Phys 1010 Midterm Exam Questions
With Correct Marking Scheme 2025
/. Which of the following are fundamental SI units? - Answer-meter
kilogram
Ampere
/.Rank the SI prefixes from smallest to largest: - Answer-nano
micro
mili
centi
kilo
giga
tera
/.What determines the validity of a model? - Answer-Experimental proof, even under
limited situations
/.Which is true of significant figures? - Answer-When multiplying or dividing measured
values, final answer cannot contain more significant figures than the least precise value
/.Which analogy describes accuracy from the text? - Answer-GPS readings that are
spread out, but are centered on a bull's-eye
/.We will be using models to represent physical concepts in this course. - Answer-True
/.Match the definitions:
__3__
approximation
__2__
units
__4__
accuracy
__5__
conversion factor
__1__
uncertainty
__6__
precision
__7__
significant figures - Answer-1.
a quantitative measure of how much your measured values deviate from a standard
2.
, a standard used for expressing and comparing measurements
3.
an estimated value based on prior experience and reasoning
4.
the degree to which a measured value agrees with correct value for that measurement
5.
a ratio expressing how many of one unit are equal to another unit
6.
the degree to which repeated measurements agree with each other
7.
express the precision of a measuring tool used to measure a value
/.An infant's pulse rate is measured to be 130±5 beats/min. What is the percent
uncertainty in this measurement? - Answer-3.85%
/.Calculate the approximate number of atoms in a bacterium. Assume that the average
mass of an atom in the bacterium is ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom. (Hint: The
mass of a hydrogen atom is on the order of 10−27 kg and the mass of a bacterium is on
the order of 10−15 kg.) - Answer-10^11
/.What is the area of a circle 3.102 cm in diameter? (note: the units will be cm2, you only
need to enter the number) - Answer-7.557
/.Tectonic plates are large segments of the Earth's crust that move slowly. Suppose that
one such plate has an average speed of 4.0 cm/year. What distance does it move in 1 s
at this speed? What is its speed in kilometers per million years? - Answer-1.3 x 10^-9 m
and 40 km/My
/.The sides of a small rectangular box are measured to be 1.80±0.01 cm, 2.05±0.02 cm,
and 3.1±0.1 cm long. Calculate its volume and uncertainty in cubic centimeters. (Hint:
calculate the relative uncertainties for each side of the box - see practice problem) -
Answer-11±1 cm^3
/.What fraction of Earth's diameter is the greatest ocean depth and the greatest
mountain height? - Answer-1/1000
/.The speed of sound in air is measured to be 345 m/s on a certain day. What is this in
km/h? - Answer-1240 km/h
/.The speed of sound in water is measured to be 1485 m/s. What is this in mph? -
Answer-3322
/.If a subway train is moving to the left (has a negative velocity) and then comes to a
stop, what is the direction of its acceleration? Is the acceleration positive or negative? -
Answer-To the right. Positive.
With Correct Marking Scheme 2025
/. Which of the following are fundamental SI units? - Answer-meter
kilogram
Ampere
/.Rank the SI prefixes from smallest to largest: - Answer-nano
micro
mili
centi
kilo
giga
tera
/.What determines the validity of a model? - Answer-Experimental proof, even under
limited situations
/.Which is true of significant figures? - Answer-When multiplying or dividing measured
values, final answer cannot contain more significant figures than the least precise value
/.Which analogy describes accuracy from the text? - Answer-GPS readings that are
spread out, but are centered on a bull's-eye
/.We will be using models to represent physical concepts in this course. - Answer-True
/.Match the definitions:
__3__
approximation
__2__
units
__4__
accuracy
__5__
conversion factor
__1__
uncertainty
__6__
precision
__7__
significant figures - Answer-1.
a quantitative measure of how much your measured values deviate from a standard
2.
, a standard used for expressing and comparing measurements
3.
an estimated value based on prior experience and reasoning
4.
the degree to which a measured value agrees with correct value for that measurement
5.
a ratio expressing how many of one unit are equal to another unit
6.
the degree to which repeated measurements agree with each other
7.
express the precision of a measuring tool used to measure a value
/.An infant's pulse rate is measured to be 130±5 beats/min. What is the percent
uncertainty in this measurement? - Answer-3.85%
/.Calculate the approximate number of atoms in a bacterium. Assume that the average
mass of an atom in the bacterium is ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom. (Hint: The
mass of a hydrogen atom is on the order of 10−27 kg and the mass of a bacterium is on
the order of 10−15 kg.) - Answer-10^11
/.What is the area of a circle 3.102 cm in diameter? (note: the units will be cm2, you only
need to enter the number) - Answer-7.557
/.Tectonic plates are large segments of the Earth's crust that move slowly. Suppose that
one such plate has an average speed of 4.0 cm/year. What distance does it move in 1 s
at this speed? What is its speed in kilometers per million years? - Answer-1.3 x 10^-9 m
and 40 km/My
/.The sides of a small rectangular box are measured to be 1.80±0.01 cm, 2.05±0.02 cm,
and 3.1±0.1 cm long. Calculate its volume and uncertainty in cubic centimeters. (Hint:
calculate the relative uncertainties for each side of the box - see practice problem) -
Answer-11±1 cm^3
/.What fraction of Earth's diameter is the greatest ocean depth and the greatest
mountain height? - Answer-1/1000
/.The speed of sound in air is measured to be 345 m/s on a certain day. What is this in
km/h? - Answer-1240 km/h
/.The speed of sound in water is measured to be 1485 m/s. What is this in mph? -
Answer-3322
/.If a subway train is moving to the left (has a negative velocity) and then comes to a
stop, what is the direction of its acceleration? Is the acceleration positive or negative? -
Answer-To the right. Positive.
