SAT Subject Test: Physics

Content

1. Mechanics (36 42%)

o Kinematics: one and two dimensions motion able to calculate velocity,

acceleration and understand their relationship

o Dynamics: Force, Newtons laws, statics, and friction

o Energy and Momentum: Potential and kinetic energy, work, power,

impulse, and conservation laws

o Circular Motion: uniform circular motion and centripetal force

o Simple Harmonic Motion: mass on spring, the pendulum

o Gravity: the law of gravitation, orbits, and Keplers laws

2. Electricity and Magnetism (18 24%)

o Electric Fields, Forces and Potentials: Coulombs law, induced charge

field and potential of groups of points charges, and charged particles in

electric fields

o Capacitance: parallel-plate capacitors and time-varying behavior in

charging/ discharging

o Circuit Elements and DC Circuits: resistors, light bulbs, series and

parallel networks, Ohms law, and Joules law

o Magnetism: permanent magnets, fields caused by currents, particles in
magnetic fields, Faradays law, and Lenzs law

3. Wave and Optics (15 19%)

o General Wave Properties: wave speed, frequency, wavelength,

superposition, standing waves, and Doppler effect

o Reflection and Refraction: Snells law and changes in wavelength and

speed

o Ray Optics: image formation using pinholes, mirrors, and lenses

 o Physical Optics: single-slit diffraction, double-slit interference,

polarization, and color

4. Heat and Thermodynamics (6 11%)

o Thermal Properties: temperature, heat transfer, specific and latent

heats, and thermal expansion

o Laws of Thermodynamics: first and second laws, internal energy,

entropy, and heat engine efficiency

5. Modern Physics (6 11%)

o Quantum Phenomena: photoelectric effect and electron diffraction

o Atomic Physics: the Rutherford and Bohr models, atomic energy levels,

and atomic spectra

o Nuclear Physics: radioactivity, fission, fusion, and other nuclear

processes

o Relativity: time dilation, length contraction, and mass-energy

equivalence
6. Miscellaneous (4 9%)

o General: history of physics and general questions that overlap several

major topics

o Analytical Skills: graphical analysis, measurement, and math skills

o New Topics in Physics: current developments in such areas as

astrophysics, elementary particle physics, nanophysics, and new
technological applications of physics