PHYS 165: PHYSICS FINAL EXAM (ACTUAL 2026/2027)
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. Which statement best describes the scientific method?
A. A systematic process used to find a solution to a problem
B. A random guess about nature
C. A fixed set of rules that never changes
D. An opinion based on personal belief
Answer: A systematic process used to find a solution to a
problem
2. __________ can be thought of collectively as objects in nature.
Answer: matter
3. A good hypothesis is one that is both _________ and ________.
Answer: plausible and testable
4. When an increase in the independent variable causes the
dependent variable to increase, this is called a(n):
Answer: direct proportion
5. Which of the following best describes a theory?
A. A single guess about a small observation
B. An explanation for patterns in nature that is supported by
scientific evidence and verified multiple times by various groups of
researchers; this is a broader explanation of larger portions of
nature
C. A law that cannot be changed
D. An untestable statement
Answer: An explanation for patterns in nature that is supported
, by scientific evidence and verified multiple times by various
groups of researchers; this is a broader explanation of larger
portions of nature
6. Which of the following is a measurement of time?
A. The meter
B. The kilogram
C. The second
D. The ampere
Answer: the second
7. Which of the following is a measurement of electric current?
A. The volt
B. The ohm
C. The ampere
D. The coulomb
Answer: the ampere
8. Which refers to the agreement of several measurements among
each other?
Answer: precise
9. How many significant figures are in 5,302,000?
Answer: 4
10. How many significant figures are in 0.05021 kg?
Answer: 4
11. How many significant figures are in 5.20×10^6 m?
Answer: 3
12. Classical physics is an excellent approximation as long as
three things are true. Which of the following statements is one of
, these three things?
A. Matter must be moving at speeds greater than the speed of
light
B. Matter must be moving at speeds less than about 1% of the
speed of light
C. Matter must be at absolute zero
D. Matter must be in a vacuum
Answer: matter must be moving at speeds less than about 1% of
the speed of light
13. Besides factors that are unique to the situation, the factors
contributing to uncertainty in a measurement include:
Answer: limitations of the measuring device, the skill of the
person making the measurement.
14. The mass of a block of wood is reported as 548 ± 21 g. What
is the percent uncertainty?
Answer: 21g/548g × 100% = 3.8321% → 3.8%
15. The time for a drag race is 17.5 s ± 8.1%. What is the
absolute uncertainty?
Answer: 17.5s × 8.1% = 1.4175 → 1.4s
16. Convert 0.7 km to meters.
Answer: 0.7km × 1000m/1km = 700m
17. Convert 7200 mg to grams.
Answer: 7200mg × 1g/1000mg = 7.2g
18. A person runs a race in 12,710 s. How many minutes is this
time?
Answer: 12,710s × 1min/60s = 211.8min
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. Which statement best describes the scientific method?
A. A systematic process used to find a solution to a problem
B. A random guess about nature
C. A fixed set of rules that never changes
D. An opinion based on personal belief
Answer: A systematic process used to find a solution to a
problem
2. __________ can be thought of collectively as objects in nature.
Answer: matter
3. A good hypothesis is one that is both _________ and ________.
Answer: plausible and testable
4. When an increase in the independent variable causes the
dependent variable to increase, this is called a(n):
Answer: direct proportion
5. Which of the following best describes a theory?
A. A single guess about a small observation
B. An explanation for patterns in nature that is supported by
scientific evidence and verified multiple times by various groups of
researchers; this is a broader explanation of larger portions of
nature
C. A law that cannot be changed
D. An untestable statement
Answer: An explanation for patterns in nature that is supported
, by scientific evidence and verified multiple times by various
groups of researchers; this is a broader explanation of larger
portions of nature
6. Which of the following is a measurement of time?
A. The meter
B. The kilogram
C. The second
D. The ampere
Answer: the second
7. Which of the following is a measurement of electric current?
A. The volt
B. The ohm
C. The ampere
D. The coulomb
Answer: the ampere
8. Which refers to the agreement of several measurements among
each other?
Answer: precise
9. How many significant figures are in 5,302,000?
Answer: 4
10. How many significant figures are in 0.05021 kg?
Answer: 4
11. How many significant figures are in 5.20×10^6 m?
Answer: 3
12. Classical physics is an excellent approximation as long as
three things are true. Which of the following statements is one of
, these three things?
A. Matter must be moving at speeds greater than the speed of
light
B. Matter must be moving at speeds less than about 1% of the
speed of light
C. Matter must be at absolute zero
D. Matter must be in a vacuum
Answer: matter must be moving at speeds less than about 1% of
the speed of light
13. Besides factors that are unique to the situation, the factors
contributing to uncertainty in a measurement include:
Answer: limitations of the measuring device, the skill of the
person making the measurement.
14. The mass of a block of wood is reported as 548 ± 21 g. What
is the percent uncertainty?
Answer: 21g/548g × 100% = 3.8321% → 3.8%
15. The time for a drag race is 17.5 s ± 8.1%. What is the
absolute uncertainty?
Answer: 17.5s × 8.1% = 1.4175 → 1.4s
16. Convert 0.7 km to meters.
Answer: 0.7km × 1000m/1km = 700m
17. Convert 7200 mg to grams.
Answer: 7200mg × 1g/1000mg = 7.2g
18. A person runs a race in 12,710 s. How many minutes is this
time?
Answer: 12,710s × 1min/60s = 211.8min
