1.1 Multiple-Choice Questions

1 Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 1 About Science

1.1 Multiple-Choice Questions

1) Science is a body of knowledge that

• describes order in nature.
• is an ongoing human activity.
• condenses knowledge into testable laws.
• all of the above
• none of the above

Answer: D

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Measurements

2) To a fair approximation, Early Greeks knew the

• size of Earth.
• size of the Moon.
• Earth-Moon distance.
• all of the above

Answer: D

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Measurements

3) When the Sun shines on the Moon, the Moon casts a shadow

• at all times.
• that is tapered.
• that sometimes falls on Earth.
• all of the above

Answer: D

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Measurements

4) Eratosthenes first learned about the position of the Sun in mid-summer by

• consulting library information.
• setting up a stick at Syene.
• setting up a stick at Alexandria.
• setting up sticks at both Syene and Alexandria.
• none of the above

Answer: A

Diff: 2

Topic: Scientific Measurements

(Conceptual Physics 12e Paul Hewitt) (Test Bank all Chapters) 1 / 4

2 Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.5) Eratosthenes' measurements of Earth's size involved

• a deep well in Syene.
• a pillar's shadow in Alexandria.
• surveying the distance between Alexandria and Syene.
• all of the above

Answer: D

Diff: 2

Topic: Scientific Measurements

6) When we see a half Moon in the sky, the lines between Earth, Moon, and Sun

• are equal in length.
• are parallel to one another.
• form a right triangle.
• all of the above

Answer: C

Diff: 2

Topic: Scientific Measurements

7) Spots of sunlight on the ground cast through openings between leaves in trees above are actually

• images of the Sun.
• part of a solar eclipse.
• due to refraction of sunlight.
• all of the above

Answer: A

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Measurements

8) A simple method of measuring the distance between the Earth and the Moon is to place in your line of sight to the Moon a

• magnifying glass.
• coin.
• telescope.
• meterstick.

Answer: B

Diff: 2

Topic: Scientific Measurements

9) The safest way to view an image of the Sun is to use

• a telescope.
• binoculars.
• a pinhole.
• colored sunglasses.

Answer: C

Diff: 2

Topic: Scientific Measurements

• / 4

3 Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.10) The scientific method is most effective in

• making hypotheses.
• gaining, organizing, and applying new knowledge.
• discovering new things.
• making theories.
• performing experiments.

Answer: B

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods

11) An educated scientific guess is a

• hypothesis.
• theory.
• either of these
• neither of these

Answer: A

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods

12) Facts in the field of science

• are absolute.
• are changeable.
• mean very little.
• are more important than theories.

Answer: B

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods

13) The synthesis of a large collection of information that contains well-tested and verified hypotheses about certain aspects of the world is known as a scientific

• fact.
• hypothesis.
• law or principle.
• theory.
• none of the above

Answer: D

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods

14) A theory in the field of science is

• an educated guess.
• less than a fact.
• a synthesis of a large body of well-tested knowledge.
• unchangeable.

Answer: C

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods 3 / 4

4 Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

15) When a dishonest scientist reports false information, he or she

• as in many other professions, will be excused by the scientific community.
• gets no second chance in the scientific community.
• is elevated in the scientific community.

Answer: B

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods

16) Which of the following is a scientific statement?

• candy Bon Bons contain no sugar
• there are things we will never know about
• matter is filled with undetectable particles
• there are parts of the universe that will never be discovered by humans
• none of the above

Answer: A

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods

17) For a scientific hypothesis to be valid, there must be a test for proving it

• right.
• wrong.
• conclusively one way or the other.

Answer: B

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods

18) The statement, "There are regions beneath Earth's crust that will always be beyond the reach of scientific investigation" is

• a fact.
• speculation.
• a hypothesis.
• a scientific statement.
• a theory.

Answer: B

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods

19) Pseudoscience is best characterized as being

• new age.
• an alternate view to be taken seriously.
• fake.
• all of the above

Answer: C

Diff: 1

Topic: Scientific Methods

• / 4