This year's Physics Tryout Test will cover three events: Astronomy, Hovercraft, and Wind Power.
Part 1. ASTRONOMY
The astronomy portion is broken up into partly astronomy related and part astrophysics.
Things to study
- Stellar Evolution (in particular of high mass stars)
- Learn each stage of a star’s life
- Chemical composition of each stage
- HR Diagrams
- Kepler’s Laws
- Know all 3
- Know how to apply the formula
- Parallax and Distance Modulus
- Luminosity
- Deep Space Objects (DSOS) : Sirius A and B and J075141/J17140
- Loction on the HR Diagram
- Know both of thier absolute and apparant magnitudes
- Know what their light curves look like
- Know specific information that pertain to each DSO. (For ex: Betelgeuse is a brown dwarf that is know for having the hottest core).
Physics Topics Tested:
- Circular Motion
- Light
- Work and Energy
- There is also considerable math such as logarithms and exponential functions
Part 2. HOVERCRAFT
While the real hovercraft test involves knowing hovercraft history, this test will only have the physics portion.
Things to Study:
- Kinematics
- Newton’s Laws
- Know all 3 laws
- Free body diagrams
- Momentum and Impulse
- Work and Energy
- Fluid Dynamics
- Understand the laws in this sections (Pascal’s Law, Archimedes Principle, etc. )
Physics Topics Tested:
- This test is similar AP Physics test and all the topics are basically given above
Part 3. WIND POWER
The Wind Power portion involves knowledge about wind turbines as well as knowledge about circuits.
Things to Study:
- Different types of turbines
- Circuits
- Understand how to draw a schematic
- Parallel and series
- Advantages and Disadvantages of different turbines
Physics Topics Tested:
- Circuits
- Fluid Dynamics is helpful but you don’t need to know it to be successful