Science Physical Science Flashcards
6 cards from real GED practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Science Physical Science flashcards as text
According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, what happens to the acceleration of an object if the force applied to it is doubled while the mass stays the same?
Answer: Acceleration doubles
Newton's Second Law: F = ma, or a = F/m. If force doubles and mass is constant, acceleration doubles.
What is the difference between a physical change and a chemical change?
Answer: A chemical change produces a new substance; a physical change does not alter chemical composition
A chemical change creates new substances with different chemical properties (e.g., burning wood). A physical change alters form or appearance but not chemical composition (e.g., cutting wood).
Which statement correctly describes the conservation of mass?
Answer: The total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products in a chemical reaction
The Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction — the total mass of reactants always equals the total mass of products.
What type of wave is a sound wave?
Answer: Longitudinal wave
Sound is a longitudinal wave — the medium's particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel, creating alternating compressions and rarefactions.
An atom has 8 protons, 8 neutrons, and 8 electrons. What element is this, and what is its atomic mass?
Answer: Oxygen with atomic mass 16
The atomic number (number of protons) = 8 identifies the element as Oxygen (O). Atomic mass ≈ protons + neutrons = 8 + 8 = 16.
A student pushes a 10 kg box across a floor with a force of 50 N. The box does not move. What can you conclude?
Answer: The friction force equals or exceeds 50 N
If the box doesn't move, it's in equilibrium — net force = 0. This means friction must be at least equal to the applied force (50 N) to prevent motion.