Test your basic knowledge |

AP Physics

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. What do you do with any vector that is not on either the x or y axis?
V=Vo + at ...The word 'dropped' means no initial velocity.
Break it up into x and y components using trig - add up the components.
(rho)gh
The work function is a minimum amount of energy needed to release a photon from a collection in the surface of a material. The ionization energy is the energy needed to release an electron from a single - free-floating - molecule. the ionization ener

2. What is the difference between a motor and a generator?
The electric field forces charges to move.
DU = Q+W ...dU:of the environment = Q:from the environment + W:by the environment
Dark in the middle and alternating light and dark spots after that.
A motor uses energy to spin the coils in a magnetic field. A generator spins the coils to create an potential difference.

3. What are the differences and similarities between transverse and longitudinal waves?

4. S.I. unit of work
The CHANGE in velocity.
Electromagnetic wave exits the electrons to a higher orbital. When the electron relaxes - a wavelength of light is given off.
Joule
KE = (3/2)kT

5. S.I. unit of Flow rate
m^3/s
Heat - (the 'Q' variable) - is POSITIVE when thermal energy is being ADDED to a system.
Radio - Infrared - Visible - UltraViolet - X-Rays - Gamma Rays.
Converging lenses have a positive focal length.

6. What is the law of reflection?
The Law of reflection states that the incident angle of a wave is equal to the reflected angle.
Potential difference is the change in energy of a charged particle divided by its charge.
The interaction between an oscillating electric magnetic fields that are oriented 90° to each other. It propagates indefinitely because the wave takes its own medium.
V=kq/R

7. In electrostatics - what takes the place of m and g in the formulae?

8. What does the term potential difference mean?
The CHANGE in velocity.
Energy and mass are equated by E=mc^2.
Lost kinetic energy is work. It is calculated from Fd or KE:final - KE:initial
Potential difference is the change in energy of a charged particle divided by its charge.

9. S.I. unit of every kind of energy
ZERO. Because the force is perpendicular to the displacement . (Open right hand rule.)
Gamma
Joule
E=kq/R^2

10. Give an example of a transverse and a longitudinal wave.

11. What does light absorption involve?
The incoming light (electromagnetic wave) has the same frequency as some of the electrons.
E=hf=hc/(wavelength)
The transfer of thermal energy
V - a Joule/Coulomb

12. When light travels from LESS dense to a MORE dense mediums - how does the refracted ray bend in relation to the normal line?
(mg)sin(angle)
(Cross-sectional Area)(Velocity)
When the object is beyond the focus for a concave mirror.
the refracted ray bends TOWARDS the normal line.

13. What is the Bohr Model of the atom?
It is used in Lenz's Law to determine the change in flux of a conductor.
That the orbits of the electrons are like planets around the Sun.
Provided experimental proof of the wave property of light.
The release of a particle or photon from an UNSTABLE nucleus.

14. Which kind of lens always has a virtual image?
The volume under water
x=(1/2)at^2 ...Horizontal velocity does not affect the time of fall.
When it is on the same side as the image?
Diverging

15. What is its impact on the first law of thermodynamics of an adiabatic process?
A motor uses energy to spin the coils in a magnetic field. A generator spins the coils to create an potential difference.
Q=0 because thermal energy is not transfered between the system and its surroundings
Open right hand rule
KE=(3/2)kT where k is Boltzman's constant

16. What does upward slope on a displacement versus time graph imply about the velocity.
The velocity is positive
W=qV where 'W' is the work - 'q' is the charge and 'V' is the potential difference measured in Volts.
Gamma
A change in the gas' temperature.

17. Energy of a SINGLE photon
The force is perpendicular to the motion to get a circular path of motion. (Think about centripetal force.)
Emf is the maximum available energy per charge at the terminal of a power source. Voltage is the actual available energy per charge at the terminals of a power source. Some energy is lost due to the source internal resistance.
Vertical direction
E=hf

18. Define diffraction
Bends waves around small objects and the interference of waves from a coherent sources.
Pgh ..thats ('rho')(gravity's acceleration)(height)
Work of a system is equal to 1-Qc/Qh
The release of a Helium nuclei - 4 -2 He2+

19. S.I. unit of power
Pascal
Alpha - Beta - and Gamma
The measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules.
Watt

20. Which type of radiation has the highest energy?
Gamma
The NET work BY a system is the area enclosed in a cycle on a PV diagram.
Something other than zero.
Initial velocity

21. What is the relationship between speed - frequency - and wavelength?
It is the release of photoelectrons released by photons with an energy (E=hf) above the work function.
The interaction between an oscillating electric magnetic fields that are oriented 90° to each other. It propagates indefinitely because the wave takes its own medium.
wave speed = (wavelength)(frequency)
The initial velocity - (Vo in the formulas)

22. What equation describes the speed in the x-direction of a projectile 't' seconds after it started moving?
Vx=(Vxo)t ...Recall that there is no acceleration in the horizontal direction.
Concave mirrors are converging mirrors.
No image.
Watt

23. What is half life?
It is the time for 1/2 a substance to decay by radioactive processes.
The centripetal acceleration points along the radius towards the center of the circle. (Just like the centripetal force.)
The light travels through the image.
KE=(3/2)kT where k is Boltzman's constant

24. What happens at the critical angle?
It is the net force pointing towards the center.
When it is on the same side as the image?
The refracted light ray is bent 90°. (Parallel to the interface surface.)
x=(1/2)at^2 Remember - the word 'dropped' implies no initial velocity.

25. If you double the mass of one planet - triple the mass of another - and move them twice as far apart - what happens to the force of attraction between them?
When it is on the 'dark' side of the mirror. Opposite the light.
The transfer of thermal energy
The new force is 2/4 or 1/2 times the old force. ...Because the force of gravity varies directly with the masses and inverse squared to the distance apart.
x=Vo + ((1/2)g)sin(angle)t^2

26. How does the speed change when the pressure is decreased?
Convex
Speed ups
(n1)sin(theta1) = (n2)sin(theta2)
x=(1/2)at^2 Remember - the word 'dropped' implies no initial velocity.

27. When is a normal force present - what is its direction?
When the body rests on a surface.
The longer the length of wire - the higher the resistance.
wave speed = (wavelength)(frequency)
Force= Pressure/Area

28. In a pendulum or spring - what are the displacement - velocity - PE and KE at the equilibrium position?
The measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules.
Displacement is zero because it is measured from equilibrium position. KE and velocity are at a maximum and it is the lowest point so PE due to gravity is at zero.
Sum of the torques equal zero.
The higher the temperature the higher the resistance. They are proportional to each other.

29. Which type of radiation has the lowest energy?
W = KE:final - KE:initial
wave speed = (wavelength)(frequency)
Alpha
No image.

30. S.I. unit of frictional force
A potential difference and a flow and energized charges.
When it is on the same side as the image?
Newton
convex mirrors are diverging mirrors.

31. What is the derived equation for the ACCELERATION of gravity in terms of m and 'r' squared?
V=Vo + at ...The word 'dropped' means no initial velocity.
When a body is moving at a constant velocity or not moving at all.
G(M:earth)/r^2 ...force of gravity = G(M:earth)(M:body)/r^2
The longer the length of wire - the higher the resistance.

32. What are the two rules for ray tracing in lenses that work all the time?
The initial velocity - (Vo in the formulas)
Provided experimental proof of the wave property of light.
(1) Straight through the vertex. (2) Parallel then through the primary focus.
KE=(3/2)kT where k is Boltzman's constant

33. What makes an image 'real?'
E=kq/r^2 This is the electric field's magnitude at a point in space.
The light travels through the image.
Potential difference is the change in energy of a charged particle divided by its charge.
The PVT conditions change for a gas without changing the temperature.

34. How must the mediums light is traveling through be arranged so that the condition for the critical angle can exist?
g=zero so h=(Vyo)t
ZERO
The charge on each capacitor.
Light must travel from more to less dense so the refracted ray can bend away from the normal.

35. Formula for the electric field at point in space for a single point charge.
E=kq/R^2
The motion of the molecules in gas.
Obstacles in the path of the flow of charges.
dU = zero. The change in temperature of the gas is zero.

36. What is the direction of the centripetal force?
The force is perpendicular to the motion to get a circular path of motion. (Think about centripetal force.)
The PVT conditions change for a gas without changing the temperature.
KE=(3/2)kT where k is Boltzman's constant
The centripetal force points along the radius towards the center of the circle.

37. What is meant by the terms system and environment?
Work is the change in kinetic energy. Work transfers energy to and from a body
KE = (3/2)kT
system is the gas being studied. Environment is the surroundings outside the gas.
They fall - vertically - the by the same amount in the same time.

38. What is an isotope?
P=IV
Light must travel from more to less dense so the refracted ray can bend away from the normal.
Same number of protons by a different number of neutrons. e.g. Carbon-12 versus Carbon-14
Weight ...w=mg

39. Condition for no rotation
Sum of the torques equal zero.
The force is perpendicular to the motion. This always results in a curved path. (Open right hand rule)
Electromagnetic induction occurs when a conductor is moved through a magnetic field such that a component of the fields is perpendicular to the current;s direction.
The incoming light (electromagnetic wave) has the same frequency as some of the electrons.

40. What is ionization energy and how does it compare to the work function?
N/C
Only 1/4 wavelength fits in the tube. L=wavelength/4
Provided experimental proof of the wave property of light.
The work function is a minimum amount of energy needed to release a photon from a collection in the surface of a material. The ionization energy is the energy needed to release an electron from a single - free-floating - molecule. the ionization ener

41. What do the period of pendulums and springs each depend on?
PV=nRT and PV=kT
Pendulums depend on the length of the arm and the pull of gravity. springs depend on mass and the spring constant.
wave speed = (wavelength)(frequency)
The interaction between an oscillating electric magnetic fields that are oriented 90° to each other. It propagates indefinitely because the wave takes its own medium.

42. What did Rutherford discover?
Gamma
Atomic mass number minus atomic number.
Concave
The nucleus

43. What is conservation of energy and what is its significance?
Sum of all the energy forms before a condition equals the sum of all the energy forms after the condition.
The thicker the wire - the lower the resistance.
V - a Joule/Coulomb
F=qE

44. What is implied when an object is not accelerating in the x direction?
The force is perpendicular to the motion to get a circular path of motion. (Think about centripetal force.)
The bending of light
The body is moving at a constant velocity
N•m

45. What doesn't change (speed - frequency - or wavelength) - when light moves from one medium to another?
Work by a system is positive when the gas expands. (The volume increases.)
frequency (Think of the color as not changing.)
(mg)sin(angle)
V=E - IR V=terminal voltage (Volts) - E = emf: electromotiveforce (Volts) - IR = Internal drop in energy per charge (Volts)

46. What is the name given to the distance between the pivot point and applied perpendicular force?
The transfer of thermal energy
Moment arm
Q=0 because thermal energy is not transfered between the system and its surroundings
Speed ups

47. What is a key requirement in order for work to be done?
A displacement must occur. ( W=Fd)
The body is moving at a constant velocity
the refracted ray bends TOWARDS the normal line.
Transverse waves: The displacement is perpendicular to the wave's motion. Longitudinal waves: The displacement is in the direction of the wave's motion.

48. What are 2 key differences between electric force and gravitational force?

49. S.I. unit of magnetism
Heat - (the 'Q' variable) - is POSITIVE when thermal energy is being ADDED to a system.
Tesla
Alpha
Transverse waves: The displacement is perpendicular to the wave's motion. Longitudinal waves: The displacement is in the direction of the wave's motion.

50. What is work energy theorem and what is its significance?
The release of an energetic photon from an overly excited molecule.
When it is on the 'dark' side of the mirror. Opposite the light.
Work is positive when the force and displacement point in the same direction.
Work is the change in kinetic energy. Work transfers energy to and from a body