archimedes principle explains the ability to control buoyancy allowing

HESI A2

HESI Exams Quizlet Physics

1. Archimedes' principle explains the ability to control buoyancy, allowing:

A. Objects to sink regardless of density differences.
B. Airplanes to generate lift for flight.
C. Submarines to adjust their buoyancy for submergence and resurfacing.
D. Helium balloons to overcome gravity and float.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Archimedes' principle states that the upward buoyant force acting on an object submerged in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. Submarines control their buoyancy by adjusting the volume of water they displace, which allows them to submerge and resurface. Choice C is correct because it directly relates to the principle of buoyancy and how submarines utilize it. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the application of Archimedes' principle in controlling buoyancy for submergence and resurfacing.

2. Psychrometrics is a branch of thermodynamics that deals with the properties of:

A. Ideal gases.
B. Magnetic materials.
C. Mixtures of moist air and water vapor.
D. Nuclear reactions.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Psychrometrics is the study of the physical and thermodynamic properties of gas-vapor mixtures, especially mixtures of moist air and water vapor. This branch of thermodynamics focuses on the relationships between temperature, pressure, humidity, and other properties of these mixtures. Choice A, ideal gases, is incorrect because psychrometrics specifically deals with gas-vapor mixtures, not ideal gases. Choice B, magnetic materials, and Choice D, nuclear reactions, are unrelated to psychrometrics and thermodynamics, making them incorrect. Understanding psychrometrics is crucial in fields like heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) to design systems that effectively control air quality, comfort, and temperature.

3. In hydraulic systems, Pascal's principle states that a pressure change applied to a confined incompressible fluid is:

A. Amplified but loses energy
B. Transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid
C. Limited by the container size
D. Dependent on the fluid type

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Pascal's principle states that when a pressure change is applied to a confined incompressible fluid, the resulting pressure change is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid. This means that the pressure change will be the same at every point in the fluid, regardless of the container size or the type of fluid used. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because Pascal's principle specifically emphasizes the transmission of pressure without amplification, limitation by container size, or dependence on the fluid type.

4. When light travels from air into a denser medium like glass, its speed:

A. Increases
B. Decreases
C. Remains constant
D. Becomes unpredictable

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When light travels from air into a denser medium like glass, its speed decreases. This is because the higher refractive index of the denser medium causes light to slow down as it propagates through the medium. Choice A is incorrect because the speed of light decreases in a denser medium. Choice C is incorrect because the speed of light changes when it enters a denser medium. Choice D is incorrect because the change in speed is predictable based on the refractive index of the medium.

5. Capillarity describes the tendency of fluids to rise or fall in narrow tubes. This phenomenon arises from the interplay of:

A. Buoyancy and pressure differentials
B. Density variations and compressibility of the fluid
C. Viscous dissipation and inertial effects
D. Surface tension at the liquid-gas interface and intermolecular forces

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Capillarity occurs due to surface tension and intermolecular forces between the liquid and the walls of the narrow tube. These forces cause the liquid to rise or fall depending on the cohesion and adhesion properties. Surface tension at the liquid-gas interface and intermolecular forces are responsible for capillary action, making choice D the correct answer. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not directly relate to the specific forces involved in capillarity.