Physics misconceptions test
Some physics mistakes are so natural that they survive school, and even physics degrees: that heavier things fall faster, that moving things need a push, that there’s no gravity in space.
You drop a bowling ball and a tennis ball from the same height at the same moment. Ignoring air resistance, which lands first?
About this test
Each wrong answer here is a named misconception. You’ll see the real physics after each question, and at the end you get a course that starts from the ones you believed.
Questions people ask
Do heavier objects fall faster?
Not without air resistance. Everything falls at the same rate in a vacuum. In air, a feather falls slowly because air resistance matters more for light, spread-out things.
Is there gravity in space?
Yes. On the International Space Station gravity is about 90% as strong as on the ground. Astronauts float because they’re in free fall along with the station.
What causes the seasons?
The tilt of the Earth’s axis, which changes how high the sun climbs and how long the days are. Distance from the Sun has almost nothing to do with it.
Why do so many people get physics questions wrong?
Because everyday life teaches us rules that are close enough to work: things stop when you stop pushing, heavy things seem to fall faster. Friction and air hide what is really going on. Physics is largely the story of what’s left when you take those away.
Is this quiz hard if I haven’t studied physics?
No. Every question can be reasoned out from everyday experience. There’s no maths to do, and you see the explanation after each answer, so you’ll pick things up as you go.
