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NUMS Entry Test Physics Syllabus

The Physics syllabus for NUMS Entry Test in full: 12 chapters and 37 topics, every one listed below, plus 51 Physics flashcards with answers.

12Chapters
37Topics
51Flashcards

Physics syllabus: all 12 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. Force and Motion

     4 topics
    • Scalars and vectors
    • Newton's laws of motion
    • Equations of motion
    • Momentum and impulse

  2. Work, Energy and Power

     3 topics
    • Work and energy
    • Conservation of energy
    • Power and efficiency

  3. Rotational and Circular Motion

     3 topics
    • Angular displacement and velocity
    • Centripetal force and acceleration
    • Torque and moment of inertia

  4. Waves and Oscillations

     3 topics
    • Simple harmonic motion
    • Wave properties and superposition
    • Sound waves and resonance

  5. Thermodynamics

     3 topics
    • Heat and temperature
    • Laws of thermodynamics
    • Heat engines and entropy

  6. Electrostatics

     3 topics
    • Coulomb's law and electric field
    • Electric potential and capacitance
    • Gauss's law

  7. Current Electricity

     3 topics
    • Ohm's law and resistance
    • Kirchhoff's laws
    • Electrical circuits and power

  8. Electromagnetism

     3 topics
    • Magnetic field due to current
    • Force on a current-carrying conductor
    • Galvanometer and motor

  9. Electromagnetic Induction

     3 topics
    • Faraday's and Lenz's laws
    • Self and mutual inductance
    • AC generator and transformer

  10. Electronics

     3 topics
    • Semiconductors and diodes
    • Transistors
    • Logic gates

  11. Dawn of Modern Physics

     3 topics
    • Photoelectric effect
    • Special theory of relativity
    • Wave-particle duality

  12. Atomic and Nuclear Physics

     3 topics
    • Atomic spectra and energy levels
    • Radioactivity and decay
    • Nuclear reactions and fission/fusion

NUMS Entry Test Physics flashcards — 51 questions with answers

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

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

  2. How do you find the resultant magnitude of two perpendicular vectors A and B?

    R = sqrt(A^2 + B^2), with direction theta = tan^-1(B/A) from vector A.

  3. What are the two rectangular components of a vector F acting at angle theta to the horizontal?

    Horizontal component Fx = F cos(theta); Vertical component Fy = F sin(theta).

  4. State Newton's First Law of Motion.

    A body remains at rest or moves with constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force (law of inertia).

  5. State Newton's Second Law of Motion and its equation.

    The rate of change of momentum is proportional to the applied force and in its direction. F = ma (or F = dp/dt).

  6. State Newton's Third Law of Motion.

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

  7. What is inertia and what physical quantity measures it?

    Inertia is a body's tendency to resist change in its state of rest or motion. Mass measures inertia.

  8. List the three equations of motion for uniform acceleration.

    v = u + at; s = ut + (1/2)at^2; v^2 = u^2 + 2as.

  9. For a body falling freely from rest, what is its velocity and distance after time t?

    v = gt and s = (1/2)gt^2, with g approximately 9.8 m/s^2.

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

    Momentum is the product of mass and velocity: p = mv. SI unit: kg m/s (or N s).

  11. Define impulse and state the impulse-momentum theorem.

    Impulse = Force x time = F t. Impulse equals the change in momentum: F t = mv - mu = delta p.

  12. State the law of conservation of linear momentum.

    In the absence of an external force, the total momentum of an isolated system remains constant.

  13. What is the difference between an elastic and an inelastic collision?

    In an elastic collision both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. In an inelastic collision momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not.

  14. Define work and give its formula when force is at angle theta to displacement.

    Work is the product of force and displacement in the force's direction: W = F d cos(theta). SI unit: joule (J).

  15. When is the work done by a force zero?

    When displacement is zero, force is zero, or the force is perpendicular to displacement (theta = 90 degrees).

  16. Write the formula for kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy.

    KE = (1/2)mv^2; PE = mgh.

  17. State the work-energy theorem.

    The net work done on a body equals the change in its kinetic energy: W_net = (1/2)mv^2 - (1/2)mu^2.

  18. State the law of conservation of energy.

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

  19. For a body falling freely, what happens to its PE and KE (ignoring air resistance)?

    PE continuously converts to KE while their sum (total mechanical energy) stays constant.

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

    Power is the rate of doing work: P = W/t = F v. SI unit: watt (W) = J/s.

Show the other 31 Physics flashcards

  1. Define efficiency and write its formula.

    Efficiency = (useful output energy or power / total input energy or power) x 100%. It is always less than 100% for real machines.

  2. Define angular displacement and angular velocity with their formulas.

    Angular displacement theta is the angle swept (radians). Angular velocity omega = theta/t (rad/s).

  3. Write the relation between linear velocity v and angular velocity omega.

    v = r omega, where r is the radius of the circular path.

  4. Define centripetal acceleration and give its formula.

    The acceleration directed toward the center of a circular path: a = v^2/r = r omega^2.

  5. Write the formula for centripetal force and state its direction.

    F = mv^2/r = m r omega^2, directed toward the center of the circle.

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

    Torque is the turning effect of a force: tau = F x r (force times perpendicular distance from the axis). SI unit: N m.

  7. Define moment of inertia and write the rotational analogue of Newton's second law.

    Moment of inertia I is rotational inertia (I = sum of m r^2). Rotational form: tau = I alpha, where alpha is angular acceleration.

  8. Write the formula for rotational kinetic energy and angular momentum.

    Rotational KE = (1/2) I omega^2; Angular momentum L = I omega.

  9. Define simple harmonic motion (SHM).

    Motion in which acceleration is directly proportional to displacement from a fixed point and always directed toward that point: a = -omega^2 x.

  10. Write the formula for the time period of a mass-spring system in SHM.

    T = 2 pi sqrt(m/k), where m is mass and k is the spring constant.

  11. Write the formula for the time period of a simple pendulum.

    T = 2 pi sqrt(L/g), where L is length and g is gravitational acceleration.

  12. In SHM, where are velocity and acceleration maximum and minimum?

    Velocity is maximum at the mean position and zero at the extremes; acceleration is maximum at the extremes and zero at the mean position.

  13. Define wavelength, frequency, and the wave equation.

    Wavelength is distance between successive identical points; frequency is waves per second. Wave equation: v = f lambda.

  14. What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves? Give an example of each.

    In transverse waves the vibration is perpendicular to wave travel (e.g. light, water waves). In longitudinal waves it is parallel (e.g. sound).

  15. State the principle of superposition of waves.

    When two or more waves overlap, the resultant displacement at any point equals the algebraic sum of the individual displacements.

  16. What is the difference between constructive and destructive interference?

    Constructive interference occurs when waves are in phase (crests meet), giving maximum amplitude. Destructive occurs when out of phase (crest meets trough), giving minimum/zero amplitude.

  17. What is the speed of sound in air at room temperature, and how does it change with temperature?

    About 340 m/s. Speed increases as temperature increases (faster in warmer air).

  18. Define resonance.

    Resonance occurs when a system is driven at its natural frequency, producing a large amplitude of vibration.

  19. For a stretched string fixed at both ends, write the fundamental frequency formula.

    f = (1/2L) sqrt(T/mu), where L is length, T is tension, and mu is mass per unit length.

  20. What is the difference between heat and temperature?

    Heat is energy transferred due to a temperature difference (joules). Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of particles (degree of hotness).

  21. Convert a Celsius temperature to Kelvin.

    K = degrees C + 273.15 (commonly +273).

  22. Write the equation for heat required to change a substance's temperature.

    Q = m c delta T, where m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, and delta T is temperature change.

  23. State the first law of thermodynamics with its equation.

    Energy is conserved: heat added to a system equals the increase in internal energy plus work done by the system. Q = delta U + W.

  24. State the second law of thermodynamics.

    Heat cannot flow spontaneously from a colder to a hotter body; the entropy of an isolated system never decreases.

  25. Define an isothermal and an adiabatic process.

    Isothermal: temperature constant (delta U = 0, Q = W). Adiabatic: no heat exchange (Q = 0, delta U = -W).

  26. Write the formula for the efficiency of a heat engine.

    Efficiency = W/Q_hot = (Q_hot - Q_cold)/Q_hot = 1 - Q_cold/Q_hot.

  27. Write the formula for the maximum (Carnot) efficiency of a heat engine.

    Efficiency_Carnot = 1 - T_cold/T_hot, with temperatures in kelvin.

  28. Define entropy and state how it changes in natural (irreversible) processes.

    Entropy is a measure of disorder or unavailable energy. In natural irreversible processes the total entropy of the universe increases.

  29. State Coulomb's law and write its equation.

    The force between two point charges is proportional to the product of charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance: F = k q1 q2 / r^2, where k approximately 9 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2.

  30. Define electric field strength and write its formula.

    Electric field strength is force per unit positive charge: E = F/q = k Q/r^2. SI unit: N/C or V/m.

  31. Define electric potential and capacitance with their formulas.

    Electric potential V is work done per unit charge bringing it from infinity: V = W/q (volts). Capacitance C = Q/V (farads), the charge stored per unit potential difference.

NUMS Entry Test Physics FAQ

What is in the NUMS Entry Test Physics syllabus?

NUMS Entry Test Physics is split into 12 chapters: Force and Motion, Work, Energy and Power, Rotational and Circular Motion, Waves and Oscillations, Thermodynamics, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Electromagnetism, Electromagnetic Induction, Electronics, Dawn of Modern Physics and Atomic and Nuclear Physics. Together they contain 37 topics.

How many chapters are in NUMS Entry Test Physics?

12 chapters, containing 37 topics. The largest chapter is Force and Motion, with 4 topics.

Are there flashcards for NUMS Entry Test Physics?

Yes — a 51-card Physics deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.