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Physics 1st year Important Questions

Short Questions
 What are physical and biological sciences?
 Discuss main frontiers of fundamental sciences.
 Why do we find it useful to have two units for amount of substance, kilogram and mole?
 What is Nuclear physics and solid state Physics. OR What is particle physics and
Relativistic mechanics.
 What is precision and accuracy? OR Differentiate b/w precise and accurate measurement?
 Give the table of seven base quantities with units?
 What are supplementary units? What are radian and Steradian?
 Define random error and systematic error. How are they removed?
 Name several repetitive phenomenons’s occurring in nature which could serve as
reasonable time standard.
 Give the drawbacks to use the period of pendulum as time standard.
 The period of pendulum is measured by stop watch. What types of error are possible?
 Write the dimension of (a) pressure (b) density.
 What is dimension? Write two uses of dimensional analysis?
 What is principle of homogeneity?
 The length and width of rectangular plate are measured to be 15.3 cm and 12.8 cm. find the
area of plate.
 How many seconds are there in one year?
 How many nano second are there in one year.
 How many years in 1 sec?
 Write four rules/conventions for writing units.
 Show that Einstein equation E=mc2 dimensionally consistent.
 What are the dimension and units of Gravitation constant G?
 What are base and derived units? Give examples.
 Does a dimensional analysis gives any information about constant of proportionality that
may appear in algebraic expression? Explain.
 Show that the expression V f  Vi  at is dimensionally correct

F l
 Show that the equation v  is dimensionally correct.
m
 Write the dimension of (a) Co-efficient of viscosity (b) Force
 What is scientific notation? Give an example.
 Find the dimensions and unit of co-efficient of viscosity by Stokes law. F  6   r v
 An old saying is that “A Chain is only strong as its weakest link. What analogues statement
can you make regarding the experimental data used in computation?
 Mass is form of energy. How much energy is obtained from 1 kg mass.
 How two vectors are added? OR explain head to tail rule for addition of two vectors.
 Prove that in vector addition A+B=B+A.
 What is negative vector? How two vectors are subtracted?
4iˆ  3 ˆj
 Find the magnitude of vector A  .
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 Define torque. Write its unit.
 Show that scalar product is commutative.
 Define two conditions of equilibrium?
 Define any two types of equilibrium.
 Define the term (a) unit vector (b) position vector.
 The vector sum of three vectors gives zero resultant. What can be orientation of vectors?
 Can a vector have component greater then vector’s magnitude?
 Is it possible to add a vector quantity to scalar?
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 Can you add zero to a null vector?

 Two vectors have unequal magnitudes. Can their sum be zero? Explain.
 Name three conditions that could make A1xA2=0.
 If all the components of vectors A1 and A2 were reversed, how would this alter A1*A2?
 A picture is suspended from the wall by two strings. Show by diagram the configuration of string for
the tension in string will be minimum?
 Can a body rotate about its center of gravity? Explain.
 If A+B=O then what can you say about the components of vector?
 What is the unit vector in the direction of A=4i+3j.
 Why do you keep your legs far apart when you have to stand in the aisle of bumpy riding bus?
 What is position vector? Write its formula.
 A force of 10 N is acting on y axis. Find its X and Y components?
 What is significance of velocity time graph?
 How distance is calculated from velocity time graph?
 State Law of inertia. OR State First law of motion. OR State Newton---- law of motion (any one)
 What is difference between uniform and variable velocity?
 Calculate the formula for force due to water flow?
 Which will be more effective in knocking a bear down? (i) a rubber bullet or a lead bullet of same
momentum.
 What is difference b/w instantaneous and average velocity? Give their SI units?
 Can the velocity of an object reverse direction when acceleration is constant?
 Motion with constant velocity is special case of motion with constant acceleration. Is this statement
true? Explain.
 Explain the circumstances in which velocity and acceleration are (a) parallel (b) anti parallel (c)
Perpendicular
 Explain the circumstances in which velocity and acceleration are (a) v is zero a is not (b) v is not
zero a is zero.
 Define impulse and show that how it is related to linear momentum.
 At what point or points in its path does a projectile have its minimum and maximum speed?
 Define elastic and inelastic collision.
 What is ballistic missile and ballistic trajectory?
 State law of conservation of linear momentum?
 A man wishes to take a long jump. At what angle he should jump. Explain
 Find the angle of projection of projectile of a projectile for which maximum height and horizontal
range are equal.
 Show that range of projectile is maximum when projectile is thrown at angle of 45° with horizontal.
 Water is projected from two rubber pipes at the same speed from one at angle of 30° and other from
60°. Why are the ranges equal?
 What is effect on the speed of a fighter plane chasing another when it open fire?
 In thrill machine rides at amusement park there can be acceleration of 3g or more. But without head
rest acceleration is not safe, think why not?
 Does moving objects have impulse?
 What is work and gravitational field?
 What is conservative field? Give example.
 What is variable force? Give one example of variable force?
 Calculate work done in kilo joules in lifting a mass of 10kg through a vertical height of 10m.
 A force acts through a distance L. the force is then increased to 3F, then a further distance
of 2L. Draw work diagram to scale.
 A boy uses catapult to throw a stone which accidently smashes a greenhouse window. List
the possible energy changes.
 Define conservative and non-conservative forces? Give one example of each.
 What is power? Prove that P=F.v.
 What is kilowatt hour? Prove that 1KWh=3.6MJ.
 State work energy principle. Write its formula. OR show that work done on body is equal to
change in kinetic energy?
 Define escape velocity. Write its formula.
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 An object has one joule of P.E. explain what does it mean?

 When rocket re-enters the atmosphere, its nose cone becomes very hot. Where does this
heat come from?
 What sort of energy is in the (a) compressed spring (b) water in high dam (c) a moving car
 A girl drop a cup from a certain height which break into pieces. What energy changes are
involved?
 Write four non-conventional energy sources.
 What is digester?
 What is aquifer and geyser?
 What does negative sign shows in equation U= -GMm/R
 What is solar cell? Write two uses of solar cell?
 How energy is obtained from tides?
 Define escape velocity? Write its formula and value?
 What is the value of solar constant?
 How pollution can be reduced?
 Prove that S=rƟ.
 Prove that 1radian=57.3˚.
 Prove that V=rw, prove that a=rα.
 What is difference between tangential and angular velocity?
 What is moment of inertia? Explain its significance?
 Show that orbital angular momentum Lo=mvr.
 Why does the diver change his position before and after diving in the pool?
 When mud flies off the tyre. In what direction does it fly?
 How artificial gravity is created in an artificial satellite? Write its formula for frequency?
 Explain how many minimum number of geostationary satellite are required for global coverage?
 What is difference between real and apparent weight.
 A disc and hoop start moving down from the top of an inclined plane at the same time. Which one will be moving
faster on reaching the bottom?
 What is INTELSAT? At what frequencies INTELSAT-IV operates?
 Why Einstein theory of gravitation is better than Newton theory?
 What are the uses of geostationary orbits?
 What is orbital velocity? Write its formula?
 State law of gravitation.
 What is weightlessness and gravity free system?
 Explain why an object orbiting the Earth is said to be freely falling, use your explanation to point out why object appear
weightless under certain circumstances?
 You may feel scared at the top of roller coaster ride in the part but never fall down when you are upside down. Why?
 Why banked track are needed?
 What is angular momentum? Write its formula and unit?
 Why does the coasting rotating system slow down as water dips into the beaker?
 Explain what is meant by viscosity?
 State Stokes law with mathematical form?
 How lift of an aero plane works in air?
 What is drag force? On which factors does it depends?
 What is difference between laminar and turbulent flow?
 Explain how swing is produced in fast moving cricket ball?
 Explain the working of carburetor of car by using Bernoulli equation.
 Why fog droplet appear to be suspended in air?
 A person is standing near a fast moving train. Is there any danger that he will fall towards
it?
 What is Torricelli theorem?
 State venture relation.
 Give the method for measuring blood pressure?
 Which effect is used in perfume and paint sprayer?
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 A chimney works best when it is tall. Why?

 State Bernoulli equation.
 How blood pressure is measured?
 What is Phase? Does it define angle b/w maximum displacement and driving force.
 Define restoring force and SHM?
 What are free and forced oscillations?
 Why soldiers are advised to break their steps when marching on a bridge?
 Calculate the frequency of 2nd pendulum?
 Why microwaves are used in Microwave oven of 2450 MHz?
 Define Damping and damped oscillations?
 Name two characteristics of SHM.
 Does frequency depends on amplitude for harmonic oscillator?
 Can we realize an ideal simple pendulum?
 What is total distance travelled by an object when moving with SHM in a time equal to its period, if
its amplitude is A?
 What happens to period pendulum if its length is doubled? What happens when suspended mass is
doubled?
 What Resonance? Describe common phenomenon in which resonance play an important role?
 Does acceleration of simple harmonic oscillator remains constant during its motion? Is acceleration
ever zero? Explain?
 Describe common phenomenon in which resonance play an important role
 If a mass spring system is hung vertically and set into oscillations, why does the motion eventually
stop?
 Under what condition does the addition of two SHMs produce a resultant which is also SHM?
 What is sharpness of resonance?
 Why the collapse of Tacoma Narrow Bridge was suspended?
 What is driven harmonic oscillator?
 Give on advantage and one disadvantage of resonance.
 Why waves of 2450 MHz frequency are necessary for heating and cooking of food in microwave
oven?
 What will be the potential energy of mass attached to a spring at amplitude 5cm, if its spring
constant is 10 N/m.
 What are matter and progressive waves?
 Define longitudinal and transverse waves?
 What are the factors upon which the speed of sound in air depends?
 What are mechanical and electromagnetic waves?
 Prove that V=fλ.
 What is the effect of pressure and density on speed of sound in air?
 Define beats? Write two uses of beats?
 Write any two applications of Doppler effect.
 What is RADAR and SONAR?
 What features do longitudinal waves have in common with transverse waves?
 Is it possible for two identical waves travelling in same direction along a string to give rise a
stationary waves?
 How should a sound source move with respect to an observer so that frequency of sound does not
change?
 Explain the term crest, trough, node and anti-node.
 Why does the sound travel faster in solids than in gases?
 How are beats useful in tuning musical instrument?
 Explain the term red shift and blue shift in Doppler Effect?
 Why stationary waves are called standing waves?
 Write conditions for constructive and destructive interference?
 Write the names of four applications of Doppler effect.
 Why sound travel in hydrogen than in oxygen?
 What is difference b/w beats and interference?
 Explain why sound travel faster in warm air than in cold air?
 What are longitudinal and transverse waves?
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 What happens when a jet plane like Concorde flies faster than speed of sound?
 What is wave front? State Huygens principle.
 How is the distance b/w interference fringes affected by the separation b/w slits of young double slit
experiment? Explain?
 Explain whether the Young experiment is an experiment for studying interference or diffraction
effects of light?
 Could you obtained newton rings with transmitted light? If yes, would the pattern be different from
that obtained with reflected light?
 What is diffraction of light?
 How will you increase the fringe width in YDS experiment?
 In newton rings, why are the fringes circular?
 What is optical rotation?
 Draw the construction of Michelson interferometer.
 Define diffraction grating and grating element?
 Write two uses of X-rays diffractions? OR State two uses of Bragg’s equation?
 What is polarization? What is difference between polarized and unpolarized light?
 Under what condition two or more sources of light behave as coherent sources.
 Can visible light produce interference fringes?
 An oil film spreading over a wet footpath shows colors. Explain what does it happen.
 How would you manage to get more order of spectra by using diffraction grating?
 Why the Polaroid sunglasses are better than ordinary sun glasses?
 What are Newton rings? Why central ring is dark?
 What is least distance of distinct vision or near?
 What is spectrometer? Write only the names of its main parts.
 What is meant by linear and angular magnification?
 What is difference between angular magnification and resolving power?
 Why would it be advantages to use blue light with compound microscope?
 One can buy cheap microscope for use of children, the images seen in such microscope have
colored edges? Why is this so?
 Write uses of the spectrometer?
 Find magnifying power of convex lens 25cm focal length acts as magnifying glass?
 Calculate the critical angle for glass air boundary if refractive index of glass is 1.5.
 What are three major components of fiber optic communication system?
 What is the function of collimator in spectrometer?
 Explain with help of diagram how single biconvex lens is used as magnifying glass?
 If a person looking through telescope at full moon, how would the appearance of moon be changed
by covering half of the objective lens?
 A magnifying glass gives five time enlarge images at a distance of 25cm from lens. Find focal
length?
 What is Snell law and critical angle?
 Name three types of optical fiber?
 How the light signal is transmitted through optical fiber?
 How the power is lost through dispersion? Explain.
 Write two advantages of fiber optics?
 Write four postulates of Kinetic molecular theory of gases.
 State Boyle and Charles law.
 What is reversible and irreversible process?
 What is adiabatic process and isothermal process? Give examples.
 Why is the average velocity of molecules in a gas zero but the average of square of velocities is not
zero? Explain.
 What happens to temperature of room when air conditioner is left running on a table in the middle of
room?
 What is triple point cell? Write its value?
 State law of increase of entropy?
 State first law of thermodynamics and write its mathematical form.
 State 2nd law of thermodynamics in terms of entropy.
 Why spark plug is not needed in diesel engine?
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 Why the entropy of universe is increasing?

 State Carnot theorem.
 Sketch the schematic diagram of refrigerator?
 What is entropy? Write tis unit and formula.
 Briefly describe about diesel engine.
 Under what circumstance efficiency of diesel engine is 100%?
 Why does the pressure of a gas in a car tyre increase when it is driven through some distance?
 Specific heat at constant pressure is greater than specific heat at constant volume? Why?
 Is it possible to convert internal energy into mechanical energy? Explain with example.
 Is it possible to construct a heat engine that will not expel heat into atmosphere?
 A thermo flask containing milk as a system is shaken rapidly. Does the temperature of milk rise?
 Can mechanical energy be converted into heat energy? Explain with example.
 Does entropy of system increase or decrease due to friction?
 Give an example of natural process that involve an increase in entropy?
 What is meant by heat death of universe?
 State 2nd law of thermodynamics.
 What is triple point of water?
Extensive Questions

 Chapter 02: Vector addition by rectangular components, scalar product, vector product,
 Numerical: 2.1,2.3,2.4,2.5,2.6,2.7,2.8,2.9,2.10,2.11,2.14,2.15 with relevant examples
 Chapter 03: law of conservation of linear momentum, elastic collision in one dimension, projectile motion with relations
of height, time and range of projectile: Numerical: :3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.8, 3.10, 3.11, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15 with
relevant examples
 Chapter 04: work done by gravitational field, absolute potential energy, escape velocity, interconversion of kinetic and
potential energy 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9 with exp 4.2, 4.3
 Chapter 05: centripetal force, rotational kinetic energy, real and apparent weight, artificial gravity, geostationary orbit.
Numerical: 5.1,5.2,5.3,5.5,5.6,5.7,5.9,5.10 with relevant examples
 Chapter 06: Terminal velocity, Equation of continuity, Bernouli equation. Numerical: 6.2,6.3,6.4,6.5,6.7,6.9 with
relevant examples
 Chapter 07: SHM and uniform circular motion, Characterstics of horizontal mass spring system, simple pendulum,
Energy conservation in SHM, Numericals: 7.2,7.4,7.5,7.7,7.8 with relevant examples
 Chapter 08: speed of sound in air, effects on speed of sound, stationary waves in stretched string and air column,
Doppler Effect. Numerical 8.1,8.3,8.4,8.5,8.6 with relevant examples
 Chapter 09: Young double slit exp, Michelson Interferrometer, diffraction of x-rays through crystals(Bragg’s law)
Numerical: 9.2 to 9.9 with relevant examples
 Chapter 10: Simple Microscope, Compound Microscope, Astronomical telescope, Speed of light Numericals:
10.2,10.3,10.4,10.7,10.8 with relevant examples
 Chapter 11: Pressure of gas, First law of thermodynamics and its applications, Prove that Cp-Cv=R,
Carnot engine/cycle and its efficiency Numericals: 11.1,11.2,1.4,11.5,11.7,11.9,11.11 with relevant
exp

Best of luck!

By: Asad Abbas (Lecturer Physics Govt Graduate College Bhakkar) 0303-9251414