PHYS 165 MODULE 1 EXAM
PHYSICS
Portage Learning
2026/2027 Academic Year
Mathematical Foundations, SI Units,
Significant Figures, and Basic Trigonometry
EXAM SPECIFICATIONS
Time Allocation: 90 Minutes
Total Questions: 50 Questions
Question Format: Multiple Choice, Calculations, Short Answer
Minimum Competency: 70% Required to Pass
Core Focus: SI Units, Conversions, Sig Figs, Scientific Notation, Trigonometry
PHYS 165 Module 1 Exam Portage Learning 2026-2027 Page 1
, Exam Overview & Content Outline
EXAM PURPOSE
PHYS 165 Module 1 Exam covers mathematical foundations for physics including SI units, unit
conversions, significant figures, scientific notation, dimensional analysis, and basic trigonometry.
Based on Portage Learning curriculum for 2026/2027 academic year.
CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
• SI Units & Conversions (30%) — Base units, derived units, metric prefixes, dimensional analysis,
unit conversion
• Significant Figures (25%) — Sig fig rules, addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, rounding
• Scientific Notation (20%) — Expressing numbers, calculations, order of magnitude
• Basic Trigonometry (25%) — Right triangle trig, SOH-CAH-TOA, Pythagorean theorem, vector
components
QUESTION FORMAT & SCORING
Each item presents four options or requires calculation. Correct answers are highlighted in green
with checkmark (✓). Every question includes detailed rationale with formulas. Portage Learning
requires 70% to pass.
STUDY STRATEGY
Master SI base units: meter, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, candela. Know metric prefixes:
kilo, centi, milli, micro, nano. Master sig fig rules. Practice unit conversions using dimensional
analysis. Review SOH-CAH-TOA and Pythagorean theorem. Use calculator correctly.
CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT
Questions reflect 2026-2027 standards: Portage Learning PHYS 165, NIST SI Units, and introductory
physics mathematical prerequisites.
PHYS 165 Module 1 Exam Portage Learning 2026-2027 Page 2
, SECTION I: SI Units & Conversions
1. SI base unit for mass:
A. Gram
✓ B. Kilogram
C. Pound
D. Ounce
Rationale: SI base units: meter (m) length, kilogram (kg) mass, second (s) time, ampere (A) electric current,
kelvin (K) temperature, mole (mol) amount of substance, candela (cd) luminous intensity. Note: kilogram is
base unit, not gram. Derived units: newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), pascal (Pa).
2. Convert 5.2 km to meters:
A. 0.0052 m
✓ B. 5200 m
C. 520 m
D. 52,000 m
Rationale: Kilo prefix = 10^3 = 1000. 5.2 km × 1000 m/km = 5200 m. Dimensional analysis: 5.2 km × (1000
m / 1 km) = 5200 m. Units cancel. Common prefixes: giga (G) 10^9, mega (M) 10^6, kilo (k) 10^3, centi (c)
10^-2, milli (m) 10^-3, micro (µ) 10^-6, nano (n) 10^-9.
3. Convert 65 mph to m/s (1 mile = 1609 m):
✓ A. 29.1 m/s
B. 104,585 m/s
C. 2.42 m/s
D. 145 m/s
Rationale: 65 mi/hr × (1609 m / 1 mi) × (1 hr / 3600 s) = 65 × = 29.05 ≈ 29.1 m/s. Dimensional
analysis: cancel miles and hours. Always set up conversion factors so units cancel. Check: 60 mph ≈ 27
m/s, so 65 mph ≈ 29 m/s is reasonable.
4. Derived SI unit for force:
A. Joule
✓ B. Newton (N = kg·m/s²)
C. Watt
D. Pascal
Rationale: Newton (N): kg·m/s² from F = ma. Joule (J): N·m = kg·m²/s² (energy/work). Watt (W): J/s =
kg·m²/s³ (power). Pascal (Pa): N/m² = kg/(m·s²) (pressure). Know how to derive units from equations. Force
= mass × acceleration.
5. Convert 2.5 hours to seconds:
A. 150 s
✓ B. 9000 s
C. 900 s
PHYS 165 Module 1 Exam Portage Learning 2026-2027 Page 3
PHYSICS
Portage Learning
2026/2027 Academic Year
Mathematical Foundations, SI Units,
Significant Figures, and Basic Trigonometry
EXAM SPECIFICATIONS
Time Allocation: 90 Minutes
Total Questions: 50 Questions
Question Format: Multiple Choice, Calculations, Short Answer
Minimum Competency: 70% Required to Pass
Core Focus: SI Units, Conversions, Sig Figs, Scientific Notation, Trigonometry
PHYS 165 Module 1 Exam Portage Learning 2026-2027 Page 1
, Exam Overview & Content Outline
EXAM PURPOSE
PHYS 165 Module 1 Exam covers mathematical foundations for physics including SI units, unit
conversions, significant figures, scientific notation, dimensional analysis, and basic trigonometry.
Based on Portage Learning curriculum for 2026/2027 academic year.
CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
• SI Units & Conversions (30%) — Base units, derived units, metric prefixes, dimensional analysis,
unit conversion
• Significant Figures (25%) — Sig fig rules, addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, rounding
• Scientific Notation (20%) — Expressing numbers, calculations, order of magnitude
• Basic Trigonometry (25%) — Right triangle trig, SOH-CAH-TOA, Pythagorean theorem, vector
components
QUESTION FORMAT & SCORING
Each item presents four options or requires calculation. Correct answers are highlighted in green
with checkmark (✓). Every question includes detailed rationale with formulas. Portage Learning
requires 70% to pass.
STUDY STRATEGY
Master SI base units: meter, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, candela. Know metric prefixes:
kilo, centi, milli, micro, nano. Master sig fig rules. Practice unit conversions using dimensional
analysis. Review SOH-CAH-TOA and Pythagorean theorem. Use calculator correctly.
CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT
Questions reflect 2026-2027 standards: Portage Learning PHYS 165, NIST SI Units, and introductory
physics mathematical prerequisites.
PHYS 165 Module 1 Exam Portage Learning 2026-2027 Page 2
, SECTION I: SI Units & Conversions
1. SI base unit for mass:
A. Gram
✓ B. Kilogram
C. Pound
D. Ounce
Rationale: SI base units: meter (m) length, kilogram (kg) mass, second (s) time, ampere (A) electric current,
kelvin (K) temperature, mole (mol) amount of substance, candela (cd) luminous intensity. Note: kilogram is
base unit, not gram. Derived units: newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), pascal (Pa).
2. Convert 5.2 km to meters:
A. 0.0052 m
✓ B. 5200 m
C. 520 m
D. 52,000 m
Rationale: Kilo prefix = 10^3 = 1000. 5.2 km × 1000 m/km = 5200 m. Dimensional analysis: 5.2 km × (1000
m / 1 km) = 5200 m. Units cancel. Common prefixes: giga (G) 10^9, mega (M) 10^6, kilo (k) 10^3, centi (c)
10^-2, milli (m) 10^-3, micro (µ) 10^-6, nano (n) 10^-9.
3. Convert 65 mph to m/s (1 mile = 1609 m):
✓ A. 29.1 m/s
B. 104,585 m/s
C. 2.42 m/s
D. 145 m/s
Rationale: 65 mi/hr × (1609 m / 1 mi) × (1 hr / 3600 s) = 65 × = 29.05 ≈ 29.1 m/s. Dimensional
analysis: cancel miles and hours. Always set up conversion factors so units cancel. Check: 60 mph ≈ 27
m/s, so 65 mph ≈ 29 m/s is reasonable.
4. Derived SI unit for force:
A. Joule
✓ B. Newton (N = kg·m/s²)
C. Watt
D. Pascal
Rationale: Newton (N): kg·m/s² from F = ma. Joule (J): N·m = kg·m²/s² (energy/work). Watt (W): J/s =
kg·m²/s³ (power). Pascal (Pa): N/m² = kg/(m·s²) (pressure). Know how to derive units from equations. Force
= mass × acceleration.
5. Convert 2.5 hours to seconds:
A. 150 s
✓ B. 9000 s
C. 900 s
PHYS 165 Module 1 Exam Portage Learning 2026-2027 Page 3
