coulombs law has to do with

HESI A2

HESI A2 Physics Practice Test

1. What does Coulomb’s law relate to?

A. electrostatic interaction
B. rigid body motion
C. heat conduction
D. universal gravitation

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Coulomb's law is a fundamental principle in physics that deals with the electrostatic interaction between charged particles. It states that the force between two charged objects is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law is crucial in understanding and predicting the behavior of electrically charged objects. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because Coulomb's law specifically focuses on electrostatic interactions between charges, not rigid body motion, heat conduction, or universal gravitation.

2. Marilyn is driving to a wedding. She drives 4 miles south before realizing that she left the gift at home. She makes a U-turn, returns home to pick up the gift, and sets out again driving south. This time, she drives 1 mile out of her way to pick up a friend. From there, they continue 5 miles more to the wedding. Which of these statements is true about Marilyn’s trip?

A. The displacement of her trip is 6 miles, and the distance traveled is 6 miles.
B. The displacement of her trip is 14 miles, and the distance traveled is 14 miles.
C. The displacement of her trip is 8 miles, and the distance traveled is 14 miles.
D. The displacement of her trip is 6 miles, and the distance traveled is 14 miles.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Marilyn’s displacement is calculated based on her final position relative to the starting point. She drives 1 mile to pick up her friend, then 5 miles more to the wedding, totaling 6 miles after returning to her home. So, the correct displacement is 8 miles south from her starting point (4 miles to the gift + 4 miles return + 1 mile to the friend + 5 miles to the wedding). The total distance traveled is 14 miles (adding all the distances). Choice A is incorrect because it miscalculates the displacement. Choice B is incorrect as it overestimates both the displacement and distance traveled. Choice D is incorrect as it underestimates the displacement.

3. 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.

4. A 120-volt heat lamp draws 25 amps of current. What is the lamp’s resistance?

A. 96 ohms
B. 104 ohms
C. 150 ohms
D. 4.8 ohms

Correct answer: D

Rationale: To find the resistance of the lamp, we use Ohm’s Law, which states that resistance (R) is equal to voltage (V) divided by current (I), expressed as: R = V / I. Given that the voltage (V) is 120 volts and the current (I) is 25 amps, we substitute these values into the formula: R = 120 V / 25 A = 4.8 ohms. Therefore, the resistance of the lamp is 4.8 ohms. Choice A, 96 ohms, is incorrect as it is not the result of the correct calculation. Choice B, 104 ohms, is incorrect as it does not match the calculated resistance. Choice C, 150 ohms, is incorrect as it is not the correct resistance value obtained through the calculation.

5. Power (P) represents the rate of work done. Which formula accurately depicts power?

A. P = W / F
B. P = d / t
C. P = W x t
D. P = F / t

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Power (P) is defined as the rate of work done over time. The correct formula for power is P = W/t, where W is the work done, and t is the time taken. Therefore, option D, P = F / t, correctly represents power as work divided by time. Option A, P = W / F, is incorrect as it represents work divided by force, not power. Option B, P = d / t, is incorrect as it represents distance divided by time, not power. Option C, P = W x t, is incorrect as it represents work multiplied by time, not power. It's important to understand the distinction between work, power, force, time, and other related concepts to solve physics problems accurately.