Unit 1 Review
Prior to attempting these problems, review the notes you've taken on the topics found in unit 1 along with the quizzes you've taken and lab reports you've written. After you answer these review questions compare your answers to those found in the solutions. Make sure that you get clarification on any of these problems that you don't answer correctly prior to taking the unit test. Post questions to the online discussion forum is needed.
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Multiple Choice 

1. Which of the following best describes why knowledge of physics is necessary to understand all other sciences?

1. Physics explains how energy passes from one object to another.
2. Physics explains how gravity works.
3. Physics explains the motion of objects that can be seen with the naked eye.
4. Physics explains the fundamental aspects of the universe.

2. The free-electron model of metals explains some of the important behaviors of metals by assuming the metal’s electrons move freely through the metal without repelling one another. In what sense is the free-electron theory based on a model?

1. Its use requires constructing replicas of the metal wire in the lab.
2. It involves analyzing an imaginary system simpler than the real wire it resembles.
3. It examines a model, or ideal, behavior that other metals should imitate.
4. It attempts to examine the metal in a very realistic, or model, way.

3. Which of the following would describes a length that is 2 x 10^-3 meters?

1. 2.0 kilometers
2. 2.0 megameters
3. 2.0 millimeters
4. 2.0 micrometers

4. Which of the following best describes a variable?

1. A trend that shows an exponential relationship
2. Something whose value can change over multiple measurements
3. A measure of how much a plot line changes along the y-axis
4. Aomething that remains constant over multiple measurements

5. Describe the aims of physics.

1. Physics aims to explain the fundamental aspects of our universe and how these aspects interact with one another.
2. Physics aims to explain the biological aspects of our universe and how these aspects interact with one another.
3. Physics aims to explain the composition, structure, and changes in matter occurring in the universe.
4. Physics aims to explain the social behavior of living beings in the universe.

6. How could knowledge of physics help you find a faster way to drive from your house to your school?

1. Physics can explain the traffic on a particular street and help us know about the traffic in advance.
2. Physics can explain the ongoing construction of roads on a particular street and help us know about delays in the traffic in advance.
3. Physics can explain distances and speed limits on a particular street, and help us calculate faster routes.
4. Physics can explain the closing of a particular street and help us calculate faster routes.

7. Design an experiment that will test the following hypothesis: driving on a gravel road causes greater damage to a car than driving on a dirt road.

1. To test the hypothesis, compare the damage to the car by driving it on a smooth road and a gravel road.
2. To test the hypothesis, compare the damage to the car by driving it on a smooth road and a dirt road.
3. To test the hypothesis, compare the damage to the car by driving it on a gravel road and the dirt road.
4. This hypothesis is not testable.

8. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using a model to predict a life-or-death situation, such as whether an asteroid will strike Earth?

1. The advantage of using a model is that it provides predictions quickly, but the disadvantage of using a model is that it could make erroneous predictions.
2. The advantage of using a model is that it provides accurate predictions, but the disadvantage of using a model is that it takes a long time to make predictions.
3. The advantage of using a model is that it provides predictions quickly without any error. There are no disadvantages of using a scientific model.
4. The disadvantage of using models is that it takes longer to make predictions and the predictions are inaccurate. There are no advantages to using a scientific model.

9. The speed of sound is measured at 342 m/s on a certain day. What is this in km/h? Report your answer in scientific notation.

1. 1.23 x 10⁴ km/h
2. 1.23 x 10³ km/h
3. 9.5 x 10¹ km/h
4. 2.05 x 10^-1 km/h

10. An infant’s pulse rate is measured to be 130 ± 5 beats/minute. What is the percent uncertainty in this measurement?

1. 2%
2. 3%
3. 4%
4. 5%

11. Describe all of the characteristics that can be determined about a straight line with a slope of -3 and a y-intercept of 50 on a graph.

1. Based on the information, the line has a negative slope. Because its y-intercept is 50 and its slope is negative, this line gradually rises on the graph as the x-value increases.
2. Based on the information, the line has a negative slope. Because its y-intercept is 50 and its slope is negative, this line gradually moves downward on the graph as the x-value increases.
3. Based on the information, the line has a positive slope. Because its y-intercept is 50 and its slope is positive, this line gradually rises on the graph as the x-value increases.
4. Based on the information, the line has a positive slope. Because its y-intercept is 50 and its slope is positive, this line gradually moves downward on the graph as the x-value increases.

Free Response 

1. You wish to perform an experiment on the stopping distance of your new car. Which specific experiment measures the distance? Be sure to specifically state how you will set up and take data during your experiment.

1. Drive the car at exactly 50 mph and then press harder on the accelerator pedal until the velocity reaches 60 mph and record the distance this takes.
2. Drive the car at exactly 50 mph and then apply the brakes until it stops and record the distance this takes.
3. Drive the car at exactly 50 mph and then apply the brakes until it stops and record the time it takes.
4. Drive the car at exactly 50 mph and then apply the accelerator until it reaches 60 mph and record the time it takes.

2. At x = 3, a function f(x) has a positive value, with a positive slope that is increasing in magnitude with increasing x. Which option could correspond to f(x)? You must explain your answer.

1. y = 13x
2. y = x²
3. y = 2x + 9
4. y = -4x + 6