WGU C165 INTEGRATED PHYSICAL SCIENCES EXAM
2026/2027 | Verified Edition Questions and Answers |
Complete OA Prep | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Physics - Motion, Forces, and Energy (Questions 1-35)
Q1: A car suddenly stops, and the unrestrained passenger continues to move forward at
the same speed as the car before it stopped. Which scientific principle best explains
why seatbelts are necessary to prevent this?
A. Newton's Second Law of Motion (F=ma)
B. Newton's First Law of Motion (Inertia) [CORRECT]
C. Newton's Third Law of Motion (Action-Reaction)
D. The Law of Universal Gravitation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Newton's First Law states that an object in motion stays in motion unless
acted upon by an unbalanced force. The passenger has inertia and continues moving
forward; the seatbelt provides the external force to stop them. The Second Law relates
force to acceleration, and the Third Law relates action-reaction pairs, neither of which
directly explains the passenger's continued forward motion. WGU C165 Exam Tip:
"Inertia is why you need a seatbelt—it stops your body's tendency to keep doing what it
was doing."
Q2: A 10 kg box is pushed across a frictionless floor with a net force of 50 N. What is
the acceleration of the box?
A. 0.2 m/s²
B. 5 m/s²
C. 500 m/s²
D. 60 m/s² [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using Newton's Second Law, F=ma, rearranged to a = F/m. Substituting the
values gives a = 50 N / 10 kg = 5 m/s². 500 m/s² is the result of multiplying mass and
force, and 0.2 m/s² is the result of dividing force by the wrong value or miscalculation.
WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Always divide Force by mass for acceleration; never multiply
them."
Q3: A rocket engine expels gas downward with a strong force. According to Newton's
Third Law, what is the equal and opposite reaction?
A. The rocket's weight decreases.
B. The gas pushes upward on the rocket. [CORRECT]
C. Air resistance pushes the rocket forward.
,D. Gravity pulls the rocket downward.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Newton's Third Law states for every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction. The action is the rocket pushing gas down; the reaction is the gas pushing the
rocket up. Weight decreasing is due to fuel loss, not an action-reaction pair. WGU C165
Exam Tip: "Action-reaction pairs always act on two different objects (rocket and gas)."
Q4: A runner completes a 5 km race in exactly 25 minutes, finishing at the exact starting
line. What are the runner's average speed and average velocity?
A. Speed is 0.2 km/min, velocity is 0.2 km/min.
B. Speed is 0 km/min, velocity is 0.2 km/min.
C. Speed is 0.2 km/min, velocity is 0 km/min. [CORRECT]
D. Speed is 0 km/min, velocity is 0 km/min.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Speed is a scalar quantity calculated as total distance divided by time (5 km /
25 min = 0.2 km/min). Velocity is a vector quantity calculated as displacement (change
in position) divided by time. Since the runner finished at the starting line, displacement
is zero, making velocity zero. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Velocity cares about direction and
final position; speed only cares about the path taken."
Q5: A position-time graph shows a straight, diagonal line slanting downward from the
top left to the bottom right. What does this indicate about the object's motion?
A. The object is moving at a constant positive velocity.
B. The object is accelerating.
C. The object is moving at a constant negative velocity. [CORRECT]
D. The object is at rest.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: On a position-time graph, the slope represents velocity. A straight line
indicates constant velocity. A downward (negative) slope indicates motion in the
negative direction relative to the reference point. A flat line means at rest, and a curved
line means acceleration. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Straight line on a position-time graph =
constant velocity; downward slope = moving backwards."
Q6: A velocity-time graph shows a horizontal line above the zero axis. What does this
indicate?
A. The object is moving at a constant positive acceleration.
B. The object is moving at a constant positive velocity. [CORRECT]
C. The object is at rest.
D. The object is slowing down.
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: On a velocity-time graph, the value on the y-axis is the velocity, and the slope
represents acceleration. A horizontal line has a slope of zero, meaning zero
acceleration (constant velocity). Being above the zero axis means the velocity is
positive. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "No slope on a velocity-time graph means no
acceleration; read the velocity straight off the y-axis."
Q7: A bicycle accelerates from rest to 12 m/s in 4 seconds. What is its average
acceleration?
A. 3 m/s² [CORRECT]
B. 48 m/s²
C. 8 m/s²
D. 16 m/s²
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Acceleration is the change in velocity divided by time: (12 m/s - 0 m/s) / 4 s =
3 m/s². 48 m/s² is the result of multiplying velocity and time, which is incorrect. WGU
C165 Exam Tip: "Acceleration formula: Final minus Initial, divided by Time."
Q8: In a vacuum, a heavy bowling ball and a light feather are dropped from the same
height at the same time. Which object hits the ground first?
A. The bowling ball, because it has more mass.
B. The feather, because heavier objects are pulled less by gravity.
C. They hit the ground at the exact same time. [CORRECT]
D. The bowling ball, because gravity acts stronger on heavier objects.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In a vacuum, there is no air resistance. All objects in free fall accelerate at
the same rate due to gravity (9.8 m/s²) regardless of their mass. This is a common
misconception where people believe heavier objects fall faster. WGU C165 Exam Tip:
"Mass does not dictate free-fall speed in a vacuum; gravity accelerates everything
equally at 9.8 m/s²."
Q9: A ball is thrown straight upward with an initial velocity of 20 m/s. Ignoring air
resistance, what is the ball's velocity at the very peak of its flight?
A. 20 m/s
B. 9.8 m/s
C. 0 m/s [CORRECT]
D. -9.8 m/s
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: At the peak of its trajectory, a vertically thrown object momentarily stops
before reversing direction and accelerating back down. Therefore, its instantaneous
velocity is 0 m/s. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Peak height equals zero velocity for a split
second."
, Q10: A hunter fires a bullet perfectly horizontally from a rifle at the exact same moment
a second bullet is dropped from the same height. Ignoring air resistance, which bullet
hits the ground first?
A. The fired bullet, because it travels faster.
B. The dropped bullet, because it has a shorter path.
C. They hit the ground at the exact same time. [CORRECT]
D. The fired bullet, because the gun adds downward force.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Horizontal and vertical motions are independent. Both bullets have the exact
same initial vertical velocity (0 m/s) and experience the exact same vertical acceleration
due to gravity (9.8 m/s²). Therefore, they fall the same vertical distance in the same
amount of time. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Horizontal speed does not affect falling time;
gravity only cares about the vertical drop."
Q11: In a projectile motion scenario, at what point in the trajectory is the vertical velocity
equal to zero?
A. At the launch point
B. At the highest point [CORRECT]
C. Just before impact
D. Halfway between the highest point and impact
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The vertical velocity decreases as the projectile rises against gravity,
becoming exactly zero for an instant at the maximum height, before increasing again in
the downward direction. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Vertical velocity is zero only at the
absolute peak."
Q12: A box is pulled across a rough floor with a force of 50 N to the right. Friction acts
against the box with a force of 20 N to the left. What is the net force acting on the box?
A. 70 N to the right
B. 30 N to the right [CORRECT]
C. 30 N to the left
D. 70 N to the left
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Net force is the vector sum of all forces acting on an object. Since they are in
opposite directions, subtract the smaller force from the larger: 50 N - 20 N = 30 N. The
direction is that of the larger force (right). WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Net force = Big force
minus Small force, in the direction of the Big force."
Q13: You push a heavy crate, but it does not move. Which of the following statements is
true?
A. The pushing force is greater than static friction.
2026/2027 | Verified Edition Questions and Answers |
Complete OA Prep | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Physics - Motion, Forces, and Energy (Questions 1-35)
Q1: A car suddenly stops, and the unrestrained passenger continues to move forward at
the same speed as the car before it stopped. Which scientific principle best explains
why seatbelts are necessary to prevent this?
A. Newton's Second Law of Motion (F=ma)
B. Newton's First Law of Motion (Inertia) [CORRECT]
C. Newton's Third Law of Motion (Action-Reaction)
D. The Law of Universal Gravitation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Newton's First Law states that an object in motion stays in motion unless
acted upon by an unbalanced force. The passenger has inertia and continues moving
forward; the seatbelt provides the external force to stop them. The Second Law relates
force to acceleration, and the Third Law relates action-reaction pairs, neither of which
directly explains the passenger's continued forward motion. WGU C165 Exam Tip:
"Inertia is why you need a seatbelt—it stops your body's tendency to keep doing what it
was doing."
Q2: A 10 kg box is pushed across a frictionless floor with a net force of 50 N. What is
the acceleration of the box?
A. 0.2 m/s²
B. 5 m/s²
C. 500 m/s²
D. 60 m/s² [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using Newton's Second Law, F=ma, rearranged to a = F/m. Substituting the
values gives a = 50 N / 10 kg = 5 m/s². 500 m/s² is the result of multiplying mass and
force, and 0.2 m/s² is the result of dividing force by the wrong value or miscalculation.
WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Always divide Force by mass for acceleration; never multiply
them."
Q3: A rocket engine expels gas downward with a strong force. According to Newton's
Third Law, what is the equal and opposite reaction?
A. The rocket's weight decreases.
B. The gas pushes upward on the rocket. [CORRECT]
C. Air resistance pushes the rocket forward.
,D. Gravity pulls the rocket downward.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Newton's Third Law states for every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction. The action is the rocket pushing gas down; the reaction is the gas pushing the
rocket up. Weight decreasing is due to fuel loss, not an action-reaction pair. WGU C165
Exam Tip: "Action-reaction pairs always act on two different objects (rocket and gas)."
Q4: A runner completes a 5 km race in exactly 25 minutes, finishing at the exact starting
line. What are the runner's average speed and average velocity?
A. Speed is 0.2 km/min, velocity is 0.2 km/min.
B. Speed is 0 km/min, velocity is 0.2 km/min.
C. Speed is 0.2 km/min, velocity is 0 km/min. [CORRECT]
D. Speed is 0 km/min, velocity is 0 km/min.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Speed is a scalar quantity calculated as total distance divided by time (5 km /
25 min = 0.2 km/min). Velocity is a vector quantity calculated as displacement (change
in position) divided by time. Since the runner finished at the starting line, displacement
is zero, making velocity zero. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Velocity cares about direction and
final position; speed only cares about the path taken."
Q5: A position-time graph shows a straight, diagonal line slanting downward from the
top left to the bottom right. What does this indicate about the object's motion?
A. The object is moving at a constant positive velocity.
B. The object is accelerating.
C. The object is moving at a constant negative velocity. [CORRECT]
D. The object is at rest.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: On a position-time graph, the slope represents velocity. A straight line
indicates constant velocity. A downward (negative) slope indicates motion in the
negative direction relative to the reference point. A flat line means at rest, and a curved
line means acceleration. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Straight line on a position-time graph =
constant velocity; downward slope = moving backwards."
Q6: A velocity-time graph shows a horizontal line above the zero axis. What does this
indicate?
A. The object is moving at a constant positive acceleration.
B. The object is moving at a constant positive velocity. [CORRECT]
C. The object is at rest.
D. The object is slowing down.
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: On a velocity-time graph, the value on the y-axis is the velocity, and the slope
represents acceleration. A horizontal line has a slope of zero, meaning zero
acceleration (constant velocity). Being above the zero axis means the velocity is
positive. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "No slope on a velocity-time graph means no
acceleration; read the velocity straight off the y-axis."
Q7: A bicycle accelerates from rest to 12 m/s in 4 seconds. What is its average
acceleration?
A. 3 m/s² [CORRECT]
B. 48 m/s²
C. 8 m/s²
D. 16 m/s²
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Acceleration is the change in velocity divided by time: (12 m/s - 0 m/s) / 4 s =
3 m/s². 48 m/s² is the result of multiplying velocity and time, which is incorrect. WGU
C165 Exam Tip: "Acceleration formula: Final minus Initial, divided by Time."
Q8: In a vacuum, a heavy bowling ball and a light feather are dropped from the same
height at the same time. Which object hits the ground first?
A. The bowling ball, because it has more mass.
B. The feather, because heavier objects are pulled less by gravity.
C. They hit the ground at the exact same time. [CORRECT]
D. The bowling ball, because gravity acts stronger on heavier objects.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In a vacuum, there is no air resistance. All objects in free fall accelerate at
the same rate due to gravity (9.8 m/s²) regardless of their mass. This is a common
misconception where people believe heavier objects fall faster. WGU C165 Exam Tip:
"Mass does not dictate free-fall speed in a vacuum; gravity accelerates everything
equally at 9.8 m/s²."
Q9: A ball is thrown straight upward with an initial velocity of 20 m/s. Ignoring air
resistance, what is the ball's velocity at the very peak of its flight?
A. 20 m/s
B. 9.8 m/s
C. 0 m/s [CORRECT]
D. -9.8 m/s
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: At the peak of its trajectory, a vertically thrown object momentarily stops
before reversing direction and accelerating back down. Therefore, its instantaneous
velocity is 0 m/s. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Peak height equals zero velocity for a split
second."
, Q10: A hunter fires a bullet perfectly horizontally from a rifle at the exact same moment
a second bullet is dropped from the same height. Ignoring air resistance, which bullet
hits the ground first?
A. The fired bullet, because it travels faster.
B. The dropped bullet, because it has a shorter path.
C. They hit the ground at the exact same time. [CORRECT]
D. The fired bullet, because the gun adds downward force.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Horizontal and vertical motions are independent. Both bullets have the exact
same initial vertical velocity (0 m/s) and experience the exact same vertical acceleration
due to gravity (9.8 m/s²). Therefore, they fall the same vertical distance in the same
amount of time. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Horizontal speed does not affect falling time;
gravity only cares about the vertical drop."
Q11: In a projectile motion scenario, at what point in the trajectory is the vertical velocity
equal to zero?
A. At the launch point
B. At the highest point [CORRECT]
C. Just before impact
D. Halfway between the highest point and impact
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The vertical velocity decreases as the projectile rises against gravity,
becoming exactly zero for an instant at the maximum height, before increasing again in
the downward direction. WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Vertical velocity is zero only at the
absolute peak."
Q12: A box is pulled across a rough floor with a force of 50 N to the right. Friction acts
against the box with a force of 20 N to the left. What is the net force acting on the box?
A. 70 N to the right
B. 30 N to the right [CORRECT]
C. 30 N to the left
D. 70 N to the left
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Net force is the vector sum of all forces acting on an object. Since they are in
opposite directions, subtract the smaller force from the larger: 50 N - 20 N = 30 N. The
direction is that of the larger force (right). WGU C165 Exam Tip: "Net force = Big force
minus Small force, in the direction of the Big force."
Q13: You push a heavy crate, but it does not move. Which of the following statements is
true?
A. The pushing force is greater than static friction.
