then be

The moon's velocity is directed

The observed evidence we have for black holes includes

The cause of the pulsations we see in the light from neutron stars is

Astronauts in orbit around Earth feel weightless because

Astronauts inside Earth satellites such as the space shuttle are usually said to be "in orbit" around Earth. Are you "in orbit" around anything?

Which one [or ones] of the following is a possible final state for a star that has come to the end of its "lifetime" by running out of fuel and then gravitationally collapsing?

According to current theories, how did the sun's planets get here?

Suppose Earth collapsed down to one- hundredth [1/100] of its present radius. How would this affect your weight? Your weight would be

Are you in orbit around anything?

A common belief is that everything that happens is predetermined by the predetermined mechanical motions of atoms, much as a clock operates. A good argument against this position is

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

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

Is there any actual evidence that our solar system originate from a collapsing cloud of gas, as described in the textbook?

In the final phases of its "life", our sun will

Suppose you throw an apple horizontally. Neglecting air resistance, just after you release the apple from your hand, the net force on the apple is

If gold were always sold by weight, could you make money buying gold at one altitude above the ground and selling it at a different altitude?

Today, we know that Newton's "laws" are

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

Suppose Earth collapsed down to one- tenth of its present radius, while retaining all of its present mass. Compared to your present mass, your mass would be

Is the moon accelerated?

Suppose Earth collapsed down to one- tenth of its present radius, while retaining all of its present mass. Compared to your present weight, your weight would then be

The moon's velocity is directed

The observed evidence we have for black holes includes

The cause of the pulsations we see in the light from neutron stars is

Astronauts in orbit around Earth feel weightless because

Astronauts inside Earth satellites such as the space shuttle are usually said to be "in orbit" around Earth. Are you "in orbit" around anything?

Which one [or ones] of the following is a possible final state for a star that has come to the end of its "lifetime" by running out of fuel and then gravitationally collapsing?

According to current theories, how did the sun's planets get here?

Suppose Earth collapsed down to one- hundredth [1/100] of its present radius. How would this affect your weight? Your weight would be

Are you in orbit around anything?

A common belief is that everything that happens is predetermined by the predetermined mechanical motions of atoms, much as a clock operates. A good argument against this position is

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

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