Physics for Poets June 20, 2002 Mail Box
Instructions: This test has the same format as before. Part A consists of short answer questions where you are to pick the best work, phrase, or choice of answers which best answers or, in some cases, defines the statement. Part B consists of longer answer questions. Make your answers clear and concise. If you need more room turn over the test paper and continue on the back but please indicate on front. For problems it is the procedure that will be checked, not only the answer, so please try to make it clear. So for this, the third poets' test of the term, Good Luck!
Declaration: I elect to do a (term paper,
lab project). Please circle. The title is
and
it (has, has not) been approved.
A. Short Answer Questions (1 ½ points each question except where noted).
1.
(2) A planet in our solar system which is characterized by a great red
spot is called ? while
a planet in our solar system which is
characterized
by its rings is called ? .
2.
(2) The two stars that form the front part of the bowl of the Big Dipper
point toward a star named ? which
does not move in the sky as night progresses (All the stars rotate around
it!). This
star
also forms the end of another constellation called ? .
3.
(3) The molecule C6H12O8
consists of ? carbon
atoms, ?
hydrogen
atoms, and ? oxygen
atoms.
4.
(4) The atom 90Sr
has ? protons
and ? neutrons
in the nucleus and ? electrons
total for
an
electrically neutral atom. Of these
electrons, there are ? in
the first shell, ? in
the second
,shell, ? in
the third shell, ? in
the fourth and shell, and ? in
the fifth shell.
5. (2) From the periodic table, pick all of the following elements that have one electron in its outer shell (a) Mg, (b) Na, (c) Sr, (d) Cs, (e) Cl, (f) S.
6. The weighted-average mass numbers of all naturally occurring isotopes of a particular element is called ? for that element.
7. Knowing the name of an element still does not allow us to know the number of protons in its nucleus (true, false).
8.
(2) A wave travels a distance of one ? in
a time of one ?
(fill
in the appropriate physical quantities).
9.
(2) REVIEW QUESTION: A physical quantity designating the time required
for a wave to undergo one complete oscillation is called ? ,
and
is in units of ? .
10.
The "domino" effect is an example of what kind of wave--transverse or longitudinal?
11. (2) A flash of lightning is seen but the thunder is not heard until 2 seconds later. The lightning struck ? away.
12.
(2) A physical quantity designating the number of waves hitting an observer
per second is called
? and
is in units of ? . (Note:
This same physical quantity is also the number of cycles per sec emitted
by a source.)
Physics 1130 - Test 3 - Page 2
13. At a condensation (or compression) the air pressure, as well as density, is ? it would be in the absence of the condensation, (a) higher than; (b) lower than; (c) the same as.
14. The mass of an object per unit volume is a description of a physical quantity called ? .
15. The number of protons plus neutrons is called ? .
16. If the distance from a condensation of a sound wave to the next successive rarefaction is 1.4 meters, what is the wavelength of the wave?
17. (2) A pulse travels the length of a 15-meter-long piece of string in 3 sec. The speed of the pulse is ? .
18. One divided by the "period" gives another physical quantity called ? .
19.
(2) REVIEW QUESTION: A person
weighing 160 lb here on the surface of the earth travels to planet X which
has a radius of 5 times that of the earth and a mass 10 times that of the
earth. The person's new weight on the surface of planet X is now ? .
20. The orbital velocity of the planet Venus is (a) greater than (b) equal to (c) less than the orbital velocity of the planet Mars.
21.
(2) REVIEW QUESTION: All planets travel in a geometric path called an ? with
the sun at one ? .
22. (+2 BONUS POINTS!!) What accounts for the fact that both Venus and Mars are much warmer that one would expect?
23.
(2) Our galaxy is called ? and
is one of 17 galaxies that make up
The
next astronomical unit which is called a ? .
24 (2) An astronomical curiosity that has an escape velocity so large that not even light can escape is called a ? .
25.
(2) The fundamental frequency of a guitar string is 256 Hz. It's second
harmonic frequency is ?
and
the frequency of its third overtone is ? .
B. Longer Answer Questions
1. (4) What causes ocean tides? Why are
there two
high (and two low) tides per day.
Physics 1130 - Test 3 - Page 3
2. (3) Explain what you would see with
a 1/4" drop of water if you
(a) magnified it 2000 times.
(b) magnified it another 2000 times.
(c) magnified it another 250 times.
3. (5) What are standing waves? What is
necessary for them to be set up in a slinky? That then are nodes and antinodes?
4. (4) Explain how one might find other
planets that make up our solar system--namely, where should one look in
the sky in order to see them? Also, why is it that at night, some planets
aren't observable? Hint: In order to answer the first part of this question,
THINK about what is special about the plane
of the earth's orbit, the plane of our solar system, and the plane
of the galaxy to which we are a part.
5. (4) Why are electron shells important
in determining how molecules are formed from atoms? Give an example of
a molecule formed from atoms by discussing the number of electrons of each
in the outer shell.
Physics 1130 - Test 3 - Page 4
6. (3) Define resonance and give an example.
7. (5) Define and distinguish between
a longitudinal wave and a transverse wave and give two examples of each.
8. (4) Explain what is meant by the term
"escape velocity." Use this concept to explain why it is that the moon
has no atmosphere, why the earth has an atmosphere of oxygen and nitrogen
but not
hydrogen and helium, and finally why the atmosphere of Saturn retains hydrogen
and helium.
9.
Discuss, using the concepts of the revolution of the earth and the inclination
of the earth on its axis, (a) (2) summer and winter for the northern hemisphere,
(b) (1) the winter solstice, (c) (1) the summer solstice, and (d) (1) the
fall or spring equinox.
10. (4) REVIEW QUESTION:State two of Kepler's
three laws and include a diagram and/or example of each case.
Physics 1130 - Test 3 - page 5
10. Please answer the following questions in this part by choosing your answer from the following list of possible choices: (½ point each blank.) (Note: Some terms may be used more than once and some not at all!)
Acropol Helium Mercury Pluto
Carbon Dioxide Hydrogen Neptune Revolution
Earth Inclination of Axes Nitrogen Rotation
Eccentricity Jupiter Oblateness Saturn
Ecliptic Mars Orbital velocity Uranus
Equatorial diameter Methane Oxygen Venus
Xenon
a) A term which can be used to best explain why we have night and day.
b) The planet whose rings can be seen through telescopes here on earth.
c) Is the closest planet to the sun.
d) Is the most massive planet.
e) Is the further-most planet from the sun.
f) Two planets which turn on their axes backward ("retrograde")
from every other planet known in our solar system.
g) The planet having the greatest orbital velocity is?
h) A planet whose moons were observed by Galileo.
i) The planet with the hottest surface is?
j) The planets which are known to have substantial amounts of
hydrogen and helium in their atmosphere are?
k) The term designating the time to make one complete cycle around the sun.
l) The term designating the time a heavenly
body takes to make one
complete turn on its own axis.
m) A term designating the plane of the earth's orbit.
n) All other planets lie very nearly in
the plane of the earth's
orbit except for one. What planet is
it?
o) The planet with the greatest volume is?
p) The planet with the least mass is?
q) The most dense planet is?
r) The planet having the largest surface gravity is?
s) The planet which has the most moons (39 moons so far) is?
t) The planet which has the second most moons (30 moons so far) is?
u) A measure of how "pancake-like" a planet (or object) is?