Inquiry into Physics (8th Edition) –
Physics Course Materials – Complete
Test Bank
CHAPTER 1: THE STUDY OF MOTION
1. Which of the following is a vector quantity?
• A) Speed
• B) Distance
• C) Velocity
• D) Time
Answer: C) Velocity
Rationale: Velocity is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude (speed) and
direction. Speed, distance, and time are scalar quantities with only magnitude.
2. A car travels 60 km north in 2 hours. What is its average velocity?
• A) 30 km/h
• B) 30 km/h north
• C) 120 km/h
• D) 120 km/h north
Answer: B) 30 km/h north
Rationale: Velocity = displacement/time = 60 km/2 h = 30 km/h. Velocity requires
both magnitude and direction, so "north" must be included.
3. If an object moves in a circle at constant speed, which statement is true?
• A) Its velocity is constant
, • B) Its acceleration is zero
• C) Its acceleration is directed toward the center
• D) Its speed is changing
Answer: C) Its acceleration is directed toward the center
Rationale: In uniform circular motion, speed is constant but velocity changes due
to changing direction. Centripetal acceleration points toward the center of the
circle.
4. The slope of a distance versus time graph represents:
• A) Acceleration
• B) Velocity
• C) Displacement
• D) Force
Answer: B) Velocity
Rationale: The slope (rise/run) of a distance-time graph gives the rate of change of
distance with respect to time, which is velocity.
5. The slope of a velocity versus time graph represents:
• A) Speed
• B) Velocity
• C) Acceleration
• D) Displacement
Answer: C) Acceleration
Rationale: The slope of a velocity-time graph gives the rate of change of velocity
with respect to time, which is acceleration.
,6. A ball is thrown upward. At its highest point, its:
• A) Velocity is zero, acceleration is zero
• B) Velocity is zero, acceleration is g downward
• C) Velocity is maximum, acceleration is zero
• D) Velocity and acceleration are both maximum
Answer: B) Velocity is zero, acceleration is g downward
Rationale: At the highest point, the ball momentarily stops (v=0), but gravity
continues to accelerate it downward at 9.8 m/s².
7. Which of the following is NOT a metric prefix?
• A) Kilo
• B) Milli
• C) Centi
• D) Deca
Answer: D) Deca
Rationale: While "deca" exists in some contexts, the standard SI prefixes include
kilo (10³), milli (10⁻³), and centi (10⁻²). The prefix for 10¹ is "deka" (rarely used in
physics).
8. 25 milliseconds is equal to:
• A) 0.025 s
• B) 0.25 s
• C) 2.5 s
• D) 25,000 s
Answer: A) 0.025 s
Rationale: milli = 10⁻³, so 25 ms = 25 × 10⁻³ s = 0.025 s.
, 9. An object moving at constant velocity must have:
• A) Constant speed
• B) Constant direction
• C) Both constant speed and direction
• D) Zero acceleration
Answer: C) Both constant speed and direction
Rationale: Constant velocity means both magnitude (speed) and direction remain
unchanged. This implies zero acceleration.
10. The area under a velocity-time graph represents:
• A) Acceleration
• B) Displacement
• C) Speed
• D) Force
Answer: B) Displacement
Rationale: The area under a v-t graph equals displacement (integral of velocity
over time).
11. A car accelerates from rest at 2 m/s² for 5 seconds. Its final velocity is:
• A) 2 m/s
• B) 5 m/s
• C) 10 m/s
• D) 25 m/s
Answer: C) 10 m/s
Rationale: Using v = u + at = 0 + (2 m/s²)(5 s) = 10 m/s.
Physics Course Materials – Complete
Test Bank
CHAPTER 1: THE STUDY OF MOTION
1. Which of the following is a vector quantity?
• A) Speed
• B) Distance
• C) Velocity
• D) Time
Answer: C) Velocity
Rationale: Velocity is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude (speed) and
direction. Speed, distance, and time are scalar quantities with only magnitude.
2. A car travels 60 km north in 2 hours. What is its average velocity?
• A) 30 km/h
• B) 30 km/h north
• C) 120 km/h
• D) 120 km/h north
Answer: B) 30 km/h north
Rationale: Velocity = displacement/time = 60 km/2 h = 30 km/h. Velocity requires
both magnitude and direction, so "north" must be included.
3. If an object moves in a circle at constant speed, which statement is true?
• A) Its velocity is constant
, • B) Its acceleration is zero
• C) Its acceleration is directed toward the center
• D) Its speed is changing
Answer: C) Its acceleration is directed toward the center
Rationale: In uniform circular motion, speed is constant but velocity changes due
to changing direction. Centripetal acceleration points toward the center of the
circle.
4. The slope of a distance versus time graph represents:
• A) Acceleration
• B) Velocity
• C) Displacement
• D) Force
Answer: B) Velocity
Rationale: The slope (rise/run) of a distance-time graph gives the rate of change of
distance with respect to time, which is velocity.
5. The slope of a velocity versus time graph represents:
• A) Speed
• B) Velocity
• C) Acceleration
• D) Displacement
Answer: C) Acceleration
Rationale: The slope of a velocity-time graph gives the rate of change of velocity
with respect to time, which is acceleration.
,6. A ball is thrown upward. At its highest point, its:
• A) Velocity is zero, acceleration is zero
• B) Velocity is zero, acceleration is g downward
• C) Velocity is maximum, acceleration is zero
• D) Velocity and acceleration are both maximum
Answer: B) Velocity is zero, acceleration is g downward
Rationale: At the highest point, the ball momentarily stops (v=0), but gravity
continues to accelerate it downward at 9.8 m/s².
7. Which of the following is NOT a metric prefix?
• A) Kilo
• B) Milli
• C) Centi
• D) Deca
Answer: D) Deca
Rationale: While "deca" exists in some contexts, the standard SI prefixes include
kilo (10³), milli (10⁻³), and centi (10⁻²). The prefix for 10¹ is "deka" (rarely used in
physics).
8. 25 milliseconds is equal to:
• A) 0.025 s
• B) 0.25 s
• C) 2.5 s
• D) 25,000 s
Answer: A) 0.025 s
Rationale: milli = 10⁻³, so 25 ms = 25 × 10⁻³ s = 0.025 s.
, 9. An object moving at constant velocity must have:
• A) Constant speed
• B) Constant direction
• C) Both constant speed and direction
• D) Zero acceleration
Answer: C) Both constant speed and direction
Rationale: Constant velocity means both magnitude (speed) and direction remain
unchanged. This implies zero acceleration.
10. The area under a velocity-time graph represents:
• A) Acceleration
• B) Displacement
• C) Speed
• D) Force
Answer: B) Displacement
Rationale: The area under a v-t graph equals displacement (integral of velocity
over time).
11. A car accelerates from rest at 2 m/s² for 5 seconds. Its final velocity is:
• A) 2 m/s
• B) 5 m/s
• C) 10 m/s
• D) 25 m/s
Answer: C) 10 m/s
Rationale: Using v = u + at = 0 + (2 m/s²)(5 s) = 10 m/s.
