Science Bowl Practice Questions

Physics - 1

Science Bowl Practice Questions – Physics

1.

Multiple Choice: For the hydrogen atom, which series describes electron transitions to the N=1 orbit,
the lowest energy electron orbit? Is it the:

w) Lyman series
x) Balmer series
y) Paschen series
z) Pfund series

ANSWER: W -- LYMAN SERIES

2.

Multiple Choice: Electric current may be expressed in which one of the following units?

w) coulombs/volt
x) joules/coulomb
y) coulombs/second
z) ohms/second

ANSWER: Y -- COULOMBS/SECOND

3.

Short Answer: In the SI system of measure, what is the unit of capacitance?

ANSWER: FARAD

4.

Multiple Choice: A Newton is equal to which of the following?

w) kilogram-meter per second
x) meter per second squared
y) kilogram-meter per second squared
z) kilogram per meter-second

ANSWER: Y -- KILOGRAM-METER PER SECOND SQUARED

5.

Multiple Choice: For an object moving in uniform circular motion, the direction of the instantaneous
acceleration vector is:

w) tangent to the path of motion
x) equal to zero
y) directed radially outward
z) directed radially inward

ANSWER: Z -- DIRECTED RADIALLY INWARD

6.

Short Answer: A boy is standing on an elevator which is traveling downward with a constant velocity
of 30 meters per second. The boy throws a ball vertically upward with a velocity of 10 meters per
second relative to the elevator. What is the velocity of the ball, MAGNITUDE AND DIRECTION,
relative to the elevator shaft the instant the boy releases the ball?

ANSWER: 20 METERS PER SECOND DOWN

7.

Multiple Choice: Work is equal to which of the following?

w) the cross product of force and displacement.
x) the product of force times time
y) force divided by time
z) the dot product of force and displacement

ANSWER: Z -- THE DOT PRODUCT OF FORCE AND DISPLACEMENT