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Module 2 Physics: 50 practice questions

Real EASA paper: Category A 32 Q / 40 min · B1.1 52 Q / 65 min · B1.2 52 Q / 65 min · B1.3 52 Q / 65 min · B2 52 Q / 65 min · B2L 52 Q / 65 min · B3 32 Q / 40 min. Three options, 75% to pass. Answer key on the last page. From part66exam.com · independent study aid, not an official exam or a past paper.

1. The coefficient of volumetric (cubic) expansion of a solid is approximately:
1. A. equal to its linear coefficient
2. B. three times its linear coefficient
3. C. half its linear coefficient
2. The coefficient of friction is the ratio of:
1. A. friction force to normal force
2. B. normal force to friction force
3. C. friction force to contact area
3. Heat can be defined in kinetic terms as:
1. A. the total kinetic energy of its molecules
2. B. the average speed of its molecules
3. C. the potential energy of its nuclei
4. Striking a bell harder makes its sound louder because it increases the:
1. A. amplitude of vibration
2. B. frequency of vibration
3. C. speed of the sound
5. Bevel gears are used to:
1. A. change the plane of rotation
2. B. reverse rotation in the same plane
3. C. obtain very high reduction in one stage
6. A mercury barometer at standard sea-level conditions shows a column height of about:
1. A. 760 mm (29.92 in)
2. B. 1 013 mm (39.9 in)
3. C. 14.7 mm (0.58 in)
7. When light passes from air into glass at an angle, it bends:
1. A. away from the normal
2. B. along the surface
3. C. towards the normal
8. A liquid filling a 24 ft³ container weighs 1 497.6 lb. What is its density?
1. A. 35 942 lb/ft³
2. B. 62.4 lb/ft³
3. C. 0.016 lb/ft³
9. The second law of thermodynamics states that heat will not flow spontaneously:
1. A. from a hotter body to a colder body
2. B. through a vacuum
3. C. from a colder body to a hotter body
10. A braking force of 12 000 N stops a 3 000 kg vehicle. How long does it take to stop from 16 m/s?
1. A. 0.25 s
2. B. 4 s
3. C. 1.33 s
11. Freezing is the change of state from:
1. A. solid to liquid
2. B. gas to solid
3. C. liquid to solid
12. Wavelength is the distance between:
1. A. a crest and the next trough
2. B. two successive crests (or compressions)
3. C. the source and the listener
13. A body falling through air eventually reaches terminal velocity when:
1. A. its weight becomes zero
2. B. gravity stops acting
3. C. air resistance equals its weight
14. In a hydraulic press, an input piston of 28 mm diameter receives 200 N. What force does the 120 mm diameter output piston produce? (ignore losses)
1. A. 11 N
2. B. 857 N
3. C. 3673 N
15. Why is a landing light lamp placed at the focal point of a concave (parabolic) reflector?
1. A. to spread the light in all directions
2. B. to reduce the lamp temperature
3. C. to produce a parallel beam
16. A hydraulic fluid has a specific gravity of 0.8. What does 1 ft³ of it weigh? (water 62.4 lb/ft³)
1. A. 49.92 lb
2. B. 78 lb
3. C. 62.4 lb
17. Why are aircraft tyres inflated with dry nitrogen rather than air in many cases?
1. A. it is dry and inert
2. B. it is lighter than hydrogen
3. C. it does not expand when heated
18. A hoist raises a 850 kg engine through 5 m in 30 s. What average power is delivered? (g = 9.81 m/s²)
1. A. 1389.8 W
2. B. 41692.5 W
3. C. 141.7 W
19. The change of state from solid directly to gas, without becoming a liquid, is called:
1. A. sublimation
2. B. evaporation
3. C. condensation
20. Mach number is the ratio of:
1. A. indicated airspeed to true airspeed
2. B. the speed of sound to true airspeed
3. C. true airspeed to the local speed of sound
21. What is the period of a simple pendulum of length 1 m? (g = 9.81 m/s², π = 3.1416)
1. A. 0.64 s
2. B. 2.01 s
3. C. 19.68 s
22. Standard atmospheric pressure of 14.7 psi is equivalent to about:
1. A. 760 hPa
2. B. 29.92 hPa
3. C. 1013 hPa
23. The refractive index of a material is defined as:
1. A. speed in the material ÷ speed in vacuum
2. B. speed of light in vacuum ÷ speed of light in the material
3. C. angle of refraction ÷ angle of incidence
24. A wing produces lift according to Bernoulli's principle because air over the curved upper surface:
1. A. slows down, raising its static pressure
2. B. becomes denser
3. C. speeds up, lowering its static pressure
25. A dull black surface compared with a polished silver surface at the same temperature will:
1. A. radiate and absorb heat better
2. B. radiate heat less well
3. C. reflect more radiant heat
26. An aircraft of gross weight 35000 lb is towed on a concrete ramp with a rolling-friction coefficient of 0.02. What force keeps it rolling?
1. A. 1750000 lb
2. B. 700 lb
3. C. 22540 lb
27. The chemical formula CO₂ indicates a molecule containing:
1. A. two carbon atoms and one oxygen atom
2. B. one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms
3. C. one carbon atom and one oxygen molecule of two atoms bonded separately
28. Points of maximum vibration in a standing wave are called:
1. A. antinodes
2. B. nodes
3. C. troughs
29. How long does it take to travel 150 km at 300 km/h?
1. A. 2 hours
2. B. 30 minutes
3. C. 45 minutes
30. Masses of 130 kg and 480 kg sit 1 m and 4 m aft of a datum. Where is their combined centre of gravity?
1. A. 2.5 m aft of datum
2. B. 1.64 m aft of datum
3. C. 3.36 m aft of datum
31. A flexible borescope uses fibre optics to:
1. A. measure the temperature inside an engine
2. B. magnetise parts for inspection
3. C. carry light and images around bends
32. The four-stroke piston engine operates on which thermodynamic cycle?
1. A. Brayton (constant-pressure combustion)
2. B. Rankine (steam) cycle
3. C. Otto (constant-volume combustion)
33. A tow bar pulls with a force of 2750 N at 30° to the direction of motion, moving an aircraft 95 m. How much work is done?
1. A. 226249 J
2. B. 261250 J
3. C. 130625 J
34. Porosity refers to matter that:
1. A. cannot be compressed by any force
2. B. contains spaces that smaller particles can fill
3. C. attracts all other nearby matter
35. An ultrasonic pulse in air returns as an echo after 16 ms. How far away is the reflecting surface? (speed of sound 340 m/s)
1. A. 5.44 m
2. B. 2720 m
3. C. 2.72 m
36. Every structure has a frequency at which it vibrates most readily when disturbed. This is its:
1. A. forced frequency
2. B. natural frequency
3. C. damped frequency
37. The centre of gravity of a body is the point:
1. A. through which its whole weight acts
2. B. at the geometric middle of its length
3. C. where its mass is most concentrated
38. Why should the end faces of fibre-optic connectors be kept clean?
1. A. dirt scatters and blocks the light, causing signal loss
2. B. dirt increases the fibre's refractive index
3. C. dirt causes electrical short circuits
39. Boyle's law states that, at constant temperature, the volume of a gas is:
1. A. directly proportional to its absolute pressure
2. B. inversely proportional to its absolute pressure
3. C. independent of pressure
40. Apparent drift of a gyroscope is caused by:
1. A. precession due to friction only
2. B. the rotation of the earth
3. C. changes in rotor mass
41. A standing (stationary) wave is formed by:
1. A. equal waves travelling in opposite directions
2. B. a single wave reflected at an oblique angle
3. C. waves of quite different frequencies
42. The frequency of a vibration with a period of 0.02 s is:
1. A. 0.02 Hz
2. B. 20 Hz
3. C. 50 Hz
43. Hooke's law states that, within the elastic limit:
1. A. stress is independent of strain
2. B. strain is proportional to stress
3. C. strain is inversely proportional to stress
44. An object at twice the focal length (2f) of a converging lens forms an image that is:
1. A. virtual, upright and magnified
2. B. real, inverted and the same size
3. C. real, inverted and magnified
45. Which statement about a greenhouse is true?
1. A. glass conducts better than air
2. B. convection heats the glass outside
3. C. radiant heat passes through glass
46. A stretched bungee cord stores energy as:
1. A. potential energy of distortion
2. B. kinetic energy of motion
3. C. heat (thermal) energy
47. Destructive interference occurs when two equal waves are:
1. A. in phase
2. B. 180° out of phase
3. C. of different amplitude but in phase
48. The value of the acceleration due to gravity at the earth's surface is approximately:
1. A. 9.81 m/s² (32.2 ft/s²)
2. B. 9.81 ft/s² (32.2 m/s²)
3. C. 1 m/s²
49. An input piston of 2.5 cm² moves 50 cm and drives an output piston of 65 cm². How far does the output piston move?
1. A. 1300 cm
2. B. 1.92 cm
3. C. 9.81 cm
50. A concave lens produces images that are always:
1. A. real, inverted and magnified
2. B. virtual, upright and diminished
3. C. real, upright and the same size

Answer key

1. B — Expansion occurs in three dimensions, so β ≈ 3α.
2. A — μ = F/N; it depends on the materials and surface condition, not on the contact area.
3. A — Heat is a form of energy - the total kinetic energy of the molecules. Temperature relates to their average kinetic energy.
4. A — A stronger blow makes larger vibrations and larger pressure variations - a louder sound.
5. A — Bevel gears transmit drive between intersecting shafts, e.g. a horizontal shaft driving a vertical one.
6. A — Standard atmospheric pressure supports 760 mm of mercury, equal to 14.7 psi or 1013.25 hPa.
7. C — Light slows in the optically denser glass and bends towards the normal; it bends away from the normal on leaving.
8. B — Density = weight ÷ volume = 1 497.6 ÷ 24 = 62.4 lb/ft³ (the density of water).
9. C — Heat flows naturally from hot to cold; moving it the other way needs work (refrigerator, heat pump). No heat engine can be 100 % efficient.
10. B — F t = m Δv → t = 3 000 × 16 ÷ 12 000 = 4 s.
11. C — Freezing (solidification) is liquid to solid and releases latent heat; melting (fusion) is the reverse.
12. B — λ is measured between corresponding points one full cycle apart; crest to trough is half a wavelength.
13. C — As speed rises, drag increases until it balances weight; the net force and acceleration are then zero.
14. C — Pressure is equal throughout: F2 = F1 × A2/A1 = F1 × (d2/d1)² = 200 × (120/28)² = 3673 N.
15. C — Light from a source at the focus reflects from the concave surface as a parallel beam.
16. A — Weight = SG × weight of an equal volume of water = 0.8 × 62.4 = 49.92 lb.
17. A — Dry nitrogen avoids moisture and oxygen, reducing pressure variation and fire risk; it still obeys the gas laws when heated.
18. A — P = work/time = mgh/t = 850 × 9.81 × 5/30 = 1389.8 W.
19. A — Sublimation (e.g. dry ice, frost evaporating) skips the liquid phase; the reverse process (gas to solid) is deposition.
20. C — M = TAS/a; M = 1 means the aircraft is flying at the local speed of sound.
21. B — T = 2π√(L/g) = 2 × 3.1416 × √(1/9.81) = 2.01 s. The period does not depend on the mass of the bob.
22. C — 14.7 psi = 29.92 inHg = 760 mm Hg = 1013.25 hPa (mbar).
23. B — n = c/v, always greater than 1 for real materials (water ≈ 1.33, glass ≈ 1.5).
24. C — The cambered upper surface acts like half a venturi; the faster flow above gives lower pressure than below.
25. A — Dark matt surfaces are good emitters and absorbers; shiny surfaces are poor emitters and good reflectors.
26. B — F = μN = 0.02 × 35000 = 700 lb. Rolling friction is far smaller than sliding friction.
27. B — The subscript applies to the atom it follows: C₁O₂ - one carbon, two oxygen atoms.
28. A — Antinodes vibrate with maximum amplitude; nodes remain stationary.
29. B — t = d/v = 150/300 = 0.5 h = 30 minutes.
30. C — CG = total moment ÷ total mass = (130 × 1 + 480 × 4) ÷ (130 + 480) = 3.36 m aft of the datum.
31. C — Bundles of fibres transmit illumination to the area and return the image, allowing inspection inside engines and structures.
32. C — Intake, compression, power, exhaust with combustion at nearly constant volume near TDC.
33. A — Only the component of force along the motion does work: W = F d cos θ = 2750 × 95 × cos 30° = 226249 J.
34. B — Porous (granular) matter contains pores or spaces that allow smaller particles to fit when a mixture takes place.
35. C — The pulse travels out and back: d = v × t / 2 = 340 × 16/1000 / 2 = 2.72 m.
36. B — A free structure vibrates at its natural frequency, determined by its mass and stiffness.
37. A — The CG is where the whole weight effectively acts; it coincides with the geometric centre only for uniform, symmetrical bodies.
38. A — Contamination on the end face attenuates or reflects the signal and can damage mating faces.
39. B — P₁V₁ = P₂V₂: doubling absolute pressure halves the volume.
40. B — Because the gyro is rigid in space, the earth rotating beneath it makes the gyro appear to wander (apparent drift, 15° × sin latitude per hour).
41. A — Superposition of equal waves moving in opposite directions produces fixed nodes and antinodes, as on a vibrating string.
42. C — f = 1/T = 1/0.02 = 50 Hz.
43. B — Up to the limit of proportionality, extension is proportional to load; beyond the elastic limit permanent set occurs.
44. B — With u = 2f, the lens equation gives v = 2f and magnification 1.
45. C — Radiation can pass through a transparent medium without heating it, so the air inside can be much warmer than the glass.
46. A — Potential energy may be stored by position, by distortion of an elastic body, or chemically.
47. B — A crest meets a trough and they cancel - the principle of active noise-cancelling headsets.
48. A — g ≈ 9.81 m/s² in SI units or 32.2 ft/s² in imperial units.
49. B — Volume displaced is equal: A1 × s1 = A2 × s2, so s2 = 50 × 2.5/65 = 1.92 cm. Force is gained but distance is lost.
50. B — A diverging lens spreads rays apart; they appear to come from a virtual focus on the object side.

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