Quiz #1

Prepare for this quiz by reviewing all of the assignments in this unit that came prior to it. Read through your notes, practice problem work, and lab report. When you are ready, take this quiz without the use of your notes. Record your answers in the form at the bottom of this page.

1. An architect constructs a physical model representation of a single building she has designed and shows it to a client. Which of the following best describes a shortcoming of a typical physical model such as this?
A. It doesn't show the building in the context of its neighborhood
B. It doesn't show the size of the building's architectural features relative to each other
C. It doesn't show the number of floors in the building
D. All of the above are shortcomings of the model

2. Is the following a valid scientific argument? The sky is blue. When I look at the sky on a sunny day, it looks blue. The particles that make up the atmosphere scatter light in the blue end of the visible spectrum more than light on the red end due to a phenomenon called resonance.
A. Yes. It has a claim, evidence and justification
B. No. It has a claim and evidence but no justification
C. No. It has a claim and justification but no evidence

3. Identify the evidence given in the following scientific argument: Force analysis of a pendulum indicates that the time it takes for a pendulum to make one complete swing (T) is determined by the equation T = 2piSQRT(L/g) with L being the length and all other parts of the equation being constant. In the lab, the mass of a pendulum was varied and the time for one complete swing, the period, remained the same in each trial when the length was constant. The period of a pendulum is not affected by its mass. 
A. The first sentence
B. The second sentence
C. The third sentence
D. There is no evidence given

4. Which of the following do typical professional physicists perform as a routine part of their job?
A. Communicate with other physicists
B. Critique the ideas of other physicists
C. Conduct research
D. All of the above

5. Newton's Three Laws of Motion accurately describe and predict the behavior of objects in common, everyday situations, providing a fundamental framework for understanding physical interactions in the macroscopic world. Is the previous statement a valid scientific argument? Choose the best response.
A. Yes. It contains all the elements of a valid scientific argument
B. Yes. But, it would improve if an example is given
C. No. It is missing evidence that supports the claim
D. No, It is missing evidence that supports the claim and rationale (justification) that states why the evidence is appropriate. 

6. How many significant figures are in the length measurement 500.60 meters?
A. 2
B. 3
D. 4
E. 5

7. A student uses a ruler to make a length measurement. The marks on the ruler show whole centimeters only. Which of the following is a valid reading using this ruler? Note that the answers are in meters.
A. 0.032 m
B. 0.32 m
c. 0.0032 m
D. 3.2 m

8. The volume of a cylindrical solid is V = πR²h, where R is the radius of the top of the cylinder, and h is its height. Given that the radius was measured to be 0.54 m and the height was measured to be 0.561 m, calculate the volume adhering to the rules of significant figures. Assume that π has unlimited significant figures.
A. 0.95 m³
B. 0.954 m³
C. 0.51 m³
D. 0.514 m³

9. Convert the measurement 5.37 x 10⁵ kilograms into grams.
A. 537 g
B. 5.37 g
C. 537000 g
D. 537000000 g

10. A group of students measure the speed of a cart on a track in the lab using a ruler and a stopwatch. Calculations made by the teacher show that the average speed of the cart should be measured to be 1.2 m/s. The data table below shows the results the students found. Which of the following would you claim based on this information?

A. The students data is precise but not accurate
B. The students data is accurate but not precise
C. The students data is both precise and accurate
d. The students data is neither precise nor accurate