Free Practice Quiz Question List

1 Physical Foundations for Biology and Medicine Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 1 Physical Foundations for Biology and Medicine, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

True or false

1 point

A measured biological value should always be treated as an exact description of the system, because measurement instruments eliminate uncertainty.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

Which SI-derived unit is used to measure energy?

A
watt
B
joule
C
pascal
D
hertz

Written response

1 point

How many micrograms are equivalent to 1 milligram? Enter the value in µg.

Fill in the blank

1 point

If a structure keeps the same shape while its characteristic length is multiplied by $k$ , its surface area scales by and its volume scales by .

Choose all

1 point

Which actions belong in a sound workflow for building a physical model? Select all that apply.

A
Define the system and question being studied.
B
Choose relevant variables and characteristic scales, using consistent units.
C
State assumptions that simplify the system and clarify when results apply.
D
Include every possible biological detail before deciding what question to answer.
E
Avoid comparing predictions with measurements.

True or false

1 point

The same allometric scaling exponent can be assumed to apply universally across biological traits and populations.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

A membrane model must represent voltage that varies substantially from one location in a tissue to another. Which model type is the better fit?

A
A lumped model, because it represents variation at every location.
B
A lumped model, because it is always more accurate than a spatial model.
C
A distributed model, because voltage varies substantially across tissue.
D
A distributed model, because it removes the need to specify assumptions.

Written response

1 point

In an allometric relationship, what is the name of the parameter that gives the slope on logarithmic axes?

Fill in the blank

1 point

When modeling flow through a vessel, a relevant property of the fluid that may need to be included is its .

Choose all

1 point

Which practices help evaluate whether a physical model is trustworthy for its intended purpose? Select all that apply.

A
Check that both sides of each equation have the same dimensions.
B
Check whether the model behaves sensibly when a parameter becomes very small or large.
C
Compare predictions with relevant experimental or clinical measurements.
D
Examine uncertainty in measurements and calculated results.
E
Assume the model is valid for every population if it fits one dataset.
F
Add complexity even when it does not help answer the question.

Choose one

1 point

Why should a physical model state its assumptions, such as treating a vessel as a rigid tube?

A
They guarantee that the model matches every biological detail.
B
They make analysis possible while limiting when the results apply.
C
They replace the need to choose variables and governing relationships.
D
They ensure that predictions will agree with measurements.

Open ended

1 point

Describe a practical workflow for constructing and evaluating a physical model to estimate flow through a vessel. Explain why assumptions and comparisons with measurements matter.

True or false

1 point

For a high-consequence medical-device decision, the evidence supporting a computational model's credibility should be proportionate to how strongly the decision depends on that model.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

A model estimates travel time by dividing a distance by a speed. Which unit should the resulting quantity have?

A
seconds
B
meters
C
meters per second
D
kilograms

Choose one

1 point

A model equation contains the sum of a pressure term and a velocity term. Which dimensional-analysis conclusion is correct?

A
The terms can be added if both are measured in SI units.
B
The terms cannot be added because pressure and velocity have different dimensions.
C
The terms can be added after converting velocity to meters per second.
D
The terms cannot be added because pressure has no dimensions.

Choose one

1 point

A dose is measured as $0.25\ \text{mg}$ . What is the same dose in micrograms (µg)?

A
0.00025 µg
B
0.25 µg
C
250 µg
D
25,000 µg

Written response

1 point

A current of $2.5\ \text{A}$ flows for $4\ \text{s}$ . What electric charge passes during that time?

Choose one

1 point

A structure keeps the same shape while every characteristic length doubles. By what factors do its surface area and volume change, respectively?

A
Surface area increases by a factor of 8 and volume by a factor of 4.
B
Surface area and volume both increase by a factor of 4.
C
Surface area increases by a factor of 4 and volume by a factor of 8.
D
Surface area and volume both increase by a factor of 2.

Written response

1 point

An allometric relationship is written on logarithmic axes as $\log y=1.2+0.8\log M$ . What is the value of the scaling exponent $b$ ?

Choose one

1 point

A vessel radius is estimated as $2.00\ \text{mm}$ , with measurement uncertainty of $0.05\ \text{mm}$ . Which reporting choice best communicates the result?

A
Report $(2.00\pm0.05)\ \text{mm}$ to show the estimate and its uncertainty.
B
Report $2.000000\ \text{mm}$ to maximize the number of digits.
C
Report exactly $2.00\ \text{mm}$ , because measurement uncertainty is irrelevant once a value is recorded.
D
Report $0.05\ \text{mm}$ as the radius and omit the estimate.