We are warmed by condensation because water molecules in the air that strike our bodies

We are warmed by condensation because water molecules in the air that strike our bodies

A) transfer some of their kinetic energy to us.
B) gain kinetic energy as they change state.
C) form an insulating layer on our bodies.

Answer: A

Hydrogen and oxygen molecules in a gas sample have the same temperature. This means the hydrogen molecules, on the average, have the same

Hydrogen and oxygen molecules in a gas sample have the same temperature. This means the hydrogen molecules, on the average, have the same

A) speed and the same kinetic energy.
B) speed, but more kinetic energy.
C) speed, but less kinetic energy.
D) kinetic energy, but more speed.
E) kinetic energy, but less speed.

Answer: D

Waves emitted by the sun and terrestrial wave emissions are

Waves emitted by the sun and terrestrial wave emissions are

A) the same except for their frequencies and wavelengths.
B) entirely different kinds of waves.
C) identical.

Answer: A

If a solid object radiates more energy than it absorbs, its

If a solid object radiates more energy than it absorbs, its

A) internal energy increases
B) internal energy decreases.

Answer: B

Energy transfer by convection is primarily restricted to

Energy transfer by convection is primarily restricted to

A) solids.
B) liquids.
C) gases.
D) fluids.
E) none of these

Answer: D

A good heat conductor is

A good heat conductor is

A) a poor insulator.
B) a good insulator.
C) neither a poor nor a good insulator.





Answer: A

Substances absorb heat energy by the process of

Substances absorb heat energy by the process of

A) conduction.
B) convection.
C) radiation.
D) all of these

Answer: D

Pour a liter of water at 40 degrees C into a liter of water at 20 degrees C and the final temperature of the two becomes

Pour a liter of water at 40 degrees C into a liter of water at 20 degrees C and the final temperature of the two becomes

A) less than 30 degrees C.
B) at or about 30 degrees C.
C) more than 30 degrees C.

Answer: B

The fact that desert sand is very hot in the day and very cold at night is evidence that sand has

The fact that desert sand is very hot in the day and very cold at night is evidence that sand has

A) a low specific heat.
B) a high specific heat.
C) no specific heat.

Answer: A

Room temperature on the Kelvin scale is about

Room temperature on the Kelvin scale is about

A) 100 K.
B) 200 K.
C) 300 K.
D) 400 K.
E) more than 400 K.

Answer: C

Aluminum has a specific heat capacity more than twice that of copper. Place equal masses of aluminum and copper wire in a flame and the one to undergo the fastest increase in temperature will be

Aluminum has a specific heat capacity more than twice that of copper. Place equal masses of aluminum and copper wire in a flame and the one to undergo the fastest increase in temperature will be

A) copper.
B) aluminum.
C) both the same







Answer: A

Consider a sample of water at 0 degrees C. If the temperature is slightly increased, the volume of the water

Consider a sample of water at 0 degrees C. If the temperature is slightly increased, the volume of the water

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) remains the same.





Answer: B

Before ice can form on a lake, all the water in the lake must be cooled to

Before ice can form on a lake, all the water in the lake must be cooled to

A) zero degrees C.
B) 4 degrees C.
C) minus 32 degrees C.
D) None of the above. Ice can form at the surface regardless of the water temperature below.

Answer: B

The ideal efficiency for a heat engine operating between temperatures of 2700 K and 300 K is

The ideal efficiency for a heat engine operating between temperatures of 2700 K and 300 K is

A) 10%.
B) 24%.
C) 80%.
D) 89%.








Answer: D

On a chilly 10-degree-C day, your friend who likes cold weather, wishes it were twice as cold (half as hot). Taken literally, this temperature would be

On a chilly 10-degree-C day, your friend who likes cold weather, wishes it were twice as cold (half as hot). Taken literally, this temperature would be

A) -131.5 degrees C
B) -141.5 degrees C
C) 10 degrees C
D) 0 degrees C
E) 5 degrees C

Answer: A

As a blob of air at a high elevation sinks to a lower elevation with no heat input or output, its temperature

As a blob of air at a high elevation sinks to a lower elevation with no heat input or output, its temperature

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) remains the same.







Answer: A

One hundred joules of heat is added to a system that performs 60 joules of work. The internal energy change of the system is

One hundred joules of heat is added to a system that performs 60 joules of work. The internal energy change of the system is

A) 0 J.
B) 40 J.
C) 60 J.
D) 100 J.





Answer: B

Adiabatic processes occur

Adiabatic processes occur

A) only in the atmosphere.
B) only in the oceans
C) only in the Earth's mantle.
D) in both the atmosphere and the oceans
E) in the atmosphere, oceans and the Earth's mantle.

Answer: E

The Earth's atmosphere gets most of its heat

The Earth's atmosphere gets most of its heat

A) near the surface of the Earth.
B) at high altitudes closer to the sun.
C) from the Earth's core.

Answer: A

Blow on your hand with your open mouth and you feel the warmth of your breath. Pucker your lips so your breath expands as you blow and your breath is

Blow on your hand with your open mouth and you feel the warmth of your breath. Pucker your lips so your breath expands as you blow and your breath is

A) warmer still.
B) cooler.
C) neither warmer nor cooler.






Answer: B

To totally convert a given amount of mechanical energy into heat is

To totally convert a given amount of mechanical energy into heat is

A) possible.
B) impossible.

Answer: A

A temperature inversion occurs when the upper layers of air are

A temperature inversion occurs when the upper layers of air are

A) warmer than the lower regions of air.
B) cooler than the lower regions of air.
C) at the same temperature as lower regions of air.

Answer: A

To wholly convert a given amount of heat energy into mechanical energy is

To wholly convert a given amount of heat energy into mechanical energy is

A) possible using a steam engine.
B) possible using an atomic reactor.
C) possible using a simple machine.
D) impossible regardless of the technique used.

Answer: D

A volume of air has a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius. An equal volume of air that is twice as hot has a temperature of

A volume of air has a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius. An equal volume of air that is twice as hot has a temperature of

A) 0 degrees C.
B) 64 degrees C.
C) 100 degrees C.
D) 273 degrees C.







Answer: D

The lowest temperature possible in nature is

The lowest temperature possible in nature is

A) 0 degrees C.
B) -273 degrees C.
C) 4 K.

Answer: B

When a block of ice at zero degrees Celsius melts, the ice

When a block of ice at zero degrees Celsius melts, the ice

A) absorbs energy from its environment.
B) releases energy to its environment.
C) absorbs energy and gets warmer.
D) releases energy and gets warmer.
E) absorbs energy but does not change its temperature.

Answer: A

When snow forms in clouds, the surrounding air

When snow forms in clouds, the surrounding air

A) warms.
B) cools.
C) neither warms nor cools.

Answer: A

Water will evaporate quicker if it

Water will evaporate quicker if it

A) choices C,D,E are all correct
B) One or two of the choices below are not correct
C) is spread out in a thin sheet
D) is preheated to 100 degrees C
E) is surrounded by hot air

Answer: A

For increased atmospheric pressure, the boiling temperature of a liquid

For increased atmospheric pressure, the boiling temperature of a liquid

A) goes down.
B) goes up.
C) remains at 100 degrees C.

Answer: B

When heat is added to boiling water, its temperature

When heat is added to boiling water, its temperature

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) does not change.

Answer: C

Evaporation is a cooling process because

Evaporation is a cooling process because

A) heat is radiated during the process.
B) of conduction and convection.
C) the more energetic molecules are able to escape the liquid.
D) the temperature of the remaining liquid decreases.
E) none of these

Answer: C

The molecules in a room-temperature glass of water jostle around at

The molecules in a room-temperature glass of water jostle around at

A) a great variety of speeds.
B) much the same rates of speed.
C) a very small range of speeds.

Answer: A

A good absorber of radiation is a

A good absorber of radiation is a

A) poor emitter of radiation
B) good emitter of radiation
C) good reflector
D) none of these

Answer: B

Double the absolute temperature of helium gas and the average speed of its molecules

Double the absolute temperature of helium gas and the average speed of its molecules

A) less than doubles.
B) doubles.
C) more than doubles.

Answer: A

If a volume of air is warmed, it expands. If a volume of air expands, it

If a volume of air is warmed, it expands. If a volume of air expands, it

A) warms.
B) cools.
C) neither warms nor cools.

Answer: B

Both black and white road surfaces absorb sunlight. At the end of a sunny day the warmer road surface will be

Both black and white road surfaces absorb sunlight. At the end of a sunny day the warmer road surface will be

A) the black surface.
B) the white surface.
C) Neither - there is no difference.

Answer: A

Newton's law of cooling applies to objects that are

Newton's law of cooling applies to objects that are

A) cooling.
B) heating.
C) both of these
D) none of these








Answer: C

If you double the pressure of an ideal gas while keeping the temperature constant the average kinetic energy of the molecules

If you double the pressure of an ideal gas while keeping the temperature constant the average kinetic energy of the molecules

A) increases by more than twice
B) increases by less than twice
C) remains unchanged
D) is doubled

Answer: C

The planet Earth loses heat mainly by

The planet Earth loses heat mainly by

A) conduction.
B) convection.
C) radiation.
D) all of these








Answer: C

An object will normally be a net radiator of energy when its temperature is

An object will normally be a net radiator of energy when its temperature is

A) higher than its surroundings.
B) lower than its surroundings.
C) neither of these

Answer: A

At the same temperature, which move with the greater speed in the air?

At the same temperature, which move with the greater speed in the air?

A) very light molecules
B) heavier molecules
C) All will have equal average speeds.

Answer: A

If you measure a plot of land with a brass tape on a cold day, the actual amount of land you have will be

If you measure a plot of land with a brass tape on a cold day, the actual amount of land you have will be

A) smaller than measured.
B) larger than measured.
C) the same.

The temperature at the bottom of Lake Tahoe, high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, at this moment is

The temperature at the bottom of Lake Tahoe, high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, at this moment is

A) below 4 degrees C.
B) 4 degrees C.
C) above 4 degrees C.
D) uncertain.






Answer: B

When water at 4 degrees C is heated it expands. When water at 4 degrees C is cooled, it

When water at 4 degrees C is heated it expands. When water at 4 degrees C is cooled, it

A) contracts.
B) expands.
C) neither contracts nor expands.

Answer: B

Consider a closed, sealed can of air placed on a hot stove. The contained air undergoes an increase in

Consider a closed, sealed can of air placed on a hot stove. The contained air undergoes an increase in

A) mass.
B) pressure.
C) temperature.
D) two of these



Answer: D

If glass expanded more than mercury, then the column of mercury in a mercury thermometer would rise when the temperature

If glass expanded more than mercury, then the column of mercury in a mercury thermometer would rise when the temperature

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) neither of these

Answer: B

When an iron ring is heated, the hole becomes

When an iron ring is heated, the hole becomes

A) smaller.
B) larger.
C) neither smaller nor larger.
D) either smaller or larger, depending on the ring thickness.

Answer: B

Ice tends to form first at the

Ice tends to form first at the

A) surface of bodies of water.
B) bottom of bodies of water.
C) surface or bottom depending on the water depth.

Answer: A

Microscopic slush in water tends to make the water density

Microscopic slush in water tends to make the water density

A) greater.
B) less.
C) no change

Answer: B

Compared to a giant iceberg, a hot cup of coffee has

Compared to a giant iceberg, a hot cup of coffee has

A) more internal energy and higher temperature.
B) higher temperature, but less internal energy.
C) a greater specific heat and more internal energy.
D) none of these

Answer: B

The moderate temperatures of islands throughout the world has much to do with water's

The moderate temperatures of islands throughout the world has much to do with water's

A) poor conductivity.
B) vast supply of internal energy.
C) high specific heat.
D) high evaporation rate.
E) absorption of solar energy.





Answer: C

The fact that a thermometer "takes its own temperature" illustrates

The fact that a thermometer "takes its own temperature" illustrates

A) thermal equilibrium.
B) energy conservation.
C) the difference between heat and internal energy.
D) the fact that molecules are constantly moving.

Answer: A

The ideal efficiency for a heat engine operating between the temperatures of 227 degrees C and 27 degrees C is

The ideal efficiency for a heat engine operating between the temperatures of 227 degrees C and 27 degrees C is

A) 20%.
B) 25%.
C) 40%.
D) 88%.







Answer: C

Consider a piece of metal that is at 10 degrees C. If it is heated until it has twice the internal energy, its temperature will be

Consider a piece of metal that is at 10 degrees C. If it is heated until it has twice the internal energy, its temperature will be

A) 20 degrees C.
B) 273 degrees C.
C) 293 degrees C.
D) 566 degrees C.









Answer: C