EmSAT Achieve Physics

Page: 1 of 17 Publication Date: September 2019

EmSAT Achieve Physics Public Test Specification

Test Description: EmSAT Achieve Physics is a 90-minute computerized test that measures test takers’

level of proficiency in Physics and determines their readiness for college. EmSAT Achieve Physics

consists of three major domains: (1) Physics Fundamentals; (2) Energy and Conservation; (3) Force and

Motion. Test sections, questions, and options are randomized and timed by the test software. The

computerized test is a timed test wherein the test clock is visible at all time to test takers.

Test Duration: 90 minutes

Content Areas: 1. Physics Fundamentals. 2. Energy and Conservation. 3. Force and Motion.

Task Types: Multiple Choice

Calculators Allowed

EmSAT Achieve Physics

Score Score Descriptors

1500+ High Proficiency: students at this level are well-prepared for Physics courses at the university level.

1100-1475 Proficient: students at this level are at a satisfactory level of preparation to begin first-year Physics courses at the university level.

900-1075 Borderline Proficient: students at this level are minimally prepared for first-year Physics courses at the university level.

700-875 Basic: students at this level do not have sufficient mastery of prerequisite knowledge for first-year courses in Physics at the university level, and may need some additional support.

500-675 Needs Improvement: students at this level need additional instructional support in basic Physics concepts and skills before beginning any first-year Physics courses.

˂ 500 Little Knowledge of General Physics: students at this level need intensive instructional support in basic Physics concepts and skills.



Appendix 1: Content Areas

Below are the major sections and related content specifications that grade 12 students should be able

to demonstrate mastery of in order to meet the expectations of this test.

Section 1: Physics Fundamentals

This section includes the required mathematics skills that students need to master in order to efficiently and effectively solve physical problems. It also includes physical quantities definition, units and types. The section tests test takers’ ability to convert problems into solvable equations whether the problem is presented as text or graph of a given real life scenario.

Content Specifications

Differentiate between scalars and vectors physical quantities.

Deal with vectors and vectors arithmetic.

Master the required mathematical skills for physical questions such as trigonometry,

significant figures and scientific notations…etc.

Convert physical real-life scenarios into solvable mathematical equations (equation

formation).

Section 2: Energy and Conservation.

This section includes the concept of energy and how different types of energy are converted from one

type to another under the law of energy conservation this includes: kinetic energy, different types of

potential energy, thermal energy…etc. Moreover, this section includes the relationship between the

work done on an object and the change in that object energy that is represented in the concept of the

work-energy theorem under either conservation force or non-conservative force. It includes electric

circuits and fields, magnetic field and the relationship between electricity and magnetism and how

moving charges produces magnetic field and how changing magmatic field induces electric current.

This section includes vibrating sources that produce waves which move energy from one point to

another either through a medium or in vacuum. It also includes optics and optical instruments and

how light reflection of mirrors and lenses forms different types of images, depending on the type of

the optical instrument and the position of an object relative to it.


Understand that all energy transfers are governed by the law of conservation of energy

Understand that energy may be converted among mechanical, electromagnetic, nuclear, and

thermal forms

Know that potential energy is the energy an object possesses by its position or condition such

as gravitational and elastic


Know that kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses by its motion

Understand that an ideal mechanical system is the sum of the macroscopic kinetic and

potential energies is constant

Understand that when work is done by a system, there is change in the total energy of the

system

Understand that work done against friction results in an increase in the internal energy of the

system

Know that power is the time-rate at which work is done or energy is expended

Know that moving electric charges produce magnetic fields

Understand that all materials display a range of conductivity

Understand that factors affecting resistance in a conductor are length, cross-sectional area,

temperature, and resistivity

Understand that a circuit is a closed path in which a current can exist

Know that circuit components may be connected in series or in parallel

Know that electrical power and electrical currents can be determined for electric circuits

Know that an oscillating system produces waves

Know that waves carry energy and information without transferring mass

Understand that waves incorporate the characteristics of amplitude, wavelength, frequency,

period, wave speed, and phase

Know that mechanical waves require a material medium through which to travel

Understand that waves are categorized by the direction in which particles in a medium vibrate

about an equilibrium position relative to the direction of propagation of the wave

Know that resonance occurs when energy is transferred to a system at its natural frequency

Know that when a wave strikes a boundary between two media, reflection, transmission, and

absorption occur

Know that the absolute index of refractions is inversely proportional to the speed of a wave

Know that all frequencies of electromagnetic radiation travel at the same speed in a vacuum

Know that diffraction occurs when waves pass by obstacles or through openings

Understand that when waves of similar nature meet, the resulting interference may be

explained using the principle of superposition

Understand that when a wave source and an observer are in relative motion, the observed

frequency of the waves traveling between them is shifted

Section 3: Force and Motion.


This section includes the fundamentals of motion, such as dealing with the physical quantities of

motion (displacement, velocity and acceleration) either mathematically or graphically and

differentiate between uniform and non-uniform motion. It also includes the one dimensional motion

of objects, such as the motion of objects on a horizontal plane, vertical plane or inclined plane, in

addition to the two-dimensional motion such as projectile motion, rotational motion, circular motion

and planetary motion. Students need to identify the forces that causes this motion and use Newton’s

Laws of Motion to study how these objects behave under the effect of these group of forces. It also

includes the modern part of physics such as nuclear physics and quantum physics, which is the is the

key to understanding atoms and molecules, including their structure, emission/absorption spectra,

chemical behavior and other properties.


Understand that an object in linear motion may travel with a constant velocity or with

acceleration

Understand that an object in free fall accelerates due to the force of gravity

Know that the path of a projectile is the result of the simultaneous effect of the horizontal and

vertical components of its motion

Understand that a projectile’s time in flight is dependent upon the vertical components of its

motion

Know that the horizontal displacement of a projectile is dependent upon the horizontal

components of its motion and its time of flight

Understand that the inertia of an object is directly proportional to its mass (NFL)

Know that when the net force on a system is zero, the system is in equilibrium

Understand that an unbalanced force causes a mass to accelerate (NSL)

Know that weight is the gravitational force with which a plant attracts a mass

Understand the elongation or compression of a spring depends upon its spring constant and

the magnitude of the applied force

Know that centripetal forces is the net force which produces centripetal acceleration

Know that kinetic friction is a force that opposes motion

Understand that an impulse acting on an object causes a change in its momentum

Understand that forces occur in action/reaction pairs (NTL)

Know that momentum is conserved in a closed system

Understand field strength and direction are determined using a test particle

Know that gravitational forces are only attractive, whereas electrical and magnetic forces can

be attractive and repulsive.

Know that the inverse square law applies to electrical and gravitational fields produced by

point sources.

Understand that states of matter and energy are restricted to discrete values.

Know that a charge is quantized on two levels (atomic and sub-nuclear).

Know that at the atomic level energy is emitted or absorbed in discrete packets called

photons.

Know that the energy of a photon is proportional to its frequency.

Know that at the atomic level energy and matter exhibit the characteristics of both waves and

particles.


Understand that mass-energy and charge are conserved at all levels.

Understand that the Standard Model of Particle Physics has evolved from attempts to explain

the nature of the atom.

Understand the behaviors and characteristics of matter, from the microscopic to the cosmic

levels, are manifestations of its atomic structure.

Understand that the total of the fundamental interactions is responsible for the appearance

and behavior of objects in the universe.

Understand that the fundamental source of all energy in the universe is the conversions of

mass into energy.



Appendix 2: Sample items












Answer Key:

1. 5.8

2. 12/13

3. Weight

4. X=-46.07, y=41.49

5. uv= -7.18

6. bar magnet

7. 10 W

8.

9. 240 Ω

10. 27 m/s

11. resonance

12. twice the speed

13.

14. 15. 0 m

16. 16 m/s

17. decreases

18. 19. quadrupled

20. frequency

EmSAT Achieve Physics

Documents