Chapter 1.1 Review

1. What are the seven basic areas of physics study?

mechanics thermodynamics waves optics electricity and magnetism relativity nuclear physics

2. What area of physics is involved in each of these situations? A) You flip a switch and the lights come on. B) A car wreck. C) An ambulance siren. D) Cooking dinner. E) Polarized sunglasses

A) You flip a switch and the lights come on. electrostatics B) A car wreck. mechanics C) An ambulance siren. waves D) Cooking dinner. thermodynamics E) Polarized sunglasses waves, optics

3. List the steps in the scientific method.

Problem Research Hypothesis Experiment Conclusions

4. Use an example to show how the steps in the scientific method could be used to solve a hypothetical problem.

Problem – The light sin the room don’t work. Research – Talk to the maintenance person to see what could be. Hypothesis – I think the circuit breaker is open. Experiment – Reset the circuit breaker. Conclusions – The lights are on! My hypothesis is correct!

5. How does the use of models help scientists understand the physical world?

A model is a way of explaining something complicated in terms of something familiar.

6. What are MIX and DRY?

MIX and DRY refer to controlled experiments. MIX – manipulated (independent) variable, plotted on the x-axis. DRY – dependent (responding) variable, plotted on the y-axis.

7. List some differences in laws and theories.

A law only tells what happens, it doesn’t explain why. A theory also explains why.