Regents Prep: Physics
Multiple-Choice Questions
Regents Prep Physics: Topical Multiple-Choice Question Archive
Use of Topical Archive Multiple-Choice Questions
Teachers:

Feel free to copy and paste any of the multiple-choice questions below for use in creating your own Regents-style assessments.

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Statics: Question 1 of 5
If the sum of all the forces acting on a moving object is zero, the object will
  1. slow down and stop
  2. change the direction of its motion
  3. accelerate uniformly
  4. continue moving with constant velocity

Correct Answer Number: 4

Explanation: For something to change direction or accelerate there must be an UNBALLANCED force acting on it. Newton’s 1st law states that an object in motion will stay in motion at constant velocity unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.


Statics: Question 2 of 5
The graph below represents the relationship between gravitational force and mass for objects near the surface of Earth.

The slope of the graph represents the
 

  1. acceleration due to gravity
  2. universal gravitational constant
  3. momentum of objects
  4. weight of objects

Correct Answer Number: 1

Explanation: When graphing think of the equation y=mx, y is equal to the slope times x. Here the y is gravitational force (weight) and x is mass. W = mg, weight is equal to mass times acceleration due to gravity. Weight is the "Y", mass is the "X" so the slope has to be the acceleration due to gravity.


Statics: Question 3 of 5
A spring scale reads 20. newtons as it pulls a 5.0-kilogram mass across a table. What is the magnitude of the force exerted by the mass on the spring scale?
  1. 49 N
  2. 20. N
  3. 5.0 N
  4. 4.0 N

Correct Answer Number: 2

Explanation: Action /reaction forces are equal.


Statics: Question 4 of 5
Note that this question only has three choices.

The diagram below shows a block sliding down a plane inclined at angle Q with the horizontal.

As angle Q is increased, the coefficient of kinetic friction between the bottom surface of the block and the surface of the incline will
 

  1. decrease
  2. Increase
  3. remain the same

Correct Answer Number: 3

Explanation: coefficient of kinetic friction is independent of the angle


Statics: Question 5 of 5
An object weighs 100. newtons on Earth’s surface. When it is moved to a point one Earth radius above Earth’s surface, it will weigh
  1. 25.0 N
  2. 50.0 N
  3. 100. N
  4. 400. N

Correct Answer Number: 1

Explanation: Basic equation Fg=Gm1m2/r2. When the object is moved 1 earth radius away from the earth r is now 2r (on the surface of the earth the object is 1 earth radius away from the center of the earth, when the object is moved 1 radius away the distance is now r+r or 2r).

When you plug (2r)2 into the denominator of the equation it becomes 4r2. You have to square the 2 as well as the r.
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