Mass, Inertia, Weight, and Newton's First Law of Motion

1. Which of the following statements are true of inertia? List all that apply.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

Inertia is a force.
Inertia is a force which keeps stationary objects at rest and moving
objects in motion at constant velocity.
Inertia is a force which brings all objects to a rest position.
All objects have inertia.
A more massive object has more inertia than a less massive object.
Fast-moving objects have more inertia than slow-moving objects.
An object would not have any inertia in a gravity-free environment (if
there is such a place).
Inertia is the tendency of all objects to resist motion and ultimately
stop.
In a gravity-free environment (should there be one), a person with a lot
of inertia would have the same ability to make a turn as a person with
a small amount of inertia.

c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

4. Which of the following statements are true of an object that experiences

balanced forces (or unbalanced forces)? List all that apply.
a.
b.
c.
d.

2. Which of the following statements are true of the quantity mass? List all
that apply.

e.
f.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.

The mass of an object is dependent upon the value of the acceleration

of gravity.
The standard metric unit of mass is the kilogram.
Mass depends on how much stuf is present in an object.
The mass of an object is variable and dependent upon its location.
An object would have more mass on Mount Everest than the same
object in the middle of Lake Michigan.
People in Weight Watcher's are really concerned about their mass
(they're mass watchers).
The mass of an object can be measured in pounds.
If all other variables are equal, then an object with a greater mass
would have a more difficult time accelerating.
If all other variables are equal, then it would require less exerted force
to stop a less massive object than to stop a more massive object.
The mass of an object is mathematically related to the weight of the
object.

3. Which of the following statements are true of the quantity weight? List all
that apply.
a.
b.

The weight of an object is dependent upon the value of the

acceleration of gravity.
Weight refers to a force experienced by an object.

The weight of an object would be less on the Moon than on the Earth.
A person could reduce their weight significantly by taking an airplane
ride to the top of Mount Everest.
Two objects of the same mass can weigh differently.
To gain weight, one must put on more mass.
The weight of an object can be measured in kilograms.
The weight of an object is equal to the force of gravity acting upon the
object.
When a chemistry student places a beaker on a balance and
determines it to be 84.3 grams, they have weighed the beaker.

g.
h.
i.

If a person is moving to the right, then the forces acting upon it are
NOT balanced.
A balance of forces is demonstrated by an object which is slowing to a
stop.
It would take an unbalanced force to keep an object in motion.
If an object is moving with a constant speed in a circle, then the forces
acting upon the object are balanced.
If an object is accelerating at a constant rate of acceleration, then the
forces acting upon the object are balanced.
It is NOT possible for just three forces to be acting upon an object and
they still balance each other.
A free-falling object experiences a balance of forces.
Balanced forces cause stationary objects to remain at rest and moving
objects to come to rest.
Unbalanced forces cause objects to move.

5. Consider Newton's first law of motion to determine which of the

following statements are true? List all that apply.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

Newton's first law of motion is applicable to both moving and

nonmoving objects.
If a football is moving upwards and rightwards towards the peak of its
trajectory, then there are both rightwards and upwards forces acting
upon it.
It would take an unbalanced force to keep an object in motion.
If an object is at rest, then there are no forces acting upon the object.
It would take an unbalanced force to keep an object in motion at a
constant velocity.
It is the natural tendency of all objects to eventually come to a rest
position.
A pendulum bob is set into its usual back-and-forth periodic motion.
After some time (perhaps 10 minutes), the pendulum bob comes to a

h.

i.

rest position. This is best explained by the idea of inertia - all objects
eventually resist motion.
If a 3-kg rock is thrown at a speed of 2 m/s in a gravity-free
environment (presuming one could be found), then an unbalanced
force of 6 N would be required to keep the rock moving at a constant
speed.
It would take an unbalanced force to cause an object to accelerate
from rest.

Force, Acceleration and Newton's Second Law of Motion

6. Which of the following statements are true of the concept of force? List all
that apply.
a.
b.

c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.

A force is a push or pull exerted upon an object which results from the
interaction of that object with its environment.
Bubba approaches Billie and gives him a swift shove. Timid little Billie
keeps his hands in his pocket during this interaction. Subsequently,
while Bubba places a force upon Billie, Billie does not place a force
upon Bubba.
A quarterback throws a football down field. Once thrown, the force
from the quarterback persists upon the ball to cause it to continue on
its upward trajectory towards its peak.
A sled slides down the hill and reaches the bottom where it gradually
slows to a stop. Once on the level ground, the force of the hill persists
upon the sled to allow it to continue its forward motion.
Forces always cause objects to move.
An object can experience two or more forces and not accelerate.
A contact force results from the physical contact between two objects.
A field force results from the action of two objects which are positioned
some distance away.
Spring and tension forces are examples of field forces.
A force is a vector quantity; there is always a direction associated with
it.
Force can be measured in kilograms or Newtons depending upon the
system of measurement (metric or otherwise).

7. Consider Newton's second law of motion to determine which of the

following statements are true? List all that apply.
a.
b.
c.

If an object is accelerating to the right, the net force on the object

must be directed towards the right.
If an object is moving to the right and slowing down, then the net force
on the object is directed towards the left.
Accelerating objects are either slowing down or speeding up.

d.

The acceleration of an object is directly dependent upon its mass and

inversely dependent upon its net force.
e. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon
the object is increased by a factor of 2, then the new acceleration
would be 10 m/s/s.
f. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon
the object is increased by a factor of 3, then the new acceleration
would be 11 m/s/s.
g. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the mass of the object is
increased by a factor of 2, then the new acceleration would be 16
m/s/s.
h. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the mass of the object is
increased by a factor of 4, then the new acceleration would be 2 m/s/s.
i. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon
the object is increased by a factor of 2 and the mass of the object is
decreased by a factor of 2, then the two factors would offset each
other and the acceleration would still be 8 m/s/s.
j. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon
the object is increased by a factor of 2 and the mass of the object is
increased by a factor of 4, then the new acceleration would be 4 m/s/s.
k. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon
the object is decreased by a factor of 2 and the mass of the object is
increased by a factor of 4, then the new acceleration would be 1 m/s/s.
l. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon
the object is increased by a factor of 4 and the mass of the object is
increased by a factor of 2, then the new acceleration would be 16
m/s/s.
m. A 2-kg object accelerates from rest to a final velocity of 6 m/s in 3
seconds. The magnitude of the net force acting upon the object is 12
N.
n. A 10-kg object slows down from 24 m/s to a final velocity of 9 m/s in 3
seconds. The magnitude of the net force acting upon the object is 80
N.

Work, Energy, Power

Part A: Forced Choice Questions
1. Which of the following statements are true about work? Include all that
apply.
a. Work is a form of energy.
b. A Watt is the standard metric unit of work.
c. Units of work would be equivalent to a Newton times a meter.
d. A kgm2/s2 would be a unit of work.
e. Work is a time-based quantity; it is dependent upon how fast a force
displaces an object.
f. Superman applies a force on a truck to prevent it from moving down a
hill. This is an example of work being done.

g.

An upward force is applied to a bucket as it is carried 20 m across the

yard. This is an example of work being done.
h. A force is applied by a chain to a roller coaster car to carry it up the hill
of the first drop of the Shockwave ride. This is an example of work
being done.
i. The force of friction acts upon a softball player as she makes a
headfirst dive into third base. This is an example of work being done.
j. An eraser is tied to a string; a person holds the string and applies a
tension force as the eraser is moved in a circle at constant speed. This
is an example of work being done.
k. A force acts upon an object to push the object along a surface at
constant speed. By itself, this force must NOT be doing any work upon
the object.
l. A force acts upon an object at a 90-degree angle to the direction that it
is moving. This force is doing negative work upon the object.
m. An individual force does NOT do positive work upon an object if the
object is moving at constant speed.
n. An object is moving to the right. A force acts leftward upon it. This
force is doing negative work.
o. A non-conservative force is doing work on an object; it is the only force
doing work. Therefore, the object will either gain or lose mechanical
energy.
2. Which of the following statements are true about power? Include all that
apply.
a. Power is a time-based quantity.
b. Power refers to how fast work is done upon an object.
c. Powerful people or powerful machines are simply people or machines
which always do a lot of work.
d. A force is exerted on an object to move it at a constant speed. The
power delivered by this force is the magnitude of the force multiplied
by the speed of the object.
e. The standard metric unit of power is the Watt.
f. If person A and person B do the same job but person B does it faster,
then person A does more work but person B has more power.
g. The Newtonmeter is a unit of power.
h. A 60-kg boy runs up a 2.0 meter staircase in 1.5 seconds. His power is
approximately 80 Watt.
i. A 300-Newton force is applied to a skier to drag her up a ski hill at a
constant speed of 1.5 m/s. The power delivered by the toe rope is 450
Watts.
3. Which of the following statements are true about kinetic energy? Include all
that apply.
a. Kinetic energy is the form of mechanical energy which depends upon
the position of an object.
b. If an object is at rest, then it does not have any kinetic energy.
c. If an object is on the ground, then it does not have any kinetic energy.
d. The kinetic energy of an object is dependent upon the weight and the
speed of an object.
e. Faster moving objects always have a greater kinetic energy.
f. More massive objects always have a greater kinetic energy.

g.
h.

Kinetic energy is a scalar quantity.

An object has a kinetic energy of 40 J. If its mass were twice as much,
then its kinetic energy would be 80 J.
i. An object has a kinetic energy of 40 J. If its speed were twice as much,
then its kinetic energy would be 80 J.
j. Object A has a mass of 1 kg and a speed of 2 m/s. Object B has a mass
of 2 kg and a speed of 1 m/s. Objects A and B have the same kinetic
energy.
k. An object can never have a negative kinetic energy.
l. A falling object always gains kinetic energy as it falls.
m. A 1-kg object is accelerated from rest to a speed of 2.0 m/s. This object
gains 4.0 Joules of kinetic energy.
n. If work is done on an object by a non-conservative force, then the
object will either gain or lose kinetic energy.
5. Which of the following statements are true about potential energy? Include
all that apply.
a. Moving objects cannot have potential energy.
b. Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position.
c. Both gravitational and elastic potential energy are dependent upon the
mass of an object.
d. The gravitational potential energy of an object is dependent upon the
mass of the object.
e. If the mass of an elevated object is doubled, then its gravitational
potential energy will be doubled as well.
f. Gravitational potential energy is lost as objects free-fall to the ground.
g. The higher that an object is, the more potential energy which it will
have.
h. The unit of measurement for potential energy is the Joule.
i. A 1-kg mass at a height of 1 meter has a potential energy of 1 Joule.
j. A 1-kg object falls from a height of 10 m to a height of 6 m. The final
potential energy of the object is approximately 40 J.
k. If work is done on an object by a non-conservative force, then the
object will either gain or lose potential energy.
Sound

1. Which of the following statements are TRUE of sound waves? Identify all that
apply.
a. A sound wave is a mechanical wave.
b. A sound wave is a means of transporting energy without transporting
matter.
c. Sound can travel through a vacuum.
d. A sound wave is a pressure wave; they can be thought of as
fluctuations in pressure with respect to time.
e. A sound wave is a transverse wave.
f. To hear the sound of a tuning fork, the tines of the fork must move air
from the fork to one's ear.
g. Most (but not all) sound waves are created by a vibrating object of
some type.
h. To be heard, a sound wave must cause a relatively large displacement
of air (for instance, at least a cm or more) around an observer's ear.

g.
2. Which of the following statements are TRUE of the speed of sound? Identify
all that apply.
a. The speed of a sound wave depends upon its frequency and its
wavelength.
b. In general, sound waves travel fastest in solids and slowest in gases.
c. Sound waves travel fastest in solids (compared to liquids and gases)
because solids are more dense.
d. The fastest which sound can move is when it is moving through a
vacuum.
e. If all other factors are equal, a sound wave will travel fastest in the
most dense materials.
f. A highly elastic material has a strong tendency to return to its original
shape if stressed, stretched, plucked or somehow disturbed.
g. A more rigid material such as steel has a higher elasticity and therefore
sound tends to move through it at high speeds.
h. The speed of sound moving through air is largely dependent upon the
frequency and intensity of the sound wave.
i. A loud shout will move faster through air than a faint whisper.
j. Sound waves would travel faster on a warm day than a cool day.
k. The speed of a sound wave would be dependent solely upon the
properties of the medium through which it moves.
l. A shout in a canyon produces an echo off a cliff located 127 m away. If
the echo is heard 0.720 seconds after the shout, then the speed of
sound through the canyon is 176 m/s.
m. The speed of a wave within a guitar string varies inversely with the
tension in the string.
n. The speed of a wave within a guitar string varies inversely with the
mass per unit length of the string.
o. The speed of a wave within a guitar string will be doubled if the tension
of the string is doubled.
p. An increase in the tension of a guitar string by a factor of four will
increase the speed of a wave in the string by a factor of two.
q. An increase in the linear mass density of a guitar string by a factor of
four will increase the speed of a wave in the string by a factor of two.
3. Which of the following statements are TRUE of the frequency of sound and
the perception of pitch? Identify all that apply.
a. A high pitched sound has a low wavelength.
b. A low-pitched sound is a sound whose pressure fluctuations occur with
a low period.
c. If an object vibrates at a relatively high frequency, then the pitch of the
sound will be low.
d. The frequency of a sound will not necessarily be the same as the
frequency of the vibrating object since sound speed will be altered as
the sound is transmitted from the object to the air and ultimately to
your ear.
e. Two different guitar strings are used to produce a sound. The strings
are identical in terms of material, thickness and the tension to which
they are pulled. Yet string A is shorter than string B. Therefore, string A
will produce a lower pitch.
f. Both low- and high-pitched sounds will travel through air at the same
speed.

h.
i.
j.

Doubling the frequency of a sound wave will halve the wavelength but
not alter the speed of the wave.
Tripling the frequency of a sound wave will decrease the wavelength by
a factor of 6 and alter the speed of the wave.
Humans can pretty much hear a low-frequency sound as easily as a
high-frequency sound.
Ultrasound waves are those sound waves with frequencies less than 20
Hz.

Part A: Mass, Inertia, Weight, and Newton's First Law of Motion

1. Which of the following statements are true of inertia? List all that apply.
a. Inertia is a force.
b. Inertia is a force which keeps stationary objects at rest and moving objects in
motion at constant velocity.
c. Inertia is a force which brings all objects to a rest position.
d. All objects have inertia.
e. A more massive object has more inertia than a less massive object.
f.
Fast-moving objects have more inertia than slow-moving objects.
g. An object would not have any inertia in a gravity-free environment (if there is
such a place).
h. Inertia is the tendency of all objects to resist motion and ultimately stop.
i.
In a gravity-free environment (should there be one), a person with a lot of
inertia would have the same ability to make a turn as a person with a small
amount of inertia.
Answer: DE
a. False - Inertia is not a force.
b. False - Inertia is NOT a force.
c. False - Inertia is NOT a force. Inertia is simply the tendency of an objects to resist a
change in whatever state of motion that it currently has. Put another way, inertia is the
tendency of an object to "keep on doing what it is doing." Mass is a measure of an
object's inertia. The more mass which an object has, the more that it sluggish towards
change.
d. True - Bet money on this one. Any object with mass has inertia. (Any object without
mass is not an object, but something else like a wave.)
e. True - Mass is a measure of an object's inertia. Objects with greater mass have a
greater inertia; objects with less mass have less inertia.
f. False - The speed of an object has no impact upon the amount of inertia that it has.
Inertia has to do with mass alone.
g. False - Inertia (or mass) has nothing to do with gravity or lack of gravity. In a location
where g is close to 0 m/s/s, an object loses its weight. Yet it still maintains the same
amount of inertia as usual. It still has the same tendency to resist changes in its state of
motion.
h. False - Inertia is NOT the tendency to resist motion, but rather to resist changes in
the state of motion. For instance, its the tendency of a moving object to keep moving at
a constant velocity (or a stationary object to resist changes from its state of rest).
i. False - Once more (refer to g), inertia is unaffected by alterations in the gravitational
environment. An alteration in the g value effects the weight of an object but not the
mass or inertia of the object.
2. Which of the following statements are true of the quantity mass? List all that apply.
a. The mass of an object is dependent upon the value of the acceleration of
gravity.
b. The standard metric unit of mass is the kilogram.
c. Mass depends on how much stuf is present in an object.
d. The mass of an object is variable and dependent upon its location.
e. An object would have more mass on Mount Everest than the same object in the
middle of Lake Michigan.
f.
People in Weight Watcher's are really concerned about their mass (they're mass
watchers).
g. The mass of an object can be measured in pounds.
h. If all other variables are equal, then an object with a greater mass would have a
more difficult time accelerating.
i.
If all other variables are equal, then it would require less exerted force to stop a
less massive object than to stop a more massive object.
j.
The mass of an object is mathematically related to the weight of the object.
Answer: BCFHIJ
a. False - Mass is independent of the gravitational environment that an object is in and
dependent solely upon the number of atoms in the object and the type of atoms

(Carbon: ~12 g/mol; Hydrogen: ~1 g/mol ; Oxygen: ~16 g/mol). Because of this, mass
is said to be invariable (unless of course, an object loses some of its atoms) - a constant
quantity which is independent of the acceleration of gravity and therefore independent
of location. (Weight on the other hand depends upon the gravitational environment.)
b. True - Know this one. Kilograms is for mass and Newtons is for force.
c. True - This is kind of a simple definition of mass but it does do the job (provided stuf
means atoms or material).
d. False - See explanation to #2d.
e. False - An object has the same mass on Mount Everest as it does at sea level (or
near sea level); only the weight of the object would be slightly different in these two
locations.
f. True - Weight Watcher's participants only use a measurement of their weight as a
reflection of how many atoms of flesh that they have burned from their bodies. Their
real interest is in losing mass for reasons related to health, appearance, etc.
g. False - Pounds is a unit of force commonly used in the British system of
measurement. It is not a metric unit and it is not a unit of mass. Kilogram is the
standard metric unit of mass and slug is the British unit.
h. True - Weight and force of gravity are synonymous terms. You should quickly become
comfortable with the terms mass, weight and force of gravity; it will save you many
headaches as we continue through the course.
i. True - A less massive object has less inertia and as such would offer less resistance to
changes in their velocity. For this reason, a less massive object requires less force to
bring from a state of motion to a state of rest.
j. True - The weight of an object is the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration
of gravity of the object. Mass and weight are mathematically related by the equation:
Weight (or Fgrav) = mg

3. Which of the following statements are true of the quantity weight? List all that apply.
a. The weight of an object is dependent upon the value of the acceleration of
gravity.
b. Weight refers to a force experienced by an object.
c. The weight of an object would be less on the Moon than on the Earth.
d. A person could reduce their weight significantly by taking an airplane ride to the
top of Mount Everest.
e. Two objects of the same mass can weigh differently.
f.
To gain weight, one must put on more mass.
g. The weight of an object can be measured in kilograms.
h. The weight of an object is equal to the force of gravity acting upon the object.
i.
When a chemistry student places a beaker on a balance and determines it to be
84.3 grams, they have weighed the beaker.
Answer: ABCH and possibly EF
a. True - The weight of an object is equal to the force of gravity acting upon the object.
It is computed by multiplying the object's mass by the acceleration of gravity (g) at the
given location of the object. If the location of the object is changed, say from the Earth
to the moon, then the acceleration of gravity is changed and so is the weight. It is in
this sense that the weight of an object is dependent upon the acceleration of gravity.
b. True - This statement is true in the sense that the weight of an object refers to a
force - it is the force of gravity.
c. True - The weight of an object depends upon the mass of the object and the
acceleration of gravity value for the location where it is at. The acceleration of gravity
on the moon is 1/6-th the value of g on Earth. As such, the weight of an object on the
moon would be 6 times less than that on Earth.
d. False - A trip from sea level to the top of Mount Everest would result in only small
alterations in the value of g and as such only small alterations in a person's weight.
Such a trip might cause a person to lose a pound or two.
e. Mostly True - Two objects of the same mass can weigh differently if they are located
in different locations. For instance, person A and person B can both have a mass of 60
kg. But if person A is on the Earth, he will weigh ~600 N, whereas person B would

weight ~100 N on the moon.

f. Kinda True (Mostly False) - Weight is the product of mass and the acceleration of
gravity (g). To gain weight, one must either increase their mass or increase the
acceleration of gravity for the environment where they are located. So the statement is
true if one disregards the word MUST which is found in the statement.
g. False - By definition, a free-falling object is an object upon which the only force is
gravity. Such an object is accelerating at a rate of 9.8 m/s/s (on Earth) and as such
cannot be experiencing a balance of forces.
h. True - This statement is the precise definition of weight. Weight is the force of
gravity.
i. False - This student has determined the mass of the beaker, not the weight. As such,
he/she has massed the beaker, not weighed it.

4. Which of the following statements are true of an object that experiences balanced
forces (or unbalanced forces)? List all that apply.
a. If a person is moving to the right, then the forces acting upon it are NOT
balanced.
b. A balance of forces is demonstrated by an object which is slowing to a stop.
c. It would take an unbalanced force to keep an object in motion.
d. If an object is moving with a constant speed in a circle, then the forces acting
upon the object are balanced.
e. If an object is accelerating at a constant rate of acceleration, then the forces
acting upon the object are balanced.
f.
It is NOT possible for just three forces to be acting upon an object and they still
balance each other.
g. A free-falling object experiences a balance of forces.
h. Balanced forces cause stationary objects to remain at rest and moving objects
to come to rest.
i.
Unbalanced forces cause objects to move.
Answer: None of these are true, though one might make a strong argument
for I.
a. False - An object which is moving to the right could have unbalanced forces, but only
if it is accelerating. The presence of unbalanced forces must always be associated with
acceleration, not mere motion. In this case, an object moving to the right could have a
balance of forces if it is moving with a constant velocity.
b. False - An object would never slow to a stop unless the forces acting upon it were
unbalanced. In fact, an object which slows down must have a unbalanced force directed
in the direction opposite their motion.
c. False - An unbalanced force is only required to accelerate an object. A balance of
forces is required to keep an object moving at a constant velocity. For instance, a car
moving to the right at constant velocity encounters as much rightward force as leftward
force.
d. False - An object which moves in a circle has a changing direction. As such, there is
an acceleration and this acceleration requires that there be an unbalanced force
present on the object.
e. False - Any object that accelerates has a changing velocity. An object that
accelerates at a constant rate has a velocity that changes by the same amount each
second. For instance, a free-falling object changes its velocity by -9.8 m/s ever second.
It is said to have a constant acceleration of -9.8 m/s 2. A free-falling object, or any object
with an acceleration (whether constant or non-constant) must be experiencing an
unbalanced force.
f. False - Consider an object which weighs 1000 N (a 1000 N downward force) which is
being pulled on by two people, each exerting 500 N of upward force. Such an object has
three forces acting upon it and the three forces together balance each other.
g. False - A free-falling object is an object upon which the only force is gravity. As such,
there is an unbalanced force acting upon it; this unbalanced force explains its
acceleration.
h. False - Balanced forces cause stationary objects to stay at rest. However balanced

forces would never cause moving objects to stop; an unbalanced force would be
required to stop a moving object.
i. False - Unbalanced forces do more than cause objects to move; unbalanced forces
cause objects to accelerate. Though one could make a strong argument that an object
that is accelerating must also be moving (albeit with a changing velocity). In this sense,
this statement is true.
5. Consider Newton's first law of motion to determine which of the following
statements are true? List all that apply.
a. Newton's first law of motion is applicable to both moving and non-moving
objects.
b. If a football is moving upwards and rightwards towards the peak of its
trajectory, then there are both rightwards and upwards forces acting upon it.
c. It would take an unbalanced force to keep an object in motion.
d. If an object is at rest, then there are no forces acting upon the object.
e. It would take an unbalanced force to keep an object in motion at a constant
velocity.
f.
It is the natural tendency of all objects to eventually come to a rest position.
g. A pendulum bob is set into its usual back-and-forth periodic motion. After some
time (perhaps 10 minutes), the pendulum bob comes to a rest position. This is
best explained by the idea of inertia - all objects eventually resist motion.
h. If a 3-kg rock is thrown at a speed of 2 m/s in a gravity-free environment
(presuming one could be found), then an unbalanced force of 6 N would be
required to keep the rock moving at a constant speed.
i.
It would take an unbalanced force to cause an object to accelerate from rest.
Answer: AI
a. True - Absolutely true. Like all true scientific laws, they govern all objects. In the case
of Newton's first law of motion: An object that is nonmoving remains at rest (unless
acted upon by an unbalanced force); and a moving object will continue in its motion at
a constant velocity (unless acted upon by an unbalanced force).
b. False - A football which is moving upwards and rightwards towards its peak, then it
has both an upward and a rightward velocity; it does not however have an upward and
a rightward force. In fact, if acting as a projectile, it has no horizontal force and
maintains a constant horizontal velocity; similarly, it would have a downward force of
gravity and a slowing down motion as it rises. If the football were not a projectile, then
the horizontal force would be leftward (air resistance opposing its motion) and the
vertical force would be gravity and air resistance, both directed downward.
c. False - An unbalanced force would accelerate an object. If directed against its
motion, then it would actually slow it down rather than keep is motion going. A balance
of forces is all that is required to keep an object going at a constant velocity. An
unbalanced force directed in the direction of motion would be required to keep an
object going with an increasing speed.
d. False - If an object is at rest, then there are no unbalanced forces acting upon it.
There is a force of gravity and at least one other upward force capable of balancing the
force of gravity.
e. False - This is dead wrong. It would take a balance of forces to keep an object in
motion at constant velocity. An unbalanced force would cause some form of
acceleration.
f. False - If you answered TRUE, then Galileo and Newton just rolled over in their grave.
It is the natural tendency of all objects to maintain their velocity and to resist changes
in whatever state of motion that they have. This is the law of inertia.
g. False - All objects resist changes in their state of motion. In the absence of
unbalanced forces, they maintain their velocity (whether zero or nonzero). The
pendulum changes its state of motion due to an unbalanced force - the force of air
resistance.
h. False - For an object to maintain a constant velocity, 0 Newtons of net force (i.e., a
balance of forces) is required.
i. True - Unbalanced forces cause stationary objects to accelerate from rest. In the
absence of an unbalanced force, a stationary object would remain at rest.

6. Which of the following statements are true of the concept of force? List all that apply.
a. A force is a push or pull exerted upon an object which results from the
interaction of that object with its environment.
b. Bubba approaches Billie and gives him a swift shove. Timid little Billie keeps his
hands in his pocket during this interaction. Subsequently, while Bubba places a
force upon Billie, Billie does not place a force upon Bubba.
c. A quarterback throws a football downfield. Once thrown, the force from the
quarterback persists upon the ball to cause it to continue on its upward
trajectory towards its peak.
d. A sled slides down the hill and reaches the bottom where it gradually slows to a
stop. Once on the level ground, the force of the hill persists upon the sled to
allow to continue its forward motion.
e. Forces always cause objects to move.
f.
An object can experience a force and not accelerate.
g. A contact force results from the physical contact between two objects.
h. A field force results from the action of two objects which are positioned some
distance away.
i.
Spring and tension forces are examples of field forces.
j.
A force is a vector quantity; there is always a direction associated with it.
k. Force can be measured in kilograms or Newtons depending upon the system of
measurement (metric or otherwise).
Answer: AFGJ and sort of H.
a. True - This is a great definition of force.
b. False - According to Newton's third law, one cannot push on an object without being
pushed back. The force on Billie is the result of an interaction of Bubba's hands with
Billie's body. That force on Billie might cause Billie to go flying, but the reaction force
offers resistance to the motion of Bubba's hands and slows them down. In general,
forces will always (without exception) come in pairs.
c. False - The force of the quarterback on the football is a contact force which can only
exist during the interaction (i.e., the contact) between the quarterback's hands and the
football. Once thrown, the football continues its horizontal motion due to its own inertia
and its vertical motion is effected by the force of gravity.
d. False - Be careful if you answered true to this one. If you did, perhaps you believe in
the fatal misconception that a rightward force is required to sustain a rightward motion.
The sleds motion to the right can be described as a leftward accelerated motion. Such a
leftward acceleration demands that there is a leftward force (despite its rightward
force). This leftward force slows the rightward-moving sled down. The hill cannot push
on the sled unless the hill is in contact with the sled.
e. False - Forces, if unbalanced, can cause objects to accelerate (one form of moving;
the other form is moving at a constant velocity). But by no means can one say that
forces always cause objects to move. For instance, as you sit in your chair, the chair
pushes up on your body but your body does not move.
f. True - Certainly! As you sit in your chair, the chair pushes up on your body but your
body does not accelerate. This upward force (known as the normal force) is balanced by
the downward force of gravity. Many objects experience a force yet do not accelerate.
g. True - There are two broad categories of forces - contact forces and field forces.
Contact forces, by definition, are those which result from the physical contact of two
forces.
h. True (mostly) - A field force is a force which can acts between two objects even
when they are separated by a distance. Field forces have magnitudes which are
dependent upon the distance of separation between the two interacting objects. For
instance, the force of gravity between the Sun and the earth is a field force whose value
depends upon the distance of separation between the center of the Earth and the
center of the Sun. In this sense, the force of gravity is a force which acts when two
objects are separated in space from each other. Yet field forces can also occur when the
two objects are touching each other. In this sense, one can be skeptical of the wording
of the statement.
i. False - Spring and tension are examples of contact forces. The spring or the

rope/cable/wire are in contact with the object upon which it exerts its push or pull. The
field forces are electric force, magnetic force, and gravity force.
j. True - Forces always have a direction associated with them. As such, force is a vector
quantity - a quantity which is fully described by both a magnitude (size, value) and a
direction.
k. False - Force is measured in Newtons in the metric system and in pounds in the
British system. Kilograms is a unit of mass.

7. Consider Newton's second law of motion to determine which of the following

statements are true? List all that apply.
a. If an object is accelerating to the right, the net force on the object must be
directed towards the right.
b. If an object is moving to the right and slowing down, then the net force on the
object is directed towards the left.
c. Accelerating objects are either slowing down or speeding up.
d. The acceleration of an object is directly dependent upon its mass and inversely
dependent upon its net force.
e. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon the object
is increased by a factor of 2, then the new acceleration would be 10 m/s/s.
f.
An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon the object
is increased by a factor of 3, then the new acceleration would be 11 m/s/s.
g. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the mass of the object is increased
by a factor of 2, then the new acceleration would be 16 m/s/s.
h. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the mass of the object is increased
by a factor of 4, then the new acceleration would be 2 m/s/s.
i.
An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon the object
is increased by a factor of 2 and the mass of the object is decreased by a factor
of 2, then the two factors would offset each other and the acceleration would
still be 8 m/s/s.
j.
An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon the object
is increased by a factor of 2 and the mass of the object is increased by a factor
of 4, then the new acceleration would be 4 m/s/s.
k. An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon the object
is decreased by a factor of 2 and the mass of the object is increased by a factor
of 4, then the new acceleration would be 1 m/s/s.
l.
An object has an acceleration of 8 m/s/s. If the net force acting upon the object
is increased by a factor of 4 and the mass of the object is increased by a factor
of 2, then the new acceleration would be 16 m/s/s.
m. A 2-kg object accelerates from rest to a final velocity of 6 m/s in 3 seconds. The
net force acting upon the object is 12 N.
n. A 10-kg object slows down from 24 m/s to a final velocity of 9 m/s in 3 seconds.
The net force acting upon the object is 80 N.
Answer: ABHJKL
a. True - The acceleration is directly related to the net force and the direction of the
acceleration is always the same as the direction of the net force. When it comes to
force, objects can be thought of as being in the middle of a tug-of-war between the
individual forces. The force that wins the tug-of-war is the force which determines the
direction of the acceleration. So if a rightward force wins over a leftward force, the
acceleration will be to the right.
b. True - An object which is slowing down has an acceleration which is directed
opposite the motion of the object. So an object which moves to the right and slows
down experiences a leftward acceleration and therefore a leftward net force.
c. False - Acceleration involves a change in velocity and velocity is a vector with a
magnitude (15 m/s, 22 m/s, etc.) and a direction (east, northeast, etc.). Accelerating
objects are either changing the magnitude of the velocity by speeding up or slowing
down or changing the direction of the velocity by turning.
d. False - Vice Versa. The acceleration of an object is inversely dependent upon the
mass and directly dependent upon the net force.

e. False - Acceleration is directly dependent upon the net force. Whatever alteration is
made in the net force, the same alteration must be made in the acceleration. So if the
net force is increased by a factor of 2, then the acceleration is increased by a factor of 2
from 8 m/s/s to 16 m/s/s.
f. False - Whatever alteration is made in the net force, the same alteration must be
made in the acceleration. So if the net force is increased by a factor of 3, then the
acceleration is increased by a factor of 3 from 8 m/s/s to 24 m/s/s.
g. False - Acceleration is inversely dependent upon the mass. Whatever alteration is
made in the mass, the inverse must be made of the acceleration. So if the mass is
increased by a factor of 2, then the acceleration is decreased by a factor of 2 from 8
m/s/s to 4 m/s/s.
h. True - Acceleration is inversely dependent upon the mass. Whatever alteration is
made in the mass, the inverse must be made of the acceleration. So if the mass is
increased by a factor of 4, then the acceleration is decreased by a factor of 4 from 8
m/s/s to 2 m/s/s.
i. False - Acceleration is inversely dependent upon the mass and directly dependent
upon the net force. If the net force is increased by a factor of 2, then the acceleration is
increased by a factor of 2. If the mass is decreased by a factor of 2, then the
acceleration is increased by a factor of 2. The overall result of the two changes is to
increase acceleration by a factor of 4 from 8 m/s/s to 32 m/s/s.
j. True - Acceleration is inversely dependent upon the mass and directly dependent
upon the net force. If the net force is increased by a factor of 2, then the acceleration is
increased by a factor of 2. If the mass is decreased by a factor of 4, then the
acceleration is decreased by a factor of 4. The overall result of the two changes is to
decrease acceleration by a factor of 2 from 8 m/s/s to 4 m/s/s.
k. True - Acceleration is inversely dependent upon the mass and directly dependent
upon the net force. If the net force is decreased by a factor of 2, then the acceleration is
decreased by a factor of 2. If the mass is decreased by a factor of 4, then the
acceleration is decreased by a factor of 4. The overall result of the two changes is to
decrease acceleration by a factor of 8 from 8 m/s/s to 1 m/s/s.
l. True - Acceleration is inversely dependent upon the mass and directly dependent
upon the net force. If the net force is increased by a factor of 4, then the acceleration is
increased by a factor of 4. If the mass is increased by a factor of 2, then the
acceleration is decreased by a factor of 2. The overall result of the two changes is to
increase acceleration by a factor of 2 from 8 m/s/s to 16 m/s/s.
m. False - The net force is the product ma. Acceleration (a) can be calculated as the
velocity change per time. The velocity change is +6 m/s (from 0 m/s to 6 m/s), so the
acceleration is (+6 m/s) / (3 s) = +2 m/s/s. Therefore the net force is (2 kg)(+2 m/s/s)
= +4 N. The + indicates information about the direction; the 4 N is the magnitude.
n. False - The net force is the product ma. Acceleration (a) can be calculated as the
velocity change per time. The velocity change is -15 m/s (from 24 m/s to 9 m/s), so the
acceleration is (-15 m/s) / (3 s) = -5 m/s/s. Therefore the net force is (10 kg)(-5 m/s/s)
= -50 N. The - indicates information about the direction; the 50 N is the magnitude.
1. Which of the following statements are true about work? Include all that apply.
a. Work is a form of energy.
b. A Watt is the standard metric unit of work.
c. Units of work would be equivalent to a Newton times a meter.
d. A kgm2/s2 would be a unit of work.
e. Work is a time-based quantity; it is dependent upon how fast a force displaces
an object.
f.
Superman applies a force on a truck to prevent it from moving down a hill. This
is an example of work being done.
g. An upward force is applied to a bucket as it is carried 20 m across the yard. This
is an example of work being done.
h. A force is applied by a chain to a roller coaster car to carry it up the hill of the
first drop of the Shockwave ride. This is an example of work being done.
i.
The force of friction acts upon a softball player as she makes a headfirst dive
into third base. This is an example of work being done.

j.

An eraser is tied to a string; a person holds the string and applies a tension
force as the eraser is moved in a circle at constant speed. This is an example of
work being done.
k. A force acts upon an object to push the object along a surface at constant
speed. By itself, this force must NOT be doing any work upon the object.
l.
A force acts upon an object at a 90-degree angle to the direction that it is
moving. This force is doing negative work upon the object.
m. An individual force does NOT do positive work upon an object if the object is
moving at constant speed.
n. An object is moving to the right. A force acts leftward upon it. This force is doing
negative work.
o. A non-conservative force is doing work on an object; it is the only force doing
work. Therefore, the object will either gain or lose mechanical energy.
Answer: ACDHIKNO
a. TRUE - Work is a form of energy, and in fact it has units of energy.
b. FALSE - Watt is the standard metric unit of power; Joule is the standard metric unit of
energy.
c. TRUE - A Nm is equal to a Joule.
d. TRUE - A kgm2/s2 is a mass unit times a speed squared unit, making it a kinetic
energy unit and equivalent to a Joule.
e. FALSE - Work is not dependent on how rapidly the force displaces an object; power is
time-based and calculated by force multiplied by speed.
f. FALSE - Since Superman does not cause a displacement, no work is done; he is
merely holding the car to prevent its descent down the hill.
g. FALSE - The upward force does not cause the horizontal displacement so this is a
NON-example of work.
h. TRUE - There is a component of force in the direction of displacement and so this is
an example of work.
i. TRUE - There is a force and a displacement; the force acts in the opposite direction as
the displacement and so this force does negative work.
j. FALSE - For uniform circular motion, the force acts perpendicular to the direction of
the motion and so the force never does any work upon the object.
k. TRUE - This is clearly work - a force is causing an object to be displaced.
l. FALSE - If a force acts at a 90-degree angle to the direction of motion, then the force
does not do any work at all. Negative work is done when there is a component of force
opposite the direction of motion.
m. FALSE - There are many instances in which an individual force does positive work
and yet the object maintains a constant speed. Consider a force applied to lift an object
at constant speed. The force does positive work. Consider a car moving at constant
speed along a level surface. The force of the road on the tires does positive work while
air resistance does and equal amount of negative work.
n. TRUE - A force which acts in a direction opposite the motion of an object will do
negative work.
o. TRUE - When non-conservative forces do work upon an object, the object will either
gain or lose mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is conserved (neither gained nor
lost) only when conservative forces do work upon objects.

2. Which of the following statements are true about power? Include all that apply.
a. Power is a time-based quantity.
b. Power refers to how fast work is done upon an object.
c. Powerful people or powerful machines are simply people or machines which
always do a lot of work.
d. A force is exerted on an object to move it at a constant speed. The power
delivered by this force is the magnitude of the force multiplied by the speed of
the object.
e. The standard metric unit of power is the Watt.
f.
If person A and person B do the same job but person B does it faster, then
person A does more work but person B has more power.
g. The Newtonmeter is a unit of power.

h.
i.

A 60-kg boy runs up a 2.0 meter staircase in 1.5 seconds. His power is
approximately 80 Watt.
A 300-Newton force is applied to a skier to drag her up a ski hill at a constant
speed of 1.5 m/s. The power delivered by the toe rope is 450 Watts.

Answer: ABDEI
a. TRUE - Power is a rate quantity and thus time-based.
b. TRUE - This is the definition of power.
c. FALSE - This is not always the case. A machine can do a lot of work but if it fails to do
it rapidly, then it is not necessarily powerful. In fact two machines can do the same task
(and therefore the same work), yet they can have drastically different power ratings.
d. TRUE - An equation for computing work in constant speed situations is P=Fv.
e. TRUE - Watt is the unit of power? Yes!!
f. FALSE - Vice versa. If two people do the same job, then they're doing the same
amount of work. The person who does it fastest generates more power.
g. FALSE - A Nm is a Joule and that is a unit of work (not power). Think force (N) times
distance (m); that's work (J).
h. FALSE - The work would be (mg)d or approximately 1200 J. The power is work
divided by time - 1200 J/1.5 s = 800 W.
i. TRUE - Since force and speed are given, use Power = Fv. The calculation yields 450
W.
6. Which of the following statements are true about kinetic energy? Include all that apply.
a. Kinetic energy is the form of mechanical energy which depends upon the
position of an object.
b. If an object is at rest, then it does not have any kinetic energy.
c. If an object is on the ground, then it does not have any kinetic energy.
d. The kinetic energy of an object is dependent upon the weight and the speed of
an object.
e. Faster moving objects always have a greater kinetic energy.
f.
More massive objects always have a greater kinetic energy.
g. Kinetic energy is a scalar quantity.
h. An object has a kinetic energy of 40 J. If its mass were twice as much, then its
kinetic energy would be 80 J.
i.
An object has a kinetic energy of 40 J. If its speed were twice as much, then its
kinetic energy would be 80 J.
j.
Object A has a mass of 1 kg and a speed of 2 m/s. Object B has a mass of 2 kg
and a speed of 1 m/s. Objects A and B have the same kinetic energy.
k. An object can never have a negative kinetic energy.
l.
A falling object always gains kinetic energy as it falls.
m. A 1-kg object is accelerated from rest to a speed of 2.0 m/s. This object gains
4.0 Joules of kinetic energy.
n. If work is done on an object by a non-conservative force, then the object will
either gain or lose kinetic energy.
Answer: BGHK
a. FALSE - Kinetic energy depends upon the speed of the object; potential energy
depends upon the position of the object.
b. TRUE - Kinetic energy depends upon speed. If there is no speed (the object is at rest),
then there is no kinetic energy.
c. FALSE - If an object is on the ground, then it does not have potential energy (relative
to the ground).
d. FALSE (sort of) - Kinetic energy depends upon mass and speed. Two objects of the
same mass could have different weights if in a different gravitational field; so it is not
appropriate to say that kinetic energy depends upon weight.
e. FALSE - Faster moving objects would have more kinetic energy than other objects of
the same mass. However, another object could have less speed and make up for this
lack of speed in terms of a greater mass.
f. FALSE - More massive objects would have more kinetic energy than other objects with
the same speed. However, another object could have less mass and make up for this

lack of mass in terms of a greater speed.

g. TRUE - Kinetic energy does not have a direction associated with it; it is a scalar
quantity.
h. TRUE - Kinetic energy is directly related to the mass of an object.
i. FALSE - Kinetic energy is directly related to the square of the speed of an object. So a
doubling of the speed would result in a quadrupling of the kinetic energy - the new KE
would be 160 J.
j. FALSE - When it comes to kinetic energy, speed is doubly important (recall v 2). So in
this case, object A would have more kinetic energy. Doing the calculation yields 2 J for
object A and 1 J for object B.
k. TRUE - Kinetic energy is determined by the equation 0.5mv 2. the quantity m is
always positive. And even if v is negative, v2 will always be positive. Therefore, kinetic
energy can never be a negative value.
l. FALSE - If an object is falling at a constant velocity (i.e., the air resistance force equals
the downward force of gravity), then there is not an increase in kinetic energy. It is true
however that free-falling objects always increase their kinetic energy as they fall.
m. FALSE - The kinetic energy increases from 0 J to 2 J (0.512 2); that's an increase by
2 J.
n. FALSE - Such an object will definitely gain or lose mechanical energy but not
necessarily kinetic energy.

7. Which of the following statements are true about potential energy? Include all that
apply.
a. Moving objects cannot have potential energy.
b. Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position.
c. Both gravitational and elastic potential energy are dependent upon the mass of
an object.
d. The gravitational potential energy of an object is dependent upon the mass of
the object.
e. If the mass of an elevated object is doubled, then its gravitational potential
energy will be doubled as well.
f.
Gravitational potential energy is lost as objects free-fall to the ground.
g. The higher that an object is, the more potential energy which it will have.
h. The unit of measurement for potential energy is the Joule.
i.
A 1-kg mass at a height of 1 meter has a potential energy of 1 Joule.
j.
A 1-kg object falls from a height of 10 m to a height of 6 m. The final potential
energy of the object is approximately 40 J.
k. If work is done on an object by a non-conservative force, then the object will
either gain or lose potential energy.
Answer: BDEFGH
a. FALSE - Potential energy has nothing to do with speed; an object could be moving at
an elevated position. It is this elevation above zero level which gives an object potential
energy.
b. TRUE - This is the definition of potential energy.
c. FALSE - Gravitational potential energy is dependent upon the mass of the object
(PEgrav = mgh) but elastic potential energy is dependent upon the spring constant and
the compression or stretch length of the spring (PE elastic = 0.5kx2).
d. TRUE - The equation states that PEgrav = mgh; PE is dependent upon mass.
e. TRUE - The equation states that PE grav = mgh; if the h is doubled, then the PE will
be doubled as well.
f. TRUE - As objects free-fall, the height (h) decreases; subsequently, the PE decreases.
g. TRUE - The equation states that PEgrav = mgh; PE is directly related to height.
h. TRUE - The Joule (abbrev. J) is the standard metric unit of energy - all forms of energy.
i. FALSE - The final potential energy is calculated as PE = mgh = (1 kg)(~10
m/s/s)(1 m) = ~10 J.
j. FALSE - The final potential energy is calculated as PE = mgh = (1 kg)(~10
m/s/s)(6 m) = ~60 J; the loss in potential energy during this 4-m fall is -40 J.
k. FALSE - The object will either gain or lose mechanical energy, but not necessarily

potential energy.
1. Which of the following statements are TRUE of sound waves? Identify all that apply.
a. A sound wave is a mechanical wave.
b. A sound wave is a means of transporting energy without transporting matter.
c. Sound can travel through a vacuum.
d. A sound wave is a pressure wave; they can be thought of as fluctuations in
pressure with respect to time.
e. A sound wave is a transverse wave.
f.
To hear the sound of a tuning fork, the tines of the fork must move air from the
fork to one's ear.
g. Most (but not all) sound waves are created by a vibrating object of some type.
h. To be heard, a sound wave must cause a relatively large displacement of air (for
instance, at least a cm or more) around an observer's ear.
Answer: ABD
a. TRUE - A sound wave transports its energy by means of particle interaction. A sound
wave cannot travel through a vacuum. This makes sound a mechanical wave.
b. TRUE - Absolutely! Particles do not move from the source to the ear. Particles vibrate
about a position; one particle impinges on its neighboring particle, setting it in
vibrational motion about its own equilibrium position.
c. FALSE - Only electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum; mechanical waves
such as sound waves require a particle-interaction to transport their energy. There are
no particles in a vacuum.
d. TRUE - As particles move back and forth longitudinally, there are times when they
are very close within a given region and other times that they are far apart within that
same region. The close proximity of particles produces a high pressure region known as
a compression; the distancing of particles within a region produces a low pressure
region known as a rarefaction. Over time, a given region undergoes oscillations in
pressure from a high to a low pressure and finally back to a high pressure.
e. FALSE - Never! Waves are either longitudinal or transverse. Longitudinal waves are
those in which particles of the medium move in a direction parallel to the energy
transport. And that is exactly how particles of the medium move as sound passes
through it.
f. FALSE - It is the disturbance that moves from the tuning fork to one's ear. the
particles of the medium merely vibrate back and forth about the same location, never
really moving from that location to another location. This is true of all waves - they
transport energy without actually transporting matter.
g. FALSE - All sound waves are created by vibrating objects of some sort.
h. FALSE - Quite surprisingly to many, most sounds which we are accustomed to
hearing are characterized by particle motion with an amplitude on the order of 1 mm or
less.
3. Which of the following statements are TRUE of the speed of sound? Identify all that
apply.
a. The speed of a sound wave depends upon its frequency and its wavelength.
b. In general, sound waves travel fastest in solids and slowest in gases.
c. Sound waves travel fastest in solids (compared to liquids and gases) because
solids are more dense.
d. The fastest which sound can move is when it is moving through a vacuum.
e. If all other factors are equal, a sound wave will travel fastest in the most dense
materials.
f.
A highly elastic material has a strong tendency to return to its original shape if
stressed, stretched, plucked or somehow disturbed.
g. A more rigid material such as steel has a higher elasticity and therefore sound
tends to move through it at high speeds.
h. The speed of sound moving through air is largely dependent upon the frequency
and intensity of the sound wave.
i.
A loud shout will move faster through air than a faint whisper.
j.
Sound waves would travel faster on a warm day than a cool day.

k.

The speed of a sound wave would be dependent solely upon the properties of
the medium through which it moves.
l.
A shout in a canyon produces an echo off a cliff located 127 m away. If the echo
is heard 0.720 seconds after the shout, then the speed of sound through the
canyon is 176 m/s.
m. The speed of a wave within a guitar string varies inversely with the tension in
the string.
n. The speed of a wave within a guitar string varies inversely with the mass per
unit length of the string.
o. The speed of a wave within a guitar string will be doubled if the tension of the
string is doubled.
p. An increase in the tension of a guitar string by a factor of four will increase the
speed of a wave in the string by a factor of two.
q. An increase in the linear mass density of a guitar string by a factor of four will
increase the speed of a wave in the string by a factor of two.
Answer: BFGJKNP
a. FALSE - The speed of a wave is calculated by the product of the frequency and
wavelength. However, it does not depend upon the frequency and the wavelength. An
alteration in the frequency or the wavelength will not alter the speed.
b. TRUE - For the same material, speed is greatest in materials in which the elastic
properties are greatest. Despite the greater density of solids, the speed is greatest in
solids, followed by liquids, followed by gases.
c. FALSE - Sound waves travel faster in solids because the particles of a solid have a
greater elastic modulus. That is to say that a disturbance of a particle from its rest
position in a solid leads to a rapid return to its rest position and as such an ability to
rapidly transmit the energy to the next particle.
d. FALSE - Sound is a mechanical wave which moves due to particle interaction. There
are no particles in a vacuum so sound can not move through a vacuum.
e. FALSE - Sound waves (like all waves) will travel slower in more dense materials
(assuming all other factors are equal).
f. TRUE - This is the definition of elasticity. Elasticity is related to the ability of the
particles of a material to return to their original position if displaced from it.
g. TRUE - A more rigid material is characterized by particles which quickly return to
their original position if displaced from it. Sound moves fastest in such materials.
h. FALSE - The speed of sound through a material is dependent upon the properties of
the material, not the characteristics of the wave.
i. FALSE - A loud shout will move at the same speed as a whisper since the speed of
sound is independent of the characteristics of the sound wave and dependent upon the
properties of the material through it is moving.
j. TRUE - The speed of sound through air is dependent upon the temperature of the air.
k. TRUE - This is a big principle. Know it.
l. FALSE - Speed is distance traveled per time. For this case, the sound travels a
distance of 254 m (to the cliff and back) in 0.720 seconds. That computes to 353 m/s.
m. FALSE - For a guitar string, the equation for the speed of waves is v = SQRT
(Ftens/mu). From the equation, it is evident that an increase in tension will result in an
increase in the speed; they are directly related.
n. TRUE - For a guitar string, the equation for the speed of waves is v = SQRT (F tens/mu).
From the equation, it is evident that an increase in mass per unit length (mu) will result
in an decrease in the speed; they are inversely related.
o. FALSE - The speed of a wave in a guitar string varies directly with the square root of
the tension. If the tension is doubled, then the speed of sound will increase by a factor
of the square root of two.
p. TRUE - The speed of a wave in a string is directly related to the square root of the
tension in the string. So the speed will be changed by the square root of whatever factor
the tension is changed.
q. FALSE - An increase in the linear mass density by a factor of four will decrease the
speed by a factor of 2. The speed is inversely related to the square root of the linear
density.

4. Which of the following statements are TRUE of the frequency of sound and the
perception of pitch? Identify all that apply.
a. A high pitched sound has a low wavelength.
b. A low-pitched sound is a sound whose pressure fluctuations occur with a low
period.
c. If an object vibrates at a relatively high frequency, then the pitch of the sound
will be low.
d. The frequency of a sound will not necessarily be the same as the frequency of
the vibrating object since sound speed will be altered as the sound is
transmitted from the object to the air and ultimately to your ear.
e. Two different guitar strings are used to produce a sound. The strings are
identical in terms of material, thickness and the tension to which they are
pulled. Yet string A is shorter than string B. Therefore, string A will produce a
lower pitch.
f.
Both low- and high-pitched sounds will travel through air at the same speed.
g. Doubling the frequency of a sound wave will halve the wavelength but not alter
the speed of the wave.
h. Tripling the frequency of a sound wave will decrease the wavelength by a factor
of 6 and alter the speed of the wave.
i.
Humans can pretty much hear a low-frequency sound as easily as a highfrequency sound.
j.
Ultrasound waves are those sound waves with frequencies less than 20 Hz.
Answer: AFG
a. TRUE - High pitch corresponds to a sound with high frequency and therefore low
wavelength.
b. FALSE - Low pitched sound have a low frequency. Frequency is inversely related to
period. So low pitched sounds have a high period. That is, the time for the vibrations to

undergo one complete cycle is large for a low frequency (or low pitch) sound.
c. FALSE - Pitch is a subjective response of the ear to sound. Frequency is an objective
measure of how often the sound undergoes an oscillation from high to low pressure. The
two are related in the sense that a sound with a high frequency will be perceived as a
sound with a high pitch.
d. FALSE - As waves (of any type) are transmitted from one medium to another, the
speed and the wavelength can be altered, but the frequency will not be changed. Thus,
the frequency of the source is the frequency of the sound waves which impinge upon
the ear.
e. FALSE - The strings are identical in terms of their properties; this means that waves
travel at the same speed through each. Yet string A is shorter than string B, so the
wavelengths of waves are shortest in string A. As such, the frequencies are greatest for
string A and it is observed to produce sounds of higher pitch.
f. TRUE - The speed at which waves travel through air is dependent upon the properties
of the air and not the properties of the wave.
g. TRUE - Frequency and wavelength are inversely related; doubling one will halve the
other. Yet the speed of a wave is independent of each.
h. FALSE - Tripling the frequency of a sound wave will make wavelength decrease by a
factor of 3 but not alter the speed of a wave.
i. FALSE - The response of the ear to sound is dependent in part on the frequency of the
sound. A higher pitch sound of the same intensity is generally heard to be louder than a
lower pitch sound of the same intensity.
j. FALSE - Ultrasound waves are waves which have a frequency beyond the human
range of audible frequencies - above 20000 Hz.