Question 1

The ultimate source of energy that powers the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A)  chemical potential energy of hydrogen burning into helium. 
B)  mass energy of hydrogen fusing into helium. 
C)  gravitational potential energy of the contraction of the gas cloud that formed the Sun. 
D)  kinetic energy of the orbital motion of the Sun. 
E)  thermal energy of the hydrogen atoms in the Sun. 
A)  chemical potential energy of hydrogen burning into helium. 
B)  mass energy of hydrogen fusing into helium. 
C)  gravitational potential energy of the contraction of the gas cloud that formed the Sun. 
D)  kinetic energy of the orbital motion of the Sun. 
E)  thermal energy of the hydrogen atoms in the Sun.

Question 2

The difference between speed and velocity is that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  they are expressed in different units 
B)  velocity also includes a direction 
C)  velocity is the same as acceleration but speed is different 
D)  velocity is calculated using a physics equation 
A)  they are expressed in different units 
B)  velocity also includes a direction 
C)  velocity is the same as acceleration but speed is different 
D)  velocity is calculated using a physics equation

Question 3

Radiative energy is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  energy carried by light 
B)  heat energy 
C)  energy from nuclear power plants 
D)  energy of motion 
A)  energy carried by light 
B)  heat energy 
C)  energy from nuclear power plants 
D)  energy of motion

Question 4

According to the universal law of gravitation, if you triple the distance between two objects, then the gravitational force between them ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  decreases by a factor of 9 
B)  increases by a factor of 9 
C)  decreases by a factor of 3 
D)  increases by a factor of 3 
A)  decreases by a factor of 9 
B)  increases by a factor of 9 
C)  decreases by a factor of 3 
D)  increases by a factor of 3

Question 5

You are standing on a scale in an elevator. Suddenly you notice your weight decreases. What do you conclude?

Accepted Answer

A)  The elevator is accelerating upwards. 
B)  The elevator is moving at a constant velocity upwards. 
C)  The elevator is accelerating downwards. 
D)  The elevator is moving at a constant velocity downwards. 
E)  Your diet is working. 
A)  The elevator is accelerating upwards. 
B)  The elevator is moving at a constant velocity upwards. 
C)  The elevator is accelerating downwards. 
D)  The elevator is moving at a constant velocity downwards. 
E)  Your diet is working.

Question 6

Why is Newton's version of Kepler's third law so useful to astronomers?

Accepted Answer

A)  It can be used to determine the masses of many distant objects. 
B)  It allows us to calculate distances to distant objects. 
C)  It tells us that more-distant planets orbit the Sun more slowly. 
D)  It explains why objects spin faster when they shrink in size. 
A)  It can be used to determine the masses of many distant objects. 
B)  It allows us to calculate distances to distant objects. 
C)  It tells us that more-distant planets orbit the Sun more slowly. 
D)  It explains why objects spin faster when they shrink in size.

Question 7

Unbound orbits have more orbital energy than bound orbits.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The force of gravity is an inverse square law. This means that, if you double the distance between two large masses, the gravitational force between them

Accepted Answer

A)  also doubles. 
B)  strengthens by a factor of 4. 
C)  weakens by a factor of 4. 
D)  weakens by a factor of 2. 
E)  is unaffected. 
A)  also doubles. 
B)  strengthens by a factor of 4. 
C)  weakens by a factor of 4. 
D)  weakens by a factor of 2. 
E)  is unaffected.

Question 9

Changing the orbit of a spacecraft by firing thrusters is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton's first law of motion. 
B)  Newton's second law of motion. 
C)  Newton's third law of motion. 
D)  the universal law of gravitation. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  Newton's first law of motion. 
B)  Newton's second law of motion. 
C)  Newton's third law of motion. 
D)  the universal law of gravitation. 
E)  none of the above

Question 10

If an object's velocity is doubled, its momentum is

Accepted Answer

A)  halved. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  doubled. 
D)  quadrupled. 
E)  dependent on its acceleration. 
A)  halved. 
B)  unchanged. 
C)  doubled. 
D)  quadrupled. 
E)  dependent on its acceleration.

Question 11

At which lunar phase(s) are tides least pronounced (e.g., the lowest high tides)?

Accepted Answer

A)  first quarter 
B)  new moon 
C)  full moon 
D)  both new and full moons 
E)  both first and third quarters 
A)  first quarter 
B)  new moon 
C)  full moon 
D)  both new and full moons 
E)  both first and third quarters

Question 12

The tides on Earth are an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton's first law of motion. 
B)  Newton's second law of motion. 
C)  Newton's third law of motion. 
D)  the universal law of gravitation. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  Newton's first law of motion. 
B)  Newton's second law of motion. 
C)  Newton's third law of motion. 
D)  the universal law of gravitation. 
E)  none of the above

Question 13

Where does the energy come from that your body uses to keep you alive?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is produced from the radiative energy of the Sun on your skin. 
B)  It comes from the foods you eat. 
C)  It comes from the water you drink. 
D)  It is in the air that you breathe. 
E)  It is created during the time that you rest or sleep. 
A)  It is produced from the radiative energy of the Sun on your skin. 
B)  It comes from the foods you eat. 
C)  It comes from the water you drink. 
D)  It is in the air that you breathe. 
E)  It is created during the time that you rest or sleep.

Question 14

Why are astronauts weightless in the Space Station?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because the Space Station is constantly in free-fall around the Earth 
B)  Because the Space Station is traveling so fast 
C)  Because there is no gravity in space 
D)  Because the Space Station is moving at constant velocity 
A)  Because the Space Station is constantly in free-fall around the Earth 
B)  Because the Space Station is traveling so fast 
C)  Because there is no gravity in space 
D)  Because the Space Station is moving at constant velocity

Question 15

The astronauts feel weightless in the International Space Station, which orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because there is no gravity in space 
B)  Because they are moving so fast 
C)  Because the gravity from the Moon cancels out the gravity from Earth 
D)  Because they are falling around the Earth 
A)  Because there is no gravity in space 
B)  Because they are moving so fast 
C)  Because the gravity from the Moon cancels out the gravity from Earth 
D)  Because they are falling around the Earth

Question 16

There is no gravity in space.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Tidal friction caused by Earth's stretching from the Moon's gravity is gradually slowing down the rotation of Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Hallmarks of a Scientific Theory: All great scientific theories explain existing observations, unify and extend existing concepts, and make new and novel predictions that can be experimentally tested. Using Newton's postulate of universal gravitation as a case study, explicitly demonstrate how it satisfies each of these criteria.

Accepted Answer

Newton's postulate of universal gravitat

Question 19

Suppose you heat an oven to 400∘F and boil a pot of water. Which of the following explains why you would be burned by sticking your hand briefly in the pot but not by sticking your hand briefly in the oven?

Accepted Answer

A)  The water can transfer heat to your arm more quickly than the air. 
B)  The water has a higher temperature than the oven. 
C)  The molecules in the water are moving faster than the molecules in the oven. 
D)  The oven has a higher temperature than the water. 
A)  The water can transfer heat to your arm more quickly than the air. 
B)  The water has a higher temperature than the oven. 
C)  The molecules in the water are moving faster than the molecules in the oven. 
D)  The oven has a higher temperature than the water.

Question 20

A net force acting on an object will always cause a change in the object's ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  momentum 
B)  speed 
C)  mass 
D)  direction 
A)  momentum 
B)  speed 
C)  mass 
D)  direction

The ultimate source of energy that powers the Sun is

The difference between speed and velocity is that ________.

Radiative energy is ________.

According to the universal law of gravitation, if you triple the distance between two objects, then the gravitational force between them ________.

You are standing on a scale in an elevator. Suddenly you notice your weight decreases. What do you conclude?

Why is Newton's version of Kepler's third law so useful to astronomers?

Unbound orbits have more orbital energy than bound orbits.

The force of gravity is an inverse square law. This means that, if you double the distance between two large masses, the gravitational force between them

Changing the orbit of a spacecraft by firing thrusters is an example of

If an object's velocity is doubled, its momentum is

At which lunar phase(s) are tides least pronounced (e.g., the lowest high tides)?

The tides on Earth are an example of

Where does the energy come from that your body uses to keep you alive?

Why are astronauts weightless in the Space Station?

The astronauts feel weightless in the International Space Station, which orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes. Why?

There is no gravity in space.

Tidal friction caused by Earth's stretching from the Moon's gravity is gradually slowing down the rotation of Earth.

Suppose you heat an oven to 400∘F and boil a pot of water. Which of the following explains why you would be burned by sticking your hand briefly in the pot but not by sticking your hand briefly in the oven?

A net force acting on an object will always cause a change in the object's ________.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 4: Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

The ultimate source of energy that powers the Sun is

The difference between speed and velocity is that ________.

Radiative energy is ________.

According to the universal law of gravitation, if you triple the distance between two objects, then the gravitational force between them ________.

You are standing on a scale in an elevator. Suddenly you notice your weight decreases. What do you conclude?

Why is Newton's version of Kepler's third law so useful to astronomers?

Unbound orbits have more orbital energy than bound orbits.

The force of gravity is an inverse square law. This means that, if you double the distance between two large masses, the gravitational force between them

Changing the orbit of a spacecraft by firing thrusters is an example of

If an object's velocity is doubled, its momentum is

At which lunar phase(s) are tides least pronounced (e.g., the lowest high tides)?

The tides on Earth are an example of

Where does the energy come from that your body uses to keep you alive?

Why are astronauts weightless in the Space Station?

The astronauts feel weightless in the International Space Station, which orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes. Why?

There is no gravity in space.

Tidal friction caused by Earth's stretching from the Moon's gravity is gradually slowing down the rotation of Earth.

Suppose you heat an oven to 400∘F and boil a pot of water. Which of the following explains why you would be burned by sticking your hand briefly in the pot but not by sticking your hand briefly in the oven?

A net force acting on an object will always cause a change in the object's ________.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters