WGU C165 OA EXAM INTEGRATED PHYSICAL SCIENCES OA ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTION BANK 400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1
Which of the following is the best definition of an element in chemistry?
A) A substance that can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
B) A substance consisting of two or more atoms chemically bonded together.
C) A pure substance consisting only of atoms that all have the same numbers of protons in
their atomic nuclei.
D) A mixture of different types of atoms.
E) A negatively charged particle found outside the nucleus.
Correct Answer: C) A pure substance consisting only of atoms that all have the
same numbers of protons in their atomic nuclei.
Rationale: An element is defined by its atomic number, which is the number of protons in its
nucleus.
Question 2
According to Newton's First Law of Motion, an object in motion will stay in motion with the
same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by:
A) Gravity
B) Friction
C) An unbalanced force
D) Air resistance
E) Its own inertia
Correct Answer: C) An unbalanced force
Rationale: Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia) states that an object at rest stays at rest and an
object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted
upon by an unbalanced force.
Question 3
Which layer of the Earth is primarily composed of molten iron and nickel and generates the
Earth's magnetic field?
A) Crust
B) Mantle
C) Outer Core
D) Inner Core
E) Lithosphere
Correct Answer: C) Outer Core
,Rationale: The outer core is liquid and composed mainly of iron and nickel. Convection
currents within this molten metal create the Earth's magnetic field.
Question 4
What is the chemical symbol for sodium?
A) So
B) S
C) Na
D) N
E) Au
Correct Answer: C) Na
Rationale: The chemical symbol for sodium is Na, derived from its Latin name, natrium.
Question 5
When a light wave passes from air into water, it changes direction. This phenomenon is called:
A) Reflection
B) Diffraction
C) Refraction
D) Interference
E) Polarization
Correct Answer: C) Refraction
Rationale: Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a
different refractive index.
Question 6
Which type of plate boundary is characterized by two plates moving towards each other, often
resulting in subduction or mountain building?
A) Divergent boundary
B) Transform boundary
C) Convergent boundary
D) Passive boundary
E) Spreading boundary
Correct Answer: C) Convergent boundary
Rationale: At a convergent boundary, two tectonic plates move toward each other. This can
lead to subduction (one plate sliding under another) or continental collision (forming mountain
ranges).
,Question 7
What is the standard unit of force in the International System of Units (SI)?
A) Kilogram (kg)
B) Meter (m)
C) Second (s)
D) Newton (N)
E) Joule (J)
**Correct Answer: D) Newton (N) **
Rationale: The Newton (N) is the SI unit of force, defined as the force required to accelerate
a mass of one kilogram by one meter per second squared.
Question 8
Which subatomic particle has a positive charge and is found in the nucleus of an atom?
A) Electron
B) Neutron
C) Proton
D) Photon
E) Ion
Correct Answer: C) Proton
Rationale: Protons are positively charged subatomic particles located in the atom's nucleus.
Question 9
The process by which heat is transferred through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) is
called:
A) Conduction
B) Convection
C) Radiation
D) Insulation
E) Absorption
Correct Answer: B) Convection
Rationale: Convection is the transfer of heat by the actual movement of a fluid (liquid or gas)
from one place to another.
Question 10
Which gas makes up the largest percentage of Earth's atmosphere?
, A) Oxygen
B) Carbon Dioxide
C) Argon
D) Nitrogen
E) Hydrogen
Correct Answer: D) Nitrogen
Rationale: Nitrogen constitutes approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere.
Question 11
What happens to the kinetic energy of an object if its speed doubles?
A) It also doubles.
B) It quadruples.
C) It halves.
D) It remains the same.
E) It decreases by half.
Correct Answer: B) It quadruples.
Rationale: Kinetic energy is given by the formula KE = 1/2 * mv². If speed (v) doubles, then v²
quadruples, so kinetic energy quadruples.
Question 12
An atom that has lost or gained electrons is called an:
A) Isotope
B) Molecule
C) Ion
D) Element
E) Compound
Correct Answer: C) Ion
Rationale: An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge due to the loss or
gain of one or more electrons.
Question 13
Which type of rock is formed from the cooling and solidification of molten magma or lava?
A) Sedimentary rock
B) Metamorphic rock
C) Igneous rock
D) Gneiss
E) Limestone
EXAM QUESTION BANK 400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1
Which of the following is the best definition of an element in chemistry?
A) A substance that can be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
B) A substance consisting of two or more atoms chemically bonded together.
C) A pure substance consisting only of atoms that all have the same numbers of protons in
their atomic nuclei.
D) A mixture of different types of atoms.
E) A negatively charged particle found outside the nucleus.
Correct Answer: C) A pure substance consisting only of atoms that all have the
same numbers of protons in their atomic nuclei.
Rationale: An element is defined by its atomic number, which is the number of protons in its
nucleus.
Question 2
According to Newton's First Law of Motion, an object in motion will stay in motion with the
same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by:
A) Gravity
B) Friction
C) An unbalanced force
D) Air resistance
E) Its own inertia
Correct Answer: C) An unbalanced force
Rationale: Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia) states that an object at rest stays at rest and an
object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted
upon by an unbalanced force.
Question 3
Which layer of the Earth is primarily composed of molten iron and nickel and generates the
Earth's magnetic field?
A) Crust
B) Mantle
C) Outer Core
D) Inner Core
E) Lithosphere
Correct Answer: C) Outer Core
,Rationale: The outer core is liquid and composed mainly of iron and nickel. Convection
currents within this molten metal create the Earth's magnetic field.
Question 4
What is the chemical symbol for sodium?
A) So
B) S
C) Na
D) N
E) Au
Correct Answer: C) Na
Rationale: The chemical symbol for sodium is Na, derived from its Latin name, natrium.
Question 5
When a light wave passes from air into water, it changes direction. This phenomenon is called:
A) Reflection
B) Diffraction
C) Refraction
D) Interference
E) Polarization
Correct Answer: C) Refraction
Rationale: Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a
different refractive index.
Question 6
Which type of plate boundary is characterized by two plates moving towards each other, often
resulting in subduction or mountain building?
A) Divergent boundary
B) Transform boundary
C) Convergent boundary
D) Passive boundary
E) Spreading boundary
Correct Answer: C) Convergent boundary
Rationale: At a convergent boundary, two tectonic plates move toward each other. This can
lead to subduction (one plate sliding under another) or continental collision (forming mountain
ranges).
,Question 7
What is the standard unit of force in the International System of Units (SI)?
A) Kilogram (kg)
B) Meter (m)
C) Second (s)
D) Newton (N)
E) Joule (J)
**Correct Answer: D) Newton (N) **
Rationale: The Newton (N) is the SI unit of force, defined as the force required to accelerate
a mass of one kilogram by one meter per second squared.
Question 8
Which subatomic particle has a positive charge and is found in the nucleus of an atom?
A) Electron
B) Neutron
C) Proton
D) Photon
E) Ion
Correct Answer: C) Proton
Rationale: Protons are positively charged subatomic particles located in the atom's nucleus.
Question 9
The process by which heat is transferred through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) is
called:
A) Conduction
B) Convection
C) Radiation
D) Insulation
E) Absorption
Correct Answer: B) Convection
Rationale: Convection is the transfer of heat by the actual movement of a fluid (liquid or gas)
from one place to another.
Question 10
Which gas makes up the largest percentage of Earth's atmosphere?
, A) Oxygen
B) Carbon Dioxide
C) Argon
D) Nitrogen
E) Hydrogen
Correct Answer: D) Nitrogen
Rationale: Nitrogen constitutes approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere.
Question 11
What happens to the kinetic energy of an object if its speed doubles?
A) It also doubles.
B) It quadruples.
C) It halves.
D) It remains the same.
E) It decreases by half.
Correct Answer: B) It quadruples.
Rationale: Kinetic energy is given by the formula KE = 1/2 * mv². If speed (v) doubles, then v²
quadruples, so kinetic energy quadruples.
Question 12
An atom that has lost or gained electrons is called an:
A) Isotope
B) Molecule
C) Ion
D) Element
E) Compound
Correct Answer: C) Ion
Rationale: An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge due to the loss or
gain of one or more electrons.
Question 13
Which type of rock is formed from the cooling and solidification of molten magma or lava?
A) Sedimentary rock
B) Metamorphic rock
C) Igneous rock
D) Gneiss
E) Limestone
