HESI A2
HESI A2 Physics Questions
Question 1 of 9
A bicycle and a car are both traveling at a rate of 5 m/s. Which statement is true?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Kinetic energy is determined by both the mass and the velocity of an object. While both the bicycle and the car are moving at the same velocity (5 m/s), the car has significantly more mass than the bicycle. As a result, the car has more kinetic energy than the bicycle, even though their speeds are identical. Therefore, choice B is correct. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not consider the influence of mass on kinetic energy. Choice A is incorrect as the car has more kinetic energy due to its greater mass. Choice C is incorrect because the vehicles have different masses. Choice D is incorrect as both the bicycle and the car possess kinetic energy.
Question 2 of 9
Which of the following describes a vector quantity?
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.
Question 3 of 9
In fluid machinery, pumps are designed to primarily increase the fluid's:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Pumps in fluid machinery are designed to primarily increase the fluid's pressure. This increase in pressure allows the fluid to flow through the system efficiently and overcome resistance. While pumps can also impact the velocity of the fluid to some extent, their main function is to elevate the pressure to facilitate the movement of the fluid within the system. Choice B is incorrect because pumps do not focus solely on increasing velocity. Choice C is incorrect as while pumps can affect velocity, their primary purpose is to boost pressure. Choice D is incorrect as pumps aim to increase either the pressure, velocity, or both.
Question 4 of 9
Why are boats more buoyant in salt water than in fresh water?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Salt increases the density of water, making saltwater more buoyant than freshwater. The higher density of saltwater provides more lift to a boat, enabling it to float more easily compared to in freshwater. Choice A is incorrect because salt does not affect the mass of the boats. Choice B is incorrect as salt does not increase the volume of water. Choice C is incorrect since salt affects the density of water, not the boats themselves. Therefore, the correct answer is that salt increases the density of the water, resulting in boats being more buoyant in salt water than in fresh water.
Question 5 of 9
Surface tension, γ, is a property of fluids arising from:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Surface tension, represented by symbol γ, is caused by the cohesive forces between molecules in a liquid. These intermolecular forces, such as Van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and dipole-dipole interactions, create a 'skin' at the surface of the liquid, giving rise to the property of surface tension. Gravitational attraction, viscous dissipation, and pressure differentials within the fluid do not directly contribute to surface tension. Therefore, the correct answer is A.
Question 6 of 9
Two objects attract each other with a gravitational force of 12 units. If you double the mass of both objects, what is the new force of attraction between them?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses. When you double the masses of both objects, the force of attraction between them increases by a factor of 2 x 2 = 4. Therefore, the new force of attraction between the two objects will be 12 units x 4 = 24 units. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because doubling the mass results in a quadruple increase in force, not a linear one.
Question 7 of 9
In physics, the relationship between acceleration and force is expressed in ___________.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The relationship between acceleration and force is expressed in Newton's second law of motion. This law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object and inversely proportional to the object's mass. Mathematically, this relationship is represented as F = ma, where F is the force, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration. Choice A, Newton's first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. Choice C, Newton's third law of motion, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, focusing on the interaction between two objects. Choice D is incorrect because the relationship between acceleration and force is indeed described by one of Newton's laws of motion, specifically the second law.
Question 8 of 9
A 5-cm candle is placed 20 cm away from a concave mirror with a focal length of 10 cm. What is the image distance of the candle?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: To find the image distance of the candle, we use the mirror formula: 1/f = 1/do + 1/di, where f is the focal length, do is the object distance, and di is the image distance. In this case, the focal length f = 10 cm and the object distance do = 20 cm. Substituting these values into the formula gives us 1/10 = 1/20 + 1/di. Solving for di, we get di = 60 cm. Therefore, the image distance of the candle is 60 cm. Choice A (20 cm) is incorrect because it represents the object distance, not the image distance. Choice B (40 cm) is incorrect as it does not consider the mirror formula calculation. Choice D (75 cm) is incorrect as it does not match the correct calculation based on the mirror formula.
Question 9 of 9
An airplane travels 500 miles northeast and then, on the return trip, travels 500 miles southwest. Which of the following is true?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The displacement of an object is the change in position from the starting point to the ending point, regardless of the path taken. In this case, the airplane returns to its original position after traveling 500 miles northeast and then 500 miles southwest. Therefore, the displacement is 0 miles. However, the distance traveled is the total path covered, which is 500 miles northeast plus 500 miles southwest, for a total of 1,000 miles. Choice A is incorrect because the displacement is not the sum of the distances traveled. Choice B is incorrect as it incorrectly states that both the displacement and the distance traveled are 1,000 miles. Choice C is incorrect as it states that both the displacement and the distance traveled are 0 miles, which is not the case.