PHYSICS OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. What is the SI unit of sound intensity?

A. joule/m2 C. kg/m2
2
B. N/m D. W/m2
2. What is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree called?
A. specific heat C. latent heat
B. heat of vaporization D. heat of fusion
3. When light travels from water to air, what happens with its speed?
A. remains unchanged C. increases then decreases
B. increases D. decreases
4. Material that does not transmit light that strike a surface is
A. opaque C. transparent
B. translucent D. semi-opaque
5. The emission of electrons from a metal surface due to an incident radiation of sufficient
wavelength is called
A. blackbody radiation C. photoelectric effect
B. laser production D. Compton scattering
6. In which medium would sound travel slowest?
A. metal C. gas
B. solid D. liquid
7. Specific heat of A is twice of B and thrice of C but only half of D. They all have the same mass. Which substance
absorbs more heat to raise the temperature by one Celsius degree?
A. substance A C. substance C
B. substance B D. substance D
8. What results from a multiple reflection of sound?
A. noise C. forced vibration
B. reverberation D. mirage
9. What is the process in which a liquid changes to gaseous state at the liquids boiling temperature?
A. sublimation C. fusion
B. vaporization D. melting
10. The image formed by a plane mirror is
A. erect and reversed C. inverted and reversed
B. erect and diffused D. inverted and diffused
11. What is the amount of heat required to convert completely a unit mass of a solid to a liquid phase at the solids
melting point?
A. latent heat of fusion C. latent heat of vaporization
B. specific heat D. latent heat of solidification
12. Heat travels through liquids and gases through
A. radiation C. conduction
B. convection D. absorption
13. What is the process of changing solid to gas without passing through the liquid state?
A. condensation C. fusion
B. evaporation D. sublimation
14. What is the process of changing a vapor to the liquid state ?
A. fusion C. sublimation
B. condensation D. vaporization
15. The law of reflection states that the angle of reflection is
A. scattered upon striking a surface
B. equal to the angle of reflection
C. equal to the angle of incidence
D. reflected in the opposite direction.
16. Thin films of oily and soapy water owe their brilliant colors to a combination of reflection and
A. interference C. polarization
B. refraction D. diffraction
17. The heat from burning pieces of wood reaches you by what mechanism of heat transfer?
A. conduction C. convection
B. radiation D. evaporation
18. It occurs when the frequency of forced vibration on an object matches the objects natural frequency.
A. modulation C. reverberation
B. resonance D. Acoustics

19. An approaching siren is heard higher in pitch due to

A. sound interference C. intensity effect
B. stronger vibration D. Doppler effect
20. Sound that is heard louder has a greater
A. tone C. pitch
B. frequency D. amplitude
21. The superposition of two beams of light resulting in a loss of energy in one area and a
reinforcement of energy in others is called
A. interference C. diffraction
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 B. polarization D. dispersion
22. What is an electromagnetic radiation of very short wavelength emitted from the nucleus of a radioactive atom?
A. ultraviolet B. X-ray
C. infrared D. gamma ray
23. The average kinetic energy of the molecules of a body is a measure of the bodys
A. volume C. temperature
B. heat D. mass
24. Why are shadows formed?
A. Light is scattered by a smooth surface.
B. Light travels in a straight line.
C. Light is dispersed in all directions.
D. Light produces a dark area.
25. The clicking of stones under water was heard louder by divers under water than by sailors above water. Why?
A. Sound travels 4 times faster in air than in water.
B. Sound cannot travel fast from water to air.
C. Sound travels 4 times faster in liquid than in air.
D. Sound can travel faster in air than in water.
26. The unit of energy commonly used in atomic and nuclear physics is the
A. Joule B. kiloJoule
B.. kilowatt-hr D. electron volt
27. The laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames. This is according to what principle?
A. Huygens principle B. principle of relativity
C. Superposition principle D. Principle of Constancy
28. LASER is the acronym for
A. Light amplification of sound emission of radiation
B. Light amplification of stimulated emission of radiation
C. Light amplification by sound emission of radiation
D. Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation
29. Which of the following is dependent upon the frequency of sound vibrations?
A. timbre B. loudness
C. intensity D. pitch
30. Why can very smooth surfaces form clear images?
A. They result in irregular reflection.
B. The reflected ray is clear.
C. They create regular reflection.
D. Light is reflected in one direction only.
31. When vapor condenses to a liquid , what happens?
A. it absorbs heat C. it releases heat
B. its temperature drops D. its temperature rises.
32. Two pots of the same size, marked A and B, were filled with boiling water. A is white while B is black. Which
water will cool faster?
A. A & B remain boiling C. in pot B
B. in pot A D. pots A & B will cool off at the same time
33. Rags and curtain are used in theaters in order to
A. amplify sound C. absorb light
B. improved lighting D. absorb sound
34. The ratio of the speed of light in the first medium to the speed in the second medium is called __
A. absolute index of refraction C. relative index of refraction
B. refraction D. shallowing effect
35. Which is the property of light waves that leads to the phenomenon of color?
A. amplitude C. speed
B. velocity D. wavelength
36. Which of the following states that light travels in tiny bursts of energy?
A. quantum theory C. photoelectric effect
B. wave theory D. corpuscular theory
37. Colors depend on the frequency of light we see. The highest frequency we detect appears
A. blue C. orange
B. violet D. red
38. Bats can produce ultrasonic sound. Describe this kind of sound.
A. frequency above 20,000 Hz C. frequency of 10,000 Hz
B. frequency below 20,000 Hz D. frequency below 15,000 Hz

39. Which of the following expands most when temperature is lowered?

A. helium at 4o C C. water at 4o C
B. wood D. iron
40. What kind of image is produced by convex mirrors?
A. inverted and magnified C. erect and smaller
B. inverted and smaller D. erect and bigger
41. As the angle of incidence increases, what happens with the index of refraction?
A. expands C. remains the same
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 B. increases D. decreases
42. Lenses form images according to the principle of
A. reflection C. refraction
B. polarization D. superposition
43. The separation of white light into colors of a spectrum which are arranged to frequency is called
A. refraction C. scattering
B. reflection D. dispersion
44. The energy of photon is directly proportional to its
A. alpha ray C. period
B. wavelength D. frequency
45. Which of the following has the highest frequency?
A. x-ray C. microwave
B. ultraviolet D. radio wave
46. A process in which energy of a photon is converted into mass.
A. pair annihilation C. Pair production
B. photoelectric effect D. nuclear reactions
47. What determine the color of an opaque material?
A. the color it reflects C. color it defracts
B. color it spreads D. angle of the color
48. What refers to the sensation in the ear which depends on the energy in the sound wave?
A. pitch C. intensity
B. loudness D. timbre
49. Which would correctly describes sound waves?
A. longitudinal C. transverse
B. diagonal D. radial
50. The sum of the kinetic energy and the rest energy.
A. mechanical energy C. thermal energy
B. relativistic energy D. binding energy
51. At what angle of refraction is light incident at the critical angle?
A. 30o C. 45o
o
B. 60 D. 90o
52. What is the velocity of sound in air?
A. 1,301 m/s B. 133 m/s C. 1,300 m/s D. 331 m/s
53. We obtain a tremendous amount of energy when the nucleus splits into lighter nuclei in a process
called
A. reaction B. integration C. fusion D. fission
54. The amount of light that a source give out measured in candela.
A. luminous flux C. luminous intensity
B. illumination D. luminous efficiency
55. Light consists of packets of energy called photons or quanta. This is according to what theory of light?
A. corpuscular theory C. wave theory
B. electromagnetic theory D. quantum theory
56. The color that is refracted most when sunlight is separated by the prism is
A. indigo B. violet C. yellow D. blue
57. The degree of highness or lowness of the sound as perceived by the listeners.
A. quality of sound C. loudness
B. pitch D. intensity
58. Who predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves?
A. Newton C. Maxwell
B. Einstein D. Doppler
59. Lightning is seen before thunder is heard. Why?
A. Sound travels faster than light.
B. Light is blocked by air.
C. Light travels faster that sound.
D. Sound is blocked by air.
60. A whistle blown with much effort will sound louder because intensity depends on the
A. energy of the sound waves C. travel of sound waves
B. length of the vibration D. duration of sound
61. An electromagnetic wave that have the shortest wavelength but highest frequency.
A. microwave C. infrared wave
B. gamma ray D. radio wave
62. The color of light which has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency.
A. indigo C. violet
B. red D. green
63. Which of the following has the greatest energy?
A. 500 nm photon C. 750 nm photon
B. 650 nm photon D. 700 nm photon
64. A nuclear reactor uses a radioactive substance to produce a tremendous amount of energy.
Name this element.
A. tungsten B. platinum C. uranium D. lithium
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65. A pencil partly submerged obliquely in water appears to be bent at a point where it enters the
water surface. This observation can be explained by the principle
A. reflection B. diffraction C. dispersion D. refraction
66. A wave on a string that causes the string to sweep out a pattern.
A. longitudinal wave C. transverse wave
B. standing wave D. electromagnetic wave
67. The sky appears blue because the dust particles in the atmosphere
A. reflect the whole spectrum C. absorb the blue portion spectrum
B. absorb the whole spectrum D. reflect the blue portion of the spectrum
68. What kind of devices is used in underwater surveying, depth detection and navigation?
A. sonar B. laser C. solar D. tidal
69. It occurs when two waves with the same frequency and amplitude traveling in the same direction are in phase.
A. constructive interference C. destructive interference
B. displacement node D. displacement antinode
70. The natural frequency of the vibrating string which is also called the third overtone.
A. first harmonic C. second harmonic
B. third harmonic D. fourth harmonic
71. The effect that we call a mirage has something to do with
A. refraction C. diffraction
B. scattering D. interference
72. The property of transparent material which measure the speed of light through the medium.
A. linear density C. optical density
B. index of refraction D. diffraction
73. What is the unit of luminous untensity?
A. foot-candle B. lumen C. Candela D. lux
74. What is the unit of luminous efficiency?
A. lumen/watt B. lumen/volt C. lumen/ampere D. lumen/coulomb
75. How is sound intensity measured?
A. in beats B. in decibels C. in weber D. in tesla
76. The maximum displacement of an object undergoing harmonic motion on either side of its
equilibrium position is called the ______ of the motion.
A. frequency B. oscillation C. period D. amplitude
77. What quantity is often used in describing harmonic motion?
A. frequency B. oscillation C. period D. amplitude
78. What type of mirror that curves inward its center and converges parallel light to a single real focal point?
A. convex mirror C. concave mirror
B. spherical mirror D. chromatic mirror
79. What refers to the change in frequency of a wave when there is relative motion between its
source and an observer?
A. Superposition principle B. Shock effect
C. Doppler effect D. wave motion
80. What occur when the individual particles of a medium vibrate back and forth in the direction in
which the waves travel?
A. longitudinal waves B. transverse waves
C. wave motion D. shock waves
81. What occurs when the resulting composite wave has an amplitude greater than that of either of
the original waves?
A. local interference B ordinary interference
C. constructive interference C. destructive interference
82. The rate at which a wave of any kind carries energy per unit cross-sectional area is called ___
A. beats B. frequency C. gain D. intensity
83. What refers to the brightness of a light source?
A. luminous intensity B. illumination
C. luminous flux D. lumen
84. If the linear magnification of an optical system is less than one, it means that
A. the image and the object are of the same size
B. the image is larger than object
C. the image is smaller than the object
D. the image may be larger or smaller than object.
85. What refers to the ratio between the speed of light in free space and its speed in a particular
medium?
A. index of reflection B. total internal reflection
C. index of dispersion D. index of refraction
86. The ratio of the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction is equal to the ratio of the speeds of light in the
two media. This statement is
A. Huygens principle B. Snells law
C. Maxwells hypothesis D. Doppler effect
87. Light ray that passes at an angle from one medium to another is deflected at the surface between
the two media. What is this phenomenon called?
A. dispersion B. reflection C. refraction D. incidence
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88. What refers to the effect when a beam containing more than one frequency is split into a
corresponding number of different beams when it is refracted?
A. flux B. refraction C. reflection D. dispersion
89. What refers to the band of colors that emerges from the prism?
A. spectrum B. luminance C. facet D. reflection
90. What type of lens deviates parallel light outward as though it originated at a single virtual focal
point?
A. magnifying lens B. convergent lens
C. divergent lens D. microscopic lens
91. A camera usually uses what type of lens to form an image on a light-sensitive photographic film?
A. magnifying lens B. convergent lens
C. divergent lens D. microscopic lens
92. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. A high-frequency sound has high pitch.
B. A high-frequency sound has low pitch.
C. A high-frequency sound has low energy.
D. A high-frequency sound has low pitch and low energy.
93. What refers to a series of parallel slits that produces a spectrum through the interference of light that is
diffracted?
A. diffraction grating B. polarization
C. coherent waves D. reflection
94. The emission of electrons from a metal surface when light shines on it is called____.
A. absorption effect B. spectrum emission
C. quantum effect D. photoelectric effect
95. What device is used for producing a narrow, monochromatic, coherent beam of light?
A. spectral device B. prism
C. fiber optic D. laser
96. What color has the shortest wavelength?
A. indigo B. violet C. blue D. green
97. An optical effect sometimes seen at sea, in the desert or even over a hot pavement that may
have the appearance of a pool of water.
A. mirage B. dispersion C. diffraction D. total internal reflection
98. In this process, the energy of a photon is converted into positron and an electron.
A. pair production C. pair annihilation
B. nuclear reaction D. laser production
99. Failure of parallel rays to meet at a single point on a spherical surface after reflection or refraction.
A. Spherical Aberration C. Chromatic aberration
B. Spherical dispersion D. Chromatic dispersion
100. A process of affecting radiation and especially light so that the vibration of the waves assume a
definite form
A. polarization B. diffraction C. dispersion D. refraction
101. The energy required to break a nucleus apart into its constituent particles is called
A. ionization energy C. binding energy
B. disintegration energy D. rest energy
102. When protons and neutrons join to form helium nucleus, the mass is decreased in the process.
This difference is called
A. radioactivity C. carbon dating
B. mass defect D. transmutation
103. Particles in the nucleus are called
A. nuclides C. neutrons
B. nucleons D. neutrino
104. In this type of decay process, the daughter nucleus has the same number of nucleons as the parent nucleus,
but the atomic number is changed by 1.
A. alpha decay C. beta decay
B. gamma decay D. half-life
105. A type of radioactive decay characterized by the emission of energetic positively charged
particles.
A. alpha decay C. beta decay
B. gamma decay D. half-life

PHYSICS PROBLEMS

106. A horizontal cord 5 m long has a mass of 2.5 g. What must be the tension in the cord if the wavelength of a 120
Hz wave on it is to be 50 cm?
A. 1.5 N B. 1.6 N C. 1.7 N D. 1.8 N
107. A 3-m string is driven by a 240 Hz vibrator at its end. Determine the speed of transverse waves on the string if it
resonates four segments?
A. 340 m/s B. 350 m/s C. 360 m/s D. 370 m/s

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108. A guitar string 30 cm long resonates in its fundamental to a frequency of 250 Hz. What is the tension in the string
if 80 cm of the string weighs 0.8 gram?
A. 12.5 N B. 22.5 N C. 32.5 N D. 42.5 N
109. What is the relative intensity level of sound in decibels if its intensity is 3 x 10 -7 W/cm2?
A. 94.8 dB B. 78.7 dB C. 80.5 dB D. 75.4 dB
110. A train blowing its whistle at 750 Hz approaches a station at the rate of 35 miles/hr. What frequency is heard by a
man standing at the station considering the velocity of sound in air 1100 ft/s?
A. 739.7 Hz B. 857.4 Hz C. 716.4 Hz D. 786.7 Hz
111. Two cars A and B are traveling toward each other at speeds of 45 km/h and 70 km/h, respectively. If A is
blowing its horn, what is the relative pitch heard by a passenger in B, considering that the velocity of sound is 344
m/s?
A. 1.043 B. 1.021 C. 1.096 D. 1.078
112. An explosion occurs at a distance of 5 km from the observer. How long after explosion does a person hear if
the temperature is 18 oC?
A. 12.34 sec B. 14.59 sec C. 11.35 sec D. 16.87 sec
113. What is the speed of sound in Neon gas at temperature of 25 oC, considering that the molecular mass of this
gas is 20.18 kg/mole? For Neon : k = 1.67
A. 14.32 m/s B. 15.56 m/s C. 16.97 m/s D. 17.21 m/s
114. What is the wavelength of yellow light whose frequency is 5 x 1014 Hz?
A. 800 nm B. 700 nm C. 600 nm D. 500 nm
115. What is the angle of refraction of light as a beam of parallel light enters a block of ice at an angle of incidence of
30o? The index of refraction of ice is 1.31 and that of air is 1.0
A. 44o B. 33o C. 22o D. 11o
116. It was found out that the speed of light in water is 75% of its speed in vacuum. What is the index
of refraction of water?
A. 1.22 B. 1.33 C. 1.44 D. 1.55
117. A light passes from glass to water. If the index of refraction for glass is 1.54 and for water is 1.33,
compute the critical angle for this light to pass the glass.
A. 59.7o B. 65.7o C. 67.4o D. 53.6o
118. A light bulb is used to light a bunker 10 ft below. A chair sits on the floor of the bunker 3 feet from a spot directly
below the bulb. What is the illumination on the floor around the chair if the luminous intensity is 150 candles?
A. 2.38 ft-candles B. 1.98 ft-candles C. 1.32 ft-candles D. 2.69 ft-candles
119. A lens has a convex surface of radius 17 cm and a concave surface of radius 38 cm and is made
of glass of refractive index 1.55 . Calculate the focal length of the lens and classify the type of lens whether
diverging or converging.
A. 55.93 cm converging lens C. 55.93 cm diverging lens
B. 57.45 cm converging lens D. 57.45 cm diverging lens
120. A double convex lens has faces of radii 22 cm and 24 cm. When an object is 30 cm from the
lens, a real image is formed 45 cm from the lens. What is the refractive index of the lens material?
A. 1.76 B. 1.21 C. 1.32 D. 1.64
121. A 50-W incandescent lamp has a mean spherical luminous intensity of 67 cd. Compute the total
luminous flux radiated by the lamp?
A. 987 lm B. 786 lm C. 457 lm D. 842 lm

122. A 250-W light source has a mean spherical luminous intensity of 87.5 cd. Compute the luminous
efficiency of the lamp?
A. 2.4 lm/W B. 3.4 lm/W C. 4.4 lm/W D. 5.4 lm/W
123. Estimate the distance for which a 30-cd lamp provide the same illumination as a standard lamp of
80-cd placed 17 ft from the screen?
A. 9.76 ft B. 10.4 ft C. 8.5 ft D. 12.7 ft
124. An observer sees a spaceship, measured 100 m long when at rest. He passed by in uniform motion with a
speed of 0.5c. While the observer is watching the spaceship, a time of 2 sec elapses on a clock on board the ship,
what is the length of the moving ship?
A. 82.3 m B. 85.9 m C. 86.6 m D. 83.9 m
125. What is the rest energy of electron equivalent to its rest mass? 1 MeV = 1.6 x 10 -13 J and mass of electron is
9.11 x 10-31 kg.
A. 0.512 MeV B. 0.987 MeV C. 0.345 MeV D. 0.675 MeV
126. What is the frequency of photon having energy of 2 eV?
A. 482.9 THz B. 530.2 THz C. 267.9 THz D. 358.1 THz
127. What is the bulk modulus of steel if the sound waves traveled at approximately 5 900 m/s? The density of steel
is 7900 kg/m3.
A. 7.25 x 1011 Pa B. 2.75 x 1011 Pa C. 5.27 x 1011 Pa D. 2.57 x 1011 Pa
128. What kind of spherical mirror must be used , and what must be the radius, in order to give an
erect image 1/5 as large as an object placed 15 cm in front of it?
A. 7.5 cm ( convex mirror) C. - 7.5 cm (convex mirror)
B. 7.5 cm ( concave mirror) D. - 7.5 cm (concave mirror)
129. Where should an object be placed with reference to a concave spherical mirror of radius 180 cm in order to form
a real image having a magnification of .
A. 200 cm from mirror C. 220 cm from mirror
C. 250 cm from mirror D. 270 cm from mirror
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130. Describe the image of an object positioned 20 cm from a concave spherical mirror of radius 60 cm.
A. virtual, inverted, 60 cm behind mirror, bigger than object
B. virtual , erect, 60 cm behind mirror, smaller
C. virtual, erect, 60 cm behind mirror, bigger than object
D. real , inverted, 60 cm in front of mirror, bigger than object

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