HESI A2
HESI A2 Physics Practice Test
1. What is the phenomenon by which light bends as it passes through a prism known as?
- A. Reflection
- B. Electrical conduction
- C. Diffraction
- D. Refraction
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Refraction is the phenomenon by which light bends as it passes through a prism or any other medium boundary. When light transitions from one medium to another, such as air to glass in the case of a prism, it changes speed and direction due to the change in the medium's refractive index. This change in speed causes the light to bend. Reflection, on the other hand, is the bouncing back of light when it hits a surface. Diffraction refers to the bending of light around obstacles or through narrow openings. Electrical conduction involves the movement of electrically charged particles through a conductor, which is unrelated to the bending of light.
2. Which characteristic does a transverse wave not have?
- A. a compression
- B. an amplitude
- C. a frequency
- D. a wavelength
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.
3. In fluid dynamics, the continuity equation, a fundamental principle, expresses the conservation of:
- A. Momentum
- B. Mass
- C. Energy
- D. Angular momentum
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The continuity equation in fluid dynamics is a statement of the conservation of mass, making choice B the correct answer. It states that the mass entering a system must equal the mass leaving the system, assuming no mass is created or destroyed within the system. Conservation of momentum (choice A) is related to Newton's laws of motion and is not directly expressed by the continuity equation. Conservation of energy (choice C) involves different principles like the first law of thermodynamics and is not the focus of the continuity equation. Angular momentum (choice D) is also a different concept related to rotational motion and not described by the continuity equation.
4. Which of the following is NOT a mode of heat transfer between a system and its surroundings?
- A. Conduction
- B. Convection
- C. Radiation
- D. Isothermalization
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Isothermalization is not a mode of heat transfer. The three main modes of heat transfer are conduction (through direct contact), convection (through fluid motion), and radiation (through electromagnetic waves). In this question, choice A, conduction, is not a mode of heat transfer between a system and its surroundings. Conduction refers to heat transfer through direct contact between particles, without the movement of the particles themselves. Therefore, A is the correct answer. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they represent valid modes of heat transfer.
5. What is the primary factor responsible for generating lift on an airplane wing?
- A. Propulsion force generated by the engines
- B. Buoyant forces acting on the entire aircraft
- C. Drag reduction achieved through streamlining
- D. Application of Bernoulli's principle to the airfoil's shape
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The primary factor responsible for generating lift on an airplane wing is the application of Bernoulli's principle. This principle states that the air moving over the curved top surface of the wing has to travel faster, leading to reduced pressure above the wing and creating lift. Engines provide thrust for propulsion, not lift. Buoyant forces are more relevant to lighter-than-air aircraft like balloons or airships, not airplanes. While drag reduction through streamlining is important for efficiency, it is not the primary factor in lift generation. Therefore, the correct answer is D.
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