What is the purpose of a switch in a circuit?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The purpose of a switch in a circuit is to allow the circuit to open and close. When the switch is turned on, it provides a complete path for the current to flow through the circuit. When the switch is turned off, it breaks the circuit, stopping the flow of current. This function of opening and closing the circuit using a switch is essential for controlling the flow of electricity in various electrical devices and systems. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because a switch does not reverse the direction of current, increase voltage, or increase resistance in a circuit; its primary function is to open and close the circuit.

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.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Bernoulli's principle states that the sum of pressure energy (P), kinetic energy per unit volume (½Ïv²), and potential energy per unit volume remains constant along a streamline in an incompressible, inviscid fluid. This means the total mechanical energy of the fluid is conserved, making Choice C the correct answer. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because Bernoulli's principle involves the conservation of the total mechanical energy, not just pressure, velocity, or density alone.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The spring constant (k) can be calculated using Hooke's Law formula: F = -kx, where F is the force applied, k is the spring constant, and x is the displacement from equilibrium. In this case, the force applied is equal to the weight of the block, F = mg, where m = mass of the block = 5 kg and g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s^2. The displacement x = 10 cm = 0.1 m. Substituting the values, we have: 5 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 = k * 0.1 m. Solving for k gives k = 5 * 9.8 / 0.1 = 49 N/m. Therefore, the spring constant for this spring is 49 N/cm. Choice A (4.9 N/cm) is incorrect because it is one decimal place lower than the correct answer. Choice B (9.8 N/cm) is incorrect as it does not account for the correct calculation based on the given information. Choice D (50 N/cm) is incorrect because it is slightly higher than the accurate value obtained through the calculations.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The magnification formula for a mirror is given by M = -f / (f - d), where f is the focal length of the mirror, and d is the object distance from the mirror. Using the mirror equation and magnification formula, the image height is found to be negative because it is inverted. Plugging in the values (f = 15 cm, d = 20 cm) into the formula gives M = -15 / (15 - 20) = -15 / -5 = 3. The negative sign indicates that the image is inverted. The image height is then calculated by multiplying the magnification by the object height: 3 * 5 cm = 15 cm. Therefore, the correct image height is approximately -15 cm. Choice A (30.5 cm) and Choice D (-30.5 cm) are incorrect as they do not consider the inversion of the image. Choice C (-15 cm) is also incorrect because it neglects the negative sign, which indicates the inversion of the image.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: To calculate the current being drawn, use the formula I = P / V, where I is the current, P is the power in watts, and V is the voltage. Substituting the given values, I = 60 / 110 ≈ 0.55 amperes. Therefore, the current being drawn by the 60-watt lightbulb is approximately 0.55 amperes. Choice B, 1.83 amperes, is incorrect as it does not match the calculated value. Choices C and D, 50 amperes and 6,600 amperes, are significantly higher values and do not align with the expected current draw of a 60-watt lightbulb powered by a 110-volt source.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: A transverse wave does not have a compression because transverse waves move perpendicular to the direction of the oscillation. In a transverse wave, the particles move up and down, causing crests and troughs, without creating compressions. Compressions are characteristic of longitudinal waves where the particles move parallel to the direction of the wave. The other choices (B, C, and D) are characteristics that transverse waves possess: amplitude is the maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position, frequency is the number of complete oscillations a wave makes in a given time, and wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points in a wave that are in the same phase.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The wire with the greatest resistance is the one with the smallest diameter, as resistance is inversely proportional to cross-sectional area. Gauge 4 with a 5.19 mm diameter has the smallest diameter and, therefore, the greatest resistance. Choice A, B, and C have larger diameters compared to choice D, so they would have lower resistance values.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: A reversible process is an idealized process that can be reversed without leaving any change in either the system or the surroundings. In contrast, irreversible processes cannot be reversed and often involve entropy production or dissipation. Choice A is incorrect because both reversible and irreversible processes can involve heat transfer. Choice B is incorrect as the speed of a process does not determine its reversibility. Choice D is incorrect because reversible processes do not violate the first law of thermodynamics; they comply with it by maintaining a balance between energy inputs and outputs. Therefore, the correct answer is C, as it accurately captures the main difference between reversible and irreversible processes in thermodynamics.