WGU C165
Integrated Physical Sciences
Physics OA
Exam Readiness
Practice Test & Study Guide
Use this Document to pass
I Was able to score exemplary on the
Exam with this.
Constitute over 80% of the Objective
Assessment (OA).
,Explain what is meant by the physical sciences. How are they
different from life sciences?
Which disciplines make up the physical sciences?
Physical science studies nonliving systems, as opposed to life science,
which studies living systems. Physics, chemistry, and earth and space
sciences are all physical sciences.
Your friend goes to a rock concert and the next day tells you
enthusiastically that it was the best music ever made. Can your
friend's claim be studied using the methods of science?
No
Yes
No
Your friend's claim was based on an individual opinion or taste in music,
and therefore, it cannot be studied using the methods of science.
In general, metal wires expand when they are heated. To test this, you
heat a piece of wire and then measure how much the wire's length
changed as a result of the temperature change. In this experiment,
what is the wire's temperature?
Independent Variable
Since you change the temperature in order to observe the effect on the
wire's length, the temperature is the independent variable.
. A student records the rising and setting times of the moon each day
for a month.
,Observational study
Controlled experiment
This is an observational study since the student has no control over the
rising and setting of the moon.
Scientists at a volcano observatory continuously monitor the ground
movements and volcanic gas chemistry between and during
eruptions.
Controlled experiment
Observational study
Observational study
Variables in observational studies are controlled by the forces of nature. In
this case, these are the movement of magma and Earth's crust.
A group of students sprinkle salt onto one of two burning candles and
record the color of the two flames.
Controlled experiment
Observational study
Controlled Experiment
The students are choosing the variable, which in this case is the salt,
meaning they can manipulate variables.
When scientists want to determine the hardness of minerals, they use
a test called the Mohs test. An experimenter trying to identify a
mineral will scratch the surface with a set of tools of various hardness
and then analyze the results against charts.
Observational study
Controlled experiment
controlled Experiment
A controlled experiment means that the variables are controlled by the
, scientist, who in this case is the mineralogist, who knows what to test and
what variables to manipulate to answer the question.
The first evidence that light has a finite speed and does not travel
from place to place instantaneously came in the 17th century from
observations that Jupiter's moons appear later when Jupiter is farther
from Earth as compared to when Jupiter is closer to Earth. This
phenomenon was used to show that the difference in the time of
appearance of the moons is consistent with a measurable speed.
What is this is an example of?
A controlled experiment
A laboratory experiment
An observational study
Observational study
The researchers were observing a natural occurrence and did not have any
control over it.
What is an example of a laboratory study?
Scientists combine two organic substances in a test tube and
measure the amount of product that forms.
Scientists notice there are fewer fish in a lake, so they measure the
pH of the pond water to check for any pollutants.
Scientists climb on top of a mountain to study how a rock formation
originated.
Scientists in Tokyo measure the speed of seismic waves propagating
from below Arkansas through the Earth's crust.
Scientists combine two organic substances in a test tube and measure the
amount of product that forms.
Integrated Physical Sciences
Physics OA
Exam Readiness
Practice Test & Study Guide
Use this Document to pass
I Was able to score exemplary on the
Exam with this.
Constitute over 80% of the Objective
Assessment (OA).
,Explain what is meant by the physical sciences. How are they
different from life sciences?
Which disciplines make up the physical sciences?
Physical science studies nonliving systems, as opposed to life science,
which studies living systems. Physics, chemistry, and earth and space
sciences are all physical sciences.
Your friend goes to a rock concert and the next day tells you
enthusiastically that it was the best music ever made. Can your
friend's claim be studied using the methods of science?
No
Yes
No
Your friend's claim was based on an individual opinion or taste in music,
and therefore, it cannot be studied using the methods of science.
In general, metal wires expand when they are heated. To test this, you
heat a piece of wire and then measure how much the wire's length
changed as a result of the temperature change. In this experiment,
what is the wire's temperature?
Independent Variable
Since you change the temperature in order to observe the effect on the
wire's length, the temperature is the independent variable.
. A student records the rising and setting times of the moon each day
for a month.
,Observational study
Controlled experiment
This is an observational study since the student has no control over the
rising and setting of the moon.
Scientists at a volcano observatory continuously monitor the ground
movements and volcanic gas chemistry between and during
eruptions.
Controlled experiment
Observational study
Observational study
Variables in observational studies are controlled by the forces of nature. In
this case, these are the movement of magma and Earth's crust.
A group of students sprinkle salt onto one of two burning candles and
record the color of the two flames.
Controlled experiment
Observational study
Controlled Experiment
The students are choosing the variable, which in this case is the salt,
meaning they can manipulate variables.
When scientists want to determine the hardness of minerals, they use
a test called the Mohs test. An experimenter trying to identify a
mineral will scratch the surface with a set of tools of various hardness
and then analyze the results against charts.
Observational study
Controlled experiment
controlled Experiment
A controlled experiment means that the variables are controlled by the
, scientist, who in this case is the mineralogist, who knows what to test and
what variables to manipulate to answer the question.
The first evidence that light has a finite speed and does not travel
from place to place instantaneously came in the 17th century from
observations that Jupiter's moons appear later when Jupiter is farther
from Earth as compared to when Jupiter is closer to Earth. This
phenomenon was used to show that the difference in the time of
appearance of the moons is consistent with a measurable speed.
What is this is an example of?
A controlled experiment
A laboratory experiment
An observational study
Observational study
The researchers were observing a natural occurrence and did not have any
control over it.
What is an example of a laboratory study?
Scientists combine two organic substances in a test tube and
measure the amount of product that forms.
Scientists notice there are fewer fish in a lake, so they measure the
pH of the pond water to check for any pollutants.
Scientists climb on top of a mountain to study how a rock formation
originated.
Scientists in Tokyo measure the speed of seismic waves propagating
from below Arkansas through the Earth's crust.
Scientists combine two organic substances in a test tube and measure the
amount of product that forms.
