WGU C165 Integrated Physical Sciences Questions and Answers
A mathematical model is used to predict the trajectory of a bullet fired from a gun. Which
discipline of physical science is used to develop this model? Physics
An environmental scientist monitors pollutants in a lake.
Which two disciplines of physical science does this scientist use? Choose 2 answers Chemistry,
Earth science
Which study involves both Earth science and physics? Calculating how much energy is associated with
a hurricane
Which question could be answered with a controlled experiment? Does ice melt faster in an empty glass
or in a glass full of water?
Which topic would be appropriate for a controlled experiment? Determining how fast different chemical
pollutants dissolve in water
Which question requires a controlled experiment to answer? Which elements are found in Earth's
atmosphere?
Sir Isaac Newton discovered that the force of gravity between two masses increases if the masses
increase, and decreases if the distance between the masses increases. No experiments have ever
contradicted this relationship.
Which type of scientific statement is this? Law
The well-accepted scientific explanation for many characteristics of Earth's crust states that the crust is
broken into several large plates. These plates move slowly over the mantle below because of convection
and other processes. Earthquakes and volcanoes are most common at places where the plates interact.
Evidence from physics, chemistry, and geology supports this explanation. Which
type of scientific idea is this explanation an example of? Theory
A student proposes that sugar will dissolve faster in rubbing alcohol than in water. The student
reasons that sugar and rubbing alcohol both contain carbon so they will mix more easily. Which
type of scientific idea is the student's proposal an example of? Hypothesis
Why was the shrinking Earth idea replaced by the theory of plate tectonics? Plate tectonics explained
observations about Earth that the shrinking Earth idea could not explain.
Astronomers have long accepted that plate tectonics exists nowhere in our solar system except on
Earth. In 2011, a scientist analyzed 100 NASA-space-mission photographs of Valles Marineris on Mars,
the longest known series of canyons in the solar system. The scientist found that Valles Marineris
showed features found only in locations on Earth where major tectonic plates divide.
MedConnoisseur © 2022
,What would be the appropriate response of scientists to this information?
Carry out further research to gain more understanding of possible plate tectonics on Mars
According to the theory of plate tectonics, volcanoes are especially likely to form
along plate boundaries because of rising magma. New satellite data mapping the ocean floor reveals
thousands of seamounts, which are small volcanoes. Some of the seamounts are in lines that could
correspond to past or present plate boundaries, but many are not aligned in this way.
How should scientists appropriately respond to the idea that some new mechanism of forming the
volcanoes is involved?
Carry out more research to understand better how the seamounts form
For many decades, scientists thought they understood how ozone breaks down in the stratosphere,
creating ozone holes. However, new data show significantly lower reaction rates than can be explained
by the long-held model.
What is the appropriate scientific approach for dealing with this contradiction? Conduct additional
experiments to confirm the new data
For almost 1500 years most scientists in Europe accepted Ptolemy's geocentric planetary model that
suggested the sun revolved around Earth. By the eighteenth century, most scientists supported a
heliocentric model that suggests that Earth revolves around the sun.
What is an appropriate scientific basis for this change in view? The existing theory was
changed to account for new data
A woman does pushups by lowering her body to the floor using her arms and then pressing against the
floor with her hands to push herself back up.
A woman is in a typical prone, plank position doing a push-up. She is looking at the floor. Her toes are
contacting the floor with her feet perpendicular to the floor. Her hands are flat on the floor with wrists
bent so that her forearms are perpendicular to the floor and elbows bent so that her upper arms are
parallel to the floor.
Which force causes her to rise?
The upward force that the ground exerts on the woman
Two boxes sitting on the floor look identical, but one has more mass than the other.
What happens when the same net force, sufficient to overcome static friction, is applied to each box? The
box with less mass accelerates more
MedConnoisseur © 2022
,Two identical train engines are parked on parallel tracks. One engine has ten cars attached, and the other
has no cars attached. Each engine exerts the same net force, which allows the train to overcome static
friction.
Which engine will be able to accelerate more?
The engine not pulling any cars will accelerate more
A woman applies an upward force to a basket filled with groceries. Assume she is standing still.
What will happen to the basket if the force she applies is greater than the force of gravity? The
basket will move up
A heavy truck and a light car travel at the same velocity side-by-side on the highway. Both drivers apply
the same braking force at the same moment.
What will happen to the two vehicles?
The car will slow down more quickly than the truck
Which force causes graphite from the tip of a pencil to transfer to the paper? Friction
Which force keeps Jupiter in orbit around the Sun? Gravity
Which force causes a jet airplane to stop on a runway? Friction
Which force causes meteors to burn up when they enter Earth's atmosphere? Friction
A slingshot is a Y-shaped stick with rubber bands between the prongs for shooting stones and other
small projectiles. A stone is shot by first placing it in the slingshot holder, which is attached to the
rubber bands. The stone and holder are then pulled back, stretching the rubber bands. When released,
the stone is propelled forward and leaves the slingshot at a high speed.
Which type of energy transformation occurs from the point when the rubber bands are fully stretched to
when the stone leaves the slingshot?
Elastic potential energy is converted into kinetic energy
Which type of energy conversion occurs at the moment fireworks explode? Chemical potential
energy is converted into kinetic energy
What energy conversion takes place as a box slides to a stop on a horizontal table? Kinetic energy is
converted into thermal energy
What energy conversion occurs in a car's engine?
Chemical potential energy is converted into thermal energy
MedConnoisseur © 2022
, Which kind of electromagnetic radiation carries information to and from a cell phone when it is used
for a phone call?
Microwaves
A cashier who has been handed a hundred-dollar bill may check its authenticity by holding it under a
special lamp that emits electromagnetic radiation mostly at wavelengths slightly shorter than visible
light. The electromagnetic radiation makes a pattern of previously invisible markings on the bill glow
brightly, or fluoresce.
Which kind of electromagnetic radiation does the lamp emit to produce this effect? Ultraviolet radiation
After natural disasters, first responders can locate survivors in the rubble by using thermal detectors.
Because the victims' bodies are warmer than their surroundings, the difference in temperature is detected
by electromagnetic waves.
Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is being detected? Infrared radiation
Airport security uses electromagnetic radiation to form images of objects inside passenger luggage.
Which type of electromagnetic radiation is used in this way?
X-rays
Which type of wave has a longitudinal motion? Sound waves
Which is a characteristic of electromagnetic waves? Transverse wave
motion
Which subatomic particle is located outside the nucleus? Electron
What charge does a neutron have? No charge
A chocolate chip cookie is made with dough and chocolate chips. Which type of substance
is a chocolate chip cookie?
Mixture
Which example describes a compound?
A substance with sodium atoms bonded to chlorine atoms
In which state of matter are particles close together, but able to slide past one another? Liquid
Which change of state does the image show? Solid to
liquid
MedConnoisseur © 2022
A mathematical model is used to predict the trajectory of a bullet fired from a gun. Which
discipline of physical science is used to develop this model? Physics
An environmental scientist monitors pollutants in a lake.
Which two disciplines of physical science does this scientist use? Choose 2 answers Chemistry,
Earth science
Which study involves both Earth science and physics? Calculating how much energy is associated with
a hurricane
Which question could be answered with a controlled experiment? Does ice melt faster in an empty glass
or in a glass full of water?
Which topic would be appropriate for a controlled experiment? Determining how fast different chemical
pollutants dissolve in water
Which question requires a controlled experiment to answer? Which elements are found in Earth's
atmosphere?
Sir Isaac Newton discovered that the force of gravity between two masses increases if the masses
increase, and decreases if the distance between the masses increases. No experiments have ever
contradicted this relationship.
Which type of scientific statement is this? Law
The well-accepted scientific explanation for many characteristics of Earth's crust states that the crust is
broken into several large plates. These plates move slowly over the mantle below because of convection
and other processes. Earthquakes and volcanoes are most common at places where the plates interact.
Evidence from physics, chemistry, and geology supports this explanation. Which
type of scientific idea is this explanation an example of? Theory
A student proposes that sugar will dissolve faster in rubbing alcohol than in water. The student
reasons that sugar and rubbing alcohol both contain carbon so they will mix more easily. Which
type of scientific idea is the student's proposal an example of? Hypothesis
Why was the shrinking Earth idea replaced by the theory of plate tectonics? Plate tectonics explained
observations about Earth that the shrinking Earth idea could not explain.
Astronomers have long accepted that plate tectonics exists nowhere in our solar system except on
Earth. In 2011, a scientist analyzed 100 NASA-space-mission photographs of Valles Marineris on Mars,
the longest known series of canyons in the solar system. The scientist found that Valles Marineris
showed features found only in locations on Earth where major tectonic plates divide.
MedConnoisseur © 2022
,What would be the appropriate response of scientists to this information?
Carry out further research to gain more understanding of possible plate tectonics on Mars
According to the theory of plate tectonics, volcanoes are especially likely to form
along plate boundaries because of rising magma. New satellite data mapping the ocean floor reveals
thousands of seamounts, which are small volcanoes. Some of the seamounts are in lines that could
correspond to past or present plate boundaries, but many are not aligned in this way.
How should scientists appropriately respond to the idea that some new mechanism of forming the
volcanoes is involved?
Carry out more research to understand better how the seamounts form
For many decades, scientists thought they understood how ozone breaks down in the stratosphere,
creating ozone holes. However, new data show significantly lower reaction rates than can be explained
by the long-held model.
What is the appropriate scientific approach for dealing with this contradiction? Conduct additional
experiments to confirm the new data
For almost 1500 years most scientists in Europe accepted Ptolemy's geocentric planetary model that
suggested the sun revolved around Earth. By the eighteenth century, most scientists supported a
heliocentric model that suggests that Earth revolves around the sun.
What is an appropriate scientific basis for this change in view? The existing theory was
changed to account for new data
A woman does pushups by lowering her body to the floor using her arms and then pressing against the
floor with her hands to push herself back up.
A woman is in a typical prone, plank position doing a push-up. She is looking at the floor. Her toes are
contacting the floor with her feet perpendicular to the floor. Her hands are flat on the floor with wrists
bent so that her forearms are perpendicular to the floor and elbows bent so that her upper arms are
parallel to the floor.
Which force causes her to rise?
The upward force that the ground exerts on the woman
Two boxes sitting on the floor look identical, but one has more mass than the other.
What happens when the same net force, sufficient to overcome static friction, is applied to each box? The
box with less mass accelerates more
MedConnoisseur © 2022
,Two identical train engines are parked on parallel tracks. One engine has ten cars attached, and the other
has no cars attached. Each engine exerts the same net force, which allows the train to overcome static
friction.
Which engine will be able to accelerate more?
The engine not pulling any cars will accelerate more
A woman applies an upward force to a basket filled with groceries. Assume she is standing still.
What will happen to the basket if the force she applies is greater than the force of gravity? The
basket will move up
A heavy truck and a light car travel at the same velocity side-by-side on the highway. Both drivers apply
the same braking force at the same moment.
What will happen to the two vehicles?
The car will slow down more quickly than the truck
Which force causes graphite from the tip of a pencil to transfer to the paper? Friction
Which force keeps Jupiter in orbit around the Sun? Gravity
Which force causes a jet airplane to stop on a runway? Friction
Which force causes meteors to burn up when they enter Earth's atmosphere? Friction
A slingshot is a Y-shaped stick with rubber bands between the prongs for shooting stones and other
small projectiles. A stone is shot by first placing it in the slingshot holder, which is attached to the
rubber bands. The stone and holder are then pulled back, stretching the rubber bands. When released,
the stone is propelled forward and leaves the slingshot at a high speed.
Which type of energy transformation occurs from the point when the rubber bands are fully stretched to
when the stone leaves the slingshot?
Elastic potential energy is converted into kinetic energy
Which type of energy conversion occurs at the moment fireworks explode? Chemical potential
energy is converted into kinetic energy
What energy conversion takes place as a box slides to a stop on a horizontal table? Kinetic energy is
converted into thermal energy
What energy conversion occurs in a car's engine?
Chemical potential energy is converted into thermal energy
MedConnoisseur © 2022
, Which kind of electromagnetic radiation carries information to and from a cell phone when it is used
for a phone call?
Microwaves
A cashier who has been handed a hundred-dollar bill may check its authenticity by holding it under a
special lamp that emits electromagnetic radiation mostly at wavelengths slightly shorter than visible
light. The electromagnetic radiation makes a pattern of previously invisible markings on the bill glow
brightly, or fluoresce.
Which kind of electromagnetic radiation does the lamp emit to produce this effect? Ultraviolet radiation
After natural disasters, first responders can locate survivors in the rubble by using thermal detectors.
Because the victims' bodies are warmer than their surroundings, the difference in temperature is detected
by electromagnetic waves.
Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is being detected? Infrared radiation
Airport security uses electromagnetic radiation to form images of objects inside passenger luggage.
Which type of electromagnetic radiation is used in this way?
X-rays
Which type of wave has a longitudinal motion? Sound waves
Which is a characteristic of electromagnetic waves? Transverse wave
motion
Which subatomic particle is located outside the nucleus? Electron
What charge does a neutron have? No charge
A chocolate chip cookie is made with dough and chocolate chips. Which type of substance
is a chocolate chip cookie?
Mixture
Which example describes a compound?
A substance with sodium atoms bonded to chlorine atoms
In which state of matter are particles close together, but able to slide past one another? Liquid
Which change of state does the image show? Solid to
liquid
MedConnoisseur © 2022
