Chapter 1—Introduction
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Since 1983 the standard meter has been defined in terms of which of the following?
a. specific alloy bar housed at Sevres, France
b. wavelength of light emitted by krypton-86
c. distance from the Earth's equator to the
North Pole
d. the distance light travels in a certain fraction
of a second
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
2. Since 1967 the standard definition for the second has been based on which of the following?
a. characteristic frequency of the cesium-133
atom
b. average solar day
c. sidereal day
d. Greenwich Civil Time
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
3. In mechanics, physicists use three basic quantities to derive additional quantities. Mass is one of the three
quantities. What are the other two?
a. length and force
b. power and force
c. length and time
d. force and time
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
4. The prefixes which are abbreviated p, n, and G represent which of the following?
a. 10−2, 10−6, and 1015
b. 10−9, 106, and 1010
c. 10−12, 10−9, and 109
d. 10−15, 10−6, and 1012
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
5. The ratio M/m of the prefixes M and m has what value?
a. 103
b. 106
c. 109
d. 1018
, ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
6. One year is about ____ seconds while one day is exactly ____ seconds.
a. 3.16 × 107, 86 400
b. 5.26 × 105, 86 400
c. 3.16 × 107, 8 640
d. 1.04 × 106, 36 000
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
7. The nuclei of atoms contain
a. electrons only.
b. neutrons only.
c. protons and electrons.
d. protons and neutrons.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.2 The Building Blocks of Matter
8. When was the existence of the neutron confirmed?
a. in ancient times
b. in 1895
c. in 1932
d. in 1969
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.2 The Building Blocks of Matter
9. The proton contains which of the following combination of quarks?
a. two up quarks and one down quark
b. one up quark and two down quarks
c. one top quark and two bottom quarks
d. two top quarks and one bottom quark
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 1.2 The Building Blocks of Matter
10. Which formula is dimensionally consistent with an expression yielding a value for velocity? (a is
acceleration, x is distance, and t is time)
a. v/t2
b. vx2
c. v2/t
d. at
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
11. Which expression is dimensionally consistent with an expression that would yield a value for time−1? (v is
velocity, x is distance, and t is time)
, a. v/x
b. v2/x
c. x/t
d. v2t
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
12. If the displacement of an object, x, is related to velocity, v, according to the relation x = Av, the constant,
A, has the dimension of which of the following?
a. acceleration
b. length
c. time
d. area
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
13. The speed of a boat is often given in knots. If a speed of 5 knots were expressed in the SI system of units,
the units would be:
a. m.
b. s.
c. m/s.
d. kg/s.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
14. If a is acceleration, v is velocity, x is position, and t is time, then which equation is not dimensionally
correct?
a. t = x/v
b. a = v2/x
c. v = a/t
d. t2 = 2x/a
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
15. Suppose an equation relating position, x, to time, t, is given by x = b t3 + c t4, where b and c are constants.
The dimensions of b and c are respectively:
a. T3, T4.
b. 1/T3, 1/T4.
c. L/T3, L/T4.
d. L2⋅T3, L2⋅T4.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
16. Areas always have dimensions ____ while volumes always have dimensions ____.
a. m2, m3
b. L2, L3
c. Both a and b are correct.
d. No answer is correct because of the
"always."
, ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
17. Which one of the choices below represents the preferred practice regarding significant figures when
adding the following: 12.4 + 11 + 67.37 + 4.201?
a. 94.971
b. 94.97
c. 95.0
d. 95
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
18. Which one of the choices below represents the preferred practice regarding significant figures when
multiplying the following: 10.5 × 8.8 × 3.14?
a. 290
b. 290.136
c. 290.1
d. 300
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
19. Calculate (0.82 + 0.042) × (4.4 × 103), keeping only significant figures.
a. 3 800
b. 3 784
c. 3 793
d. 3 520
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
20. The length and width of a standard sheet of paper is measured, and then the area is found by calculation to
be 93.50 in2. The number of significant figures in the width measurement must be at least:
a. 1.
b. 2.
c. 3.
d. 4.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
21. The number 0.000 17 has how many significant figures?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 5
d. 6
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Since 1983 the standard meter has been defined in terms of which of the following?
a. specific alloy bar housed at Sevres, France
b. wavelength of light emitted by krypton-86
c. distance from the Earth's equator to the
North Pole
d. the distance light travels in a certain fraction
of a second
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
2. Since 1967 the standard definition for the second has been based on which of the following?
a. characteristic frequency of the cesium-133
atom
b. average solar day
c. sidereal day
d. Greenwich Civil Time
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
3. In mechanics, physicists use three basic quantities to derive additional quantities. Mass is one of the three
quantities. What are the other two?
a. length and force
b. power and force
c. length and time
d. force and time
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
4. The prefixes which are abbreviated p, n, and G represent which of the following?
a. 10−2, 10−6, and 1015
b. 10−9, 106, and 1010
c. 10−12, 10−9, and 109
d. 10−15, 10−6, and 1012
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
5. The ratio M/m of the prefixes M and m has what value?
a. 103
b. 106
c. 109
d. 1018
, ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
6. One year is about ____ seconds while one day is exactly ____ seconds.
a. 3.16 × 107, 86 400
b. 5.26 × 105, 86 400
c. 3.16 × 107, 8 640
d. 1.04 × 106, 36 000
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 1.1 Standards of Length, Mass, and Time
7. The nuclei of atoms contain
a. electrons only.
b. neutrons only.
c. protons and electrons.
d. protons and neutrons.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.2 The Building Blocks of Matter
8. When was the existence of the neutron confirmed?
a. in ancient times
b. in 1895
c. in 1932
d. in 1969
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.2 The Building Blocks of Matter
9. The proton contains which of the following combination of quarks?
a. two up quarks and one down quark
b. one up quark and two down quarks
c. one top quark and two bottom quarks
d. two top quarks and one bottom quark
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 1.2 The Building Blocks of Matter
10. Which formula is dimensionally consistent with an expression yielding a value for velocity? (a is
acceleration, x is distance, and t is time)
a. v/t2
b. vx2
c. v2/t
d. at
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
11. Which expression is dimensionally consistent with an expression that would yield a value for time−1? (v is
velocity, x is distance, and t is time)
, a. v/x
b. v2/x
c. x/t
d. v2t
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
12. If the displacement of an object, x, is related to velocity, v, according to the relation x = Av, the constant,
A, has the dimension of which of the following?
a. acceleration
b. length
c. time
d. area
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
13. The speed of a boat is often given in knots. If a speed of 5 knots were expressed in the SI system of units,
the units would be:
a. m.
b. s.
c. m/s.
d. kg/s.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
14. If a is acceleration, v is velocity, x is position, and t is time, then which equation is not dimensionally
correct?
a. t = x/v
b. a = v2/x
c. v = a/t
d. t2 = 2x/a
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
15. Suppose an equation relating position, x, to time, t, is given by x = b t3 + c t4, where b and c are constants.
The dimensions of b and c are respectively:
a. T3, T4.
b. 1/T3, 1/T4.
c. L/T3, L/T4.
d. L2⋅T3, L2⋅T4.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
16. Areas always have dimensions ____ while volumes always have dimensions ____.
a. m2, m3
b. L2, L3
c. Both a and b are correct.
d. No answer is correct because of the
"always."
, ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 1.3 Dimensional Analysis
17. Which one of the choices below represents the preferred practice regarding significant figures when
adding the following: 12.4 + 11 + 67.37 + 4.201?
a. 94.971
b. 94.97
c. 95.0
d. 95
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
18. Which one of the choices below represents the preferred practice regarding significant figures when
multiplying the following: 10.5 × 8.8 × 3.14?
a. 290
b. 290.136
c. 290.1
d. 300
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
19. Calculate (0.82 + 0.042) × (4.4 × 103), keeping only significant figures.
a. 3 800
b. 3 784
c. 3 793
d. 3 520
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
20. The length and width of a standard sheet of paper is measured, and then the area is found by calculation to
be 93.50 in2. The number of significant figures in the width measurement must be at least:
a. 1.
b. 2.
c. 3.
d. 4.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
21. The number 0.000 17 has how many significant figures?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 5
d. 6
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
