GED Physical Science

TEST (2)
66 Question | 120 minutes

1. Which of the following tables correctly predicts the acceleration for each test if the mass of the cart was increased
to 15kg?

Newton’s Second Law of Motion – Pulley Experiment

Molly set up an experiment in which a cart weighing 5 kilograms was attached to a pulley. She then applied a different
force on the cart in each of the four tests. The results can be found in the table. She hypothesized that her data would
be consistent with Newton’s Second Law of Motion, which is represented by the following equation:
f = ma
F is the force applied to an object, m is mass of the object, and a is the acceleration of the object.

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

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 2. What is the approximate melting point of lithium?
Heating Curve of Lithium

The graph shows a

science experiment in
which a sample of
solid Lithium is
heated at a constant
rate.

During both the

melting and boiling
phase changes, it was
observed that the
temperature remained
the same.

(A) – 500C
(B) 200C
(C) 1,000C
(D) 2,500C

3. Suppose the researcher wanted to see how the starting height could affect the potential energy of the marble in the
experiment. For the next experiment, the marble is pulled back to an initial height of 38 cm above the ground.
Choose the term that best completes the following sentence:

In the researcher’s set of experiments, potential energy functions as the _____ variable.

Marble on a String Experiment

A marble is tied to a string and taped to the underside of a table so it can

swing freely. The marble is pulled back to point A, 36 cm above the
ground, and then released. On the first swing, the marble passes points B
and C. It continues to point D, at which point the marble pauses before
starting to swing back towards its starting point. At point D, the marble is
located 32 cm above the ground.

Assume that the following table lists all relevant energy types present in
the experiment.

Type of Energy Definition

the energy an object has based on its position or

potential energy
elevation
the energy an object or body possesses due to its
kinetic energy
motion
mechanical
the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy
energy

(A) constant
(B) control

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 (C) dependent
(D) independent

4. A small amount of solid NaCl is dropped in a beaker of water. What will happen?
Chemical Solubility Rules

If a compound is soluble, it will dissolve in a solution (Ex: salt in water). If it is insoluble, it will stay as a solid and
usually settle at the bottom of the solution (Ex: sand in water).

Scientists have determined a list of solubility rules to predict whether a compound will be soluble or insoluble in
water.

The following is a small selection of those rules:

 Compounds that contain Group I elements (Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+ and Rb+ ) are soluble.
 Compounds that contain 𝑁𝑂3− or C2H3O2  are soluble.
 Compounds that contain Cl, Br , or I are soluble, unless the compound also contains Ag+, Pb2+, or (Hg)2+
 Compounds that contain OH are insoluble, unless the compound also contains Na+ or K+.
(A) The NaCl will dissolve in the and
break apart into ions of Na+ and Cl

(B) The NaCl will dissolve in the water and

then form solid NaOH and gaseous HCl.

(C) The NaCl will stay as a solid and

sink to the bottom of the beaker.

(D) The NaCl will stay as a solid

and float to the top of the beaker.

5. Midge is conducting an experiment to see if objects with more mass fall at a faster rate. She has a volleyball, a bowling
ball, and a soccer ball of approximately the same size. She weighs each ball to be sure they all have a different mass,
then drops each of the balls from a height of 15 ft. and records the time it takes for each to hit the ground.
Which of the following is her dependent variable?

(A) the height from which she drops the balls

(B) the mass of each ball
(C) the time it takes for each ball to hit the ground
(D) the type of ball she drops

6. The plot below, called a phase diagram, show several phases of water that exist at different temperatures and pressure.
Solid red lines show where conversion from one phase to another take place. At one location in North America in
winter, water has a temperature of – 10C at a pressure of 1 atm. Which resulting phase change will occur if the water
experiences a large decrease in pressure but no change in temperature?

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 (A) the water will convert to ice I.
(B) the water will convert to liquid.
(C) the water will convert to vapour.
(D) the wate will convert to ice III.
7. This phase diagram shows several phases of a substance based on temperature and pressure. In a certain environment,
this substance has a temperature of 4000K at 0.1 GPa of pressure. Which resulting change will occur with a large
increase in pressure with no change in temperature.

(A) It will turn into a gas.

(B) It will turn into a liquid.
(C) It will remain graphite.
(D) It turn into a diamond.
8. Carbon-14 dating is accurate for estimating the age of certain objects that were used in the relatively recent past by
human activities.
If 4 objects were sampled, what is a weakness of the sampling techniques?

(A) carbon-14 is exponentially decreasing, which nullifies the data.

(B) choosing objects that are much older would yield the best results.
(C) samples sites may have been from different locations.

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 (D) one sample is outside of the acceptable range of this technique.
9. In a laboratory, the concentration for a solution is measured in molarity, which is the number of moles per liter (mol/L).
Suppose 0.4 moles of NaCl have been dissolved in some water. There are 8,0L of the resulting solution.
What is the molarity (mol/L) of NaCl in water?
(A) 0.05
(B) 0.20
(C) 8.40
(D) 20.4

10. Sodium reacts with oxygen to form sodium oxide, a common ingredient in ceramics and glassware. The balanced
chemical equation is shown down below in the picture.
Which statement about this process is true?

(A) one unit of sodium is consumed, producing two units of sodium oxide.
(B) one unit of oxygen is consumed, producing two units of sodium oxide.
(C) two unit of oxygen is consumed, producing four units of sodium oxide.
(D) four unit of oxygen is consumed, producing one units of sodium oxide.

11. Mattress companies use polymers that can withstand stress. This data was collected to see how well different materials
can withstand stress.
Weight was placed on top of the mattresses and the displacement was recorded. Assume weight and displacement are
directly proportional based on material.
Which conclusion can be drawn?

(A) there are nine materials because there are nine data points.
(B) there are three materials because the data falls on three lines.
(C) these are from the same material since there’s a positive correlation.
(D) these are from four materials since the data forms four groups
12. Exo-planets are planets that orbit stars outside of our own solar systems.
What is the mean number of exo-planets discovered during this time period?

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 Year Exoplanets Discovered
2013 205
2014 833
2015 196
1016 1478

(A) 519
(B) 645
(C) 678
(D) 1603
13. Read this paragraph about the benefits of a green roof.
A green roof is created by adding soil and plants to a specially designed roof. Scientific research has shown that a green
roof has many benefits compared with traditional roofs. Plants naturally absorb energy from the Sun and convert it into
chemical energy that is stored in the bonds of sugars during photosynthesis. The soil materials also help insulate the
building. In addition, a green roof helps control runoff as plant roots absorb rainwater. If local plants are used in the
green roof, it may provide habitat for native species.
Which sentence from the paragraph supports the idea that green roofs can help reduce cooling costs?
(A) “Scientific research has shown that a green roof has many benefits compared with traditional roofs.”
(B) “Plants naturally absorb energy from the Sun and convert it into chemical energy that is stored in the bonds of
sugars during photosynthesis.”
(C) “The soil materials also help insulate the building.”
(D) “In addition, a green roof helps control runoff as plant roots absorb rainwater.”
14. Oil is a fossil fuel. The table below shows the oil reserves in five countries.
Oil reserves (Billion barrels)
What is the median of the data?
Country Oil reserves
(Billion barrels)
Iran 137
Iraq 115
Kuwait 104
Saudi Arabia 263
United Arab Emirates 98

(A) 115.0
(B) 143.3
(C) 165.0
(D) 80.5
15. Unstable traffic flow occurs when drivers accelerate and brake too often. Unstable traffic flow wastes energy.
What is the mean speed, in km/h, in this situation?

Time (pm) 4:00 4:10 4:20 4:30 4:40 4:50 5:00

Speed (km/h) 30 20 50 70 20 70 20

The table above gives one example of traffic speeds, in km/h, in an unstable flow situation
(A) 20
(B) 30
(C) 40
(D) 50
16. Scientists today are studying tidal power as an alternative energy source for generating electricity. Some scientists
conclude that tidal power is a good alternative source of energy because it uses a natural process, does not rely on fossil

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 fuels, and does not release greenhouse gases. These scientists recommend building tidal power plants around the US
in locations with high tidal power potential.

Other scientists conclude that tidal power is not a good alternative energy source because tidal power plants can
negatively impact the surrounding ecosystem by killing marine animals, restricting fish migration, reducing the natural
flow of water, and causing silt buildup in waterways. These scientists recommend not buildup in waterways. These
scientists recommend not building tidal power plants in US waterways.
Both conclusions are based on valid data and scientific reasoning. How can both conclusions be valid?
(A) the two groups of scientists believe different theories about the process of generating electricity.
(B) the two groups of scientists are looking at different specific aspects of the same scientific problem.
(C) the two groups of scientists collect and analyze data about all types of possible alternative energy sources
(D) the two groups of scientists have different opinions about the overall impact of tidal power on the environment.
17. A group of scientists studied the environmental impact of internal combustion engines burning hydrocarbon fuels. The
scientists equipped four vehicles with devices to capture and measure particulate emissions. One vehicle burned
ordinary gasoline, one burned a gasoline/ethanol mixture, and one burned natural gas. The four vehicles had equal
masses and carried identical cargo. The scientists drove each vehicle 400 km, recording the volume of fuel burned and
the quantity of particulate emissions generated.
What is the independent variable in this experiment?
(A) fuel type
(B) distance travelled
(C) mass of vehicle and cargo
(D) quantity of particulate emissions
18. Peat is mixture of partially decomposed plant and animal material found in waterlogged, acidic, anaerobic
environments. People debate whether pear is a fossil fuel. To be considered a fossil fuel, a material must be of biologic
origin, be used as a source of energy, and replenish on a time scale greater than human lifetimes. Peat reserves have
declined over time. However, peat harvesters claim that a restoration process can make peat a renewable resource and
allow it to be classified as a biofuel. The restoration process is outlined in the table.
Which conclusion can be drawn based on the information in the table?

Stages of Peat land Restoration

Stage Description Time
Rewetting Makes surface wet again 3-5 years
Renaturation Replaces vegetation Several decades
Regeneration Accumulates new peat 100 years or more

(A) peat is a fossil fuel because rewetting it takes only 3-5 years.
(B) peat is a fossil fuel because the total time for restoration is lengthy
(C) peat is not a fossil fuel because it has biologic origins, making it a biofuel.
(D) peat is not a fossil fuel because human can promote the replenishment of peat.

19. Hurricanes are large, rotating storms powered by the heat energy of the ocean and the atmosphere. The strength of a
hurricane is described by a category 1 being the weakest and category 5 being the strongest.
Many scientists hypothesize that global warming is increasing the number of hurricanes. The graphs below show the
number of hurricanes and the change in temperature from 1870 to 2005.

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 Why do the data support or refute the scientists’ hypothesis that global warming is causing an increase in hurricanes?

(A) the data refute the hypothesis because there is not a direct match between temperature change and number of
hurricanes.
(B) the data support the hypothesis because when yearly temperature deviations are below normal the yearly number
of hurricanes decreases.
(C) the data refute the hypothesis because the yearly change in temperature appears to be random when compared with
the number of hurricanes.
(D) the data support the hypothesis because the trend of increasing number of hurricanes matches the trend of
increasing global temperature change.
20. In a laboratory setting, concentrations for solutions are measured in molarity, which is the number of moles per liters
(mol/L). Concentrations are often converted to more common units on the labels of household products. For a particular
brand of bleach, the concentration of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is reported on the bottle as 7.25% by mass. The
following information can thus be used to calculate the molarity of NaClO in the bleach:
 1L of bleach has a mass of 1,100 g.
 7.25% of the mass of bleach is NaClO
 1 mol of NaClO has a mass of 74,44 g
What is the molarity of NaClO in the bleach?
(A) 0.097
(B) 0.93
(C) 1.07
(D) 79.75

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 Questions 21 and 22 refer to the following.

1 The location of ancient ruins can challenge archaeologists who wish to excavate and understand them. For
example, reaching the Mayan ruins at Caracol on the Vaca Plateau in Belize initially required hiking to a remote
location within a rainforest. But with a measuring technology called lidar (Light Detection And Ranging)
archaeologists can produce a highly accurate three-dimensional map of 80 sq.miles of rainforest in a few weeks.
2 Lidar is similar to radar, which measures distance by sending out radio waves. Radio waves from a radar device
travel to the target area at the speed of light (300 million m/s and bounce back). The device measures how long
the round-trip takes. The duration of the round-trip is multiplied by the speed of light to calculate the total distance
the radio waves traveled to and from the target area.
3 Instead of using radio waves, lidar uses a laser to send out pulses of light in the infrared to ultraviolet range. To
map the Mayan ruins at Caracol, an airplane flew back and forth over the site while the lidar device fired 50,000
~ 150,000 laser light pulses per second. These pulses reflected off the target area, including some pulses that
penetrated the forest canopy. When the pulses returned, the lidar device detected them. At the same time, a global
positioning and navigation system recorded the airplane’s position and orientation in the air. Using this
information, lidar calculated the distance from each object it scanned, and thus each object’s elevation. The graph
shows an example of raw lidar data collected during this study. The data were generated from any object that
caused the lidar light pulses to be reflected off the target areas, such as trees or human-made structures.
4 In addition to its use in archaeology, lidar is used to map geologic faults, flood plains and coastal areas. It is also
used in forestry, transportation studies and ocean research.

21. Which statement describes a difference between radar and lidar according to the passage.

(A) Radar uses radio waves, whereas lidar uses pulses of light
(B) Lidar is an important measuring/ mapping technique, whereas radar is not.
(C) Lidar is used to map archaeological sites, whereas radar is used to map coastal areas.
(D) Radar requires the use of multiple passes over a site, whereas lidar requires only one pass.
22. Which statement from the passage provides the best evidence that a computer is used to record and process lidar data?
(A) “Lidar is similar to radar, which measures distance by sending out radio waves.” (paragraph 2)
(B) “The duration of the round-trip is multiplied by the speed of light to calculate the total distance the radio waves
traveled to and from the target area.” (paragraph 2)
(C) “To map the Mayan ruins at Caracol, an airplane flew back and forth over the site while the lidar device fired
50,000 ~ 150,000 laser light pulses per second.” (paragraph 3)
(D) “In addition to its use in archaeology, lidar is used to map geologic faults, flood plains and coastal areas.”
(paragraph 4)
23. An Earth Scientist is testing how stiff scoring and growth. She begins with 10 soil types. For each mixture, she
combines equal amounts of 2 soil types.
How many sail mixtures must the scientist create in order to test all possible combinations of the 10 soil types?
(A) 20
(B) 45
(C) 55
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 (D) 90
24. Mechanical advantage (MA) is a measure of how much a machine multiplies the input force applied to it to produce
work. Mechanical advantage can be calculated by using the formula shown below.
MA = output force/input force
A crate required 900 N of force to lift. The crate was lifted by a forklift with an engine that provided 225N of force.
What is the mechanical advantage of the forklift?
(A) 0.25
(B) 4
(C) 1,125
(D) 202,500
25. The table below compares the energy requirements of three display technologies for e-reader devices.
Based on the table, IMOD technology is ……… times more energy efficient than LCD technology.

Energy Use Comparison in e-reader Display Technology

Technology Electronic lnk Liquid crystal Display Interferometric modular display (IMOD)
Appearance Black and white Color Color
Average Battery Life 40 days 10 hours 5 days

………..………..
26. Scientists recently found a way to make an inexpensive hydrogen production has some similarities with photosynthesis.
This process of hydrogen production has some similarities with photosynthesis. In plants, photosynthesis uses energy
from the Sun to chemically combine water and carbon dioxide into sugar and oxygen gas. The sugar is then used as a
fuel source for the plant and organisms that consume the plant.
To produce hydrogen, scientists mixed extremely small particles of cadmium and selenium, which emit electrons when
exposed to light, and ascorbic acid, a chemical that produces hydrogen ions when it decomposes. The scientists used a
nickel catalyst, which causes the emitted electrons to combine with the hydrogen ions and form hydrogen gas. This
reaction was continuous, and after two weeks, the hydrogen gas was still being produced. The scientists hope this will
be a viable fuel source in the future.
Which comparison of this new process of hydrogen production and photosynthesis is supported by the information
provided?
(A) the new process is more efficient than photosynthesis.
(B) both processes change light energy to chemical energy.
(C) both processes result in the production of hydrogen gas.
(D) the new processes emits more electrons than photosynthesis
27. This table shows a list of the top oil-producing countries in 2020 (in million metric tons)
What is the median oil production for this data?

Country Oil Production

Saudi Arabia 500
Iraq 202
Canada 253
US 744
Russia 512

(A) 253.0
(B) 442.2
(C) 500.0
(D) 542.0
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28. To get rid of dirt and grime, toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid (HCl)
1L of toilet bowl cleaner has a mass of 1,050 g
8.5% of the mass of toilet bowl cleaner is HCl
1 mol of HCl has a mass of 36.5g
What is the molarity (mol/L) of HCl in the cleaner?
(A) 0.03
(B) 32
(C) 2.4
(D) 28
29. Mechanical advantage (MA) is a measure of how force is amplified by using a tool.
A force of 204N is applied to the handles of a wheelbarrow to move it. If the total weight of the wheelbarrow is 530.4N,
what is the mechanical advantage of the wheelbarrow?
MA = output force/input force
(A) 0.38
(B) 3.8
(C) 3.2
(D) 2.6
30. The table compares how long it takes three cell phone chargers to charge a phone.

Model Time to Fully Charge

1 2.5hrs
2 30 min
3 2 hrs.

Based on the table, modal 2 is …………. times more efficient than modal 1.

31. Moving objects, such as automobiles, have kinetic energy, which is measured in joules. This energy can be calculated
using the following formula.
KE = ½ mv2
A person drives an automobile with a mass of 450kg at a velocity of 26m/s. The driver accelerates to a velocity of
30m/s.
The difference in the automobile’s kinetic energy between the two velocities is ……. joules.
(A) 45,900
(B) 50,400
(C) 54,000
(D) 54,900
32. A news reporter in a city with several carbon-emitting power plants wanted to see whether local temperatures matched
trends in global climate change. She focused on the four coldest months of the year.
The table shows local temperature data from November through February for the two consecutive cold seasons checked
by the reporter.

How did the mean temperature change between the two cold seasons?
You may use the calculator.
(A) went down by 1.4
(B) went up by 0.3
(C) went up by 0.94
(D) went up by 3.74
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33. Ocean acidification occurs as the pH in seawater decreases. Ocean pH data is shown in the table and map. Does the
global map data support or contradict the data table?

Year Average Ocean pH

1970 8.13
1975 8.12
1980 8.11
1985 8.11
1990 8.10

(A) the map contradicts the data table since there is no change in pH at certain locations.
(B) the map supports the data table since there are only a few locations of extreme change.
(C) the map contradicts the data table since there are negative values provided.
(D) the map supports the data table since it shows an overall trend of decreasing pH.

34. One way to determine the age of Earth is to measure the ratio of certain radioactive elements
The table below shows data for two isotopes of chlorine. The data in the “% Abundance” column represents the
likelihood that any given atom of chlorine is a particular isotopes.
What is the weighted average mass of chlorine?
You may use the calculator.

(A) 26.50
(B) 34.97
(C) 35.45
(D) 35.97

35. Springs have potential energy when stretched or compressed. PE = ½ kx2

where k is the spring constant. (N/m) and x is the stretch (in meters)
If a slinky toy has a spring constant of 4N/m, then what is the difference in potential energy when it is stretched from
0.6m to 0.8m?
………….…
36. The color of light can be expressed in terms of either frequency (v) of wavelength (), which has units of nanometers
(nm). The equation that relates the frequency and wavelength of light with the speed of light (c) is

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 𝑐
v=𝜆
The speed of light is a constant and approximately equal to 300,000,000 meters per second.
Green lasers emit light at a wavelength of 532 nm. However, the material that is used to make most green lasers does
not emit light at 532nm. Instead, it emits light at a different wavelength, and the laser then uses a “frequency double”
This doubles the frequency of the emitted light, and the resultant light is the green 532 nm that we observe.
1 meter is equal to 1,000,000,000 nanometers.
What is the output light frequency of the material used before doubling?
(A) 1.8x1014 Hz
(B) 2.8x1014 Hz
(C) 5.6x1014 Hz
(D) 1.1x1015 Hz

37. This table shows two isotopes of sulphur.

What is the weighted average mass of sulphur?

Isotopes Mass %Abundance

32
S 31.97 94.9
34
S 33.97 4.29

(A) 32.97
(B) 32.66
(C) 31.80
(D) 49.60

38. What is the average bone density (g/cm3) for the data sample provided?

Sample Mass (g) Volume (cm3)

1 4.5 14.5
2 7.3 23.9
3 2.9 9.4

(A) 3.2
(B) 0.31
(C) 0.37
(D) 0.03

39. The data shows the number of birds killed annually due to cats, and collisions with buildings, cars, turbines.
If 3,800 birds were tracked in this experiment, what is the probability of a bird being killed by a cat?

Cause of death Cats Buildings Cars Turbines

Number of birth 550 110 65 12

(A) 55%
(B) 37%
(C) 22%
(D) 14%
40. The kinetic energy of an object depends on the mass, m, velocity, v, of the object.
KE = ½ mv2
A 3kg mass bowling ball is bowled with a velocity of 6m/s then with a velocity of 8m/s
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 What is the difference in kinetic energy between the two bowls?
(A) 42
(B) 54
(C) 36
(D) 63

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