Physics 211 Final Exam Conceptual Questions With
Complete Answers
A boy and a girl are riding a merry go round which is turning at a constant rate. The boy
is near the outer edge, and the girl is closer to the center. Who has the greater linear
speed? - ANSWER The boy
A boy and a girl are riding a merry go round which is turning at a constant rate. The boy
is near the outer edge, and the girl is closer to the center. Who has the greater tangential
acceleration? - ANSWER Both have zero tangential acceleration
Consider a rigid body that is rotating. Which of the following is an accurate statement? -
ANSWER All points of the object are moving with the same angular velocity
What is the quantity used to measure an objects resistance to changes in rotation? -
ANSWER moment of inertia
A uniform solid sphere has mass M and radius R. If these are increased to 2M and 3R,
what happens to the sphere's moment of inertia about a central axis? - ANSWER
increases by a factor of 18
Suppose a solid sphere of mass Mand radius Rrolls without slipping down an inclined
plane starting from rest. The linear velocity of the sphere at the bottom of the incline
depends on - ANSWER neither the mass nor the radius of the sphere.
, In what circumstances can the angular velocity of system of particles change without any
change in the system's angular momentum? - ANSWER This can happen in the only
forces acting are internal to the system
An ice skater performs a pirouette (a fast spin) by pulling in his outstretched arms close
to his body. What happens to its rotational kinetic energy about the axis of rotation? -
ANSWER It increases
An ice skater performs a pirouette (a fast spin) by pulling in his outstretched arms close
to his body. What happens to his angular momentum about the axis of rotation? -
ANSWER It decreases
A rocket moves through outer space with a velocity of 9.8 m/s. What net force acts on it?
- ANSWER The net force is zero
A person weighing 800 N stands with one foot on each of two bathroom scales. Which
statement is definitely true? - ANSWER If one scale reads 500 N, the other will definitely
read 300 N
A heavy boy and a light girl are balanced on a massless seesaw. If they both move
forward so that they are one-half their original distance from the pivot point, what will
happen to the seesaw? - ANSWER Nothing, the seesaw will still be balanced.
A sphere hanging freely from a cord is in - ANSWER stable equilibrium.
Complete Answers
A boy and a girl are riding a merry go round which is turning at a constant rate. The boy
is near the outer edge, and the girl is closer to the center. Who has the greater linear
speed? - ANSWER The boy
A boy and a girl are riding a merry go round which is turning at a constant rate. The boy
is near the outer edge, and the girl is closer to the center. Who has the greater tangential
acceleration? - ANSWER Both have zero tangential acceleration
Consider a rigid body that is rotating. Which of the following is an accurate statement? -
ANSWER All points of the object are moving with the same angular velocity
What is the quantity used to measure an objects resistance to changes in rotation? -
ANSWER moment of inertia
A uniform solid sphere has mass M and radius R. If these are increased to 2M and 3R,
what happens to the sphere's moment of inertia about a central axis? - ANSWER
increases by a factor of 18
Suppose a solid sphere of mass Mand radius Rrolls without slipping down an inclined
plane starting from rest. The linear velocity of the sphere at the bottom of the incline
depends on - ANSWER neither the mass nor the radius of the sphere.
, In what circumstances can the angular velocity of system of particles change without any
change in the system's angular momentum? - ANSWER This can happen in the only
forces acting are internal to the system
An ice skater performs a pirouette (a fast spin) by pulling in his outstretched arms close
to his body. What happens to its rotational kinetic energy about the axis of rotation? -
ANSWER It increases
An ice skater performs a pirouette (a fast spin) by pulling in his outstretched arms close
to his body. What happens to his angular momentum about the axis of rotation? -
ANSWER It decreases
A rocket moves through outer space with a velocity of 9.8 m/s. What net force acts on it?
- ANSWER The net force is zero
A person weighing 800 N stands with one foot on each of two bathroom scales. Which
statement is definitely true? - ANSWER If one scale reads 500 N, the other will definitely
read 300 N
A heavy boy and a light girl are balanced on a massless seesaw. If they both move
forward so that they are one-half their original distance from the pivot point, what will
happen to the seesaw? - ANSWER Nothing, the seesaw will still be balanced.
A sphere hanging freely from a cord is in - ANSWER stable equilibrium.
