ETEA Engineering 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 ETEA Engineering Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Measurements

   3 topics

   • Physical Quantities and SI Units
   • Errors and Uncertainties
   • Dimensions of Physical Quantities
2. 2

   Vectors and Equilibrium

   3 topics

   • Addition and Resolution of Vectors
   • Product of Vectors
   • Torque and Equilibrium
3. 3

   Motion and Force

   4 topics

   • Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration
   • Newton's Laws of Motion
   • Projectile Motion
   • Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
4. 4

   Work, Energy and Power

   4 topics

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

   Circular Motion

   3 topics

   • Angular Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration
   • Centripetal Force and Acceleration
   • Orbital and Artificial Gravity
6. 6

   Fluid Dynamics

   3 topics

   • Viscosity and Stokes' Law
   • Terminal Velocity
   • Equation of Continuity and Bernoulli's Equation
7. 7

   Oscillations

   3 topics

   • Simple Harmonic Motion
   • Energy in SHM
   • Free, Forced Oscillations and Resonance
8. 8

   Waves

   3 topics

   • Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
   • Superposition and Standing Waves
   • Sound, Beats and Doppler Effect
9. 9

   Thermodynamics

   4 topics

   • Kinetic Theory of Gases
   • Laws of Thermodynamics
   • Heat Engines and Carnot Cycle
   • Entropy
10. 10

    Electrostatics and Current Electricity

    4 topics

    • Coulomb's Law and Electric Field
    • Electric Potential and Capacitance
    • Ohm's Law and Resistance
    • Kirchhoff's Laws and Wheatstone Bridge
11. 11

    Electromagnetism and Induction

    4 topics

    • Magnetic Field due to Current
    • Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor
    • Electromagnetic Induction and Faraday's Law
    • Alternating Current and AC Circuits
12. 12

    Modern Physics

    4 topics

    • Photoelectric Effect and Quantum Theory
    • Atomic Spectra and Bohr's Model
    • Semiconductor Electronics
    • Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity

Physics flashcards for ETEA Engineering Test

24 of 51 cards from the Physics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a physical quantity, and what two parts make up its complete specification?

   A physical quantity is any property of a body that can be measured. It is completely specified by a numerical magnitude together with a unit, e.g. a length of $5\ \text{m}$.

2. What are the seven SI base quantities and their base units?

   Length ($\text{m}$, metre), mass ($\text{kg}$, kilogram), time ($\text{s}$, second), electric current ($\text{A}$, ampere), thermodynamic temperature ($\text{K}$, kelvin), amount of substance ($\text{mol}$, mole), and luminous intensity ($\text{cd}$, candela).

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

   A base unit is a fundamental, independently defined SI unit (e.g. $\text{m}$, $\text{kg}$, $\text{s}$). A derived unit is formed from a combination of base units, e.g. the newton $\text{N} = \text{kg}\,\text{m}\,\text{s}^{-2}$.

4. Express the derived units of force, work/energy, power and pressure in SI base units.

   Force: $\text{N} = \text{kg}\,\text{m}\,\text{s}^{-2}$; Work/Energy: $\text{J} = \text{kg}\,\text{m}^{2}\,\text{s}^{-2}$; Power: $\text{W} = \text{kg}\,\text{m}^{2}\,\text{s}^{-3}$; Pressure: $\text{Pa} = \text{kg}\,\text{m}^{-1}\,\text{s}^{-2}$.

5. What are the SI prefixes for $10^{9}$, $10^{6}$, $10^{3}$ and $10^{-2}$, with their symbols?

   $10^{9}$ = giga (G), $10^{6}$ = mega (M), $10^{3}$ = kilo (k), $10^{-2}$ = centi (c).

6. List the SI prefixes for $10^{-3}$, $10^{-6}$, $10^{-9}$ and $10^{-12}$ with their symbols.

   $10^{-3}$ = milli (m), $10^{-6}$ = micro ($\mu$), $10^{-9}$ = nano (n), $10^{-12}$ = pico (p).

7. Convert $5\ \mu\text{A}$ to amperes and $2.5\ \text{GW}$ to watts.

   $5\ \mu\text{A} = 5 \times 10^{-6}\ \text{A}$ and $2.5\ \text{GW} = 2.5 \times 10^{9}\ \text{W}$.

8. Define error and uncertainty in measurement.

   An error is the difference between a measured value and the true value of a quantity. An uncertainty is the range within which the true value is expected to lie, quoted with the measurement as $x \pm \Delta x$.

9. What is the difference between random and systematic errors?

   Random errors vary unpredictably in size and sign from one reading to the next and can be reduced by averaging many readings. Systematic errors are consistent, repeatable errors (same direction) caused by faulty apparatus or technique and cannot be reduced by averaging.

10. Give two examples each of sources of random and systematic errors.

    Random: fluctuating readings, observer judgement of timing, electrical noise. Systematic: a zero error on an instrument, incorrect calibration, parallax from a consistent viewing angle.

11. How are random errors and systematic errors reduced respectively?

    Random errors are reduced by taking repeated readings and averaging them. Systematic errors are reduced by correcting/calibrating the instrument, removing zero errors, and improving technique.

12. Distinguish between precision and accuracy.

    Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value (affected by systematic error). Precision is how close repeated measurements are to one another (affected by random error). A reading can be precise but inaccurate.

13. How is fractional uncertainty combined when quantities are multiplied or divided?

    For $Q = \frac{A B}{C}$, the fractional uncertainties add: $\frac{\Delta Q}{Q} = \frac{\Delta A}{A} + \frac{\Delta B}{B} + \frac{\Delta C}{C}$.

14. How is absolute uncertainty combined when quantities are added or subtracted?

    For $Q = A \pm B$, the absolute uncertainties add: $\Delta Q = \Delta A + \Delta B$.

15. For a power relationship $Q = A^{n}$, how does the uncertainty propagate?

    The fractional uncertainty is multiplied by the power: $\frac{\Delta Q}{Q} = |n|\,\frac{\Delta A}{A}$.

16. State the rules for counting significant figures.

    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. E.g. $0.00450$ has 3 significant figures.

17. How many significant figures are in $0.003020$ and in $4500$ (no decimal point shown)?

    $0.003020$ has 4 significant figures. $4500$ is ambiguous: it has 2 significant figures unless otherwise indicated (writing $4.500 \times 10^{3}$ would give 4).

18. What is the significant-figure rule for multiplication/division versus addition/subtraction?

    For multiplication and division, the result keeps the same number of significant figures as the least precise factor. For addition and subtraction, the result keeps the same number of decimal places as the term with the fewest decimal places.

19. What is meant by the dimensions of a physical quantity?

    Dimensions express a physical quantity in terms of the base quantities — mass $[M]$, length $[L]$, time $[T]$ (and others) — raised to powers, ignoring numerical constants. They show how the quantity depends on the base quantities.

20. Write the dimensions of velocity, acceleration and force.

    Velocity: $[L T^{-1}]$; Acceleration: $[L T^{-2}]$; Force: $[M L T^{-2}]$.

21. Write the dimensions of work/energy, power and pressure.

    Work/Energy: $[M L^{2} T^{-2}]$; Power: $[M L^{2} T^{-3}]$; Pressure: $[M L^{-1} T^{-2}]$.

22. State the principle of homogeneity of dimensions used in dimensional analysis.

    For any physically valid equation, the dimensions of every term on both sides must be identical. Only quantities with the same dimensions can be added, subtracted or equated.

23. Use dimensions to check whether $v = u + at$ is dimensionally correct.

    $[v]=[L T^{-1}]$, $[u]=[L T^{-1}]$, $[at]=[L T^{-2}][T]=[L T^{-1}]$. All terms have dimension $[L T^{-1}]$, so the equation is dimensionally consistent (homogeneous).

24. Derive, using dimensional analysis, the form of the period $T$ of a simple pendulum in terms of length $l$ and $g$.

    Assume $T \propto l^{a} g^{b}$. Dimensionally $[T] = [L]^{a}[L T^{-2}]^{b}$, giving $a+b=0$ and $-2b=1$, so $b=-\tfrac{1}{2}$, $a=\tfrac{1}{2}$. Thus $T \propto \sqrt{\dfrac{l}{g}}$.

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