Physics for Scientists and
Engineers FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS||100%
GUARANTEED PASS||UPDATED
2026/2027 SYLLABUS||ALREADY
GRADED A+||<<LATEST VERSION>>
Which of the following cannot possibly be accelerating?
An object moving with a constant speed
An object moving with a constant velocity
An object moving along a curve - ANSWER ✓ B.
An object moving with constant velocity has Δv = 0, so, according to the definition
of acceleration, a = Δv/Δt = 0. Choice (1) is not correct because a particle can
move at a constant speed and change direction. This possibility also makes (3) an
incorrect choice.
Consider the following controls in an automobile: gas pedal, brake, steering
wheel. The controls in this list that cause an acceleration of the car are
all three controls
the gas pedal and the brake
only the brake
only the gas pedal - ANSWER ✓ A.
Because acceleration occurs whenever the velocity changes in any way - with an
increase or decrease in speed, a change in direction, or both - all three controls are
accelerators. The gas pedal causes the car to speed up; the brake pedal causes the
car to slow down. The steering wheel changes the direction of the velocity vector.
Suppose you are running at constant velocity and you wish to throw a ball such
that you will catch it as it comes back down. In what direction should you throw
the ball relative to you?
,straight up
at an angle to the ground that depends on your running speed
in the forward direction - ANSWER ✓ A.
You should simply throw it straight up in the air. Because the ball is moving along
with you, it will follow a parabolic trajectory with a horizontal component of
velocity that is the same as yours.
As a projectile thrown upward moves in its parabolic path, such as in the figure
below, at what point along its path are the velocity and acceleration vectors for the
projectile perpendicular to each other?
nowhere
the highest point
the launch point - ANSWER ✓ B.
At only one point - the peak of the trajectory - are the velocity and acceleration
vectors perpendicular to each other. The velocity vector is horizontal at that point
and the acceleration vector is downward.
As the projectile in the figure below moves along its path, at what point are the
velocity and acceleration vectors for the projectile parallel to each other?
nowhere
the highest point
the launch point - ANSWER ✓ A.
The acceleration vector is always directed downward. The velocity vector is never
vertical if the object follows a path such as that in the figure.
Which of the following correctly describes the centripetal acceleration vector for a
particle moving in a circular path?
constant and always perpendicular to the velocity vector for the particle
constant and always parallel to the velocity vector for the particle
,of constant magnitude and always perpendicular to the velocity vector for the
particle
of constant magnitude and always parallel to the velocity
vector for the particle - ANSWER ✓ C.
We cannot choose (1) or (2) because the centripetal acceleration vector is not
constant - it continuously changes in direction. Of the remaining choices, only (3)
gives the correct perpendicular relationship between ac and v.
A particle moves in a circular path of radius r with speed v. It then increases its
speed to 2v while traveling along the same circular path. The centripetal
acceleration of the particle has changed by a factor of
0.25
0.5
2
4
impossible to determine - ANSWER ✓ D.
Because the centripetal acceleration is proportional to the square of the speed,
doubling the speed increases the acceleration by a factor of 4.
A particle moves along a path and its speed increases with time. In which of the
following cases are its acceleration and velocity vectors parallel?
the path is circular
the path is straight
the path is a parabola
never - ANSWER ✓ The velocity vector is tangent to the path. If the acceleration
vector is to be parallel to the velocity vector, it must also be tangent to the path.
This requires that the acceleration vector have no component perpendicular to the
path. If the path were to change direction, the acceleration vector would have a
radial component, perpendicular to the path. Thus, the path must remain straight.
A particle moves along a path and its speed increases with time. In which of the
following cases are its acceleration and velocity vectors perpendicular everywhere
along the path?
, the path is circular
the path is straight
the path is a parabola
never - ANSWER ✓ D.
The velocity vector is tangent to the path. If the acceleration vector is to be
perpendicular to the velocity vector, it must have no component tangent to the
path. On the other hand, if the speed is changing, there must be a component of the
acceleration tangent to the path. Thus, the velocity and acceleration vectors are
never perpendicular in this situation. They can only be perpendicular if there is no
change in the speed.
A passenger, observer A, in a car traveling at a constant horizontal velocity of
magnitude 60 mi/h pours a cup of coffee for the tired driver. Observer B stands on
the side of the road and watches the pouring process through the window of the car
as it passes. Which observer(s) sees a parabolic path for the coffee as it moves
through the air?
A
B
both A and B
neither A nor B - ANSWER ✓ Both A and B
Passenger A sees the coffee pouring in a "normal" parabolic path, just as if she
were standing on the ground pouring it. The stationary observer B sees the coffee
moving in a parabolic path that is extended horizontally due to the constant
horizontal velocity of 60 mi/h.
Which of the following statements is most correct?
It is possible to have forces on an object in the absence of motion of the object.
It is possible to no forces on an object in the presence of motion of the object.
Neither (a) nor (b) is correct.
Both (a) and (b) are correct. - ANSWER ✓ D
Engineers FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS||100%
GUARANTEED PASS||UPDATED
2026/2027 SYLLABUS||ALREADY
GRADED A+||<<LATEST VERSION>>
Which of the following cannot possibly be accelerating?
An object moving with a constant speed
An object moving with a constant velocity
An object moving along a curve - ANSWER ✓ B.
An object moving with constant velocity has Δv = 0, so, according to the definition
of acceleration, a = Δv/Δt = 0. Choice (1) is not correct because a particle can
move at a constant speed and change direction. This possibility also makes (3) an
incorrect choice.
Consider the following controls in an automobile: gas pedal, brake, steering
wheel. The controls in this list that cause an acceleration of the car are
all three controls
the gas pedal and the brake
only the brake
only the gas pedal - ANSWER ✓ A.
Because acceleration occurs whenever the velocity changes in any way - with an
increase or decrease in speed, a change in direction, or both - all three controls are
accelerators. The gas pedal causes the car to speed up; the brake pedal causes the
car to slow down. The steering wheel changes the direction of the velocity vector.
Suppose you are running at constant velocity and you wish to throw a ball such
that you will catch it as it comes back down. In what direction should you throw
the ball relative to you?
,straight up
at an angle to the ground that depends on your running speed
in the forward direction - ANSWER ✓ A.
You should simply throw it straight up in the air. Because the ball is moving along
with you, it will follow a parabolic trajectory with a horizontal component of
velocity that is the same as yours.
As a projectile thrown upward moves in its parabolic path, such as in the figure
below, at what point along its path are the velocity and acceleration vectors for the
projectile perpendicular to each other?
nowhere
the highest point
the launch point - ANSWER ✓ B.
At only one point - the peak of the trajectory - are the velocity and acceleration
vectors perpendicular to each other. The velocity vector is horizontal at that point
and the acceleration vector is downward.
As the projectile in the figure below moves along its path, at what point are the
velocity and acceleration vectors for the projectile parallel to each other?
nowhere
the highest point
the launch point - ANSWER ✓ A.
The acceleration vector is always directed downward. The velocity vector is never
vertical if the object follows a path such as that in the figure.
Which of the following correctly describes the centripetal acceleration vector for a
particle moving in a circular path?
constant and always perpendicular to the velocity vector for the particle
constant and always parallel to the velocity vector for the particle
,of constant magnitude and always perpendicular to the velocity vector for the
particle
of constant magnitude and always parallel to the velocity
vector for the particle - ANSWER ✓ C.
We cannot choose (1) or (2) because the centripetal acceleration vector is not
constant - it continuously changes in direction. Of the remaining choices, only (3)
gives the correct perpendicular relationship between ac and v.
A particle moves in a circular path of radius r with speed v. It then increases its
speed to 2v while traveling along the same circular path. The centripetal
acceleration of the particle has changed by a factor of
0.25
0.5
2
4
impossible to determine - ANSWER ✓ D.
Because the centripetal acceleration is proportional to the square of the speed,
doubling the speed increases the acceleration by a factor of 4.
A particle moves along a path and its speed increases with time. In which of the
following cases are its acceleration and velocity vectors parallel?
the path is circular
the path is straight
the path is a parabola
never - ANSWER ✓ The velocity vector is tangent to the path. If the acceleration
vector is to be parallel to the velocity vector, it must also be tangent to the path.
This requires that the acceleration vector have no component perpendicular to the
path. If the path were to change direction, the acceleration vector would have a
radial component, perpendicular to the path. Thus, the path must remain straight.
A particle moves along a path and its speed increases with time. In which of the
following cases are its acceleration and velocity vectors perpendicular everywhere
along the path?
, the path is circular
the path is straight
the path is a parabola
never - ANSWER ✓ D.
The velocity vector is tangent to the path. If the acceleration vector is to be
perpendicular to the velocity vector, it must have no component tangent to the
path. On the other hand, if the speed is changing, there must be a component of the
acceleration tangent to the path. Thus, the velocity and acceleration vectors are
never perpendicular in this situation. They can only be perpendicular if there is no
change in the speed.
A passenger, observer A, in a car traveling at a constant horizontal velocity of
magnitude 60 mi/h pours a cup of coffee for the tired driver. Observer B stands on
the side of the road and watches the pouring process through the window of the car
as it passes. Which observer(s) sees a parabolic path for the coffee as it moves
through the air?
A
B
both A and B
neither A nor B - ANSWER ✓ Both A and B
Passenger A sees the coffee pouring in a "normal" parabolic path, just as if she
were standing on the ground pouring it. The stationary observer B sees the coffee
moving in a parabolic path that is extended horizontally due to the constant
horizontal velocity of 60 mi/h.
Which of the following statements is most correct?
It is possible to have forces on an object in the absence of motion of the object.
It is possible to no forces on an object in the presence of motion of the object.
Neither (a) nor (b) is correct.
Both (a) and (b) are correct. - ANSWER ✓ D
