NTS NAT-ICS 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 NTS NAT-ICS, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Mechanics

   4 topics

   • Kinematics
   • Newton's Laws of Motion
   • Work, Energy and Power
   • Momentum and Collisions
2. 2

   Waves and Oscillations

   3 topics

   • Simple Harmonic Motion
   • Properties of Waves
   • Sound Waves
3. 3

   Heat and Thermodynamics

   3 topics

   • Temperature and Heat
   • Laws of Thermodynamics
   • Gas Laws
4. 4

   Electricity and Magnetism

   4 topics

   • Electrostatics
   • Current Electricity and Ohm's Law
   • Magnetic Effects of Current
   • Electromagnetic Induction
5. 5

   Optics

   2 topics

   • Reflection and Refraction
   • Lenses and Mirrors
6. 6

   Modern Physics

   2 topics

   • Atomic Structure
   • Electronics Basics

Physics flashcards for NTS NAT-ICS

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

1. Define displacement and state how it differs from distance.

   Displacement is the shortest straight-line change in position from start to end, with direction (a vector). Distance is the total path length travelled (a scalar) and is always ≥ |displacement|.

2. What is the equation relating final velocity, initial velocity, acceleration and time?

   v = u + at, where u = initial velocity, v = final velocity, a = acceleration, t = time.

3. State the equation of motion relating displacement to velocities and acceleration (without time).

   v² = u² + 2as, where s is displacement.

4. Write the second equation of motion for displacement in terms of u, a and t.

   s = ut + ½at².

5. What is the acceleration due to gravity near Earth's surface, and in which direction does it act?

   g ≈ 9.8 m/s² (often 9.81), directed vertically downward toward Earth's centre.

6. For a body in free fall from rest, what is its velocity after time t and distance fallen?

   Velocity v = gt; distance fallen s = ½gt².

7. Distinguish between scalar and vector quantities, giving one example of each.

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

8. What does the slope (gradient) of a velocity–time graph represent, and what does the area under it represent?

   The slope gives acceleration; the area under the velocity–time graph gives displacement.

9. State Newton's First Law of Motion.

   A body remains at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by a net external force (law of inertia).

10. State Newton's Second Law of Motion as a formula.

    F = ma; the net force equals mass times acceleration (force in the direction of acceleration).

11. State Newton's Third Law of Motion.

    For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; the forces act on two different bodies.

12. Define inertia and state what it depends on.

    Inertia is a body's resistance to change in its state of rest or motion. It depends on (is directly proportional to) the body's mass.

13. What is the SI unit of force and how is it defined?

    The newton (N). One newton is the force that gives a 1 kg mass an acceleration of 1 m/s² (1 N = 1 kg·m/s²).

14. Define weight and give its formula.

    Weight is the gravitational force on a body: W = mg, where m is mass and g is gravitational acceleration. It is a vector measured in newtons.

15. Define work in physics and give its formula and SI unit.

    Work = force × displacement in the direction of the force: W = Fs cosθ. SI unit is the joule (J); 1 J = 1 N·m.

16. Give the formula for kinetic energy.

    KE = ½mv², where m is mass and v is speed.

17. Give the formula for gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface.

    PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is gravitational acceleration, and h is height.

18. State the law of conservation of energy.

    Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another. The total energy of an isolated system remains constant.

19. Define power and give its formula and SI unit.

    Power is the rate of doing work: P = W/t (or P = Fv). SI unit is the watt (W); 1 W = 1 J/s.

20. What is the formula for efficiency, expressed as a percentage?

    Efficiency = (useful output energy/work ÷ total input energy/work) × 100%.

21. Define linear momentum and give its formula and SI unit.

    Momentum is the product of mass and velocity: p = mv. It is a vector with SI unit kg·m/s.

22. State the law of conservation of momentum.

    In the absence of an external net force, the total momentum of a system before collision equals the total momentum after collision.

23. Distinguish between elastic and inelastic collisions.

    In an elastic collision both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. In an inelastic collision momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not (some converts to heat/sound/deformation).

24. Define impulse and state its relation to momentum.

    Impulse = force × time (Ft) and equals the change in momentum: Ft = Δp = mv − mu. SI unit is N·s (= kg·m/s).

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