According to Newton's Second Law, if you double the force applied to an object while keeping its mass constant, what happens to its acceleration?

Acceleration doubles. Newton's Second Law states F = ma. If F doubles and m stays constant, then a must also double to maintain the equation. Force and acceleration are directly proportional.

Which subatomic particle has a negative charge and orbits the nucleus of an atom?

Electron. Electrons have a negative charge and orbit the nucleus. Protons (positive) and neutrons (neutral) are located in the nucleus.

A ball is thrown straight up. At its highest point, what can be said about its energy?

It has maximum potential energy and zero kinetic energy. At the highest point, the ball momentarily stops (zero velocity = zero kinetic energy) and has maximum height (maximum gravitational potential energy). Energy is conserved—it's all potential at this point.

Which group of elements on the periodic table is known for being very stable and unreactive?

Noble gases. Noble gases (Group 18: He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn) have full outer electron shells, making them very stable and unreactive. They rarely form compounds.

Physical Science

Quick Answer: Physical science on the ASVAB covers physics (motion, forces, energy) and chemistry (atoms, elements, reactions). Key formulas include speed = distance/time, F = ma, and understanding that energy is conserved. Expect roughly 8 of the 16 General Science questions to cover physical sciences.

Physics: Motion

Motion describes how objects move through space and time.

Key Motion Terms and Formulas

Term	Definition	Formula
Speed	How fast something moves	$\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}$
Velocity	Speed with direction	Speed + direction (e.g., 60 mph north)
Acceleration	Rate of change in velocity	$a = \frac{\Delta v}{t}$
Distance	Total path traveled	Speed × Time
Displacement	Straight-line change in position	Final position - Initial position

Speed vs. Velocity

Concept	Has Direction?	Example
Speed	No (scalar)	60 mph
Velocity	Yes (vector)	60 mph north

Example: If a car travels 120 miles in 2 hours, its speed is 120 ÷ 2 = 60 mph.

Physics: Forces

A force is a push or pull on an object. Forces cause objects to accelerate, slow down, or change direction.

Newton's Three Laws of Motion

Law	Statement	Example
1st Law (Inertia)	Objects at rest stay at rest; objects in motion stay in motion (unless acted upon by a force)	Seatbelts prevent you from continuing forward when a car stops suddenly
2nd Law	Force = Mass × Acceleration (F = ma)	Heavier objects need more force to accelerate
3rd Law	Every action has an equal and opposite reaction	Rocket exhaust pushes down, rocket goes up

Newton's Second Law: F = ma

$F = m \times a$

Where:

F = Force (in Newtons, N)
m = Mass (in kilograms, kg)
a = Acceleration (in m/s²)

Example: A 10 kg object accelerating at 5 m/s² experiences a force of 10 × 5 = 50 Newtons.

Types of Forces

Force	Description
Gravity	Pulls objects toward Earth (or any mass)
Friction	Opposes motion between surfaces
Normal Force	Surface pushing back on an object
Tension	Force through a rope or string
Applied Force	Direct push or pull

Weight vs. Mass

Property	Mass	Weight
What it is	Amount of matter	Force of gravity on mass
Units	Kilograms (kg)	Newtons (N) or Pounds (lb)
Changes with location?	No	Yes (less on Moon)
Formula	-	$W = m \times g$ (g ≈ 9.8 m/s²)

Physics: Energy

Energy is the ability to do work. It comes in many forms but cannot be created or destroyed.

Types of Energy

Type	Description	Example
Kinetic Energy	Energy of motion	Moving car, thrown ball
Potential Energy	Stored energy	Raised object, stretched spring
Thermal Energy	Heat energy	Hot stove, friction
Chemical Energy	Energy in bonds	Gasoline, food, batteries
Electrical Energy	Moving electrons	Power lines, lightning
Nuclear Energy	Energy in atomic nuclei	Sun, nuclear power plants

Kinetic and Potential Energy Formulas

$KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$

Where: m = mass, v = velocity

$PE = mgh$

Where: m = mass, g = gravity (9.8 m/s²), h = height

Law of Conservation of Energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed—only transformed from one form to another.

Example: A roller coaster at the top of a hill has maximum potential energy. As it descends, potential energy converts to kinetic energy. The total energy remains constant (ignoring friction).

Chemistry: Atoms and Elements

Atomic Structure

Particle	Location	Charge	Mass
Proton	Nucleus	Positive (+)	1 amu
Neutron	Nucleus	Neutral (0)	1 amu
Electron	Orbits nucleus	Negative (-)	~0 amu

Key Atomic Terms

Term	Definition
Atomic Number	Number of protons (identifies element)
Mass Number	Protons + Neutrons
Isotope	Same element, different number of neutrons
Ion	Atom with charge (gained or lost electrons)

The Periodic Table

Group	Elements	Properties
Alkali Metals (Group 1)	Li, Na, K	Highly reactive, soft metals
Alkaline Earth Metals (Group 2)	Mg, Ca	Reactive metals
Halogens (Group 17)	F, Cl, Br, I	Very reactive nonmetals
Noble Gases (Group 18)	He, Ne, Ar	Unreactive, stable
Transition Metals	Fe, Cu, Au, Ag	Good conductors, form alloys

First 10 Elements to Memorize

#	Symbol	Element	Memory Tip
1	H	Hydrogen	H₂O starts with H
2	He	Helium	Balloons float with He
3	Li	Lithium	Li-ion batteries
4	Be	Beryllium
5	B	Boron
6	C	Carbon	Life is Carbon-based
7	N	Nitrogen	78% of air
8	O	Oxygen	We breathe O₂
9	F	Fluorine	In toothpaste
10	Ne	Neon	Neon signs glow

Chemistry: Chemical Reactions

Parts of a Reaction

$\text{Reactants} \rightarrow \text{Products}$

Reactants: Substances that undergo change (left side)
Products: Substances that are produced (right side)
→: "Yields" or "produces"

Types of Chemical Reactions

Type	Description	Example
Synthesis	Two substances combine	A + B → AB
Decomposition	One substance breaks apart	AB → A + B
Single Replacement	One element replaces another	A + BC → AC + B
Double Replacement	Elements switch partners	AB + CD → AD + CB
Combustion	Substance burns with oxygen	Fuel + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O

Signs of a Chemical Reaction

Color change
Temperature change (heat released or absorbed)
Gas production (bubbles)
Precipitate forms (solid appears in liquid)
Light or sound produced

ASVAB

1Introduction

2Verbal Domain (WK + PC)

3Mathematics Domain (AR + MK)

4Science & Technical Domain (GS + EI + MC)

5Technical Skills Domain (AI + SI + AO)

Key Takeaways