Exercises: Physics: Definitions and Applications
Work through each section in order. These questions focus on concepts and understanding — there are no calculations in this set.
Warm-Up: What Do You Already Know?
These questions review your existing knowledge of science.
Which of the following best describes what science does?
In middle school science you studied different branches of science. Which of these is a branch of natural science?
Which of the following is an example of technology that uses scientific principles?
Fluency Practice
Apply the core ideas from this section.
What is the central goal of physics?
A falling apple and an orbiting moon both follow Newton's law of gravitation. What does this example best illustrate about physics?
A car engine converts heat energy into mechanical motion. This phenomenon belongs to which subfield of physics?
Which subfield of physics best explains how a rainbow forms?
Which subfield of physics is most directly responsible for explaining how electric motors work?
Physics is described as the most fundamental natural science. What does this mean for chemistry and biology?
Mixed Practice
These problems test the same ideas in different ways.
A ball rolls down a ramp and then curves through the air after leaving the edge. Which subfield of physics studies this motion?
GPS satellites must apply corrections based on special relativity to give accurate locations. Which subfield of physics does this involve?
A student says: 'Physics is in my smartphone — the touchscreen uses capacitance (Electricity & Magnetism), the GPS uses relativity (Modern Physics), and the camera lens uses optics (Waves & Optics).' What does this example show?
Which of the following is the best example of physics appearing in biology?
A student says: 'I don't need to study physics — I want to be a nurse, not a scientist.' Write 2–3 sentences explaining why physics is relevant to nursing or another non-STEM career. Include at least one specific example.
Application Problems
Read each scenario and answer the question.
During a thunderstorm, Priya notices that she sees lightning before she hears thunder. She knows light travels much faster than sound.
Which subfield of physics explains why sound takes time to travel from the lightning to her ears?
Omar watches a figure skater who spins faster when she pulls her arms in. His friend insists it is just a trick — not real physics.
Which subfield of physics explains the skater spinning faster when she pulls her arms in?
Omar's friend says the speed increase is a trick, not physics. What does this misunderstanding reflect?
A high school student says: "I understand that GPS uses physics, but that was built by engineers. Physics doesn't affect my daily life directly."
Give two specific examples — from the brief's content — that contradict this student's claim. For each example, name the physics subfield involved.
Find the Mistake
Each problem shows incorrect thinking. Identify the error and explain what's wrong.
A student writes in her notebook: "Physics is important for physicists and engineers. For everyone else, it's optional background knowledge that doesn't really apply to daily life."
What is the key error in this student's reasoning?
On the first day of class, a student says: "I'm good at memorizing. I'll just memorize all the formulas and I'll be fine in physics."
What fundamental misunderstanding does this student have about physics?
Challenge Problem
This is a bonus problem for extra practice. It requires more reasoning than the other sections.
A classmate argues: 'Physics and math are basically the same thing — physics is just applied math.' Write a response that agrees with part of this claim but also identifies what is missing from it. Use a specific example to support your point.