which of the following describes a vector quantity

HESI A2

HESI A2 Physics

1. Which of the following describes a vector quantity?

A. 5 miles per hour due southwest
B. 5 miles per hour
C. 5 miles
D. None of the above

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A vector quantity is characterized by both magnitude and direction. In the provided options, choice A, '5 miles per hour due southwest,' fits this definition as it includes both the magnitude (5 miles per hour) and the direction (southwest), making it a vector quantity. Choices B and C only provide the magnitude without indicating any direction, hence they do not represent vector quantities.

2. Why doesn’t a raindrop accelerate as it approaches the ground?

A. Gravity pulls it down at a constant rate.
B. Air resistance counteracts the gravitational force.
C. Its mass decreases, decreasing its speed.
D. Objects in motion decelerate over distance.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. As a raindrop falls, it experiences air resistance which counteracts the gravitational force pulling it down. This balancing of forces prevents the raindrop from accelerating further as it approaches the ground. Choice A is incorrect because while gravity is pulling the raindrop down, air resistance opposes this force. Choice C is incorrect as the mass of the raindrop remains constant during its fall. Choice D is incorrect because objects in motion may decelerate due to various factors, but in this case, the focus is on why the raindrop doesn't accelerate.

3. The specific heat capacity of tin is 217 J/(g°C). Which of these materials would require about twice as much heat as tin to increase the temperature of a sample by 1°C?

A. Copper [0.3844 J/(g°C)]
B. Iron [0.449 J/(g°C)]
C. Gold [0.1291 J/(g°C)]
D. Aluminum [0.904 J/(g°C)]

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Aluminum. The specific heat capacity of aluminum is 0.904 J/(g°C), which is approximately 4 times that of tin. For a material to require about twice as much heat as tin to increase the temperature by 1°C, it should have a specific heat capacity roughly double that of tin. Therefore, aluminum fits this criterion better than the other options. Gold has a much lower specific heat capacity than tin, so it would require less, not more, heat to increase the temperature by 1°C. Copper and Iron also have specific heat capacities lower than tin, making them incorrect choices for requiring twice as much heat as tin.

4. Which property of a substance does not change with a change in temperature?

A. Mass
B. Volume
C. Phase
D. Solubility

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Mass is an intrinsic property of a substance that remains constant regardless of temperature changes. It is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, and this quantity does not vary with temperature or the environment in which the substance is located. The conservation of mass in chemistry dictates that mass is neither created nor destroyed, making it independent of temperature variations.\nVolume, on the other hand, changes with temperature due to thermal expansion or contraction. Phase can change with temperature, leading to transitions between solid, liquid, and gas states. Solubility is affected by temperature changes as it influences the ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent.

5. When a car is driven for a long time, the pressure of air in the tires increases. This is best explained by which of the following gas laws?

A. Boyle's law
B. Charles' law
C. Gay-Lussac's law
D. Dalton's law

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Gay-Lussac's law, also known as the law of pressure-temperature, states that the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature when the volume is constant. As a car is driven for a long time, the tires heat up due to friction and increased air pressure inside the tires. This results in an increase in temperature, causing the pressure of the air inside the tires to increase according to Gay-Lussac's law. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Boyle's law relates pressure and volume, Charles' law relates volume and temperature, and Dalton's law deals with the partial pressures of gases in a mixture.