High School Physical Science Sample Questions
EOC Resources
1. How are light waves affected when they pass from one medium into a more optically dense medium at an
angle different from the normal? (9d, 1)
A. The light waves bend toward the normal.
B. The light waves bend away from the normal.
C. The light waves continue in a straight line at constant speed.
D. The light waves continue in a straight line at an accelerating speed.
2. Which of the following describes the conversion of chemical energy to heat energy? (7a, 2)
A. a chair sitting still
B. a leaf absorbing sunlight
C. a battery powering a flashlight
D. a rock hitting the ground
3. Which statement correctly compares the difference between conduction and convection in common
classroom settings? (7b, 2)
A. Conduction can only occur in solids, while convection can occur in both liquids and gases.
B. Convection can only occur in solids, while conduction can occur in both liquids and gases.
C. Conduction can only occur in liquids and gases, while convection can occur in solids, liquids, and gases.
D. Convection can only occur in liquids and gases, while conduction can occur in solids, liquids, and gases.
4. Metals in group 1 on the periodic table most commonly form which type of ion? (4a, 1)
A. 2– ion
B. 1– ion
C. 1+ ion
D. 2+ ion
5. Use this chemical equation to answer the question.
‗CuS + ‗KCl → ‗CuCl2 + ‗K2S
What coefficient of KCl will balance the equation? (2e, 2)
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
6. A stable binary compound of Cl1− and Mg2+ is sometimes prescribed by doctors to provide necessary
magnesium to the human body. What is the chemical formula for this compound? (2b, 2)
A. MgCl
B. Mg2Cl
C. MgCl2
D. Mg2Cl2
7. The force of gravity on Mars is 0.38 times the gravity on Earth. The mass of an object on Earth is 71 kg.
What are the mass and weight of that object on Mars? (8b, 2)
A. mass: 71 kg, weight: 710 N
B. mass: 71 kg, weight: 270 N
C. mass: 27 kg, weight: 270 N
D. mass: 27 kg, weight: 103 N
8. A negatively-charged ion always has more ___. (1a, 1)
A. protons than neutrons
B. neutrons than protons
C. protons than electrons
D. electrons than protons
9. Which statement describes how the majority of the energy received by Earth is transmitted by the Sun? (7b,
2)
A. Heated atoms emitted by the Sun move through space.
B. Electromagnetic waves carry energy from the Sun through space.
C. Heat energy from the Sun creates convection currents through space.
D. Vibrating atoms in the Sun transfer heat energy to neighboring atoms in space.
10. What is the chemical formula for the stable ionic compound formed between aluminum and oxygen? (2b, 2)
A. Al2O2
B. Al2O3
C. Al3O2
D. Al3O3
11. Use this chemical equation to answer the question.
__Fe + __O2 → __Fe2O3
What coefficients of Fe, O2 and Fe2O3 balance this equation? (2e, 2)
A. 2, 1, 2
B. 2, 3, 2
C. 4, 1, 2
D. 4, 3, 2
12. A scientist is measuring the mass of two boron (B) atoms. One atom has a mass of 10 units. The other atom
has a mass of 11 units.
This is a model of a boron atom with a mass of 11 units.
Which subatomic particle needs to be removed from the model to represent a boron atom with a mass of 10
units? (1a, 2)
A. particle L
B. particle M
C. particle N
D. particle P
13. Which hypothesis describes the behavior of molecules when a substance changes from a gas to a liquid? (5a,
1)
A. The average speed of the molecules increases, because they have lower energy in the liquid state.
B. The average speed of the molecules decreases, because they have lower energy in the liquid state.
C. The average speed of the molecules decreases, because they have higher energy in the liquid state.
D. The average speed of the molecules increases, because they have higher energy in the liquid state.
14. It takes a person one half hour to run 6 kilometers at a constant rate along a straight-line path. What is the
velocity of the person? (8a, 2)
A. 0 km/hr in the direction of the path
B. 3 km/hr in the direction of the path
C. 6 km/hr in the direction of the path
D. 12 km/hr in the direction of the path
The diagram shows matter changing state.
15. How did these particles move as matter changed state? (5a, 2)
A. The particles lost energy and moved more slowly.
B. The particles lost energy and moved more quickly.
C. The particles gained energy and moved more slowly.
D. The particles gained energy and moved more quickly.
This diagram shows the wavelength and amplitude of Wave P.
16. Which diagram shows the wavelength and amplitude required to cancel Wave P through destructive
interference? (9d, 2 answer d)
This table shows four wave sources.
The waves enter the testing box through the opening. Inside the testing box are three sections. The air and
water sections are separated by a transparent glass pane. The water section and the vacuum chamber are
separated by a transparent plastic pane.
17. Which sources will be detected? (9c, 3)
A. green laser and UV lamp
B. UV lamp and megaphone
C. green laser and tuning fork
D. tuning fork and megaphone
18. Which observation BEST demonstrates Newton’s first law of motion? (8b, 3)
A. An astronaut weighs more on Earth than he does on the Moon, but his mass does not change.
B. A baseball thrown by a professional player has greater acceleration than a baseball you throw.
C. A book placed beside you on the back seat of a car slides to the floor as the car stops suddenly.
D. A stone thrown at a trashcan cannot knock it over, but a stone with more mass can knock it over.
19. Which diagram correctly represents a light ray reflecting off a mirror? 9d, 1 answer b
20. In a demonstration of heating by convection, your teacher heats a beaker of water to boiling on a hot plate.
Which hypothesis correctly describes how heating by convection occurs? 7b, 2
A. As particles of a substance are heated, energy is transferred as more energetic particles within the substance
move from one place to another.
B. As particles of a substance are heated, energy is transferred to neighboring particles by collisions of the
particles.
C. As particles of a substance are heated, energy is transferred by gas bubbles within a liquid.
D. As particles of a substance are heated, energy is transferred by electromagnetic waves.
21. A small marble is dropped to the floor. Assume that as the marble falls, the only force exerted on it is the
force of gravity. How do the speed and acceleration of the marble change with time? (8b, 2)
A. speed increases, acceleration increases
B. speed remains constant, acceleration increases
C. speed increases, acceleration remains constant
D. speed remains constant, acceleration remains constant
Four students each prepare a cup of coffee. The students use similar amounts of brewed coffee, sugar, and
cold milk. This table describes each student’s method of dissolving the sugar in the coffee.
22. Which student uses the method that will dissolve the sugar in the coffee the fastest? (6b, 3)
A. Student 1
B. Student 2
C. Student 3
D. Student 4
23. The specific heat of pure water is 4.184 J/g °C.A 10.00-gram sample of pure water goes from 22.00°C to
32.00°C.
How much heat did the sample gain? (7c, 2)
A. 41.84 J
B. 418.4 J
C. 920.5 J
D. 1339 J
24. Which of these is correct about an object dropped from the top of a cliff? (7a, 2)
A. As it travels downward, it gains kinetic energy and gains gravitational potential energy.
B. As it travels downward, it gains kinetic energy and loses gravitational potential energy.
C. As it travels downward, it loses kinetic energy and gains gravitational potential energy.
D. As it travels downward, it loses kinetic energy and loses gravitational potential energy.
25. Which of these is evidence that electromagnetic waves do not require a medium? (9c, 2)
A. Sounds can be heard through a solid wall.
B. Light cannot be seen through a solid wall.
C. X-rays provide an image of human bones.
D. Radiation from the Sun reaches Earth.
26. A permanent magnet is passed through a loop of wire. When is the electric potential difference in the loop
the GREATEST? (10c, 2)
A. when the permanent magnet is held far away from the loop of wire
B. when the permanent magnet is passed slowly through the loop of wire
C. when the permanent magnet is passed quickly through the loop of wire
D. when the permanent magnet is held still in the middle of the loop of wire
A student pulls a lever down 4 m. The lever lifts a box that weighs 20 N up a distance of 2 m.
27. How much work was done on the box? (8e, 2)
A. 10 J
B. 40 J
C. 80 J
D. 160 J
28. As wet clothes tumble in a clothes dryer, friction between clothing items can knock electrons from some
fabrics onto others, creating a static charge. This static electricity can discharge when the dry clothes are
taken out of the dryer, sometimes causing unpleasant small shocks. The use of dryer sheets can reduce or
eliminate this build-up of static electricity in the dryer.
Which hypothesis offers the BEST explanation for how dryer sheets reduce or eliminate static electricity? 10a,
2
A. Dryer sheets are coated with chemicals with a negative charge. These negative charges balance the negative
charges that result from friction between the clothes.
B. Dryer sheets are coated with chemicals with a positive charge. These positive charges balance the negative
charges that result from friction between the clothes.
C. Dryer sheets slide in between the clothing in the dryer, keeping the fabrics from touching each other. This
eliminates the possibility of static electricity occurring due to friction.
D. Dryer sheets coat the inside surface of the dryer with chemicals. These chemicals make the clothes slippery,
so they do not rub against each other, and therefore static electricity cannot build.
29. Use the periodic table to determine which of the following contains 20 protons and 19 electrons. (1a, 2)
A. an ion of calcium
B. an ion of potassium
C. a neutral calcium atom
D. a neutral potassium atom
30. The half-life of cadmium-109 is 464 days. A scientist measures out a 256.0 g sample.
Approximately how many grams of cadmium-109 would remain after 1,392 days? (3c, 2)
A. 32.0 g
B. 64.0 g
C. 2,048.0 g
D. 1,024.0 g
31. The elements neon and argon are not reactive. Which hypothesis BEST explains this? (4b, 2)
A. They are not stable atoms.
B. They are not readily available on Earth.
C. They tend to give up all of their valence electrons easily.
D. They have the maximum possible number of electrons in their outermost shell.
32. According to placement in the periodic table, which of these BEST explains why an ionic bond is the MOST
LIKELY type of bond formed between a metal and a nonmetal? (4a, 2)
A. An ionic bond is formed between oppositely charged ions; metals and nonmetals are likely to be oppositely
charged.
B. An ionic bond is formed when two atoms share electrons; a metal and nonmetal are likely to share electrons.
C. An ionic bond is formed when one of the atoms is nonreactive; metals tend to be nonreactive and form ionic
bonds.
D. An ionic bond is formed when one of the atoms is nonreactive; nonmetals tend to be nonreactive and form
ionic bonds.
33. A mixture is created with 5 grams of sugar, 5 grams of salt, and 4,000 cubic centimeters of water. Which is the
solvent? (6a, 2)
A. the salt
B. the sugar
C. the water
D. the mixture
A hot (100°C) bolt with a mass of 71 grams is placed in 150 grams of cool (20°C) water. This diagram shows the
resulting temperature changes. The specific heat of water is 4.186 J/g°C.
34. Approximately how many joules of heat does the water absorb? (7c, 2)
A. 2,512 J
B. 3,700 J
C. 15,070 J
D. 22,590 J
A student performs an experiment on two isolated conducting spheres, A and B. Sphere A is positively
charged, and sphere B is electrically neutral. The steps of the experiment are the following:
35. What are the charges on the spheres following this experiment? (10a, 3)
A. Sphere A and sphere B are positively charged.
B. Sphere A and sphere B are electrically neutral.
C. Sphere A is positively charged, and sphere B is electrically neutral.
D. Sphere A is electrically neutral, and sphere B is positively charged.
The following simple circuit consists of a battery and one resistor, connected by ideal wires.
36. If the value of the resistor is replaced with another resistor that has a resistance of four times the initial value,
how does the flow of electrons through the wire change? (10b, 3)
A. reduced by a factor of 4
B. reduced by a factor of 2
C. increased by a factor of 2
D. increased by a factor of 4
The table lists the number of protons and neutrons contained in four different atoms.
37. Which two atoms are isotopes of the same element? (1a, 2)
A. Atom 1 and Atom 2
B. Atom 1 and Atom 3
C. Atom 2 and Atom 3
D. Atom 3 and Atom 4