Pharm-D Admission 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 Pharm-D Admission Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Measurements and Vectors

   4 topics

   • Physical Quantities and Units
   • Errors and Significant Figures
   • Vector Addition and Resolution
   • Scalar and Vector Products
2. 2

   Motion and Force

   4 topics

   • Equations of Motion
   • Newton's Laws of Motion
   • Momentum and Impulse
   • Projectile Motion
3. 3

   Work, Energy and Power

   3 topics

   • Work and Energy
   • Conservation of Energy
   • Power and Efficiency
4. 4

   Circular and Rotational Motion

   3 topics

   • Angular Motion
   • Centripetal Force
   • Moment of Inertia and Torque
5. 5

   Fluid Dynamics

   3 topics

   • Fluid Pressure and Buoyancy
   • Bernoulli's Equation
   • Viscosity and Surface Tension
6. 6

   Oscillations and Waves

   4 topics

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

   Thermodynamics

   3 topics

   • Heat and Temperature
   • Laws of Thermodynamics
   • Kinetic Theory of Gases
8. 8

   Electrostatics and Current Electricity

   4 topics

   • Coulomb's Law and Electric Field
   • Capacitors
   • Ohm's Law and Resistance
   • Circuits and Kirchhoff's Laws
9. 9

   Electromagnetism

   3 topics

   • Magnetic Field and Force
   • Electromagnetic Induction
   • Alternating Current
10. 10

    Modern Physics

    3 topics

    • Photoelectric Effect and Quantum Theory
    • Atomic Spectra
    • Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity

Physics flashcards for Pharm-D Admission Test

24 of 61 cards from the Physics deck — real questions with worked answers.

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

   A base quantity is a fundamental physical quantity defined independently (e.g., length, mass, time). A derived quantity is formed by combining base quantities (e.g., speed = length/time, force = mass x acceleration).

2. List the seven SI base quantities and their units.

   Length (metre, m), Mass (kilogram, kg), Time (second, s), Electric current (ampere, A), Temperature (kelvin, K), Amount of substance (mole, mol), and Luminous intensity (candela, cd).

3. What are the dimensions of force, and what is its SI unit in base units?

   Force has dimensions [M L T^-2]. Its SI unit, the newton (N), equals kg.m.s^-2.

4. What is dimensional analysis used for in physics?

   It checks the homogeneity (correctness) of equations by ensuring both sides have the same dimensions, helps derive relationships between quantities, and converts units.

5. Define systematic error and random error.

   A systematic error is a consistent, repeatable error (same direction each time) due to faulty instruments or method, affecting accuracy. A random error varies unpredictably in size and direction due to chance fluctuations, affecting precision.

6. What is the difference between accuracy and precision?

   Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value. Precision is how close repeated measurements are to each other (reproducibility), regardless of the true value.

7. How are absolute, fractional, and percentage uncertainty related?

   Fractional uncertainty = absolute uncertainty / measured value. Percentage uncertainty = fractional uncertainty x 100%.

8. State the rules for counting significant figures with zeros.

   Leading zeros are not significant; zeros between non-zero digits are significant; trailing zeros after a decimal point are significant; trailing zeros in a whole number without a decimal are ambiguous.

9. How many significant figures are in 0.00420, and why?

   Three significant figures (4, 2, and the trailing 0). Leading zeros are not significant, but the trailing zero after the decimal is.

10. How do uncertainties combine when quantities are multiplied or divided?

    Add the fractional (or percentage) uncertainties. For example, if Z = XY, then (dZ/Z) = (dX/X) + (dY/Y).

11. What is the difference between a scalar and a vector quantity? Give two examples of each.

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

12. How do you resolve a vector F at angle theta into rectangular components?

    Horizontal component Fx = F cos(theta); vertical component Fy = F sin(theta), where theta is measured from the horizontal (x-axis).

13. How do you find the magnitude and direction of a resultant from its rectangular components Rx and Ry?

    Magnitude R = sqrt(Rx^2 + Ry^2); direction theta = tan^-1(Ry / Rx) measured from the x-axis.

14. 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 drawn from the tail of the first vector to the head of the last vector.

15. What is the parallelogram law of vector addition?

    If two vectors are represented by adjacent sides of a parallelogram drawn from a common point, their resultant is the diagonal of the parallelogram from that same point.

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

    The scalar product A.B = AB cos(theta), where theta is the angle between them. The result is a scalar. Example: work = F.d.

17. Define the vector (cross) product of two vectors and give its formula.

    The vector product A x B = AB sin(theta) n-hat, where theta is the angle between them and n-hat is the unit vector perpendicular to both (by the right-hand rule). The result is a vector. Example: torque = r x F.

18. What are the dot and cross products of two perpendicular vectors and of two parallel vectors?

    For perpendicular vectors: dot product = 0, cross product = maximum (AB). For parallel vectors: dot product = maximum (AB), cross product = 0.

19. State the three equations of motion for uniform acceleration.

    v = u + at; s = ut + (1/2)at^2; v^2 = u^2 + 2as, where u = initial velocity, v = final velocity, a = acceleration, t = time, s = displacement.

20. What is the difference between distance and displacement?

    Distance is the total path length travelled (a scalar). Displacement is the straight-line change in position from start to end with direction (a vector).

21. How is instantaneous velocity obtained from a displacement-time graph and acceleration from a velocity-time graph?

    Instantaneous velocity is the gradient (slope) of the displacement-time graph; acceleration is the gradient of the velocity-time graph. Displacement is the area under the velocity-time graph.

22. State Newton's First Law of Motion.

    A body remains at rest or continues in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by a net external force. It defines the property of inertia.

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

    The rate of change of momentum of a body is proportional to the net applied force and occurs in the direction of the force. In equation form: F = ma (or F = dp/dt).

24. State Newton's Third Law of Motion.

    For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; the forces act on two different bodies and are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

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