RIO SALADO Physics 112 Midterm
Questions with Verified Solutions
What is the difference between kinetic and potential energy?
✔✔ Kinetic energy is the energy an object has due to its motion, while potential energy is the
energy an object has due to its position or configuration.
How does the principle of conservation of momentum apply to isolated systems?
✔✔ In an isolated system, the total momentum remains constant if no external forces act on it.
What is the role of a force in changing an object's state of motion?
✔✔ A force is required to change an object’s state of motion, either by accelerating it,
decelerating it, or changing its direction.
What is the effect of gravity on objects of different masses falling freely?
✔✔ In free fall, all objects experience the same acceleration due to gravity regardless of their
masses.
How does an object’s mass affect its acceleration when a constant force is applied?
1
,✔✔ An object’s acceleration decreases as its mass increases when a constant force is applied,
according to Newton's second law of motion.
What is the relationship between work and energy in a physical system?
✔✔ Work done on an object transfers energy to it, increasing its energy or changing its form.
What does it mean for an object to experience uniform circular motion?
✔✔ Uniform circular motion means an object is moving in a circle at a constant speed, but its
direction is continuously changing, requiring a centripetal force.
How does air resistance affect the motion of a falling object?
✔✔ Air resistance opposes the motion of a falling object, reducing its acceleration and
eventually reaching terminal velocity when it balances the force of gravity.
What is the concept of power in relation to work done over time?
✔✔ Power measures the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred over time.
What does it mean for a system to be in thermal equilibrium?
2
, ✔✔ A system is in thermal equilibrium when there is no net flow of thermal energy between its
components, meaning they are at the same temperature.
What is the concept of acceleration in physics?
✔✔ Acceleration is the rate at which an object’s velocity changes over time.
How does friction affect the motion of an object?
✔✔ Friction opposes the motion of an object, causing it to slow down or preventing it from
moving.
What is the principle of conservation of energy?
✔✔ The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed,
only transformed from one form to another.
How is work related to energy?
✔✔ Work is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force moves an object over a distance.
What is the difference between speed and velocity?
3
Questions with Verified Solutions
What is the difference between kinetic and potential energy?
✔✔ Kinetic energy is the energy an object has due to its motion, while potential energy is the
energy an object has due to its position or configuration.
How does the principle of conservation of momentum apply to isolated systems?
✔✔ In an isolated system, the total momentum remains constant if no external forces act on it.
What is the role of a force in changing an object's state of motion?
✔✔ A force is required to change an object’s state of motion, either by accelerating it,
decelerating it, or changing its direction.
What is the effect of gravity on objects of different masses falling freely?
✔✔ In free fall, all objects experience the same acceleration due to gravity regardless of their
masses.
How does an object’s mass affect its acceleration when a constant force is applied?
1
,✔✔ An object’s acceleration decreases as its mass increases when a constant force is applied,
according to Newton's second law of motion.
What is the relationship between work and energy in a physical system?
✔✔ Work done on an object transfers energy to it, increasing its energy or changing its form.
What does it mean for an object to experience uniform circular motion?
✔✔ Uniform circular motion means an object is moving in a circle at a constant speed, but its
direction is continuously changing, requiring a centripetal force.
How does air resistance affect the motion of a falling object?
✔✔ Air resistance opposes the motion of a falling object, reducing its acceleration and
eventually reaching terminal velocity when it balances the force of gravity.
What is the concept of power in relation to work done over time?
✔✔ Power measures the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred over time.
What does it mean for a system to be in thermal equilibrium?
2
, ✔✔ A system is in thermal equilibrium when there is no net flow of thermal energy between its
components, meaning they are at the same temperature.
What is the concept of acceleration in physics?
✔✔ Acceleration is the rate at which an object’s velocity changes over time.
How does friction affect the motion of an object?
✔✔ Friction opposes the motion of an object, causing it to slow down or preventing it from
moving.
What is the principle of conservation of energy?
✔✔ The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed,
only transformed from one form to another.
How is work related to energy?
✔✔ Work is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force moves an object over a distance.
What is the difference between speed and velocity?
3
