Matter, Measurement, Force & Energy (Physics) — Practice

Question 1

Rohit pours 200 mL of water into a round bowl and then into a rectangular container. Does the volume change? Does the shape change? Which state of matter does water represent?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: Volume: 200 mL remains 200 mL in both containers — volume does NOT change. Shape: water takes the shape of whichever container it is in — shape DOES change. Water is a LIQUID. Key property: liquids have a fixed volume but no fixed shape.

Question 2

A student measures: length of a table (3 m), mass of a book (0.5 kg), time to read a chapter (20 min). Identify the physical quantity and SI unit for each. Is 'minute' an SI unit of time?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: Length of table → Physical quantity: Length → SI unit: metre (m). Mass of book → Physical quantity: Mass → SI unit: kilogram (kg). Time to read → Physical quantity: Time → SI unit: second (s). 'Minute' is NOT the SI unit of time. 20 minutes = 1200 seconds.

Question 3

A goalkeeper kicks a ball already moving toward her goal, redirecting it out of play. How many effects of force are demonstrated? Name them.

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: TWO effects are demonstrated simultaneously. (1) Changing the direction of motion — the ball's path is deflected away from the goal. (2) Changing the speed — the force from the kick changes how fast the ball moves.

Question 4

Classify each as (i) contact or non-contact and (ii) name the force type: (a) Gravity pulls a book down. (b) A comb rubbed on hair attracts paper bits. (c) A child pushes a swing.

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: (a) Gravity: NON-CONTACT force. Type: GRAVITATIONAL force. (b) Comb attracting paper: NON-CONTACT force. Type: ELECTROSTATIC force (static electricity built up by rubbing). (c) Child pushing swing: CONTACT force. Type: MUSCULAR force.

Question 5

Name the form(s) of energy present in each: (a) an arrow held in a stretched bow, (b) a fan rotating with its motor running, (c) a log burning in a fireplace.

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: (a) Stretched bow: ELASTIC POTENTIAL energy stored in the bow; arrow has GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL energy (ready to convert to kinetic when released). (b) Rotating fan: KINETIC energy (blades moving) + ELECTRICAL energy consumed by motor. (c) Burning log: CHEMICAL energy → HEAT energy + LIGHT energy.

Question 6

Trace the energy transformation in a hydroelectric power station, starting from water stored in a dam.

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: Water stored at height → GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL energy. Water falls through pipes → KINETIC energy. Moving water spins turbines → MECHANICAL (kinetic) energy. Turbines drive generators → ELECTRICAL energy. Electrical energy reaches homes → LIGHT, HEAT, SOUND energy in appliances. Full chain: Gravitational Potential → Kinetic → Electrical → Light/Heat/Sound.

Question 7

Explain why solar eclipses are less commonly seen from any given location than lunar eclipses, even though solar eclipses happen slightly more often per year globally.

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's shadow (umbra) falls on Earth. The Moon is small compared to the Sun, so its umbra covers only a narrow strip of Earth's surface (a few hundred km wide). Only people in that strip see the total solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth's shadow falls on the Moon. Earth is much larger than the Moon, so its shadow covers the entire Moon — visible to anyone on the night-side (half the planet) simultaneously. Conclusion: Solar eclipses happen globally but fall on tiny strips of land; lunar eclipses are visible to billions at once. So while solar eclipses may be globally more frequent, the chance of being in the right narrow path is very low.

Question 8

Aisha places the north pole of a magnet near the south pole of another magnet, then near a north pole. Describe what happens in each case and state the law used.

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: Case 1 (North near South): Magnets ATTRACT and pull together. Law: Unlike poles attract. Case 2 (North near North): Magnets REPEL and push apart. Law: Like poles repel.

Practice — Matter, Measurement, Force & Energy (Physics)

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