Chapter 1: Systems of Measurement

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

1. Which of the following is a fundamental unit of the SI system of units?
A) kilometer B) joule C) kilogram D) gram E) newton
Ans: C

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

2. The prefix "giga" means
A) 1012 B) 106 C) 103 D) 109 E) 1015
Ans: D

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

3. Which of the following is NOT one of the fundamental physical quantities in the
SI system?
A) mass
B) length
C) force
D) time
E) All of these are fundamental physical quantities in the SI system.
Ans: C

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

4. The prefix "mega" means
A) 102 B) 109 C) 10–3 D) 106 E) 10–6
Ans: D

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

5. The prefix "pico" means
A) 10–12 B) 10–6 C) 10–3 D) 106 E) 109
Ans: A

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

6. The prefix "micro" means
A) 10–12 B) 10–6 C) 10–3 D) 10–2 E) 10–1
Ans: B

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

7. The prefix "milli" means
A) 10–12 B) 10–6 C) 10–3 D) 10–2 E) 10–1
Ans: C

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

8. The prefix "centi" means
A) 10–12 B) 10–6 C) 10–3 D) 10–2 E) 10–1
Ans: D

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

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 Chapter 1: Systems of Measurement

9. The prefix "kilo" means

A) 1012 B) 108 C) 106 D) 103 E) 101
Ans: D

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

10. The prefix "nano" means
A) 10–12 B) 10–6 C) 10–3 D) 10–2 E) None of these is correct.
Ans: E

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

11. Which of the following prefixes does NOT represent a fractional part of a whole
unit?
A) nano B) micro C) kilo D) milli E) deci
Ans: C

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

12. Which of the following prefixes does NOT represent a quantity larger than a
single unit?
A) kilo B) mega C) giga D) tera E) femto
Ans: E

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

13. Which of the following is NOT one of the fundamental units in the SI system?
A) newton
B) meter
C) kilogram
D) second
E) All of the above are fundamental units in the SI system.
Ans: A

Section:  1-1 Topic:  Units Type:  Factual

14. The fundamental physical quantities are
A) mass, length, time, temperature, amount of a substance, current, and luminous
intensity.
B) weight, length, time, temperature, amount of a substance, current, and luminous
intensity.
C) mass, length, time, temperature, force, current, and luminous intensity.
D) mass, length, time, force, momentum, amount of a substance, and current.
E) weight, length, time, temperature, amount of a substance, potential energy, and
luminous intensity.
Ans: A

Section:  1-2 Topic:  Conversion of Units Type:  Numerical

15. The density of seawater was measured to be 1.07 g/cm3. This density in SI
units is
A) l.07  10–3 kg/m3 D) 1.07  10–3 kg

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 Chapter 1: Systems of Measurement

B) (1/1.07)  103 kg/m3 E) 1.07  103 kg/m3

C) 1.07  103 kg
Ans: E

Section:  1-2 Topic:  Conversion of Units Type:  Numerical

16. To convert a quantity from km/h to m/s, you must
A) multiply by 1000 and divide by 60. D) multiply by 3600 and divide by 1000.
B) multiply by 1000 and divide by 3600. E) None of these is correct.
C) multiply by 60 and divide by 1000.
Ans: B

Section:  1-2 Topic:  Conversion of Units Type:  Numerical

17. To convert a quantity from m/s to km/h, you must
A) multiply by 1000 and divide by 60. D) multiply by 3600 and divide by 1000.
B) multiply by 1000 and divide by 3600. E) None of these is correct.
C) multiply by 60 and divide by 1000.
Ans: D

Section:  1-2 Topic:  Conversion of Units Type:  Numerical

18. To convert a quantity from km/(hr · s) to m/s2, you must
A) multiply by 1000 and divide by 60. D) multiply by 3600 and divide by 1000.
B) multiply by 60 and divide by 3600. E) None of these is correct.
C) multiply by 60 and divide by 1000.
Ans: E

Section:  1-2 Topic:  Conversion of Units Type:  Numerical

19. To convert a quantity from g/cm3 to kg/m3, you must
A) multiply by 0.01. D) multiply by 0.001.
B) multiply by 100. E) multiply by 1,000,000.
C) multiply by 1000.
Ans: C

Section:  1-2 Topic:  Conversion of Units Type:  Numerical

20. In doing a calculation, you arrive at an expression in which the numerator is in
kilometers and the denominator is in meters per second. When the calculation is
completed, the result will be in units of
A) meters, if you divide by 1000.
B) meters, if you multiply by 1000.
C) seconds, if you divide by 1000.
D) seconds, if you multiply by 1000.
E) meters squared per second, if you multiply by 1000.
Ans: D

Section:  1-2 Topic:  Conversion of Units Type:  Conceptual

21. In doing a calculation, you end up with a fraction having m/s in the numerator
and m/s2 in the denominator. The result will have units of

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 Chapter 1: Systems of Measurement

A) m2/s3 B) s–1 C) s3/m2 D) s E) m/s

Ans: D

Section:  1-2 Status:  New to 5th edition Topic:  Conversion of Units

Type:  Numerical
22. The density of an object equals its mass divided by its volume. The mass of the
Earth is 6  1024 kg and its radius is 4  103 miles. The mass of the Sun is 2  1033
g and its radius is 7  105 km. Calculate the Earth's density divided by that of the
Sun.
A) 4  101 B) 4  102 C) 4  100 D) 4  101 E) none of the above
Ans: C

Section:  1-3 Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual

23. The dimensions of mass density are
A) MLT–1 B) ML3 C) ML2 D) ML–1 E) None of these is correct.
Ans: E

Section:  1-3 Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual

24. The dimensions of two quantities MUST be identical if you are either
__________ or __________ the quantities.
A) adding; multiplying D) adding; subtracting
B) subtracting; dividing E) All of these are correct.
C) multiplying; dividing
Ans: D

Section:  1-3 Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual

25. In the expression Fnet = ma, m must have the dimensions
A) ML/T2 B) M C) L/T2 D) L/T E) ML2/T2
Ans: B

Section:  1-3 Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual

26. If K has dimensions ML2/T2, the k in K = kmv2 must
A) have the dimensions ML/T2. D) have the dimensions L2/T2.
B) have the dimensions M. E) be dimensionless.
C) have the dimensions L/T2.
Ans: E

Section:  1-3 Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual

27. If x and t represent distance and time, respectively, the C in x = 1/2Ct2 must
A) have the dimensions ML/T2. D) have the dimensions L2/T2.
B) have the dimensions M. E) be dimensionless.
C) have the dimensions L/T2.
Ans: C

Section:  1-3 Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual

28. If v and t represent velocity and time, respectively, C1 in v = C1e–C2t must

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 Chapter 1: Systems of Measurement

A) have the dimensions L/T. D) have the dimensions L2/T2.

B) have the dimensions L2/T. E) be dimensionless.
C) have the dimensions L/T2.
Ans: A

Section:  1-3 Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual

29. If v and t represent velocity and time, respectively, C2 in v = C1e–C2t must
A) have the dimensions L/T. D) have the dimensions L2/T2.
B) have the dimensions 1/T. E) be dimensionless.
C) have the dimensions L/T2.
Ans: B

Section:  1-3 Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual

30. If x and t represent position and time, respectively, the A in x = A cos Bt must
A) have the dimensions L/T. D) have the dimensions L2/T2.
B) have the dimensions 1/T. E) be dimensionless.
C) have the dimensions L.
Ans: C

Section:  1-3 Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual

31. If x and t represent position and time, respectively, the B in x = A cos Bt must
A) have the dimensions L/T. D) have the dimensions L2/T2.
B) have the dimensions 1/T. E) be dimensionless.
C) have the dimensions L.
Ans: B

Section:  1-3 Status:  New to 5th edition
Topic:  Dimensions of Physical Quantities Type:  Conceptual
32. In Newton's Law of Gravity the universal gravitational constant G = Fr2/m1m2,
where F is the gravitational force between the two masses, m1 and m2, and r is the
distance between them. What are the dimensions of G?
A) L2M1T2 B) L3M1T2 C) L2M2T2 D) L3M1T2 E) L3M1T3
Ans: B

Section:  1-4 Topic:  Scientific Notation Type:  Numerical

33. Evaluate:

(4.0  10–6)(3.0  104)

A) 12  1010 B) 1.2  10–10 C) 12  10–5 D) 1.2  10–1 E) 12  10–10
Ans: D

Section:  1-4 Topic:  Scientific Notation Type:  Numerical

34. Evaluate:

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 Chapter 1: Systems of Measurement

A) 1.1  105 B) 1.7  10–4 C) 3.6  10–8 D) 4.5  105 E) 1.1

Ans: E

Section:  1-4 Topic:  Scientific Notation Type:  Numerical

35. Compute:

A) 1  1017 D) 4  107
B) 6  107 E) None of these is correct.
C) 8  1017
Ans: D

Section:  1-4 Topic:  Scientific Notation Type:  Numerical

36. Compute:

A) 3.3  10–6 D) 3.3  10–1

B) 5.1  106 E) None of these is correct.
C) 5.1  10–12
Ans: D

Section:  1-4 Status:  New to 5th edition Topic:  Scientific Notation

Type:  Numerical
37. When we look up in the sky the Sun appears about as big as the moon; however,
we know that the Sun is much further away. Given that the radius of the Sun is
about 7  108 m and that the radius of the moon is about 2  106 m, calculate
approximately the number of times the moon could fit inside the Sun.
A) 4  102 B) 4  106 C) 4  107 D) 1  105 E) 2  105
Ans: C

Section:  1-4 Status:  New to 5th edition Topic:  Scientific Notation

Type:  Numerical
38. Compute:

(12  106  2  107) / (12  107 + 7  106)

A) 7.1  102 B) 7.0  106 C) 2.0  108 D) 7.1  102 E) 2  105
Ans: A

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Conceptual
39. The measurement 5.130  10–4 has _____ significant figures.
A) two B) three C) one D) seven E) four
Ans: E

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Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Conceptual
40. The measurement 23.0040 has _____ significant figures.
A) six B) three C) five D) four E) two
Ans: A

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Numerical
41. The number of seconds in a month is of the order of
A) 103 B) 108 C) 105 D) 1010 E) 106
Ans: E

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Factual
42. The earth's population, expressed as an order of magnitude, is closest to
A) 106 B) 1010 C) 105 D) 108 E) 107
Ans: B

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Numerical
43. The chemical agent dioxin can be toxic or hazardous to humans in concentrations
as small as one part per billion. If I am testing a soil sample that has a mass of
1.0 kg, how much dioxin would have to be present for me to label it toxic or
hazardous?
A) a picogram D) a milligram
B) a kilogram E) a nanogram
C) a microgram
Ans: C

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Numerical
44. An impurity in a manufacturing process will cause a batch to be rejected if the
impurity exceeds one part per million. What is the maximum amount of impurity
that could be present if the batch contains 100 kg of the product?
A) 100 micrograms D) 100 megagrams
B) 100 nanograms E) 100 milligrams
C) 100 grams
Ans: E

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Factual
45. What is the order of magnitude of earth's tallest mountain heights?
A) 108 m B) 104 m C) 106 m D) 103 m E) 105 m
Ans: B

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

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Type:  Numerical
46. Light travels at 3  108 m/s, and it takes about 8 min for light from the sun to
travel to the earth. Based on this, the order of magnitude of the distance from the
sun to the earth is
A) 1010 m B) 108 m C) 109 m D) 106 m E) 1011 m
Ans: E

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Numerical
47. The momentum of a body is defined to be the product of its mass and its velocity.
If the mass of an air-track glider is known to be 225 g and its velocity is
measured to be 3.1 cm/s, its momentum should be reported as
A) 697.5 g · cm/s D) 6.98  102 g · cm/s
B) 698 g · cm/s E) 6.975  102 g · cm/s
C) 7.0  10 g · cm/s
2

Ans: C

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Numerical
48. The net force acting on a body is defined to be the product of the mass of the
body and its resultant acceleration. If the mass of a body is known to be 184 kg
and its acceleration is measured to be 2.4 m/s2, the resultant force should be
reported as
A) 4.4  102 kg · m/s2 D) 4.416 kg · m/s2
B) 441.6 kg · m/s2 E) 4.42  102 kg · m/s2
C) 442 kg · m/s2
Ans: A

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Factual
49. Which of the following represents a value of current measured to at least five
significant figures?
A) 2.375  104 A D) 23.75  101 A
B) 0.00347 A E) 50.300 A
C) 3.0  105 A
Ans: E

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Conceptual
50. The size of a proton is of the order of 10–15 m and the size of the visible universe
is of the order of 1026 m. From this information you can conclude that
A) the size of the universe is 26 orders of magnitude greater than that of the proton.
B) the size of the universe is 41 orders of magnitude greater than that of the proton.
C) the size of the proton is 11 orders of magnitude greater than that of the universe.
D) the size of the universe is 15 orders of magnitude greater than that of the proton.
E) the size of the proton is 15 orders of magnitude greater than that of the universe.

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 Chapter 1: Systems of Measurement

Ans: B

Section:  1-5 Topic:  Significant Figures & Order of Magnitude

Type:  Conceptual
51. The mass of an electron is of the order of 10–30 kg and the mass of the universe is
believed to be of the order of 1052 kg. From this information you can conclude
that
A) the mass of the earth is 52 orders of magnitude greater than that of the electron.
B) the mass of the earth is 30 orders of magnitude greater than that of the electron.
C) the mass of the electron is 82 orders of magnitude greater than that of the earth.
D) the mass of the earth is 82 orders of magnitude greater than that of the electron.
E) the mass of the electron is 30 orders of magnitude greater than that of the earth.
Ans: D

Section:  1-5 Status:  New to 5th edition Topic:  Significant Figures & Order

of Magnitude Type:  Numerical
52. Light travels at 3  108 m/s, and the size of a proton is about 1 fm. Calculate the
order of magnitude for the time taken for light to pass across a proton.
A) 107 s B) 108 s C) 1022 s D) 1023 s E) 1023 s
Ans: C

Section:  1-5 Status:  New to 5th edition Topic:  Significant Figures & Order

of Magnitude Type:  Numerical
53. If the Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, estimate the order of
magnitude for the number of times it has rotated about its own axis. (Assume a
constant rate of rotation.)
A) 109 B) 1010 C) 1011 D) 1012 E) 1014
Ans: D

Section:  1-5 Status:  New to 5th edition Topic:  Significant Figures & Order

of Magnitude Type:  Numerical
54. If you have a music CD collection of about 150 disks, estimate the order of
magnitude of the number of heartbeats you would have if you listened all the way
through your collection.
A) 106 B) 108 C) 1010 D) 104 E) 103
Ans: A

Section:  1-5 Status:  New to 5th edition Topic:  Significant Figures & Order

of Magnitude Type:  Numerical
55. A diehard music lover still prefers to listen to his vinyl records, which rotate at 33
1
3 revolutions per minute. If he listens for an average of three hours per day,
estimate the order of magnitude for the number of revolutions his turntable
makes in a year.
A) 107 B) 102 C) 106 D) 105 E) 104
Ans: C

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Chapter 1: Systems of Measurement

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