Study guide for Physical Science Exam 1

1. True/False - You will need to distinguish between true and false statements based on the principles discussed in the book and in class.  This can include such things as identifying appropriate units, identifying terms and their definitions, proper use of symbols, etc.
2. Multiple Choice - You will need to draw conclusions from presented material and choose the best answer. This can include such things as identifying appropriate units, performing simple calculations, identifying terms that go with a definition, proper use of symbols, etc. Multiple choice also makes it easy to ask questions about the concepts presented in the chapters and how they apply to specific situations. These questions may require you to interpret how one quantity may affect another quantity. An example of the last statement is "If the net unbalanced force on an object is doubled, what will happen to the acceleration of that object? Will it (A) be half as large, (B) be the same, (C) be twice as large, or (D) be four times as large." You would need to apply the formula "F=ma" to decide on the appropriate response.
3. Equations - Some questions on the exam will require you to use the formulas available in the book. I will provide a copy of the formulas on the exam so you do not need to memorize them. However, you should know what the symbols of the formula mean and how to use the formulas. Some questions can be answered by knowing the relationship between some of the variables within the exam. Other questions will require you to perform a calculation. You should bring a calculator with you to the exam.
4. Essay - I will place two short essay questions on the exam worth 10 pts each. These essays are to test whether you understand the broader principles and issues that come into play when studying physical science. I will provide a list of essay questions I may possibly ask so you can think through the issues ahead of time.

Use the organization of the text book to help you prepare for the exam. The following features of the text will help you

1. Important terms at the end of each chapter. You should be able to define the words presented and know how they apply to the material we have studied.
2. Exercises and Questions at the end of the chapter will give you practice using the concepts and facts of each chapter. There are also problems at the end of chapters 2 and 3. Although I will not put a strong emphasis on calculation based problems, you should be able to do calculations similar to the ones I performed in class. The problems will give you some practice in solving these types of problems.

Possible Essay Questions

• When Laplace was asked by Napoleon why he did not include a reference to God in his book on celestial mechanics, Laplace replied that he had no need for that hypothesis. What developments in our understanding of physics at that time would have motivated Laplace to answer as he did and how would you respond to him as a Christian?
• The scientific method involves a cycle of observation, construction of a hypothesis and testing of the hypothesis. In light of Percy and Thaxton's list of reasons why there is a theistic basis for science, explain why the scientific method is an effective means of understanding the physical world.
• Causality, or the law of cause and effect is fundamental to our ability to understand the physical world. Because science has been so successful in using this principle many have concluded that given time science will explain everything about the universe. This philosophy is also called scientism. What are the implications of this view, if it is really true, and what limitations exist to this approach of understanding the world, which would invalidate scientism?

Chapter 1

1. Scientific Method
2. Difference between hypothesis, theory, and law
3. Theistic basis of science
4. Systematic and random errors
5. Accuracy vs. precision
6. How we locate stars in the sky
7. Distinctions between art and science
8. Ptolemaic system of the universe
9. Coperinican system of the universe
10. Galileo's contribution to the understanding of the universe
11. Kepler's model of the solar system
12. Kepler's Laws
13. Occam's Razor
14. Perceived conflict between religion and science
15. Universal Law of gravity
16. Newton's contribution to our understanding of gravity
17. Explanatory power of gravity
18. Tidal effects on the earth
19. What makes up the known universe
20. Religious implications of science

Chapter 2

1. Calculating speed
2. Zeno's paradox
3. Difference between speed and velocity
4. Difference between instantaneous and average
5. Conversion factors
6. Metric units and metric prefixes
7. Scientific notation
8. Difference between vectors and scalars
9. Calculating acceleration
10. Acceleration of gravity
11. Parabolic motion of a projectile
12. Affect of air resistance and terminal velocity
13. Causality
14. Newton's 3 laws of motion
15. Inertia and mass
16. Gravity and weight
17. Centripetal acceleration
18. Newton's law of gravity
19. Gravity, orbits and satellites
20. Ability to have precision in our understanding of the universe

Chapter 3

1. Calculating work
2. Calculating power

The following items were not cover in chapter 3 and will not appear in the exam.

3. Kinetic energy
4. Potential energy and work
5. Thermal energy
6. Cost of energy use
7. Relativity and its consequences
8. Relationship between rest mass and energy
9. Conservation of energy
10. Rockets
11. Angular momentum
12. Momentum and conservation of momentum
13. The energy problem
14. Why the universe is comprehensible
15. Why mathematics works well to describe the universe
16. Source of diversity in the universe
A page of information will be available on the exam. It will contain formulas, conversion relationships, and important constants. You should know when and how to apply this information.


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