Ten exam-style questions covering every topic of the Humanitas physics syllabus. Every question you master brings you one step closer to your place at medical school in Milan.
Free mock quiz – not an official test. This is a free practice (mock) quiz written according to the official Humanitas physics syllabus. It is not an official Humanitas test and is not produced or endorsed by Humanitas University.
Measurements and UnitsKinematicsHarmonic Motion and WavesForces and Newton's LawsWork, Energy and MomentumFluid MechanicsOpticsThermodynamicsElectricity and CircuitsMagnetism and Induction
Choose one answer for each question. You will see straight away whether you are right, with a short worked solution. Treat it like exam day: no notes, and a calculator only if your exam allows one.
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1Measurements and Units
Question 1: Measurements and Units
The quantity force × timemass has the same SI units as which of the following?
Units: N·skg = (kg·m·s−2)·skg = m·s−1, the unit of velocity. (Force × time is impulse; dividing by mass gives a change in velocity.)
2Kinematics
Question 2: Kinematics
A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly, reaching 24 m/s after 8.0 s. How far does it travel in these 8.0 s?
Average speed = 0 + 242 = 12 m/s, so distance = 12 × 8.0 = 96 m. (Equivalently, the area under the velocity–time graph: 12 × 8.0 × 24.)
3Harmonic Motion and Waves
Question 3: Harmonic Motion and Waves
A mass on a spring oscillates with a period of 0.80 s. The mass is replaced by one four times as large, on the same spring. What is the new period?
T = 2π, so T ∝ . Four times the mass gives = 2 times the period: 2 × 0.80 = 1.6 s.
4Forces and Newton's Laws
Question 4: Forces and Newton's Laws
A 5.0 kg block is pulled along a horizontal floor by a horizontal force of 30 N. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.40. What is the acceleration of the block? (g = 10 m/s2)
Friction = μmg = 0.40 × 5.0 × 10 = 20 N. Resultant force = 30 − 20 = 10 N, so a = 105.0 = 2.0 m/s2.
5Work, Energy and Momentum
Question 5: Work, Energy and Momentum
A 2.0 kg trolley moving at 3.0 m/s collides with a stationary 1.0 kg trolley and the two stick together. How much kinetic energy is lost in the collision?
Momentum is conserved: 2.0 × 3.0 = 3.0 v, so v = 2.0 m/s. KE before = 12(2.0)(3.0)2 = 9.0 J; KE after = 12(3.0)(2.0)2 = 6.0 J. Loss = 3.0 J.
6Fluid Mechanics
Question 6: Fluid Mechanics
A block of wood with density 600 kg/m3 floats in water (density 1000 kg/m3). What fraction of its volume is below the water surface?
Floating: weight = buoyant force, so ρwoodV g = ρwaterVsubg. Hence VsubV = 6001000 = 0.60.
7Optics
Question 7: Optics
Light travels inside a glass block of refractive index 1.5 towards the glass–air boundary. Approximately what is the critical angle?
sin c = 1n = 11.5 ≈ 0.67, so c ≈ 42°. For angles of incidence larger than this the light is totally internally reflected.
8Thermodynamics
Question 8: Thermodynamics
How much energy is needed to heat 0.50 kg of water from 20 °C to 80 °C? (specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg−1 K−1)
Q = mcΔT = 0.50 × 4200 × 60 = 126 000 J = 126 kJ.
9Electricity and Circuits
Question 9: Electricity and Circuits
Resistors of 6.0 Ω and 12 Ω are connected in parallel to a 12 V battery of negligible internal resistance. What is the current from the battery?
Parallel: 1R = 16 + 112 = 312, so R = 4.0 Ω. I = VR = 124.0 = 3.0 A. (Check: 2.0 A + 1.0 A through the two branches.)
10Magnetism and Induction
Question 10: Magnetism and Induction
A straight wire of length 0.50 m carries a current of 4.0 A at right angles to a uniform magnetic field of 0.20 T. What is the magnitude of the force on the wire?
F = BIL sinθ = 0.20 × 4.0 × 0.50 × sin 90° = 0.40 N.
Your score
10-Week Humanitas Physics Programme
A personal plan that takes you through the whole Humanitas physics syllabus in 10 weeks: one-to-one online lessons, topic booklets with full worked solutions and timed mock tests, built around your results.
All questions are original practice questions written by Christos Fotakidis following the published Humanitas syllabus. They are not official Humanitas questions, they are not taken from any past paper, and this page is not affiliated with Humanitas University.
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