WGU C165 INTEGRATED PHYSICAL SCIENCES BEST SCORES EXAM 2025

WGU C165 INTEGRATED PHYSICAL SCIENCES BEST SCORES EXAM 2025 Physics - -the study of forces, energy, motion Chemistry - -the study of atoms and molecules, their structures, and their interactions to form substances Earth science - -the study of the earth's structure and composition, and processes that change earth Essential attributes of science - -studies the natural world Uses testable ideas Relies on data from observations/experiments Presented for evaluation by other scientists Leads to further questions/research Variables - -the changing quantities in an experiment Independent variable - -what you change in an experiment on purpose Dependent variable - -the variable that changes because of an independent variable Control variable - -the variable(s) you don't want to study, need to be either eliminated or kept constant Observational study - -when systems are observed as they appear in nature, researchers do not attempt to change them Physical model - -a model of a physical phenomenon, such as a planetary system Conceptual model - -a model used to visualize things that cannot be seen, such as atoms Mathematical model - -a model that treats physical objects/phenomena using mathematical methods Computer model - -a detailed, complex model calculated by a computer Principle of falsification - -principle that only falsifiable statements can be subject to scientific inquiry Hypothesis - -a testable statement about how something in nature works C165 WGU Law - -a concise statement that is supported by scientific evidence and repeated experiments, describes a widespread pattern in nature (what) Theory - -a statement that explains a wide range of observations, supported by a large body of scientific evidence (how/why) Meter - -base unit of length Kilogram - -base unit of mass Second - -base unit of time Kelvin - -base unit of temperature Derived units - -what is produced when the base units/quantities are combined Speed - -the name for the distance traveled divided by an interval of time Volume - -term for the amount of space an object occupies Liquid displacement - -method of determining the volume of an object by measuring the amount of liquid it displaces Direct relationship - -a relationship between two variables where increasing one increases the other, and vice versa Inverse relationship - -a relationship between two variables where increasing one decreases the other, and vice versa Velocity - -a combination of speed and direction Acceleration - -term for any change in an object's speed and/or direction Force - -term for a push or a pull with direction and magnitude. You may not feel it. Net force - -the sum of all forces acting on an object Balanced forces - -term for forces that combine to produce a net force of 0 Newton's first law - -an object in motion remains in motion unless acted on by a net force Inertia - -the tenancy to keep the same motion/velocity or remain at rest. Newton's first law C165 WGU C165 WGU C165 WGU Newton's second law - -net force = mass x acceleration (f = ma) Newton's third law - -when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts a force of the same magnitude in the opposite direction on the first object ("for every action, an equal and opposite reaction") Friction - -the force that opposes the motion of an object on which it acts Kinetic friction - -friction between two objects moving against each other Static friction - -friction between two objects touching but not moving against each other Fluid resistance - -friction when an object moves through a gas or liquid Gravity - -attractive force between objects directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their distance Linear momentum - -name for the mass of an object times its velocity Law of conservation of momentum - -term for the fact that momentum is conserved when two or more objects collide Elasticity - -the amount of bounce an object has after a collision Elastic collision - -a collision in which the total kinetic energy is conserved Inelastic collision - -a collision in which the total kinetic energy is not conserved Work - -term for the displacement of an object in the direction of an applied force by using/converting energy Energy - -the capacity to do work or cause change Kinetic energy - -the energy objects have because they are moving. Increases with mass and velocity Potential energy - -energy that is stored Formula for work - -work = force x displacement Gravitational potential energy - -energy an object has due to its height above the ground. Increases with mass and height. Chemical potential energy - -energy that is stored in the chemical bonds in a substance Elastic potential energy - -energy stored in stretched springs, rubber bands, etc. C165 WGU C165 WGU Electromagnetic energy - -energy carried by electromagnetic waves. Light energy. Thermal energy - -energy from the motion of atoms and molecules. Depends on mass and temperature Law of conservation of energy - -term for the fact that energy cannot be created/destroyed, only transferred/converted Oscillation - -a repetitive motion that occurs around a center point or equilibrium Equilibrium - -a position or state to which an oscillating object eventually returns to Wave - -a repeating and periodic disturbance (oscillation) that travels from one point to another, transferring energy Mechanical waves - -type of waves that require a medium (air, water, etc.) To travel through, cannot travel through a vaccuum Transverse wave - -wave where the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling Longitudinal wave - -wave where the oscillation occurs along the direction the wave is traveling Electromagnetic waves - -waves with both an electric and magnetic component. Can only be transverse waves and can travel through a vaccuum Compression - -region of longitudinal wave where particles are close together Expansion - -region of longitudinal wave where particles are far apart (aka rarefaction) Crest - -the highest point in a wave above equilibrium Trough - -the lowest point in a wave under equilibrium Amplitude - -the distance between a wave's equilibrium and crest/trough in a transverse wave, or how compressed/expanded the medium becomes in a longitudinal wave Wavelength - -the horizontal distance after which the wave repeats Period - -the amount of time needed for one full oscillation/one wave to pass Frequency - -number of wave oscillations in a given period of time C165 WGU C165 WGU Sound wave - -a disturbance we can hear that moves through a medium away from the source Matter - -anything that takes up space and has mass Atom - -the basic building block of matter Valence electrons - -the electrons in the outer most shell of an atom Element - -a pure substance made of only one kind of atom, defined by its proton count Atomic number - -the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom Chemical - -any substance that has a definite, fixed composition Compound - -a chemical combination of two or more different elements in a fixed ratio Chemical bonds - -the attractive forces that hold atoms together Organic compound - -compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen Inorganic compounds - -compounds that are not organic compounds Pure substance - -a chemical containing only one type of element or compound