Conceptual Physics Concept Test Questions Gravity The following slides were created through a collaboration of the Industry Initiatives in Science and Math Education (IISME) and Stanford University

A marble is suspended at the top of a vacuum (no air) chamber. When the marble is dropped and allowed to fall under the influence of gravity.. a. the marble falls at constant speed because there is no air inside. b. the marble falls at constant speed because all falling objects do that. c. the marble increases speed because there is no air in the way. d. the marble increases speed because all falling objects do that. e. none of the above are correct.

A piece of space junk from a broken satellite is falling toward earth in the vacuum (no air) of space. Assume it is going directly to earth. The velocity of the object is.. a. increasing. b. constant. c. decreasing. d. not enough information to tell.

A coin is dropped from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. For the first two seconds of the coin's fall.. a. it maintains a constant velocity b. it increases in velocity

A marble and a piece of paper are suspended at the top of a tube with no air inside (a vacuum). When the objects are released at the same time.. a. the marble falls faster because it has more mass. b. the paper falls faster because it is thinner. c. the marble falls faster because it is a sphere. d. the paper falls faster because it will naturally turn vertical. e. both objects fall at the same rate.

A snowflake and a steel rod are suspended in a vacuum (no air inside) chamber. When dropped at the same time.. a. the snowflake hits bottom first. b. the steel rod hits bottom first. c. they hit bottom at the same time. d. not enough information is provided.

A car and a basketball are placed side by side in outer space 300 miles from the earth's surface. When falling through space toward earth.. a. the car falls faster because it is heavier. b. the basketball falls faster because it is smaller. c. they both fall at the same rate.

Which best describes the cliff diver's motion? a. Falling very fast because of gravity. b. Falling faster and faster because of gravity. c. Falling very fast because of the wind.

An astronaut appears to be hovering above the planet. True or False? a. True b. False This astronaut stays in the same place relative to the earth because there is no gravity in space.

A satellite is released in space at the same distance from earth that other satellites can be found. However, this satellite is stationary relative to the Sun, and significantly closer to the earth than the sun. The satellite will.. a. orbit the earth. b. orbit the sun. c. come crashing down to earth.

When astronauts are in space, they appear to float because.. a. there is no gravity in space. b. there is no air in space. c. neither a nor b

A skydiver is falling with a constant velocity of 60 ms-1. Choose the correct list of forces acting on the skydiver. a. Gravity down only b. Gravity down and air pushing up c. Gravity down and air pushing down d. There are no forces on this skydiver.