These problems test your ability to visualize solutions when different options are presented. The word problems involve a combination of reasoning and/or hand calculation. These problems test your ability to work out solutions without the benefit of a visual aid. This is often the case when having to solve real world problems.

The answers for the problems are given at the end of the page.

Multiple Choice Problems

Problem # 1

Four blocks are placed at the edge of a table as shown. Which block will fall over?

Problem # 2

Which block is the easiest to tip over? Which block is the most difficult to tip over?

Problem # 3

Which block will slide down the ramp the easiest?

Problem # 4

In which case is the rod perfectly balanced?

Problem # 5

Which block weighs the most? Which block weighs the least?

Problem # 6

A ball is placed at the top of four different ramps. For which ramp will the ball speed be the highest when it reaches the bottom? For which ramp will the ball speed be the lowest when it reaches the bottom?

Problem # 7

Four balls are dropped from different heights. Which ball will bounce the highest after hitting the ground? Which ball will bounce the lowest?

Problem # 8

Which crate is the easiest to push?

Problem # 9

Which is the most stable stacking of blocks?

Problem # 10

Four identical blocks are dropped from different heights above four identical springs. Which spring will compress the most? Which spring will compress the least?

Problem # 11

Four levers of different lengths are used to move a rock. For which lever is it easiest to move the rock?

Problem # 12

Four identical blocks are placed on slabs of different sizes. For which slab is the pressure on the ground the highest? For which slab is the pressure on the ground the lowest?

Problem # 13

Water is placed inside four containers. Each container has a hole near the bottom. For which container is the water coming out the fastest?

Problem # 14

An ice cube is placed inside four insulated boxes. Each box has a different thickness of insulation as shown. In which box will the ice cube melt the slowest? In which box will the ice cube melt the fastest?

Problem # 15

Which rod is the most difficult to pull out of the ground?

Problem # 16

Four paths are shown. What is the order of the paths in terms of longest travel time to shortest travel time?

Problem # 17

Four fluids of different density are placed into a container. The red fluid has the highest density. The green fluid has the second highest, the blue fluid has the third highest, and the yellow fluid has the lowest density. Which of the following shows the correct arrangement of the fluids after they have settled in the container?

Problem # 18

Only one of these blocks will fit exactly into the box. Which one is it?

Problem # 19

Which container has the most water in it?

Problem # 20

A container full of water is spun about its center. Which shape does the surface of the water take?

Problem # 21

Four identical blocks are suspended in the center of a string between two walls. Which has the highest string tension? Which has the lowest?

Problem # 22

Given that all the blocks are the same weight, which is perfectly balanced?

Problem # 23

Bricks of different sizes are placed inside four water filled containers. Which container has the most water in it? Which has the least?

Problem # 24

A light bulb is connected with wires to a battery with positive and negative terminals as shown. Which method of connection causes the light bulb to shine?

Problem # 25

A heavy rope is thrown over a horizontal pole. In what situation will the rope not slide off the pole?

Answers to Multiple Choice Problems

1. d
2. b, d
3. b
4. c
5. d, c
6. b, d
7. b, c
8. a
9. d
10. b, d
11. c
12. d, a
13. b
14. a, b
15. c
16. c, a, b, d
17. b
18. a
19. a
20. d
21. a, b
22. c
23. a, c
24. a
25. d