GAMSAT Guide/Science/Physics

The physics content of the GAMSAT seems to vary greatly - the 20% theory seemed from my experience to be a rather inflated estimate. Still common themes tend to emerge over the years - favourite areas seem to be relatively simple electrics (although I was confronted with a hideously difficult question looking at how to reduce voltage - so going beyond the simple basics may be a good idea!), gravity related areas, optics... Physics Core Topics The GAMSAT is designed to test year 12 physics topics. Favourite Topics These topics tend to recur. Vectors & Kinematics vectors and scalars, displacement, velocity, acceleration, linear motion, projectile motion. Electric Fields potential, field strength, Capacitance, combining capacitors, energy stored in a capacitor. Lenses convex, focal length, concave, magnification. Additional Core Topics Mechanics moments, Newton's law of motion, friction and equilibrium Work, Energy & Momentum power, work, mechanical energy, kinetic and potential energy, conservation of momentum, internal energy, Ideal gases Elastic properties of solids Hooke's law, elasticity, stress, Young's modulus, strain Current electricity resistors in parallel and series, resistance, Ohm's law, current and drift velocity, emf and voltage Magnetic Fields field strength, force on a moving charge, fields due to currents Waves oscillations, resonance, wave measurements, superstition and interference, simple harmonic motion. Refractive index The photoelectric effect, work constant of metals Radioactive decay rate of decay and half life, emissions, stable and unstable nuclei Sound decibels, intensity, sound level Other Topics The above list has deliberately excluded some key year 12 topics, that are not commonly covered in the GAMSAT. These include: quantum duality particle accelerators astrophysics Personal Perspective Some topics that came up in a single GAMSAT include: Forces at rest Force and Motion Vibration, Waves and Sound Gravitational and Electrical Fields Currents and circuits Electromagnetism Thermal Physics Particle Physics Optics