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WGU C165 OA EXAM INTEGRATED PHYSICAL SCIENCES
2026/2027 | Actual Exam Question Bank | Detailed Answers |
A+ Graded | Brand New | Pass Guaranteed
SECTION 1: PHYSICS - MOTION, FORCES & ENERGY (Q1-35)
1.1: Newton's Laws & Force Interactions (Q1-12)
Q1. A 50 kg box rests on a frictionless horizontal surface. A horizontal force of 100 N is
applied to the box. What is the acceleration of the box?
A. 0.5 m/s²
B. 2.0 m/s²
C. 5.0 m/s²
D. 5000 m/s²
B. 2.0 m/s² [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's Second Law states F = ma; solving for acceleration gives a = F/m =
100 N / 50 kg = 2.0 m/s². Option A inverts the calculation, C uses incorrect division
(100/20), and D multiplies instead of dividing.
Correct Answer: B
Q2. A passenger in a moving car continues moving forward when the driver suddenly
brakes. This phenomenon is best explained by:
A. Newton's First Law
B. Newton's Second Law
C. Newton's Third Law
D. The Law of Universal Gravitation
A. Newton's First Law [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia) states that an object in motion remains
in motion unless acted upon by an external force; the passenger's body tends to
maintain its forward velocity while the car decelerates. The Second Law relates force
and acceleration, the Third Law describes action-reaction pairs, and gravitation is
unrelated to this scenario.
Correct Answer: A
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Q3. When a book rests on a table, the table exerts an upward force on the book equal to
the book's weight. This illustrates:
A. Newton's First Law
B. Newton's Second Law
C. Newton's Third Law
D. Conservation of momentum
C. Newton's Third Law [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's Third Law states that for every action force there is an equal and
opposite reaction force; the book pushes down on the table (action) and the table
pushes up on the book (reaction). These forces act on different objects and are equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction.
Correct Answer: C
Q4. A 2 kg object accelerates at 4 m/s² when a net force acts on it. What is the
magnitude of the net force?
A. 0.5 N
B. 2 N
C. 8 N
D. 16 N
C. 8 N [CORRECT]
Rationale: Applying Newton's Second Law: F = ma = (2 kg)(4 m/s²) = 8 N. Option A
divides mass by acceleration, B uses only the mass, and D squares the acceleration
before multiplying.
Correct Answer: C
Q5. A rocket expels exhaust gases downward at high velocity, propelling itself upward.
The upward motion of the rocket is explained by:
A. The exhaust gases pushing against the ground
B. Newton's Third Law: the rocket pushes gases down, gases push rocket up
C. The rocket becoming lighter as fuel burns
D. Atmospheric pressure pushing the rocket upward
B. Newton's Third Law: the rocket pushes gases down, gases push rocket up
[CORRECT]
Rationale: Rocket propulsion demonstrates Newton's Third Law in action; the rocket
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exerts a downward force on exhaust gases, and the gases exert an equal upward
reaction force on the rocket. This principle works even in the vacuum of space,
disproving options A and D. While mass reduction (C) occurs, it is not the primary
propulsion mechanism.
Correct Answer: B
Q6. A skydiver reaches terminal velocity when falling through the air. At terminal
velocity:
A. The net force on the skydiver is maximum
B. The force of gravity exceeds air resistance
C. The force of air resistance equals the force of gravity
D. The skydiver is accelerating downward
C. The force of air resistance equals the force of gravity [CORRECT]
Rationale: Terminal velocity occurs when air resistance (drag) exactly balances
gravitational force, resulting in zero net force and zero acceleration; the skydiver falls at
constant velocity. Options A, B, and D all describe situations with net force and
acceleration, which contradict the definition of terminal velocity.
Correct Answer: C
Q7. A 10 kg object experiences two forces: 30 N to the right and 10 N to the left. What is
the object's acceleration?
A. 2.0 m/s² to the right
B. 4.0 m/s² to the right
C. 2.0 m/s² to the left
D. 4.0 m/s² to the left
A. 2.0 m/s² to the right [CORRECT]
Rationale: Net force = 30 N - 10 N = 20 N to the right. Using F = ma: a = 20 N / 10 kg =
2.0 m/s² in the direction of the net force (right). Option B uses incorrect mass (5 kg),
while C and D reverse the direction.
Correct Answer: A
Q8. An astronaut with a mass of 80 kg is floating in space. She pushes off a 2000 kg
spacecraft with a force of 40 N. What is the acceleration of the astronaut?
A. 0.02 m/s²
B. 0.5 m/s²
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C. 2.0 m/s²
D. 50 m/s²
B. 0.5 m/s² [CORRECT]
Rationale: Using Newton's Second Law for the astronaut: a = F/m = 40 N / 80 kg = 0.5
m/s². The spacecraft accelerates at 0.02 m/s² (option A), but the question asks about
the astronaut. Options C and D result from incorrect calculations.
Correct Answer: B
Q9. A hockey puck slides across ice and gradually slows down. According to Newton's
laws, the puck slows because:
A. Its inertia decreases
B. A net force (friction) acts opposite to its motion
C. The action-reaction forces are unbalanced
D. Gravity increases as the puck slows
B. A net force (friction) acts opposite to its motion [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's First Law states that objects maintain constant velocity unless a net
force acts; friction between the puck and ice provides the net force opposing motion.
Inertia (mass) does not change (A), action-reaction pairs are always balanced (C), and
gravity is constant (D).
Correct Answer: B
Q10. A car towing a trailer accelerates from rest. The force the car exerts on the trailer
is:
A. Greater than the force the trailer exerts on the car
B. Equal to the force the trailer exerts on the car
C. Less than the force the trailer exerts on the car
D. Zero because the trailer is moving
B. Equal to the force the trailer exerts on the car [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's Third Law dictates that the force of the car on the trailer and the
force of the trailer on the car form an action-reaction pair that are always equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction, regardless of acceleration. The trailer accelerates
because the car's pull on it exceeds friction, not because the action-reaction pair is
unbalanced.
Correct Answer: B
WGU C165 OA EXAM INTEGRATED PHYSICAL SCIENCES
2026/2027 | Actual Exam Question Bank | Detailed Answers |
A+ Graded | Brand New | Pass Guaranteed
SECTION 1: PHYSICS - MOTION, FORCES & ENERGY (Q1-35)
1.1: Newton's Laws & Force Interactions (Q1-12)
Q1. A 50 kg box rests on a frictionless horizontal surface. A horizontal force of 100 N is
applied to the box. What is the acceleration of the box?
A. 0.5 m/s²
B. 2.0 m/s²
C. 5.0 m/s²
D. 5000 m/s²
B. 2.0 m/s² [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's Second Law states F = ma; solving for acceleration gives a = F/m =
100 N / 50 kg = 2.0 m/s². Option A inverts the calculation, C uses incorrect division
(100/20), and D multiplies instead of dividing.
Correct Answer: B
Q2. A passenger in a moving car continues moving forward when the driver suddenly
brakes. This phenomenon is best explained by:
A. Newton's First Law
B. Newton's Second Law
C. Newton's Third Law
D. The Law of Universal Gravitation
A. Newton's First Law [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia) states that an object in motion remains
in motion unless acted upon by an external force; the passenger's body tends to
maintain its forward velocity while the car decelerates. The Second Law relates force
and acceleration, the Third Law describes action-reaction pairs, and gravitation is
unrelated to this scenario.
Correct Answer: A
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Q3. When a book rests on a table, the table exerts an upward force on the book equal to
the book's weight. This illustrates:
A. Newton's First Law
B. Newton's Second Law
C. Newton's Third Law
D. Conservation of momentum
C. Newton's Third Law [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's Third Law states that for every action force there is an equal and
opposite reaction force; the book pushes down on the table (action) and the table
pushes up on the book (reaction). These forces act on different objects and are equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction.
Correct Answer: C
Q4. A 2 kg object accelerates at 4 m/s² when a net force acts on it. What is the
magnitude of the net force?
A. 0.5 N
B. 2 N
C. 8 N
D. 16 N
C. 8 N [CORRECT]
Rationale: Applying Newton's Second Law: F = ma = (2 kg)(4 m/s²) = 8 N. Option A
divides mass by acceleration, B uses only the mass, and D squares the acceleration
before multiplying.
Correct Answer: C
Q5. A rocket expels exhaust gases downward at high velocity, propelling itself upward.
The upward motion of the rocket is explained by:
A. The exhaust gases pushing against the ground
B. Newton's Third Law: the rocket pushes gases down, gases push rocket up
C. The rocket becoming lighter as fuel burns
D. Atmospheric pressure pushing the rocket upward
B. Newton's Third Law: the rocket pushes gases down, gases push rocket up
[CORRECT]
Rationale: Rocket propulsion demonstrates Newton's Third Law in action; the rocket
,3
exerts a downward force on exhaust gases, and the gases exert an equal upward
reaction force on the rocket. This principle works even in the vacuum of space,
disproving options A and D. While mass reduction (C) occurs, it is not the primary
propulsion mechanism.
Correct Answer: B
Q6. A skydiver reaches terminal velocity when falling through the air. At terminal
velocity:
A. The net force on the skydiver is maximum
B. The force of gravity exceeds air resistance
C. The force of air resistance equals the force of gravity
D. The skydiver is accelerating downward
C. The force of air resistance equals the force of gravity [CORRECT]
Rationale: Terminal velocity occurs when air resistance (drag) exactly balances
gravitational force, resulting in zero net force and zero acceleration; the skydiver falls at
constant velocity. Options A, B, and D all describe situations with net force and
acceleration, which contradict the definition of terminal velocity.
Correct Answer: C
Q7. A 10 kg object experiences two forces: 30 N to the right and 10 N to the left. What is
the object's acceleration?
A. 2.0 m/s² to the right
B. 4.0 m/s² to the right
C. 2.0 m/s² to the left
D. 4.0 m/s² to the left
A. 2.0 m/s² to the right [CORRECT]
Rationale: Net force = 30 N - 10 N = 20 N to the right. Using F = ma: a = 20 N / 10 kg =
2.0 m/s² in the direction of the net force (right). Option B uses incorrect mass (5 kg),
while C and D reverse the direction.
Correct Answer: A
Q8. An astronaut with a mass of 80 kg is floating in space. She pushes off a 2000 kg
spacecraft with a force of 40 N. What is the acceleration of the astronaut?
A. 0.02 m/s²
B. 0.5 m/s²
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C. 2.0 m/s²
D. 50 m/s²
B. 0.5 m/s² [CORRECT]
Rationale: Using Newton's Second Law for the astronaut: a = F/m = 40 N / 80 kg = 0.5
m/s². The spacecraft accelerates at 0.02 m/s² (option A), but the question asks about
the astronaut. Options C and D result from incorrect calculations.
Correct Answer: B
Q9. A hockey puck slides across ice and gradually slows down. According to Newton's
laws, the puck slows because:
A. Its inertia decreases
B. A net force (friction) acts opposite to its motion
C. The action-reaction forces are unbalanced
D. Gravity increases as the puck slows
B. A net force (friction) acts opposite to its motion [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's First Law states that objects maintain constant velocity unless a net
force acts; friction between the puck and ice provides the net force opposing motion.
Inertia (mass) does not change (A), action-reaction pairs are always balanced (C), and
gravity is constant (D).
Correct Answer: B
Q10. A car towing a trailer accelerates from rest. The force the car exerts on the trailer
is:
A. Greater than the force the trailer exerts on the car
B. Equal to the force the trailer exerts on the car
C. Less than the force the trailer exerts on the car
D. Zero because the trailer is moving
B. Equal to the force the trailer exerts on the car [CORRECT]
Rationale: Newton's Third Law dictates that the force of the car on the trailer and the
force of the trailer on the car form an action-reaction pair that are always equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction, regardless of acceleration. The trailer accelerates
because the car's pull on it exceeds friction, not because the action-reaction pair is
unbalanced.
Correct Answer: B
