Test Bank with Complete Solutions Manual for College Physics: Explore
and Apply, 2nd Edition by Eugenia Etkina, Gorazd Planinšič, and Alan
Van Heuvelen | Comprehensive Chapter-by-Chapter Exam Questions,
Detailed Answer Explanations, Practice Tests, Concept Review,
Instructor Study Resource | All Chapters Included
Kinematics (Motion in One Dimension)
1. A car travels 60 km north in 1.5 hours, then 40 km south in 1.0 hour. What is
the car's average velocity for the entire trip?
A) 8 km/h south
B) 8 km/h north
C) 40 km/h north
D) 40 km/h south
Answer: B
Rationale: Average velocity is displacement divided by time. Displacement = 60
km north + 40 km south = 20 km north. Total time = 2.5 h. Average velocity = 20
km / 2.5 h = 8 km/h north.
2. A ball is thrown straight upward with an initial speed of 20 m/s. Ignoring air
resistance, how long does it take to reach its highest point? (Use g = 10 m/s²)
A) 1 s
B) 2 s
C) 4 s
D) 10 s
Answer: B
Rationale: At the highest point, the final velocity is 0. Using v = v₀ + at, 0 = 20 + (-
10)t → t = 2 s.
3. Which of the following is true for an object moving with constant acceleration?
,A) Its velocity is constant.
B) Its displacement is constant.
C) Its velocity changes by the same amount each second.
D) Its acceleration changes by the same amount each second.
Answer: C
Rationale: Constant acceleration means the rate of change of velocity is constant,
so velocity changes by the same amount each second.
4. A rock is dropped from a cliff and hits the ground 3 seconds later.
Approximately how high is the cliff? (Use g = 10 m/s²)
A) 15 m
B) 30 m
C) 45 m
D) 90 m
Answer: C
Rationale: Using d = ½gt² = ½(10)(3)² = 45 m.
5. An object moves such that its position as a function of time is x(t) = 2t² + 3t + 1
(in meters). What is its velocity at t = 2 s?
A) 7 m/s
B) 11 m/s
C) 13 m/s
D) 15 m/s
Answer: B
Rationale: Velocity is the derivative of position: v(t) = 4t + 3. At t = 2, v = 4(2) + 3 =
11 m/s.
6. A train slows from 30 m/s to 10 m/s over a distance of 200 m. What is its
acceleration?
,A) -4 m/s²
B) -2 m/s²
C) 2 m/s²
D) 4 m/s²
Answer: B
Rationale: Using v² = v₀² + 2ad: 10² = 30² + 2a(200) → 100 = 900 + 400a → a = -2
m/s².
7. Which graph represents an object moving with constant positive velocity?
A) Position vs. time: straight horizontal line
B) Position vs. time: straight line with positive slope
C) Position vs. time: curved line with increasing slope
D) Velocity vs. time: horizontal line at zero
Answer: B
Rationale: Constant velocity means position changes linearly with time, so the
position vs. time graph is a straight line with constant slope.
8. If you drop a feather and a hammer on the Moon (no air), which reaches the
ground first?
A) The hammer
B) The feather
C) Both at the same time
D) Neither—they float
Answer: C
Rationale: In the absence of air resistance, all objects fall with the same
acceleration due to gravity regardless of mass.
9. A car accelerates from rest at 2 m/s² for 5 seconds. How far does it travel?
A) 10 m
B) 20 m
, C) 25 m
D) 50 m
Answer: C
Rationale: Using d = ½at² = ½(2)(5)² = 25 m.
10. The slope of a velocity vs. time graph represents:
A) Displacement
B) Acceleration
C) Speed
D) Position
Answer: B
Rationale: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, which is the slope of the
velocity vs. time graph.
Newton's Laws and Forces
11. An object is at rest. Which statement must be true?
A) No forces act on it.
B) The net force on it is zero.
C) Gravity is the only force acting.
D) It has no mass.
Answer: B
Rationale: According to Newton's first law, an object at rest has zero net force
acting on it (forces are balanced).
12. A 5-kg box is pushed with a 20-N force across a frictionless floor. What is its
acceleration?
A) 0.25 m/s²
B) 4 m/s²
and Apply, 2nd Edition by Eugenia Etkina, Gorazd Planinšič, and Alan
Van Heuvelen | Comprehensive Chapter-by-Chapter Exam Questions,
Detailed Answer Explanations, Practice Tests, Concept Review,
Instructor Study Resource | All Chapters Included
Kinematics (Motion in One Dimension)
1. A car travels 60 km north in 1.5 hours, then 40 km south in 1.0 hour. What is
the car's average velocity for the entire trip?
A) 8 km/h south
B) 8 km/h north
C) 40 km/h north
D) 40 km/h south
Answer: B
Rationale: Average velocity is displacement divided by time. Displacement = 60
km north + 40 km south = 20 km north. Total time = 2.5 h. Average velocity = 20
km / 2.5 h = 8 km/h north.
2. A ball is thrown straight upward with an initial speed of 20 m/s. Ignoring air
resistance, how long does it take to reach its highest point? (Use g = 10 m/s²)
A) 1 s
B) 2 s
C) 4 s
D) 10 s
Answer: B
Rationale: At the highest point, the final velocity is 0. Using v = v₀ + at, 0 = 20 + (-
10)t → t = 2 s.
3. Which of the following is true for an object moving with constant acceleration?
,A) Its velocity is constant.
B) Its displacement is constant.
C) Its velocity changes by the same amount each second.
D) Its acceleration changes by the same amount each second.
Answer: C
Rationale: Constant acceleration means the rate of change of velocity is constant,
so velocity changes by the same amount each second.
4. A rock is dropped from a cliff and hits the ground 3 seconds later.
Approximately how high is the cliff? (Use g = 10 m/s²)
A) 15 m
B) 30 m
C) 45 m
D) 90 m
Answer: C
Rationale: Using d = ½gt² = ½(10)(3)² = 45 m.
5. An object moves such that its position as a function of time is x(t) = 2t² + 3t + 1
(in meters). What is its velocity at t = 2 s?
A) 7 m/s
B) 11 m/s
C) 13 m/s
D) 15 m/s
Answer: B
Rationale: Velocity is the derivative of position: v(t) = 4t + 3. At t = 2, v = 4(2) + 3 =
11 m/s.
6. A train slows from 30 m/s to 10 m/s over a distance of 200 m. What is its
acceleration?
,A) -4 m/s²
B) -2 m/s²
C) 2 m/s²
D) 4 m/s²
Answer: B
Rationale: Using v² = v₀² + 2ad: 10² = 30² + 2a(200) → 100 = 900 + 400a → a = -2
m/s².
7. Which graph represents an object moving with constant positive velocity?
A) Position vs. time: straight horizontal line
B) Position vs. time: straight line with positive slope
C) Position vs. time: curved line with increasing slope
D) Velocity vs. time: horizontal line at zero
Answer: B
Rationale: Constant velocity means position changes linearly with time, so the
position vs. time graph is a straight line with constant slope.
8. If you drop a feather and a hammer on the Moon (no air), which reaches the
ground first?
A) The hammer
B) The feather
C) Both at the same time
D) Neither—they float
Answer: C
Rationale: In the absence of air resistance, all objects fall with the same
acceleration due to gravity regardless of mass.
9. A car accelerates from rest at 2 m/s² for 5 seconds. How far does it travel?
A) 10 m
B) 20 m
, C) 25 m
D) 50 m
Answer: C
Rationale: Using d = ½at² = ½(2)(5)² = 25 m.
10. The slope of a velocity vs. time graph represents:
A) Displacement
B) Acceleration
C) Speed
D) Position
Answer: B
Rationale: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, which is the slope of the
velocity vs. time graph.
Newton's Laws and Forces
11. An object is at rest. Which statement must be true?
A) No forces act on it.
B) The net force on it is zero.
C) Gravity is the only force acting.
D) It has no mass.
Answer: B
Rationale: According to Newton's first law, an object at rest has zero net force
acting on it (forces are balanced).
12. A 5-kg box is pushed with a 20-N force across a frictionless floor. What is its
acceleration?
A) 0.25 m/s²
B) 4 m/s²
