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ASVAB Practice Test · General Science

ASVAB Practice Test: Physical Science Concepts

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Written by AI. Only units that passed a separate AI check (re-reading facts and numbers) are published. Tell us if you find a mistake.

Overview

This chapter covers matter and energy: what things are made of and how they move, heat up, and make light and sound. Most questions test a basic rule or a definition, so learn the terms and a few simple formulas.

All matter is made of atoms. An atom has a nucleus with protons, which have a positive charge, and neutrons, which have no charge. Electrons, with a negative charge, move around the nucleus. Matter is usually found as a solid, a liquid, or a gas, and adding or removing heat changes it from one state to another.

A force is a push or a pull. Newton's laws say that an object keeps doing what it is doing unless a force acts on it, that force equals mass times acceleration, and that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Energy can change form, for example from stored energy to motion, but it is not created or destroyed.

Heat moves in three ways: conduction through direct touch, convection through moving liquids or gases, and radiation through waves, such as heat from the sun. Sound is a wave that needs a medium such as air or water, so it cannot travel through a vacuum. Light can travel through empty space and moves much faster than sound.

Key concepts

  • Parts of an atom

    Protons (positive charge) and neutrons (no charge) are in the nucleus. Electrons (negative charge) move around the nucleus. The number of protons tells which element it is.

    Memory tipProton = positive, neutron = neutral.

  • States of matter

    A solid keeps its shape. A liquid takes the shape of its container but keeps its volume. A gas fills its whole container. Melting, freezing, boiling, and condensing change the state.

    Memory tipCondensing is gas turning back into liquid.

  • Newton's three laws

    1) An object stays at rest or keeps moving unless a force acts on it (inertia). 2) Force = mass x acceleration. 3) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

    Memory tipInertia, F = m x a, action-reaction.

  • Potential and kinetic energy

    Potential energy is stored energy, such as a rock held high. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. When the rock falls, potential energy turns into kinetic energy.

    Memory tipKinetic = moving.

  • Heat transfer

    Conduction moves heat through direct contact. Convection moves heat by the flow of a liquid or gas. Radiation moves heat as waves and needs no material, like sunlight.

    Memory tipTouch, flow, or waves.

  • Sound and light

    Sound is a vibration that travels through a medium such as air, water, or solids. It cannot travel in a vacuum. Light can travel through empty space and is much faster than sound.

    Memory tipYou see lightning before you hear thunder.

Often tested

  • Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus.
  • Sound cannot travel through a vacuum.
  • Force = mass x acceleration.
  • Energy changes form but is not created or destroyed.
  • Light travels faster than sound.

Easy to confuse: Three ways heat moves

WayHow it worksExample
ConductionDirect touchA hot pan handle
ConvectionMoving liquid or gasWarm air rising in a room
RadiationWaves, no material neededSunlight warming your face

3 sample questions

Verified practice questions from this unit.

Practice questionReviewedGeneral Science › Physical Science★★★★☆

Question 1. Which particle in an atom has a negative electric charge?

  1. ① Electron
  2. ② Proton
  3. ③ Neutron
  4. ④ Nucleus
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation

Answer: ① Electron

Key point: Electrons are negative

An atom has three main particles. Electrons are negative and move around the nucleus. Protons are positive. Neutrons have no charge.

Wrong choices

  • (B) Proton: A proton has a positive charge.
  • (C) Neutron: A neutron has no charge.
  • (D) Nucleus: The nucleus holds protons and neutrons, so its overall charge is positive.
Practice questionReviewedGeneral Science › Physical Science★★★★☆

Question 2. At sea level, at what temperature does pure water boil on the Celsius scale?

  1. ① 100 °C
  2. ② 212 °C
  3. ③ 0 °C
  4. ④ 32 °C
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation

Answer: ① 100 °C

Key point: Water boils at 100 °C (212 °F)

At sea level, pure water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. On the Fahrenheit scale that same point is 212 degrees.

Wrong choices

  • (B) 212 °C: 212 is the boiling point in Fahrenheit, not Celsius.
  • (C) 0 °C: 0 °C is the freezing point of water.
  • (D) 32 °C: 32 is the freezing point in Fahrenheit.
Practice questionReviewedGeneral Science › Physical Science★★★★☆

Question 3. Sound cannot travel through which of the following?

  1. ① Air
  2. ② Water
  3. ③ Steel
  4. ④ A vacuum
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation

Answer: ④ A vacuum

Key point: Sound needs matter to travel

Sound is a vibration that passes from particle to particle. A vacuum, such as outer space, has almost no particles, so sound cannot travel through it.

Wrong choices

  • (A) Air: Air is the most common way sound reaches our ears.
  • (B) Water: Sound travels through water, even faster than through air.
  • (C) Steel: Sound travels very well through solids like steel.
Practice 5 questions from this unit →