Allied Health Sciences Entry Test Physics Syllabus

Physics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Physics in Allied Health Sciences Entry Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Measurements

   4 topics

   • Physical Quantities and SI Units
   • Errors and Uncertainties
   • Dimensional Analysis
   • Significant Figures
2. 2

   Vectors and Equilibrium

   3 topics

   • Addition of Vectors
   • Scalar and Vector Product
   • Torque and Equilibrium
3. 3

   Motion and Force

   4 topics

   • Equations of Motion
   • Newton's Laws of Motion
   • Momentum and Collisions
   • Projectile Motion
4. 4

   Work, Energy and Power

   4 topics

   • Work Done by a Force
   • Kinetic and Potential Energy
   • Conservation of Energy
   • Power and Efficiency
5. 5

   Circular Motion and Fluid Dynamics

   4 topics

   • Angular Motion and Centripetal Force
   • Rotational Kinetic Energy
   • Fluid Flow and Bernoulli's Equation
   • Viscosity
6. 6

   Oscillations and Waves

   4 topics

   • Simple Harmonic Motion
   • Simple Pendulum
   • Wave Motion and Properties
   • Sound and Doppler Effect
7. 7

   Physical Optics and Heat

   4 topics

   • Interference and Diffraction
   • Polarization
   • Kinetic Theory of Gases
   • Laws of Thermodynamics
8. 8

   Electrostatics

   3 topics

   • Coulomb's Law and Electric Field
   • Electric Potential
   • Capacitors
9. 9

   Current Electricity

   3 topics

   • Ohm's Law and Resistance
   • Kirchhoff's Laws
   • Electrical Power and Energy
10. 10

    Electromagnetism and Induction

    3 topics

    • Magnetic Field and Force
    • Electromagnetic Induction
    • Alternating Current
11. 11

    Modern Physics

    4 topics

    • Physics of Solids and Electronics
    • Dawn of Modern Physics (Relativity, Photoelectric Effect)
    • Atomic Spectra
    • Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity

Physics flashcards for Allied Health Sciences Entry Test

24 of 50 cards from the Physics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are base (fundamental) physical quantities and how many are there in the SI system?

   Base quantities are independent quantities not defined in terms of others. There are 7: length (m), mass (kg), time (s), electric current (A), temperature (K), amount of substance (mol), and luminous intensity (cd).

2. State the SI base units for length, mass, time, current, temperature, amount of substance, and luminous intensity.

   Length: metre (m); Mass: kilogram (kg); Time: second (s); Current: ampere (A); Temperature: kelvin (K); Amount of substance: mole (mol); Luminous intensity: candela (cd).

3. What is the difference between a base quantity and a derived quantity?

   A base quantity is one of the 7 fundamental quantities defined independently. A derived quantity is expressed as a combination of base quantities (e.g., force = mass x acceleration, unit N = kg m s^-2).

4. What is the difference between a random error and a systematic error?

   A random error varies unpredictably in size and sign with repeated measurements and can be reduced by averaging. A systematic error is consistent (same direction each time), often due to faulty instruments or zero error, and is not reduced by averaging.

5. How is percentage uncertainty calculated for a measurement?

   Percentage uncertainty = (absolute uncertainty / measured value) x 100%.

6. How do uncertainties combine when quantities are added or subtracted, versus multiplied or divided?

   For addition/subtraction: add the absolute uncertainties. For multiplication/division: add the percentage (or fractional) uncertainties.

7. What is the difference between precision and accuracy of a measurement?

   Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value. Precision is how close repeated measurements are to each other (small random scatter). A measurement can be precise but inaccurate due to systematic error.

8. What is meant by the dimensions of a physical quantity, and what symbols are used for the base dimensions of mass, length, and time?

   Dimensions express a quantity in terms of base quantities. Mass = [M], Length = [L], Time = [T]. For example, velocity has dimensions [L][T]^-1 or LT^-1.

9. State the principle of homogeneity of dimensions.

   For an equation to be physically correct, every term on both sides must have the same dimensions. Quantities can only be added or equated if they have identical dimensions.

10. What is the dimensional formula for force, work (energy), and power?

    Force: [M L T^-2]; Work/Energy: [M L^2 T^-2]; Power: [M L^2 T^-3].

11. What are the main uses of dimensional analysis?

    To check the correctness (homogeneity) of equations, to derive relationships between physical quantities, and to convert units from one system to another.

12. What are significant figures and which zeros are significant?

    Significant figures are the meaningful digits in a measurement. All non-zero digits are significant; zeros between non-zero digits are significant; trailing zeros after a decimal point are significant; leading zeros are NOT significant.

13. In multiplication/division and in addition/subtraction, how do you decide significant figures in the result?

    For multiplication/division: the result has the same number of significant figures as the value with the fewest significant figures. For addition/subtraction: the result has the same number of decimal places as the value with the fewest decimal places.

14. What is the difference between a scalar and a vector quantity? Give one example of each.

    A scalar has only magnitude (e.g., mass, speed, energy). A vector has both magnitude and direction (e.g., displacement, velocity, force).

15. State the head-to-tail (triangle) rule for adding two vectors.

    Place the tail of the second vector at the head of the first; the resultant is the vector drawn from the tail of the first to the head of the second.

16. For two vectors of magnitudes A and B with angle theta between them, what is the magnitude of their resultant?

    R = sqrt(A^2 + B^2 + 2AB cos theta).

17. How do you resolve a vector A into rectangular components along x and y axes (angle theta from x-axis)?

    Horizontal component Ax = A cos theta; Vertical component Ay = A sin theta. The magnitude is A = sqrt(Ax^2 + Ay^2) and direction theta = tan^-1(Ay/Ax).

18. Define the scalar (dot) product of two vectors and give its formula.

    The dot product is a scalar: A . B = AB cos theta, where theta is the angle between them. It equals AxBx + AyBy + AzBz in component form.

19. Define the vector (cross) product of two vectors, including magnitude and direction.

    The cross product is a vector: |A x B| = AB sin theta. Its direction is perpendicular to the plane of A and B, given by the right-hand rule.

20. What is the dot product of two perpendicular vectors, and the cross product of two parallel vectors?

    Dot product of perpendicular vectors = 0 (cos 90 = 0). Cross product of parallel vectors = 0 (sin 0 = 0).

21. Define torque (moment of a force) and give its formula.

    Torque is the turning effect of a force about an axis. Torque = force x perpendicular distance from axis = r F sin theta. SI unit: newton metre (N m). It is a vector.

22. State the two conditions for complete (static) equilibrium of a body.

    First condition: the vector sum of all forces is zero (net force = 0). Second condition: the sum of all torques about any point is zero (net torque = 0).

23. What is the difference between stable, unstable, and neutral equilibrium?

    Stable: body returns to original position after slight displacement (centre of gravity rises). Unstable: body moves further away (centre of gravity falls). Neutral: body stays in new position (centre of gravity height unchanged).

24. State the three equations of motion for uniformly accelerated motion.

    vf = vi + at; S = vi t + (1/2)a t^2; vf^2 = vi^2 + 2aS, where vi = initial velocity, vf = final velocity, a = acceleration, t = time, S = displacement.

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