PhysicsLAB MCAS Physics Exams
MCAS 2006 Session 2
Visible light passes through glass. Other types of electromagnetic radiation are able to pass through other materials in a  similar way. Which of the following are used in medical technology because they can pass through some parts of the human body?
 
A negatively charged rubber rod was brought near some small pieces of paper. The rod’s charges repelled the negative charges in the pieces. Which of the following caused the repulsion of the negative charges?
 
The Sun’s gravitational attraction causes a comet’s path to curve as shown in the illustration below.
 
 
Which of the following statements best explains the fact that the Sun does not appear to move due to the comet’s gravitational attraction?



 
Which of the following changes occurs as a solid is heated?



 
Which of the following describes the mechanical energy of a cart at rest at the top of a steep hill?



 
The figure below shows a neutral glass rod and a positively charged metal sphere.
 
 
Which of the following best describes the movement of charges as this glass rod touches the sphere?



 
What is the voltage in a circuit with a current of 3 A and a total resistance of 12 Ω ?
 
What is the frequency of ocean waves that have a speed of 18 m/s and a wavelength of 50 m?
 
The diagram shows a motor being used to lift a load with the use of a pulley.
 
 
The motor is lifting the 6 kg box at a constant velocity. How much work is done on the box to lift it 2 m? (Assume no resistance from the pulley.)
 
The diagram below represents a mass suspended vertically by a rubber band. The mass is set in motion by pulling down slightly on the mass and letting go.
 
 
Which of the following correctly identifies the up-and-down motion of the mass?
 
Which of the following must be included with magnitude to represent a vector?
 
The instructions below outline the procedure for a demonstration.
 
Materials: four 100-gram metal blocks (each of a different metal) and four polystyrene foam cups (each containing 150 grams of 10oC water)
 
Procedure:  
    1. Place the four cups of water next to each other on the lab bench.
    2. Heat each block to a temperature of 60oC.
    3. Place each heated block in a separate cup of 10oC water.
    4. Measure the temperature change in each cup of water after 100 seconds.
 
At the end of the demonstration, which block raised the temperature of the 10oC water the greatest amount?



 
The circuit diagram below shows three resistors, an ammeter, and a battery.
 
 
How much current flows through the ammeter?
 
Some campers are sitting around a campfire outside their tent. Which product of the fire is in the form of electromagnetic waves?
 
A pitcher throws a 0.15 kg baseball at 40 m/s towards the catcher. What is the momentum of the baseball while moving at 40 m/s?
 
An astronaut drops a 1.0 kg object and a 5.0 kg object on the Moon. Both objects fall a total distance of 2.0 m vertically. Which of the following best describes the objects after they have fallen a distance of 1.0 m?



 
The graph below represents changes in molecular motion in a solid plastic cylinder over time.
 
 
These changes in the molecules of the plastic cylinder must be accompanied by which of the following?
 
 
 
Open-Response Questions
  • BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
  • Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations) in your Student Answer Booklet.
  • If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.
 
 
Refer to the following information for the next three questions.

The illustration below shows a container of water on an electric hot plate. Point A is in the water close to the hot plate, and point B is in the water near the top of the container.
 
 
Electric hot plate The water in the container is at room temperature before the hot plate is turned on.
a. Describe the differences in the average motion of the water molecules at point A and at point B shortly after the hot plate is turned on. 

b. The water is heated until a thermometer placed in the center of the container reaches 100°C. Compare the average motion of the water molecules at points A and B at this temperature and explain your answer. 

c. The hot plate is then turned off. Describe the average motion of the molecules at points A and B after several hours. 

Refer to the following information for the next three questions.

The map below represents the area near the origin of an earthquake.
 
 
Earthquakes generate several different kinds of waves. Longitudinal waves are called “P” waves, and transverse waves are called “S” waves. The “P” waves have a greater velocity than the “S” waves. An earthquake occurs and these waves travel to point A.
a. Which type of wave is first to reach point A? 

b. Describe the expected movement of the ground due to the “P” waves and explain your reasoning. 

c. Describe the expected movement of the ground when the “S” waves reach point A, and explain your reasoning. 




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