PHY152 Spring 2013 - Practice Final Exam

Name___________________________________
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1) A nucleon is either
1) ________
_
A) a proton or an electron.
B) a proton or a neutron.
C) a neutron or an electron.
D) a positron or an electron.
2) The primary source of electrons in an ordinary electrical circuit is
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

2) ________
_

the back emf of motors.

the electrical circuit itself.
a dry cell, wet cell or battery.
the power station generator.
none of these

3) Which of these statements is true?

3) ________
_

A)
B)
C)
D)

A molecule is the smallest particle that exists.

Chemical elements are made up of about 100 distinct molecules.
Molecules form atoms that in turn determine chemical properties of a substance.
Molecules are the smallest subdivision of matter that still retains chemical properties of a
substance.
E) None of these statements is true.

4) X-rays are similar to

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

4) ________
_

beta rays.
alpha rays.
gamma rays.
all of these
none of these

5) Which force binds atoms together to form molecules?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

5) ________
_

nuclear
gravitational
electrical
centripetal
none of these

6) Which will warm up quicker in sunlight?

A) a piece of colored glass

B) a piece of clear glass

6) ________
_
C) both the same

7) Infrared waves are often called heat waves because they

A)
B)
C)
D)

consist of frequencies lower than those of visible light.

are the predominant waves emitted by the sun.
induce resonance in molecules and increase internal energy in a substance.
emanate from relatively hot sources.

7) ________
_

E) are absorbed rather than reflected by the skin.

8) If a magnet is pushed into a coil, voltage is induced across the coil. If the same magnet is pushed
into a coil with twice the number of loops
A) twice as much voltage is induced.
B) the same voltage is induced.
C) one half as much voltage is induced.
D) four times as much voltage is induced.
E) none of these

8) ________
_

9) What color light is transmitted by a piece of blue glass?

9) ________
_

A) yellow

B) blue

C) white

D) orange

E) red

10) Which of the following are electrically neutral?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

10) ______
__

ion
neutron
electron
proton
none of these

11) An iron rod becomes magnetic when

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

11) ______
__

its atoms are aligned having plus charges on one side and negative charges on the other.
its electrons stop moving and point in the same direction.
positive ions accumulate at one end and negative ions at the other end.
the net spins of its electrons are in the same direction.
none of these

12) How many different elements are in a water molecule?

A) four

B) none

C) two

12) ______
__
D) three

E) one

13) Between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, radioactive by-products are more characteristic of
nuclear
A) fusion.
B) fission.
C) both of these
D) neither of these

13) ______
__

14) The greater proportion of energy immediately converted to heat rather than light occurs in

14) ______
__

A) an incandescent lamp.

B) a fluorescent lamp.

C) both the same

15) Atoms heavier than helium were made by

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

15) ______
__

photosynthesis.
thermonuclear fusion.
radiant energy conversion.
radioactivity.
none of these

16) The magnetic field strength inside a current-carrying coil will be greater if the coil encloses a

16) ______
__

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

wooden rod.
glass rod.
vacuum.
rod of iron.
none of these

17) To perceive greater detail a dolphin emits sounds of

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

17) ______
__

higher frequency.
lower frequency.
greater intensity.
greater speed.
none of these

18) If a steady magnetic field exerts a force on a moving charge, that force is directed

18) ______
__

A) at right angles to the direction of the motion.

B) opposite the motion.
C) in the direction of the motion.
19) A nuclear process that has relatively few radioactive by-products is

19) ______
__

A) fusion.
B) fission.
C) Both of these have comparable radioactive by-products.
20) Which of these electromagnetic waves has the shortest wavelength?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

ultraviolet waves
light waves
X-rays
infrared waves
radio waves

21) When there is a change in the magnetic field in a closed loop of wire
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

21) ______
__

a voltage is induced in the wire.

electromagnetic induction occurs.
a current is created in the loop of wire.
all of these
none of these

22) A device that transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy is a

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

20) ______
__

22) ______
__

motor.
transformer.
generator.
magnet.
none of these

23) Electric forces within an atomic nucleus tend to

23) ______
__

A) hold it together.

B) push it apart.

C) neither of these

24) The greenish blue of water is evidence for the

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

reflection of red light.

interaction between green and blue frequencies of light.
absorption of red light.
absorption of greenish-blue light.
reflection of greenish-blue light.

25) Different colors are dispersed by a prism because different colors in the prism have different
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

28) ______
__

ferromagnetic materials.
moving electric charge.
tiny pieces of iron.
tiny domains of aligned atoms.
none of these

29) Electromagnetic waves consist of

A)
B)
C)
D)

27) ______
__

the kinetic energy of the decay products.

ejected neutrons.
the conversion of mass to energy.
the enormous energy release.
none of these

28) The source of all magnetism is

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

26) ______
__

moving a magnet near the wire.

changing the current in a nearby wire.
moving the wire near a magnet.
Choices A, B, and C are all true.
None of the above choices are true.

27) In the fissioning of uranium, a chain reaction is caused by

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

25) ______
__

speeds.
energies.
directions.
frequencies.
none of these

26) Voltage can be induced in a wire by

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

24) ______
__

29) ______
__

compressions and rarefactions of electromagnetic pulses.

particles of light energy.
high-frequency gravitational waves.
oscillating electric and magnetic fields.

30) If we doubled the magnifying power of the most powerful optical microscope in the world, we
would
A) be able to see individual atoms.

30) ______
__

B) still not be able to see or photograph an atom.

C) be able to photograph individual atoms, even though we couldn't see them.
31) The color of an opaque object is the same as the light that is
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

31) ______
__

transmitted.
reflected.
absorbed.
all of these
none of these

32) In the Bohr model of hydrogen, discrete radii and energy states result when an electron circles
the atom in an integral number of
A) de Broglie wavelengths.
B) diffraction patterns.
C) wave frequencies.
D) none of these

32) ______
__

33) When Rutherford had a stream of alpha particles hit a gold foil, most of the particles

33) ______
__

A) went almost straight through.

C) bounced back.

B) stopped.
D) spiraled.

34) Refraction causes the bottom of a swimming pool to appear

34) ______
__

A) farther down than it actually is.

B) closer to the surface than it actually is.
C) neither.
35) Complementary colors are two colors that
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

35) ______
__

are subtractive primary colors.

are right for each other.
are additive primary colors.
produce white light when added together.
look good together.

36) The electrical force between charges is strongest when the charges are

36) ______
__

A) far apart.
B) close together.
C) The electric force is constant everywhere.
37) When the distance between two charges is halved, the electrical force between the charges
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

37) ______
__

halves.
is reduced by 1/4.
doubles.
quadruples.
None of the above choices are correct.

38) An atom that absorbs a photon of a certain energy can then emit
A) only a photon of the same or lower energy.

38) ______
__

B) only a photon of that energy.

C) only a photon of the same or higher energy.
D) a photon of any energy.
39) Once an alpha particle is outside the nucleus it is
A)
B)
C)
D)

39) ______
__

radioactive.
free to wander about the nucleus.
quickly bound to a neighboring nucleus.
electrostatically repelled.

40) Magnetic domains normally occur in

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

40) ______
__

iron.
silver.
copper.
all of these
none of these

41) Light will almost always travel from one place to another along a path of least
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

expense.
distance.
complication.
time.
effort.

42) Polarization is a property of

A) longitudinal waves.
C) both

42) ______
__
B) transverse waves.
D) neither

43) The metal detectors that people walk through at airports operate via
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

43) ______
__

Faraday's law.
Ohm's law.
Newton's laws.
civil laws.
Coulomb's law.

44) Red sunsets are due to lower frequencies of light that

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

41) ______
__

44) ______
__

survive being scattered in the air.

appear reddish orange to the eye.
are scattered from larger particles in the air.
are reflected by clouds and relatively large particles in the air.
are refracted from larger particles in the air.

45) When visible light is incident upon clear glass, atoms in the glass
A) convert the light energy into internal energy.
B) resonate.

45) ______
__

C) are forced into vibration.

46) Light is emitted when an electron

46) ______
__

A) is boosted to a higher energy level.

B) makes a transition to a lower energy level.
C) neither of these
47) An electron and a proton

47) ______
__

A) attract each other.

B) neither attract nor repel each other.
C) repel each other.
48) Uranium-235, uranium-238 and uranium-239 are different
A) isotopes.

B) ions.

48) ______
__

C) elements.

D) none of these

49) Colors seen when gasoline forms a thin film on water are a demonstration of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

49) ______
__

interference.
polarization.
dispersion.
reflection.
refraction.

50) Moving electric charges will interact with

A) only an electric field.
C) an electric field or a magnetic field.

50) ______
__
B) only a magnetic field.
D) none of these

51) Diffuse reflection occurs when the size of surface irregularities is

51) ______
__

A) large compared to the wavelength of the light used.

B) microscopic.
C) small compared to the wavelength of the light used.
52) Refraction results from differences in light's
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

52) ______
__

speed.
frequency.
incident angles.
all of these
none of these

53) Waves diffract the most when their wavelength is

A) short.

53) ______
__

B) long.

C) Both diffract the same.

54) When the frequency of light matches the natural frequency of molecules in a material, light is
A) reflected.

B) transmitted.

C) absorbed.

D) none of these

54) ______
__

55) Thrust a magnet into a coil of wire and the coil

A) has a current in it.
C) both of these

55) ______
__
B) becomes an electromagnet.
D) neither of these

56) Strip electrons from an atom and the atom becomes a

A) different element.
C) molecule.

56) ______
__

B) positive ion.
D) negative ion.

57) An excited atom is an atom

A)
B)
C)
D)

57) ______
__

that has one or more displaced electrons.

with more protons than electrons.
that is frantic.
that has excess vibration.

58) A main difference between gravitational and electric forces is that electrical forces
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

act over shorter distances.

repel or attract.
obey the inverse-square law.
are weaker.
attract.

59) Color depends on what characteristic of light?

A) its amplitude

59) ______
__

B) its frequency

C) both of these

60) Which force field can accelerate an electron, but never change its speed?
A) magnetic field

B) electric field

C) both of these

60) ______
__
D) none of these

61) Orbital electrons do not spiral into the nucleus because of

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

58) ______
__

61) ______
__

electromagnetic forces.
angular momentum conservation.
the wave nature of the electron.
the large nuclear size compared to the electron's size.
none of these

62) Light travels fastest in

A) a vacuum.

62) ______
__
B) warm air.

C) cool air.

63) As a light ray enters or exits a water-air interface at an angle of 15 degrees with the normal, it
A) always bends toward the normal.
C) always bends away from the normal.

63) ______
__

B) sometimes bends towards the normal.

D) does not bend.

64) Which experiment best demonstrates the particle-like nature of light?

64) ______

__
A) double-slit experiment

B) photoelectric effect

C) neither

65) Consider plane waves incident upon a barrier with a small opening. After passing through the
opening, the waves
A) fan out.
B) converge.
C) continue as plane waves.
D) become polarized.
E) all of these

65) ______
__

66) Compared to its average speed in air, the average speed of a beam of light in glass is

66) ______
__

A) more.

B) less.

C) the same.

67) The source of all electromagnetic waves is

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

67) ______
__

vibrating atoms.
changes in atomic energy levels.
crystalline fluctuations.
accelerating electric charges.
none of these

68) In the photoelectric effect, the greater the frequency of the illuminating light, the greater the
A) number of ejected electrons.
C) both of these

B) maximum velocity of ejected electrons.

D) neither of these

69) Heat a copper wire and its electric resistance

A) remains unchanged.

B) increases.

69) ______
__
C) decreases.

70) To say that an object is electrically polarized is to say

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

70) ______
__

its internal electric field is zero.

its charges have been rearranged.
it is only partially conducting.
it is electrically charged.
it is to some degree magnetic.

71) According to Huygens' principle, every point on a wave

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

68) ______
__

71) ______
__

is a diffraction source.
is the superposition of every other part of the wave.
behaves as a source of new waves.
all of these
none of these

72) If one neutron is added to a helium nucleus, the result is

A) lithium.

B) helium.

C) beryllium.

72) ______
__
D) boron.

E) hydrogen.

73) Which of the following is fundamentally different from the others?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

73) ______
__

light waves
sound waves
X-rays
radio waves
gamma rays

74) Which has more energy per photon?

A) red light
B) blue light
C) Both have the same energy.

74) ______
__

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)
18)
19)
20)
21)
22)
23)
24)
25)
26)
27)
28)
29)
30)
31)
32)
33)
34)
35)
36)
37)
38)
39)
40)
41)
42)
43)
44)
45)
46)
47)
48)
49)
50)
51)

B
B
D
C
C
A
C
A
B
B
D
C
B
A
B
D
A
A
A
C
D
C
B
C
A
D
B
B
D
B
B
A
A
B
D
B
D
A
D
A
D
B
A
A
C
B
A
A
A
C
A

52)
53)
54)
55)
56)
57)
58)
59)
60)
61)
62)
63)
64)
65)
66)
67)
68)
69)
70)
71)
72)
73)
74)

A
B
C
C
B
A
B
B
A
C
A
A
B
A
B
D
B
B
B
C
B
B
B