Physical Science Concept Inventory

Questions 1 & 2 are about the evidence for the “Big Bang” theory of the birth of the universe.  Each dot on the graph below is a plot of the velocity of a galaxy moving away from Earth versus how far away the galaxy is from Earth.  

1. What is the relationship between the galaxy velocity and distance from Earth?

  A. The farther away the galaxy, the slower the galaxy is moving.

  B. The farther away the galaxy, the faster the galaxy is moving.

  C. The distance and velocity are not related to each other.

 

2. In order to determine the velocity of a galaxy, scientists measure the wavelength of light coming from the galaxy and compare this with the expected wavelength of light.

Would the wavelength of light from a galaxy moving away from Earth be longer (more spread out), shorter (more compacted), or the same?

  A. Longer

  B. Shorter

  C. Same

3. Which BEST describes the movement, over millions of years, of the plates that make up Earth's surface ?

  A. They moved for millions of years but have now stopped.

  B. They stayed the same for millions of years but are now moving.

  C. They have been continually moving.

  D. They have never moved.

 

4. Jennifer and Katie stand and lean on each other. Jennifer weighs 150 pounds (1050 Newtons) and Katie weighs 120 pounds (1020 Newtons).

Which one pushes harder on the other?

  A. It depends on whether Jennifer or Katie moves. 

  B. Jennifer pushes harder because she weighs more.

  C. Katie must push harder because she weighs less and has to compensate for having less weight. 

  D. Jennifer and Katie push on each other with the same size force because force pairs are always equal. 

  

5. This question is about the orbit of the Earth around the Sun.  In the diagram below, we have shown the orbit of the Earth as a circle.  It is winter in Seattle when the Earth is at the position as shown in the diagram.

What position on the orbit is the Earth when it is summertime in Seattle? 

  A. X

  B. Y

  C. Z

 

6. Sound can have a high pitch (e.g., whistle) or a low pitch (e.g., base drum).  Which of the following characteristics of sound waves changes when the pitch changes?

  A. Frequency

  B. Speed

  C. Amplitude

  D. All of the above

 

7. The stars are much farther from Earth than the other planets in our Solar System. How do astronomers know that some stars are farther away than others?

  A. Astronomers measure how long the light from the star has been traveling.

  B. Stars that are closer show a greater parallax shift than more distant stars. 

  C. Stars that are brighter are always closer than dimmer stars.

  D. Astronomers have sent space probes to some of the stars.

Questions 8, 9, and 10 are about atoms and parts of atoms.  We cannot see inside an atom.  However, we have evidence about the parts of the atom from how atoms interact with each other.   From this evidence, we can represent atoms of different elements with drawings.   Below is a drawing of a neutral beryllium atom.

8. Which statement best describes the charge of the nucleus within this neutral beryllium atom?

  A. The nucleus is positively charged.

  B. The nucleus is negatively charged.

  C. The nucleus is neutral.

 

9. Beryllium (Be) is in the box numbered 4 on the periodic table shown.  Which element would have 5 protons?

  A. Nitrogen

  B. Boron (B)

  C. Carbon (C)

  D. Magnesium (Mg)

10. The table shown describes four atoms or ions.   Are any of the four in the list the same element?

     A. W and X are the same element.

    B. X and Z are the same element

     C. W and Y are the same element

     D. None are the same element

11. What happens when a neutral atom gains an electron?

  A. A new element is formed.

  B. An ion is formed.

  C. A molecule is formed.

  D. A proton will be added.

 

12. John moves a heavy box across the gym floor.   The graph below shows the net force (sum of all the forces) on a block for 6 minutes while the block is moving.  

During which time period  was the block moving at constant speed? 

  A. From t = 0 min to t = 2 min

  B. From t = 2 min to t = 4 min

  C. From t = 4 min to t = 6 min

  D. Never

 

Questions 13 and 14 are about a bounced ball.  The ball is made of rubber and is a little squishy when you squeeze it.  When the ball is dropped from a height of 2 meters, the ball falls to the ground and then bounces back up to a height of 1.7 meters. 

At the position labeled “Start,” the ball has zero speed.  At position W, the ball is moving down and is half-way to the ground.  At position X, the ball is on the ground and has zero speed.  At position Y, the ball is 1 meter above the ground and moving up.  At the position labeled “End,” the ball has zero speed.

13. What form(s) of energy does the ball have at position Y?

  A. Kinetic energy

  B. Gravitational potential energy

  C. Both kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy

  D. Neither

 

14. How does the kinetic energy of the ball at position W (on the way down) compare with the kinetic energy of the ball at position Y (same height, but on the way back up)?

  A. The kinetic energy at W is larger than at Y.

  B. The kinetic energy at W is smaller than at Y.

  C. The kinetic energy is the same at both positions.

 

 15. A speed versus time graph of a skateboarder is shown below.

Calculate the acceleration of the skateboarder during the first two seconds? 

  A. 2 m/s/s

  B. 3 m/s/s

  C. 4 m/s/s

  D. 6 m/s/s

  E. The skateboarder is not accelerating

 

16. Two forces are applied to a 2.0 kilogram block on a frictionless horizontal surface, as shown in the diagram below.

What is the acceleration of the block?

  A. 1.5 m/s2 to the right 

  B. 2.5 m/s2 to the right 

  C. 2.5 m/s2 to the left 

  D. 4.0 m/s2 to the left

  E. 5.5 m/sec2 to the left 

 

17. Calculate the average velocity of the object shown on the graph below during the time interval from 3 to 9 seconds.

  A. -3.0 m/s

  B. -0.5 m/s

  C. 0.33 m/s

  D. 2.0 m/s

 18. A 10-kilogram ball rolls at constant velocity of 4 meters/second.

What is the kinetic energy of the ball? (Energy is measured in units called joules.)

  A. 4 joules

  B. 10 joules

  C. 16 joules

  D. 20 joules

  E. 40 joules

  F. 80 joules

  G. 160 joules

Questions 19 and 20 are about a candle.  When the wick is first lit, the wax melts from the heat energy in the flame.  After the wax turns to liquid, the wax travels up the wick to the flame and combusts (burns) with the oxygen from the air.  The candle burns for 4 hours before there is no wax left to travel up the wick and burn.  The before and after pictures of the candle are shown below. 

19. Which of the steps described in the scenario is a chemical change?

  A. Melting wax.

  B. Burning wax.

  C. Both melting and burning are chemical changes.

  D. Neither melting or burning are chemical changes.

 20. Water is one of the substances produced when wax burns.  Is water an element or a compound?

  A. Both an element and a compound

  B. An element

  C. A compound

21. Radio waves and gamma rays are both examples of electromagnetic waves.  These waves are at opposite ends of the electromagnetic wave spectrum. 

Which characteristics of electromagnetic waves are different at opposite ends of the spectrum?

  A. Frequency

  B. Speed

  C. Amplitude

  D. Frequency and speed

  E. Frequency and amplitude

  F. Frequency, speed, and amplitude

 

22. A ball is dropped and bounces several times. Each bounce is a little lower than the previous one. 

 Why does the ball never bounce above the original drop height?

(h0 shows the height of the original drop.)

  A. The ball is not bouncy enough.

  B. The ball would have gained energy.

  C. The initial height is too great.

  D. The energy of the ball is being used up as it bounces.

Answer Key

Standard Question (Cognitive Demand) Correct Answer

9-11 PS1A 17 (CU) B

9-11 PS1B 15 (R&A) A

9-11 PS1C 12 (CU) C

9-11 PS1D 16 (CU) C

9-11 PS1E 4 (CU) D

9-11 PS1F None available

9-11 PS2A 8 (CU) A

9-11 PS2B 10 (CU) B

9-11 PS2C 9 (R&A) B

9-11 PS2D 11 (FK) B

9-11 PS2E 20 CU) C

9-11 PS2G 19 (CU) B

9-11 PS3A 22 (CU) B

9-11 PS3B 14 (R&A) A

9-11 PS3C 13 (CU) C

9-11 PS3D 6 (CU) A

9-11 PS3E 21 (FK) A

9-11 ES1A 7 (CU) B

9-11 ES1B 1 (R&A) B

9-11 ES1B 2 (FK) A

9-11 ES2A 5 (CU) B

9-11 ES2B None available

9-11 ES3A 3 (FK) C

Cognitive Demand: FK – Factual KnowledgeCU – Conceptual UnderstandingR&A – Reasoning and Analysis