WGU C165 Integrated Physical Sciences -
Complete OA Exam Bank (2026/2027)
200 Questions with Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND INQUIRY (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
What does the word "Scientia" mean?
A) Wisdom
B) Knowledge
C) Science
D) Experiment
Answer: B) Knowledge
Rationale: "Scientia" is Latin for knowledge, forming the root of the word
"science," reflecting the pursuit of understanding the natural world .
Question 2
Physical sciences is the study of:
A) Living organisms
B) Non-living systems
C) Social behavior
D) Environmental policies
Answer: B) Non-living systems
Rationale: Physical sciences focus on non-living systems, including chemistry,
physics, and astronomy .
Question 3
Life science is the study of:
A) Non-living systems
B) Matter and energy
,C) Living things
D) Physical laws
Answer: C) Living things
Rationale: Life sciences study organisms, their interactions, and biological
processes, encompassing biology, ecology, and genetics .
Question 4
Which branch of physical science studies the composition, properties, and
reactions of matter?
A) Physics
B) Chemistry
C) Earth Science
D) Astronomy
Answer: B) Chemistry
Rationale: Chemistry examines matter at the atomic and molecular levels,
exploring chemical properties, reactions, and the transformations of substances .
Question 5
Which branch of life science focuses on the interactions of organisms with each
other and their environment?
A) Genetics
B) Ecology
C) Microbiology
D) Anatomy
Answer: B) Ecology
Rationale: Ecology studies the relationships between living organisms and their
environments, including populations, communities, and ecosystems .
Question 6
Which of the following is an essential attribute of science?
A) Studies supernatural phenomena
,B) Uses non-testable ideas
C) Relies on data from observations/experiments
D) Does not require peer evaluation
Answer: C) Relies on data from observations/experiments
Rationale: Essential attributes of science include studying the natural world, using
testable ideas, relying on data from observations/experiments, and presenting
findings for evaluation by other scientists .
Question 7
What is an independent variable?
A) What changes because of an independent variable
B) What you change in an experiment on purpose
C) The variable(s) you keep constant
D) The measured outcome
Answer: B) What you change in an experiment on purpose
Rationale: The independent variable is the factor that the researcher deliberately
changes or manipulates in an experiment to observe its effect .
Question 8
What is a dependent variable?
A) What you change in an experiment on purpose
B) The variable that changes because of an independent variable
C) The variable(s) you keep constant
D) The control group
Answer: B) The variable that changes because of an independent variable
Rationale: The dependent variable is the factor that responds to changes in the
independent variable and is what the researcher measures .
Question 9
What are control variables?
A) Variables that are deliberately changed
, B) Variables that are measured
C) Variables you don't want to study, need to be either eliminated or kept constant
D) Variables that change randomly
Answer: C) Variables you don't want to study, need to be either eliminated or
kept constant
Rationale: Control variables are factors that could affect the outcome but are not
the focus of the study; they must be kept constant to ensure a fair test .
Question 10
What is an observational study?
A) When researchers manipulate variables to observe effects
B) When systems are observed as they appear in nature, researchers do not attempt
to change them
C) When experiments are conducted in a laboratory
D) When only mathematical models are used
Answer: B) When systems are observed as they appear in nature, researchers
do not attempt to change them
Rationale: Observational studies involve observing systems in their natural state
without intervention or manipulation by the researcher .
Question 11
What is a physical model?
A) A model used to visualize things that cannot be seen
B) A model that treats physical objects using mathematical methods
C) A model of a physical phenomenon, such as a planetary system
D) A complex model calculated by a computer
Answer: C) A model of a physical phenomenon, such as a planetary system
Rationale: Physical models are tangible representations of physical phenomena,
like scale models of planetary systems or molecular structures .
Complete OA Exam Bank (2026/2027)
200 Questions with Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND INQUIRY (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
What does the word "Scientia" mean?
A) Wisdom
B) Knowledge
C) Science
D) Experiment
Answer: B) Knowledge
Rationale: "Scientia" is Latin for knowledge, forming the root of the word
"science," reflecting the pursuit of understanding the natural world .
Question 2
Physical sciences is the study of:
A) Living organisms
B) Non-living systems
C) Social behavior
D) Environmental policies
Answer: B) Non-living systems
Rationale: Physical sciences focus on non-living systems, including chemistry,
physics, and astronomy .
Question 3
Life science is the study of:
A) Non-living systems
B) Matter and energy
,C) Living things
D) Physical laws
Answer: C) Living things
Rationale: Life sciences study organisms, their interactions, and biological
processes, encompassing biology, ecology, and genetics .
Question 4
Which branch of physical science studies the composition, properties, and
reactions of matter?
A) Physics
B) Chemistry
C) Earth Science
D) Astronomy
Answer: B) Chemistry
Rationale: Chemistry examines matter at the atomic and molecular levels,
exploring chemical properties, reactions, and the transformations of substances .
Question 5
Which branch of life science focuses on the interactions of organisms with each
other and their environment?
A) Genetics
B) Ecology
C) Microbiology
D) Anatomy
Answer: B) Ecology
Rationale: Ecology studies the relationships between living organisms and their
environments, including populations, communities, and ecosystems .
Question 6
Which of the following is an essential attribute of science?
A) Studies supernatural phenomena
,B) Uses non-testable ideas
C) Relies on data from observations/experiments
D) Does not require peer evaluation
Answer: C) Relies on data from observations/experiments
Rationale: Essential attributes of science include studying the natural world, using
testable ideas, relying on data from observations/experiments, and presenting
findings for evaluation by other scientists .
Question 7
What is an independent variable?
A) What changes because of an independent variable
B) What you change in an experiment on purpose
C) The variable(s) you keep constant
D) The measured outcome
Answer: B) What you change in an experiment on purpose
Rationale: The independent variable is the factor that the researcher deliberately
changes or manipulates in an experiment to observe its effect .
Question 8
What is a dependent variable?
A) What you change in an experiment on purpose
B) The variable that changes because of an independent variable
C) The variable(s) you keep constant
D) The control group
Answer: B) The variable that changes because of an independent variable
Rationale: The dependent variable is the factor that responds to changes in the
independent variable and is what the researcher measures .
Question 9
What are control variables?
A) Variables that are deliberately changed
, B) Variables that are measured
C) Variables you don't want to study, need to be either eliminated or kept constant
D) Variables that change randomly
Answer: C) Variables you don't want to study, need to be either eliminated or
kept constant
Rationale: Control variables are factors that could affect the outcome but are not
the focus of the study; they must be kept constant to ensure a fair test .
Question 10
What is an observational study?
A) When researchers manipulate variables to observe effects
B) When systems are observed as they appear in nature, researchers do not attempt
to change them
C) When experiments are conducted in a laboratory
D) When only mathematical models are used
Answer: B) When systems are observed as they appear in nature, researchers
do not attempt to change them
Rationale: Observational studies involve observing systems in their natural state
without intervention or manipulation by the researcher .
Question 11
What is a physical model?
A) A model used to visualize things that cannot be seen
B) A model that treats physical objects using mathematical methods
C) A model of a physical phenomenon, such as a planetary system
D) A complex model calculated by a computer
Answer: C) A model of a physical phenomenon, such as a planetary system
Rationale: Physical models are tangible representations of physical phenomena,
like scale models of planetary systems or molecular structures .
