Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between speed and velocity?

Accepted Answer

Velocity contains information about the direction of motion while speed does not.

Question 2

A runner jogs 400 meters east, then 300 meters north. What is the magnitude of the runner’s net displacement?

Accepted Answer

$$\sqrt{400^2$ + 300^2$} = 500$$ meters

Question 3

Which of the following is a vector quantity?

Accepted Answer

Displacement

Question 4

A car travels 60 km east in 1 hour, then 80 km west in 2 hours. What is the car’s average velocity for the entire trip?

Accepted Answer

$$\frac{60 - 80}{3} = -6.7 km/h$  ($$negative sign indicates west)

Question 5

Which of the following is the correct SI unit for mass?

Accepted Answer

Kilogram (kg)

Question 6

A student walks 100 meters north, then 100 meters east. What is the direction of the net displacement vector relative to north?

Accepted Answer

$$45^\circ$$ north of east

Question 7

If a measurement is recorded as 0.0520, how many significant figures does it have?

Accepted Answer

3

Question 8

A ball is thrown straight up and returns to the thrower’s hand. Which of the following statements is true about the ball’s displacement and distance traveled?

Accepted Answer

Displacement is zero, distance is greater than zero.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the particle model in physics?

Accepted Answer

It treats an object as if all its mass were concentrated at a single point.

Question 10

A cyclist rides 3 miles east of a water tower, then 2 miles west of the tower. What is the cyclist’s displacement from the starting point?

Accepted Answer

$$-1$$ mile

Question 11

A goose flies 21 miles north, then 28 miles east. What is the straight-line distance from its starting point to its final position?

Accepted Answer

$$\sqrt{21^2$ + 28^2$} = 35$$ miles

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a scalar quantity?

Accepted Answer

Speed

Question 13

A car moves from $$x = 10 m to$$ $$x = -5 m in 3 $$seconds. What is its average velocity?

Accepted Answer

Question 14

Which of the following is the correct way to express 0.00052 in scientific notation?

Accepted Answer

$$5.2 	imes 10$$^{-4}$$

Question 15

A person walks 1 mile in 30 minutes. Estimate their speed in meters per second.

Accepted Answer

$$\approx 1 m/s$$

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the process for adding two displacement vectors?

Accepted Answer

Place the tail of the second vector at the tip of the first and draw the resultant from the tail of the first to the tip of the second.

Question 17

If a measurement is 2.30 m and another is 0.045 m, what is the correct number of significant figures in their product?

Accepted Answer

2

Question 18

A ball is thrown at an angle and caught at the same height. Which statement about its velocity vectors at the start and end is correct?

Accepted Answer

They have the same magnitude but opposite directions.

Question 19

Which of the following is an order-of-magnitude estimate for the number of seconds in a day?

Accepted Answer

$$10^5$$

Question 20

A vector has components $$3$$ units east and $$4$$ units north. What is its magnitude?

Accepted Answer

$$\sqrt{3^2$ + 4^2$} = 5$$ units

Chapter 1: Representing Motion – College Physics Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards