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PHY
PHY 102 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED (2024/2025)
(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Food in boiling water cooks slower in high-altitude locations. If you
increase the temperature under the pot the food will cook
a. slower.
b. faster.
c. neither - ANS ✓c. neither
Your toes feel warmer on a rug than on a tile floor because the rug
a. is a better insulator than tile.
b. has more thermal energy than tile.
c. is usually warmer than tile.
d. all of the above
e. none of the above - ANS ✓a. is a better insulator than tile.
The silver coating on the glass surfaces of a Thermos bottle reduces energy
that is transferred by
a. conduction.
b. radiation.
c. friction.
d. convection.
e. none of the above - ANS ✓b. radiation.
If a volume of air is warmed, it expands. If a volume of air expands, it
PHY 102
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PHY
a. cools.
b. warms.
c. neither - ANS ✓a. cools.
The Sun's radiant energy is composed of shorter wavelengths than the
Earth's because the Sun
a. is an energy source while the Earth is primarily an energy receiver.
b. has a higher temperature than the Earth.
c. has much more thermal energy.
d. none of the above - ANS ✓b. has a higher temperature than the Earth.
Suppose you want to save energy and you're going to leave your warm
house for a half hour on a cold day. You should turn the thermostat
a. off.
b. to room temperature.
c. up.
d. down - ANS ✓a. off.
Cold water will warm to room temperature faster in a
a. black pot.
b. silver pot.
c. depends on size, not color. - ANS ✓a. black pot.
When water changes to steam, energy is _______.
a. released by the steam
b. absorbed by the steam
c. changed to a different form
d. None of the answers is correct. - ANS ✓b. absorbed by the steam
PHY 102
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PHY
When ice changes phase to become water, energy is
a. released.
b. absorbed.
c. unchanged - ANS ✓b. absorbed.
Suppose you want to save energy and you're going to leave your cool house
for a half hour on a hot day. You should turn the temperature setting on the
air conditioner
a. up.
b. off.
c. down.
d. to room temperature. - ANS ✓b. off.
A poor conductor of heat is a
a. poor insulator.
b. good insulator.
c. neither - ANS ✓b. good insulator.
When a gas changes phase to become a solid, energy is
a. released.
b. unchanged.
c. absorbed - ANS ✓a. released.
When water changes to ice, energy is _______.
a. released by the water
b. changed to a different form
c. absorbed by the water
d. None of the answers is correct. - ANS ✓a. released by the water
PHY 102
PHY
PHY 102 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED (2024/2025)
(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Food in boiling water cooks slower in high-altitude locations. If you
increase the temperature under the pot the food will cook
a. slower.
b. faster.
c. neither - ANS ✓c. neither
Your toes feel warmer on a rug than on a tile floor because the rug
a. is a better insulator than tile.
b. has more thermal energy than tile.
c. is usually warmer than tile.
d. all of the above
e. none of the above - ANS ✓a. is a better insulator than tile.
The silver coating on the glass surfaces of a Thermos bottle reduces energy
that is transferred by
a. conduction.
b. radiation.
c. friction.
d. convection.
e. none of the above - ANS ✓b. radiation.
If a volume of air is warmed, it expands. If a volume of air expands, it
PHY 102
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PHY
a. cools.
b. warms.
c. neither - ANS ✓a. cools.
The Sun's radiant energy is composed of shorter wavelengths than the
Earth's because the Sun
a. is an energy source while the Earth is primarily an energy receiver.
b. has a higher temperature than the Earth.
c. has much more thermal energy.
d. none of the above - ANS ✓b. has a higher temperature than the Earth.
Suppose you want to save energy and you're going to leave your warm
house for a half hour on a cold day. You should turn the thermostat
a. off.
b. to room temperature.
c. up.
d. down - ANS ✓a. off.
Cold water will warm to room temperature faster in a
a. black pot.
b. silver pot.
c. depends on size, not color. - ANS ✓a. black pot.
When water changes to steam, energy is _______.
a. released by the steam
b. absorbed by the steam
c. changed to a different form
d. None of the answers is correct. - ANS ✓b. absorbed by the steam
PHY 102
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PHY
When ice changes phase to become water, energy is
a. released.
b. absorbed.
c. unchanged - ANS ✓b. absorbed.
Suppose you want to save energy and you're going to leave your cool house
for a half hour on a hot day. You should turn the temperature setting on the
air conditioner
a. up.
b. off.
c. down.
d. to room temperature. - ANS ✓b. off.
A poor conductor of heat is a
a. poor insulator.
b. good insulator.
c. neither - ANS ✓b. good insulator.
When a gas changes phase to become a solid, energy is
a. released.
b. unchanged.
c. absorbed - ANS ✓a. released.
When water changes to ice, energy is _______.
a. released by the water
b. changed to a different form
c. absorbed by the water
d. None of the answers is correct. - ANS ✓a. released by the water
PHY 102
