WGU C165 Integrated Physical Sciences OA Exam
1. A scientist is studying the effect of sunlight on plant growth. What is the independent
variable in this experiment?
A) Plant height
B) Amount of sunlight
C) Soil type
D) Water intake
Answer: B) Amount of sunlight
2. A researcher uses a mathematical equation to calculate gravitational forces between
celestial bodies. What type of model is this?
A) Physical model
B) Conceptual model
C) Mathematical model
D) Computer model
Answer: C) Mathematical model
3. Why is a laboratory experiment usually preferred over a field study?
A) It allows for more precise measurement of variables
B) It allows you to change only one variable at a time
C) It is less expensive
D) It provides more accurate data
Answer: B) It allows you to change only one variable at a time
4. Which physical science is most suited for studying tectonic plates?
A) Chemistry
B) Physics
C) Earth science
D) Zoology
Answer: C) Earth science
5. Auroras are bursts of light that happen when charged particles from the sun interact
with Earth's magnetic field and atoms and molecules in our atmosphere. Which physical
science is best suited to explain the interactions of the charged particles with Earth's
magnetic field?
A) Life science
B) Physics
C) Chemistry
Answer: B) Physics
,6. The physical science that is best for finding the best locations to drill for the petroleum
used to make candles is:
A) Earth Science
B) Physics
C) Chemistry
Answer: A) Earth Science
7. The science best for studying how hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide react is:
A) Chemistry
B) Physics
C) Earth Science
Answer: A) Chemistry
8. What is the smallest unit of an element that retains the properties of that element?
A) Molecule
B) Atom
C) Ion
D) Compound
Answer: B) Atom
9. Which type of bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms?
A) Ionic bond
B) Covalent bond
C) Metallic bond
D) Hydrogen bond
Answer: B) Covalent bond
10. What is the charge of a proton?
A) Negative
B) Neutral
C) Positive
D) Variable
Answer: C) Positive
11. Which law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed?
A) Law of Conservation of Mass
B) Law of Conservation of Energy
C) Newton’s First Law
D) Law of Universal Gravitation
Answer: B) Law of Conservation of Energy
,12. What type of reaction absorbs heat from the surroundings?
A) Exothermic
B) Endothermic
C) Combustion
D) Neutralization
Answer: B) Endothermic
13. Which of the following is a physical change?
A) Burning wood
B) Rusting iron
C) Melting ice
D) Baking a cake
Answer: C) Melting ice
14. What is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth’s surface?
A) 9.8 m/s²
B) 10 m/s²
C) 9.8 km/s²
D) 1 m/s²
Answer: A) 9.8 m/s²
15. Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?
A) Radio waves
B) Visible light
C) X-rays
D) Gamma rays
Answer: D) Gamma rays
16. What is the pH of a neutral solution?
A) 0
B) 7
C) 14
D) 1
Answer: B) 7
17. Which gas is most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?
A) Oxygen
B) Nitrogen
C) Carbon dioxide
, D) Argon
Answer: B) Nitrogen
18. What is the main source of energy for the water cycle?
A) Wind
B) Sunlight
C) Gravity
D) Earth's core heat
Answer: B) Sunlight
19. Which subatomic particle has negligible mass and a negative charge?
A) Proton
B) Neutron
C) Electron
D) Positron
Answer: C) Electron
20. What is the chemical formula for water?
A) H2O
B) CO2
C) O2
D) H2SO4
Answer: A) H2O
21. Which process describes a solid turning directly into a gas?
A) Melting
B) Condensation
C) Sublimation
D) Evaporation
Answer: C) Sublimation
22. What is the term for the amount of matter in an object?
A) Weight
B) Mass
C) Volume
D) Density
Answer: B) Mass
23. Which of the following is a compound?
A) Oxygen gas (O2)
B) Water (H2O)
1. A scientist is studying the effect of sunlight on plant growth. What is the independent
variable in this experiment?
A) Plant height
B) Amount of sunlight
C) Soil type
D) Water intake
Answer: B) Amount of sunlight
2. A researcher uses a mathematical equation to calculate gravitational forces between
celestial bodies. What type of model is this?
A) Physical model
B) Conceptual model
C) Mathematical model
D) Computer model
Answer: C) Mathematical model
3. Why is a laboratory experiment usually preferred over a field study?
A) It allows for more precise measurement of variables
B) It allows you to change only one variable at a time
C) It is less expensive
D) It provides more accurate data
Answer: B) It allows you to change only one variable at a time
4. Which physical science is most suited for studying tectonic plates?
A) Chemistry
B) Physics
C) Earth science
D) Zoology
Answer: C) Earth science
5. Auroras are bursts of light that happen when charged particles from the sun interact
with Earth's magnetic field and atoms and molecules in our atmosphere. Which physical
science is best suited to explain the interactions of the charged particles with Earth's
magnetic field?
A) Life science
B) Physics
C) Chemistry
Answer: B) Physics
,6. The physical science that is best for finding the best locations to drill for the petroleum
used to make candles is:
A) Earth Science
B) Physics
C) Chemistry
Answer: A) Earth Science
7. The science best for studying how hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide react is:
A) Chemistry
B) Physics
C) Earth Science
Answer: A) Chemistry
8. What is the smallest unit of an element that retains the properties of that element?
A) Molecule
B) Atom
C) Ion
D) Compound
Answer: B) Atom
9. Which type of bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms?
A) Ionic bond
B) Covalent bond
C) Metallic bond
D) Hydrogen bond
Answer: B) Covalent bond
10. What is the charge of a proton?
A) Negative
B) Neutral
C) Positive
D) Variable
Answer: C) Positive
11. Which law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed?
A) Law of Conservation of Mass
B) Law of Conservation of Energy
C) Newton’s First Law
D) Law of Universal Gravitation
Answer: B) Law of Conservation of Energy
,12. What type of reaction absorbs heat from the surroundings?
A) Exothermic
B) Endothermic
C) Combustion
D) Neutralization
Answer: B) Endothermic
13. Which of the following is a physical change?
A) Burning wood
B) Rusting iron
C) Melting ice
D) Baking a cake
Answer: C) Melting ice
14. What is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth’s surface?
A) 9.8 m/s²
B) 10 m/s²
C) 9.8 km/s²
D) 1 m/s²
Answer: A) 9.8 m/s²
15. Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?
A) Radio waves
B) Visible light
C) X-rays
D) Gamma rays
Answer: D) Gamma rays
16. What is the pH of a neutral solution?
A) 0
B) 7
C) 14
D) 1
Answer: B) 7
17. Which gas is most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?
A) Oxygen
B) Nitrogen
C) Carbon dioxide
, D) Argon
Answer: B) Nitrogen
18. What is the main source of energy for the water cycle?
A) Wind
B) Sunlight
C) Gravity
D) Earth's core heat
Answer: B) Sunlight
19. Which subatomic particle has negligible mass and a negative charge?
A) Proton
B) Neutron
C) Electron
D) Positron
Answer: C) Electron
20. What is the chemical formula for water?
A) H2O
B) CO2
C) O2
D) H2SO4
Answer: A) H2O
21. Which process describes a solid turning directly into a gas?
A) Melting
B) Condensation
C) Sublimation
D) Evaporation
Answer: C) Sublimation
22. What is the term for the amount of matter in an object?
A) Weight
B) Mass
C) Volume
D) Density
Answer: B) Mass
23. Which of the following is a compound?
A) Oxygen gas (O2)
B) Water (H2O)
