Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) Physics Module Syllabus

Physics Module syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Physics Module in Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Mechanics and Motion

   4 topics

   • Kinematics
     • Displacement, velocity and acceleration
     • Equations of uniformly accelerated motion (SUVAT)
     • Motion graphs and gradients/areas
     • Projectile motion
   • Forces and Newton's Laws
     • Newton's three laws of motion
     • Free-body diagrams and resultant forces
     • Friction, tension and normal contact force
   • Momentum and Impulse
     • Conservation of linear momentum
     • Elastic and inelastic collisions
     • Impulse as change of momentum
   • Moments and Equilibrium
     • Principle of moments and torque
     • Centre of mass and stability
2. 2

   Energy, Work and Power

   3 topics

   • Work and Energy
     • Work done by a force
     • Kinetic and gravitational potential energy
     • Conservation of energy
   • Power and Efficiency
     • Power as rate of energy transfer
     • Efficiency calculations
   • Density and Pressure
     • Density and pressure in solids and fluids
     • Hydrostatic pressure and upthrust
3. 3

   Electricity

   3 topics

   • Charge, Current and Voltage
     • Electric charge and current
     • Potential difference and EMF
   • Resistance and Circuits
     • Ohm's law and resistivity
     • Series and parallel combinations
     • I-V characteristics of components
   • Circuit Analysis
     • Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws
     • Potential dividers
     • Electrical power and energy
4. 4

   Waves and Optics

   4 topics

   • Wave Properties
     • Wavelength, frequency, period and speed
     • Transverse and longitudinal waves
     • The wave equation v = f λ
   • Wave Behaviour
     • Reflection, refraction and total internal reflection
     • Superposition, interference and standing waves
     • Diffraction
   • The Electromagnetic Spectrum
     • Regions of the EM spectrum and their properties
   • Sound
     • Properties and speed of sound
5. 5

   Thermal Physics, Gases and Radioactivity

   3 topics

   • Thermal Energy
     • Temperature and internal energy
     • Specific heat capacity and latent heat
     • Heat transfer mechanisms
   • Gas Laws
     • Boyle's, Charles's and pressure laws
     • The ideal gas equation
   • Radioactivity and the Nuclear Atom
     • Structure of the atom and isotopes
     • Alpha, beta and gamma radiation
     • Half-life and radioactive decay
     • Nuclear fission and fusion
6. 6

   Magnetism, Fields and Measurement

   3 topics

   • Magnetic Fields
     • Magnetic field patterns
     • Force on a current-carrying conductor
     • Electromagnetic induction and the transformer
   • Gravitational and Field Concepts
     • Gravitational field strength
     • Weight and free fall
   • Units, Quantities and Measurement
     • SI base and derived units
     • Scalars and vectors; resolving vectors
     • Uncertainty and significant figures

Physics Module flashcards for Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT)

23 of 60 cards from the Physics Module deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. State the three SUVAT equations of motion for constant acceleration (excluding the one that omits final velocity).

   $v = u + at$, $\;s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^{2}$, $\;v^{2} = u^{2} + 2as$, where $u$ is initial velocity, $v$ final velocity, $a$ acceleration, $s$ displacement and $t$ time.

2. What is the difference between distance and displacement, and between speed and velocity?

   Distance and speed are scalars (magnitude only); displacement and velocity are vectors (magnitude and direction). Displacement is the straight-line change in position; velocity is rate of change of displacement.

3. On a velocity-time graph, what do the gradient and the area under the line represent?

   The gradient gives acceleration ($a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}$); the area under the line gives displacement.

4. For an object in free fall (no air resistance), what is its acceleration and the equation for vertical distance fallen from rest?

   Acceleration is $g \approx 9.81\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}$ downward. Distance fallen from rest: $s = \frac{1}{2}gt^{2}$.

5. For a projectile launched at speed $u$ and angle $\theta$, give the horizontal and vertical components of the initial velocity.

   Horizontal: $u_{x} = u\cos\theta$ (constant). Vertical: $u_{y} = u\sin\theta$ (changes under gravity).

6. State Newton's three laws of motion.

   1st: an object stays at rest or in uniform motion unless acted on by a resultant force. 2nd: $F = ma$ (resultant force = mass × acceleration). 3rd: every action has an equal and opposite reaction on a different body.

7. Write Newton's second law in terms of momentum.

   $F = \frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t}$, i.e. resultant force equals the rate of change of momentum.

8. What is the weight of an object and how is it calculated?

   Weight is the gravitational force on a mass: $W = mg$, where $g$ is gravitational field strength ($\approx 9.81\ \mathrm{N\,kg^{-1}}$ on Earth). It is a vector measured in newtons.

9. Define terminal velocity.

   The constant maximum velocity reached by a falling object when the upward drag (and any upthrust) equals the downward weight, giving zero resultant force and zero acceleration.

10. State the difference between mass and weight.

    Mass is the amount of matter (scalar, kg, constant everywhere); weight is the gravitational force on that mass (vector, N, depends on local $g$).

11. Define linear momentum and give its formula and units.

    Momentum is the product of mass and velocity: $p = mv$. It is a vector with units $\mathrm{kg\,m\,s^{-1}}$ (equivalent to $\mathrm{N\,s}$).

12. State the principle of conservation of momentum.

    In a closed system with no external resultant force, total momentum before a collision or explosion equals total momentum after: $\sum m u = \sum m v$.

13. Define impulse and relate it to momentum.

    Impulse is force × time: $\text{Impulse} = F\,\Delta t = \Delta p$ (the change in momentum). Units are $\mathrm{N\,s}$ or $\mathrm{kg\,m\,s^{-1}}$.

14. Compare elastic and inelastic collisions.

    In both, momentum is conserved. In an elastic collision kinetic energy is also conserved; in an inelastic collision some kinetic energy is converted to other forms (e.g. heat, sound).

15. On a force-time graph, what does the area under the curve represent?

    The area under a force-time graph represents the impulse, equal to the change in momentum $\Delta p$.

16. Define the moment of a force and give its formula and units.

    A moment is the turning effect of a force: $M = F \times d$, where $d$ is the perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action of the force. Units: $\mathrm{N\,m}$.

17. State the principle of moments for an object in equilibrium.

    For a body in rotational equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments about any pivot equals the sum of anticlockwise moments: $\sum M_{\text{cw}} = \sum M_{\text{acw}}$.

18. What two conditions must be satisfied for an object to be in complete (static) equilibrium?

    1) The resultant force is zero (forces balance in all directions). 2) The resultant moment about any point is zero (clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments).

19. What is the centre of mass (centre of gravity) of an object?

    The single point at which the entire weight of the object can be considered to act. For a uniform symmetric object it lies at the geometric centre.

20. Define a couple and its moment (torque).

    A couple is a pair of equal, opposite, parallel forces whose lines of action do not coincide. Its moment (torque) is $\tau = F \times d$, where $d$ is the perpendicular distance between the two forces.

21. State the equations for kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy.

    Kinetic energy: $E_{k} = \frac{1}{2}mv^{2}$. Gravitational potential energy: $E_{p} = mgh$.

22. Define work done by a force and give its formula.

    Work done is energy transferred when a force moves its point of application: $W = Fs\cos\theta$, where $\theta$ is the angle between force and displacement. Units: joules (J).

23. State the principle of conservation of energy.

    Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed from one form to another; the total energy of a closed system remains constant.

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