Conceptual Physics

1. Clicker Questions
Chapter 1:
About Science
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2. Science is an organized body of knowledge
about nature and also a
a) guide to improving human behavior.
b) recipe for avoiding conflicts.
c) process for finding connections in nature.
d) handbook for establishing truth.
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3. Science is an organized body of knowledge
about nature and also a
a) guide to improving human behavior.
b) recipe for avoiding conflicts.
c) process for finding connections in nature.
d) handbook for establishing truth.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

4. Great advances in science occurred with the
invention of
a) books.
b) the printing press.
c) devices of torture to encourage truth.
d) religious ways of looking at things.
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5. Great advances in science occurred with the
invention of
a) books.
b) the printing press.
c) devices of torture to encourage truth.
d) religious ways of looking at things.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

6. Eratosthenes made measurements to calculate
the
a) size of Earth.
b) size of the Earth, Sun, and Moon.
c) distance between Earth and the Moon.
d) All of these.
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7. Eratosthenes made measurements to calculate
the
a) size of Earth.
b) size of the Earth, Sun, and Moon.
c) distance between Earth and the Moon.
d) All of these.
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8. The size of the Moon's shadow on Earth is
a) smaller than the size of the Moon.
b) about the same size as the Moon.
c) larger than the size of the Moon.
d) incapable of being observed.
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9. The size of the Moon's shadow on Earth is
a) smaller than the size of the Moon.
b) about the same size as the Moon.
c) larger than the size of the Moon.
d) incapable of being observed.
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10. The sizes of both the Moon and the Sun are the
same in the sky, which indicates that
a) both have the same diameters.
b) both are at about the same distance from Earth.
c) the smaller Moon is closer to Earth than the Sun.
d) both the Moon and the Sun circle Earth.
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11. The sizes of both the Moon and the Sun are the
same in the sky, which indicates that
a) both have the same diameters.
b) both are at about the same distance from Earth.
c) the smaller Moon is closer to Earth than the Sun.
d) both the Moon and the Sun circle Earth.
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12. The size of the images of the Sun on a
sidewalk beneath a sunlit tree depends on
a) the size of the openings between leaves above.
b) whether or not the openings between leaves are
circular.
c) the distance between the sidewalk and the
openings between leaves above.
d) how close the location is to the equator.
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13. The size of the images of the Sun on a
sidewalk beneath a sunlit tree depends on
a) the size of the openings between leaves above.
b) whether or not the openings between leaves are
circular.
c) the distance between the sidewalk and the
openings between leaves above.
d) how close the location is to the equator.
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14. Success in science is linked to emphasis on
a) experiments.
b) luck.
c) trial and error.
d) philosophical discussions.
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15. Success in science is linked to emphasis on
a) experiments.
b) luck.
c) trial and error.
d) philosophical discussions.
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16. The language of science is
a) mathematics.
b) Latin.
c) Chinese.
d) Arabic.
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17. The language of science is
a) mathematics.
b) Latin.
c) Chinese.
d) Arabic.
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18. Scientific equations in a conceptual course are
mainly
a) recipes for plugging in numerical data.
b) guides to thinking about the relationships
between concepts.
c) for mathematical problem solving.
d) a confusing way of explaining ideas.
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19. Scientific equations in a conceptual course are
mainly
a) recipes for plugging in numerical data.
b) guides to thinking about the relationships
between concepts.
c) for mathematical problem solving.
d) a confusing way of explaining ideas.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

20. The classic scientific method, espoused by
Galileo and Bacon, is
a) the method guaranteed to lead to scientific
discoveries.
b) one of many ways that scientific discoveries are
made.
c) today outmoded and of little value.
d) required memorization in the very best schools.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

21. The classic scientific method, espoused by
Galileo and Bacon, is
a) the method guaranteed to lead to scientific
discoveries.
b) one of many ways that scientific discoveries
are made.
c) today outmoded and of little value.
d) required memorization in the very best schools.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

22. In science, the idea of prediction is
a) part of the scientific method.
b) not as useful as when gambling or testing your
luck.
c) now outmoded.
d) contradictory to making scientific hypotheses.
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23. In science, the idea of prediction is
a) part of the scientific method.
b) not as useful as when gambling or testing your
luck.
c) now outmoded.
d) contradictory to making scientific hypotheses.
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24. A person who says, "that's only a theory" likely
doesn't know that a scientific theory is a
a) guess that involves many facts.
b) hypothesis of sorts.
c) vast synthesis of well-tested hypotheses and
facts.
d) guess that may or may not be factual.
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25. A person who says, "that's only a theory" likely
doesn't know that a scientific theory is a
a) guess that involves many facts.
b) hypothesis of sorts.
c) vast synthesis of well-tested hypotheses and
facts.
d) guess that may or may not be factual.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

26. More important than a test for proving a
hypothesis right is a test for
a) knowing full well that it is right.
b) proving more than one way that it is right.
c) proving it wrong.
d) elevating it to a scientific theory.
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27. More important than a test for proving a
hypothesis right is a test for
a) knowing full well that it is right.
b) proving more than one way that it is right.
c) proving it wrong.
d) elevating it to a scientific theory.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

28. Which of these is a scientific hypothesis (that
could be proved wrong)?
a) Atoms in proper proportions make us feel good.
b) Atoms are in all the stars in the universe.
c) An atom is the smallest bit of matter in a
material.
d) Distant galaxies have atoms not found on Earth.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

29. Which of these is a scientific hypothesis (that
could be proved wrong)?
a) Atoms in proper proportions make us feel good.
b) Atoms are in all the stars in the universe.
c) An atom is the smallest bit of matter in a
material.
d) Distant galaxies have atoms not found on Earth.
Explanation:
Statement c has, in fact, been proved wrong. Protons and
electrons, for example, are smaller than atoms.
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30. A scientific hypothesis can be disproved with
a) one reproducible experiment.
b) disapproval of other scientists.
c) many tests by many scientists.
d) philosophical reasoning.
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31. A scientific hypothesis can be disproved with
a) one reproducible experiment.
b) disapproval of other scientists.
c) many tests by many scientists.
d) philosophical reasoning.
Explanation:
Note the correct answer is an experiment that is reproducible!
Many claims are made that don't stand up under repetition.
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32. A strength of science is that scientific theories
a) are fixed.
b) can change with new data.
c) are the hypotheses of brilliant people.
d) are verifiable.
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33. A strength of science is that scientific theories
a) are fixed.
b) can change with new data.
c) are the hypotheses of brilliant people.
d) are verifiable.
Explanation:
Although d is a good answer, b is more central.
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34. A fact in science is something that
a) is forever true.
b) may change over time.
c) cannot be denied.
d) agrees with ancient records.
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35. A fact in science is something that
a) is forever true.
b) may change over time.
c) cannot be denied.
d) agrees with ancient records.
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36. Science is concerned mainly with the
a) natural world.
b) spiritual world.
c) difference between right and wrong.
d) search for eternal truths.
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37. Science is concerned mainly with the
a) natural world.
b) spiritual world.
c) difference between right and wrong.
d) search for eternal truths.
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38. Which of these can be a source of passion in
daily life?
a) Art
b) Science
c) Religion
d) Art, science, and religion
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39. Which of these can be a source of passion in
daily life?
a) Art
b) Science
c) Religion
d) Art, science, and religion
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40. Technology is mainly
a) a body of scientific knowledge.
b) a tool of science.
c) what's wrong with the world.
d) a solution to all of mankind's problems.
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41. Technology is mainly
a) a body of scientific knowledge.
b) a tool of science.
c) what's wrong with the world.
d) a solution to all of mankind's problems.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.