Question 1

What similarity did Isaac Newton perceive between a falling apple and the moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  The velocities of both are directed toward Earth's center. 
B)  Both have a velocities and accelerations directed toward Earth's center. 
C)  Both have accelerations directed toward Earth's center, although the forces on them are in different directions. 
D)  Both have forces on them toward Earth's center, and accelerations directed toward Earth's center. 
E)  Both have forces on them toward Earth's center, but their accelerations are in different directions. 
A)  The velocities of both are directed toward Earth's center. 
B)  Both have a velocities and accelerations directed toward Earth's center. 
C)  Both have accelerations directed toward Earth's center, although the forces on them are in different directions. 
D)  Both have forces on them toward Earth's center, and accelerations directed toward Earth's center. 
E)  Both have forces on them toward Earth's center, but their accelerations are in different directions.

Question 2

Which of the following has the effect of reducing the gravitational force between two objects?

Accepted Answer

A)  Moving the two objects closer together. 
B)  Increasing the mass of either one of the objects. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  Moving the two objects farther apart. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  Moving the two objects closer together. 
B)  Increasing the mass of either one of the objects. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  Moving the two objects farther apart. 
E)  None of the above.

Question 3

If you somehow increased Earth's radius, without changing its mass, would this affect your weight?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes, your weight would decrease. 
B)  No, because your weight always remains the same regardless of how you change the external surroundings. 
C)  Yes, your weight would increase. 
D)  No, because the force of gravity on your body depends only on your mass and on Earth's total mass-- it doesn't depend on Earth's size. 
A)  Yes, your weight would decrease. 
B)  No, because your weight always remains the same regardless of how you change the external surroundings. 
C)  Yes, your weight would increase. 
D)  No, because the force of gravity on your body depends only on your mass and on Earth's total mass-- it doesn't depend on Earth's size.

Question 4

Imagine that you could magically move the moon closer to Earth, so that the distance from Earth to moon is cut in half. This would cause the force that Earth exerts on the moon to be

Accepted Answer

A)  increased to four times its original value. 
B)  doubled. 
C)  reduced to 1/4 of its original value. 
D)  halved. 
E)  Nonsense-- Earth exerts no force on the moon. 
A)  increased to four times its original value. 
B)  doubled. 
C)  reduced to 1/4 of its original value. 
D)  halved. 
E)  Nonsense-- Earth exerts no force on the moon.

Question 5

The moon's acceleration is directed

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

What other force balances the downward pull of gravity on a NASA satellite while it is in orbit around Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  The velocity. 
B)  The acceleration. 
C)  Centrifugal force. 
D)  A balancing force is not needed because gravity doesn't act on the satellite. 
E)  There is no balancing force-- gravity is the only force on the satellite. 
A)  The velocity. 
B)  The acceleration. 
C)  Centrifugal force. 
D)  A balancing force is not needed because gravity doesn't act on the satellite. 
E)  There is no balancing force-- gravity is the only force on the satellite.

Question 7

Why is Isaac Newton sometimes said to have "united the heavens and Earth"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because of the fact that there are no exceptions to the laws of thermodynamics. 
B)  Because Newton's law of gravity seems to apply throughout the universe. 
C)  Because Newton's law of conservation of energy seems to apply throughout the universe. 
D)  Because he discovered that the energy processes that power the sun also operate on Earth. 
E)  Because he caused the scientific community to accept the idea that Earth is just one planet orbiting the sun like the other planets. 
A)  Because of the fact that there are no exceptions to the laws of thermodynamics. 
B)  Because Newton's law of gravity seems to apply throughout the universe. 
C)  Because Newton's law of conservation of energy seems to apply throughout the universe. 
D)  Because he discovered that the energy processes that power the sun also operate on Earth. 
E)  Because he caused the scientific community to accept the idea that Earth is just one planet orbiting the sun like the other planets.

Question 8

Compared to the gravitational force on a 1 kg object, the gravitational force on a 2 kg object is

Accepted Answer

A)  the same. 
B)  twice as large. 
C)  nine times larger. 
D)  four times larger. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  the same. 
B)  twice as large. 
C)  nine times larger. 
D)  four times larger. 
E)  None of the above.

Question 9

Is there a force on the moon, and how do you know?

Accepted Answer

A)  No, because the moon moves at an unchanging speed. 
B)  No, because the moon is not accelerated. 
C)  Yes, because there must be a force pulling outward on the moon, away from Earth, to keep the moon from falling down to Earth. 
D)  Yes, because the moon is accelerated. 
E)  Yes, because there must be a force to keep the moon moving. 
A)  No, because the moon moves at an unchanging speed. 
B)  No, because the moon is not accelerated. 
C)  Yes, because there must be a force pulling outward on the moon, away from Earth, to keep the moon from falling down to Earth. 
D)  Yes, because the moon is accelerated. 
E)  Yes, because there must be a force to keep the moon moving.

Question 10

Does Earth's gravity pull more strongly on a block of wood or on a block or iron having the same size? Neglecting air resistance, which one falls faster when dropped?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gravity pulls more strongly on the iron, and the iron falls faster. 
B)  Gravity pulls more strongly on the iron, and both fall at the same speed. 
C)  Gravity pulls equally strongly on both, and the iron falls faster. 
D)  Gravity pulls equally strongly on both, and both fall at the same speed. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  Gravity pulls more strongly on the iron, and the iron falls faster. 
B)  Gravity pulls more strongly on the iron, and both fall at the same speed. 
C)  Gravity pulls equally strongly on both, and the iron falls faster. 
D)  Gravity pulls equally strongly on both, and both fall at the same speed. 
E)  None of the above.

Question 11

Suppose we could magically double the mass of the moon, double the mass of Earth, and double the distance between Earth and the moon, all at the same time. How would this affect the force that the moon exerts on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  The force would be multiplied by eight. 
B)  The force would be doubled. 
C)  The force would be quadrupled. 
D)  The force would be unchanged. 
E)  The force would be halved. 
A)  The force would be multiplied by eight. 
B)  The force would be doubled. 
C)  The force would be quadrupled. 
D)  The force would be unchanged. 
E)  The force would be halved.

Question 12

In the view of the science of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the natural world

Accepted Answer

A)  is similar to a clock. 
B)  is not real. 
C)  is similar to a living organism. 
D)  has a sort of free will of its own. 
E)  cannot be investigated by scientific methods. 
A)  is similar to a clock. 
B)  is not real. 
C)  is similar to a living organism. 
D)  has a sort of free will of its own. 
E)  cannot be investigated by scientific methods.

Question 13

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 gravitational force between them would be

Accepted Answer

A)  unchanged, because it is zero both before and after the mass alterations. 
B)  five times larger. 
C)  six times larger. 
D)  three times larger. 
E)  doubled. 
A)  unchanged, because it is zero both before and after the mass alterations. 
B)  five times larger. 
C)  six times larger. 
D)  three times larger. 
E)  doubled.

Question 14

Suppose that the force of gravity between the sun and Earth suddenly stopped operating. What would happen?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth would move straight ahead, in a straight line, rather than orbiting the sun. 
B)  Earth would continue orbiting the sun, but objects on Earth would have no weight and would float into space. 
C)  Earth would fall directly inward, into the sun. 
D)  Earth would stop in its orbit around the sun, and remain motionless at its present position. 
E)  Earth would fly directly outward from the sun. 
A)  Earth would move straight ahead, in a straight line, rather than orbiting the sun. 
B)  Earth would continue orbiting the sun, but objects on Earth would have no weight and would float into space. 
C)  Earth would fall directly inward, into the sun. 
D)  Earth would stop in its orbit around the sun, and remain motionless at its present position. 
E)  Earth would fly directly outward from the sun.

Question 15

Where did Earth come from?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Big Bang compressed matter into stars and planets such as Earth. 
B)  A passing star tore off part of the sun, and this part developed into Earth. 
C)  Earth was originally one of Jupiter's moons. 
D)  From gases gathered by the sun after the sun had already formed. 
E)  From the same collapsing gas cloud that gathered together to form the sun. 
A)  The Big Bang compressed matter into stars and planets such as Earth. 
B)  A passing star tore off part of the sun, and this part developed into Earth. 
C)  Earth was originally one of Jupiter's moons. 
D)  From gases gathered by the sun after the sun had already formed. 
E)  From the same collapsing gas cloud that gathered together to form the sun.

Question 16

The figure shows the moon orbiting around Earth. Suppose that the direction of the moon's motion is counterclockwise. Which of the arrows points in the direction of the moon's acceleration?

Accepted Answer

A)  arrow A 
B)  arrow B 
C)  arrow C 
D)  None of them, because the moon's acceleration is zero. 
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 acceleration is zero. 
E)  None of them, because the correct direction is a combination of two of the directions shown in the diagram.

Question 17

Newton's principles of mechanics are important because

Accepted Answer

A)  no exceptions have ever been found to them. 
B)  they tie together [or "explain"] a wide range of observed phenomena. 
C)  of the influential role they played in the development of science during the 14th and 15th centuries. 
D)  Actually they are of little importance, due to their limited range of validity. 
E)  Actually they are now known to be incorrect and hence are of no real scientific importance today. 
A)  no exceptions have ever been found to them. 
B)  they tie together [or "explain"] a wide range of observed phenomena. 
C)  of the influential role they played in the development of science during the 14th and 15th centuries. 
D)  Actually they are of little importance, due to their limited range of validity. 
E)  Actually they are now known to be incorrect and hence are of no real scientific importance today.

Question 18

Newtonian physics, coupled to the idea that everything is made of atoms, has led many scientists and philosophers to the conclusion that everything in the universe, including all human actions and human feelings, is pre- determined by the laws of physics and acts just like a machine. Which of the following statements is a scientifically- acceptable reason for disagreeing with this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Isaac Newton himself believed that humans have free will. 
B)  We should never accept scientific theories as absolute truth. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  Our own intuitions, or beliefs, inform us that we actually do have free will. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  Isaac Newton himself believed that humans have free will. 
B)  We should never accept scientific theories as absolute truth. 
C)  Both of the above. 
D)  Our own intuitions, or beliefs, inform us that we actually do have free will. 
E)  None of the above.

Question 19

Which of the following has the effect of reducing the gravitational force between two objects?

Accepted Answer

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

What similarity did Isaac Newton perceive between a falling apple and the moon?

Which of the following has the effect of reducing the gravitational force between two objects?

If you somehow increased Earth's radius, without changing its mass, would this affect your weight?

Imagine that you could magically move the moon closer to Earth, so that the distance from Earth to moon is cut in half. This would cause the force that Earth exerts on the moon to be

The moon's acceleration is directed

What other force balances the downward pull of gravity on a NASA satellite while it is in orbit around Earth?

Why is Isaac Newton sometimes said to have "united the heavens and Earth"?

Compared to the gravitational force on a 1 kg object, the gravitational force on a 2 kg object is

Is there a force on the moon, and how do you know?

Does Earth's gravity pull more strongly on a block of wood or on a block or iron having the same size? Neglecting air resistance, which one falls faster when dropped?

Suppose we could magically double the mass of the moon, double the mass of Earth, and double the distance between Earth and the moon, all at the same time. How would this affect the force that the moon exerts on Earth?

In the view of the science of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the natural world

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 gravitational force between them would be

Suppose that the force of gravity between the sun and Earth suddenly stopped operating. What would happen?

Where did Earth come from?

The figure shows the moon orbiting around Earth. Suppose that the direction of the moon's motion is counterclockwise. Which of the arrows points in the direction of the moon's acceleration?

Newton's principles of mechanics are important because

Which of the following has the effect of reducing the gravitational force between two objects?

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

What similarity did Isaac Newton perceive between a falling apple and the moon?

Which of the following has the effect of reducing the gravitational force between two objects?

If you somehow increased Earth's radius, without changing its mass, would this affect your weight?

Imagine that you could magically move the moon closer to Earth, so that the distance from Earth to moon is cut in half. This would cause the force that Earth exerts on the moon to be

The moon's acceleration is directed

What other force balances the downward pull of gravity on a NASA satellite while it is in orbit around Earth?

Why is Isaac Newton sometimes said to have "united the heavens and Earth"?

Compared to the gravitational force on a 1 kg object, the gravitational force on a 2 kg object is

Is there a force on the moon, and how do you know?

Does Earth's gravity pull more strongly on a block of wood or on a block or iron having the same size? Neglecting air resistance, which one falls faster when dropped?

Suppose we could magically double the mass of the moon, double the mass of Earth, and double the distance between Earth and the moon, all at the same time. How would this affect the force that the moon exerts on Earth?

In the view of the science of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the natural world

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 gravitational force between them would be

Suppose that the force of gravity between the sun and Earth suddenly stopped operating. What would happen?

Where did Earth come from?

The figure shows the moon orbiting around Earth. Suppose that the direction of the moon's motion is counterclockwise. Which of the arrows points in the direction of the moon's acceleration?

Newton's principles of mechanics are important because

Which of the following has the effect of reducing the gravitational force between two objects?

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