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ASVAB Practice Test · General Science

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ASVAB Practice Test Physical Science Summary

Importance
★★★★☆ (4 / 5)
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About 6 of 15 General Science questions (40%)

Matter, chemistry basics, energy, forces, heat, light, and sound.

📖 See Physical Science concepts →

Physical Science: must-know points

  • An atom's nucleus holds protons and neutrons.
  • Sound needs a medium; it cannot travel through a vacuum.

Physical Science: 7 sample questions

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
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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
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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
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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 questionReviewedGeneral Science › Physical Science★★★★☆

Question 4. Which of the following is a chemical change?

  1. ① Iron rusting
  2. ② Ice melting
  3. ③ Glass breaking
  4. ④ Sugar dissolving in water
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Answer: ① Iron rusting

Key point: A chemical change makes a new substance

A chemical change creates a new substance. When iron rusts, it joins with oxygen to form iron oxide, which is a different material.

Wrong choices

  • (B) Ice melting: Melting ice is a physical change; it is still water.
  • (C) Glass breaking: Broken glass is still glass; only its shape changed.
  • (D) Sugar dissolving in water: Dissolved sugar is still sugar; it can be recovered by drying the water.
Practice questionReviewedGeneral Science › Physical Science★★★★☆

Question 5. What is the chemical formula for table salt?

  1. ① CO2
  2. ② H2O
  3. ③ KCl
  4. ④ NaCl
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Answer: ④ NaCl

Key point: Table salt is sodium chloride, NaCl

Table salt is sodium chloride. It is made of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl), so its formula is NaCl.

Wrong choices

  • (A) CO2: H2O is water.
  • (B) H2O: KCl is potassium chloride, sometimes used as a salt substitute, but it is not table salt.
  • (C) KCl: CO2 is carbon dioxide, a gas.
Practice questionReviewedGeneral Science › Physical Science★★★★☆

Question 6. A net force pushes a 10-kilogram cart so that it speeds up at 3 meters per second squared. What is the net force?

  1. ① 30 newtons
  2. ② 7 newtons
  3. ③ 13 newtons
  4. ④ 3.3 newtons
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Answer: ① 30 newtons

Key point: Force = mass x acceleration

  1. Use Newton's second law: force = mass x acceleration.
  2. Force = 10 kg x 3 m/s² = 30 newtons.

Check: 30 N divided by 10 kg gives back 3 m/s².

Wrong choices

  • (B) 7 newtons: 7 comes from subtracting acceleration from mass.
  • (C) 13 newtons: 13 comes from adding mass and acceleration.
  • (D) 3.3 newtons: 3.3 comes from dividing 10 by 3 instead of multiplying.
Practice questionReviewedGeneral Science › Physical Science★★★★☆

Question 7. Which type of electromagnetic wave has the shortest wavelength?

  1. ① X-rays
  2. ② Visible light
  3. ③ Gamma rays
  4. ④ Radio waves
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Answer: ③ Gamma rays

Key point: Gamma rays: shortest wavelength, most energy

From longest to shortest wavelength the order is radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma ray. Gamma rays have the shortest waves and the most energy.

Wrong choices

  • (A) X-rays: X-rays have short waves, but gamma rays are shorter still.
  • (B) Visible light: Visible light has much longer waves than X-rays and gamma rays.
  • (D) Radio waves: Radio waves have the longest wavelengths of all.

Test yourself.

Physical Science: 5 questions →General Science: 5 questions →