SAT Physics is a one-hour multiple-choice test on physics. The purpose of the SAT Physics subject test is to evaluate a candidate's grasp and understanding of the subject. The test also evaluates the candidate's aptitude for using these concepts to solve a range of problems. SAT physics tests have 3 distinct types of questions: recall questions, single-concept questions, and multiple-concept questions. The SAT subject test has a score range of 200-800.
The SAT subject test physics has the following exam pattern for the SAT Physics test:
SAT physics subject test exam mainly assesses the first-year of university fundamental Physics knowledge. Along with logical and problem-solving aptitude and lab sessions for physics. SAT physics subject test pattern and syllabus include:
SAT subject physics topics include:
Areas | Sub-Areas |
---|---|
Mechanics(36-42%) | Kinematics - Velocity, acceleration, motion in one dimension, and motion of projectiles. |
Dynamics - force, Newton’s laws, statics, and friction | |
Energy and momentum, potential and kinetic energy, work, power, impulse, and conservation laws | |
Circular motion, uniform circular motion, and centripetal force | |
Simple harmonic motion, mass on a spring, and the pendulum | |
Gravity – law of gravitation, orbits, and Kepler’s laws | |
Electricity and Magnetism(18-24%) | Electric fields, forces, and potentials, Coulomb’s law, induced charge, field and potential of groups of point charges, and charged particles in electric fields |
Capacitance, parallel-plate capacitors, and time-varying behavior in charging/ discharging | |
Circuit elements and DC circuits, resistors, light bulbs, series and parallel networks, Ohm’s law, and Joule’s law | |
Magnetism, permanent magnets, fields caused by currents, particles in magnetic fields, Faraday’s law, and Lenz’s law | |
Waves and Optics(15-19%) | General wave properties – wave speed, frequency, wavelength, superposition, standing wave diffraction, and Doppler effect |
Reflection and refraction, Snell’s law and changes in wavelength and speed | |
Ray optics, image formation using pinholes, mirrors, and lenses | |
Physical optics, single-slit diffraction, double-slit interference, polarization, and color | |
Heat and Thermodynamics(6-11%) | Thermal properties, temperature, heat transfer, specific and latent heats, and thermal expansions |
Laws of thermodynamics – first and second laws, internal energy, entropy, and heat engine efficiency | |
Modern Physics(6-11%) | Quantum phenomena, photons, and photoelectric effect |
Atomic, Rutherford, and Bohr models, atomic energy levels, and atomic spectra | |
Nuclear and particle physics, radioactivity, nuclear reactions, and fundamental particles | |
Relativity, time dilation, length contraction, and mass-energy equivalence | |
Miscellaneous(4-9%) | History of physics and general questions that overlap several major topics |
Analytical skills – graphical analysis, measurement, and math skills | |
Contemporary physics – astrophysics, superconductivity, and chaos theory |
SAT physics paper shows 3 types of questions:
Example:
Example:
Example:
Candidates can get the idea of each question type by going through the SAT exam physics online practice test.
Important Point to Remember
Cracking the SAT physics subject test will be easier if the below few points are kept in mind:
SAT physics subject test helps those candidates to stand out who are aspiring to pursue a science or math-related program. Here are some SAT preparation tips to follow to score better in SAT Physics:
Given below are the authentic Physics preparation books for SAT to enhance better scores. These books comprise SAT physics questions with solutions from physics SAT past papers for better SAT scores:
SAT Physics practice papers guide the candidates in learning the concepts, problem-solving, and reasoning skills. During preparation, the candidate must study from the answer keys provided in the SAT physics practice papers. They will be able to know the mistakes behind their incorrect answers.
Candidates must be able to work with equations, interpret a graph, understand the metric system to perform well on the SAT Physics test. There are some physics subject test practice topics like trigonometric identities, calculus, three-dimensional vectors and graphs, and physical constants. Take SAT Physics practice exams and study the SAT Physics test questions for better preparation and SAT scores.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.