Physics Multiple Choice

Particles in a longitudinal wave move perpendicular to the direction of the wave pulse.

False

Particles in a transverse wave move parallel to the direction of the wave pulse.

False

The speed of a wave pulse depends on its shape.

False

If we increase the tension in a string (same density), a wave pulse will travel more quickly.

True

A history graph shows how one point on the wave moves over time.

True

A snapshot graph shows the shape of a wave at an instant of time.

True

A travelling wave can be described by an equation of the form f(v-xt).

False

The particle speed is the slope of the snapshot graph.

False

When a wave reflects from a fixed boundary, the reflection is upright.

False

When two wave pulses meet, the displacement of the resultant wave is the sum of the displacements of the two individual waves.

True

When a wave reflects from an open boundary, the reflection is upright.

True

When two wave pulses meet, the particle speed of the resultant wave is the sum of the particle speeds of the two individual waves.

True

The wavenumber of a harmonic wave is the distance from one peak to the next.

False

The frequency of a harmonic wave is the time it takes for the wave to repeat.

False

The standard frequency of a wave is the number of times the wave repeats its motion in one second.

True

If the phase speed is constant, increasing the frequency of a harmonic wave will also increase the wavelength.

False

There must be a node at a fixed boundary.

True

A node is a point on a standing wave that never moves.

True

A standing wave has a phase speed of v=f(lambda).

True

There must be an anti-node at a free boundary.

True

An anti-node is a point on a standing wave with the largest amplitude.

True

In a standing sound wave, pressure changes are largest where the particle displacement is largest.

False

Only certain frequencies of standing waves are possible in a closed tube.

True

Sound is a longitudinal wave.

True

A system can only have a single standing wave at a time.

False

Standing waves can only exist in one-dimension.

False

Destructive interference occurs when two waves meet in phase.

False

If the pathlength difference is 2.5lambda, then we’ll observe constructive interference.

False

If the pathlength difference is 3lambda, then we’ll observe destructive interference.

False

Interference requires that both waves have the same speed and frequency.

True

Constructive interference occurs when two waves meet half a wavelength out of phase.

False

We must draw two or more rays to find an image.

True

The angle of incidence must be smaller than the angle of reflection.

False

The angle of incidence is measured from the surface of the mirror.

False

The angle of reflection depends on the colour of the light.

False

The normal line is parallel to the surface.

False

A converging mirror has a negative focal length.

False

A diverging mirror has a positive focal length.

False

If an image is real, the image distance is positive.

True

If an image is virtual, the image distance is positive.

False

A converging mirror is also called a convex mirror.

False

A virtual image can be found on a screen.

False

When light travels from water to air, it bends away from the normal line.

True

When light travels from air to water, it bends towards the normal line.

True

Light travels at the same speed in air and water.

False

Total internal reflection can only occur when light passes from a small index of refraction to a large index of refraction.

False

If the incident angle is larger than the critical angle, light will reflect but will not be refracted.

True

A converging lens has a negative focal length.

False

A diverging lens has a negative focal length.

True

A virtual image can be found on a screen.

False

If an image is virtual, the image distance is positive.

False

A converging lens is thickest in the middle.

True

If an image is real, the image distance is negative.

False

Two positive charges will have an attractive force.

False

The Coulomb force is perpendicular to a line connecting the two charges.

False

A positive and negative charge will have an attractive force.

True

Charges can move in an insulator.

False

The Coulomb force requires two objects to be in contact.

False

The electric field vector points away from negative charges.

False

Electric field lines point from positive to negative charges.

True

The electric field is parallel or anti-parallel to the force on a test charge.

True

The electric field vector points towards positive charges.

False

The electric field has units of N/m.

False

If an electron and a proton are both placed in the same electric field, the proton will have the same acceleration (magnitude) as the electron.

False

A negative charge will accelerate in the same direction as the electric field vector.

False

A dipole in an electric field will experience a torque to align it with the field.

True

A positive charge will accelerate in the opposite direction of the electric field.

False

If an electron and a proton are both placed in the same electric field, the force on the proton will have a larger magnitude than the force on the electron.

False

Electric potential energy can be positive or negative.

True

Potential energy is a number, not a vector.

True

The electric potential energy for a proton and electron is negative.

True

The work done by the Coulomb force depends on the path taken.

False

Electric potential energy depends on 1/r^2.

False

delta KE= delta PE for a conservative force.

False

Electric potential is a vector.

False

The electric potential for a single proton is negative.

False

An electron and a proton will have the same potential energies if they’re at the same electric potential.

False

Electric potential has units of Volts/meter

False

The electric potential between a pair of oppositely charged plates depends linearly on distance from the plate.

True

A positive charge accelerates towards lower electric potential.

True

Electric field lines point from low electric potential to high electric potential.

False

An electric field line is parallel to an equipotential line.

False

If we imagine the electric potential as a landscape, electric field lines point uphill.

False

A negative charge accelerates towards higher electric potential.

True

In a 1-D system, the electric field is the negative slope of a graph of electric potential vs. position.

True

An object with a high capacitance can hold more charge than an object with a small capacitance, assuming they are both at the same electric potential.

True

If we move a pair of parallel plates closer together, their capacitance will increase.

True

Self Capacitance depends on the size and shape of an object, as well as the total charge.

False

A larger sphere will have a smaller capacitance than a smaller sphere.

False

If we insert sheets of paper between a pair of parallel plates, their capacitance will increase.

True

Resitivity depends on the size and shape of a material.

False

Current has units of C/s

True

If we follow the direction of a current across a resistor, we’ll find that the electric potential decreases.

True

Mechanical energy is conserved when current passes through a resistor.

False

Resistance is a property of a material, and does not depend on its shape.

False

If we increase the current flowing through a resistor, we should measure a larger drop in electric potential.

True

The time constant t(1/2) is the time it takes a charging capacitor to reach 63% of maximum charge.

False

The time constant for a discharging capacitor is larger than for a charging capacitor.

False

When we charge a capacitor, the current is initially small and gets larger with time.

False

When we discharge a capacitor, the current is initially large and gets smaller with time.

True