Sparknotes - Physics

[rani82]

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Hey Everyone,

I know some of you have used Sparknotes to go over Physics concepts...especially because the word on the street is that Physics is mostly conceptual on the OAT. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

I was wondering what Sparknotes site you are using to study Physics concepts:

(1) Sat II Physics: http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/physics/

OR

(2) Physics Study Guides: http://www.sparknotes.com/physics/index.html

I am not sure what the difference is or if one is more helpful than the other but any words of wisdom will be great!

Thanks!

 

[phuongle2]

IMO SAT II physics is better. I checked out both sites before I started studying and I found that the SAT II physics explain things better than the physics study guide.

 

[rani82]

Hi,

Thanks for the input! Is anyone else taking the OAT in the next month or so - I need someone to commiserate with! 🙂

 

[Canadian26]

Hm I like Physics Study Guides--> I remember my OAT having more netwon laws questions on it. (i took mine 2 years ago now)

 

[rani82]

Hi Everyone,

Just came across this site on Sparknotes that has sample Physics exams for $4.95 a piece - if you want to test yourself and don't have the Kaplan Physics Subject Tests or any of the sample exams from Kaplan.

I haven't tried any of Sparknotes' online tests so I can't comment on how relevant they are but the Physics review is very helpful...

http://testprep.sparknotes.com/account/buyTest.psp?pid=21022

Good luck to all of you still studying for the OAT! Hope we will all get in for Fall 2007!🙂

 

[rani82]

Any concept questions like this on the OAT?

(I can't copy and paste the diagram but this is from the Sparknotes website...)

Each of the following free-body diagrams shows the instantaneous forces, F, acting on a particle and the particle’s instantaneous velocity, v. All forces represented in the diagrams are of the same magnitude.


1. In which diagram is neither the speed nor the direction of the particle being changed?

2. In which diagram is the speed but not the direction of the particle being changed?

3. In which diagram is the direction but not the speed of the particle being changed?

4. In which diagram are both the speed and direction of the particle being changed?

 

[JeffChou]

Any concept questions like this on the OAT?

(I can't copy and paste the diagram but this is from the Sparknotes website...)

Each of the following free-body diagrams shows the instantaneous forces, F, acting on a particle and the particle's instantaneous velocity, v. All forces represented in the diagrams are of the same magnitude.


1. In which diagram is neither the speed nor the direction of the particle being changed?

2. In which diagram is the speed but not the direction of the particle being changed?

3. In which diagram is the direction but not the speed of the particle being changed?

4. In which diagram are both the speed and direction of the particle being changed?

Yes. If you don't get a question formatted like this on your OAT, you will surely get one requiring the same kind of knowledge. I recommend you study these concepts well (they're the most fun, too!) because breezing through them will allow you more time to do calculations for numerically answered problems (like those irritating electricity problems!).


Good luck!

-Jeff

 

[rani82]

What about ones more along the lines of this where you would have to derive a particular forumla:

Regarding Pulleys:

1. Which of the following five formulas represents the acceleration of the pulley system? You would then be given five different mathematical formulas, one of which is the correct formula.

2. Which of the following is a way of maximizing the system's acceleration? You would then be given options like "maximize M and m and minimize ," or "maximize and m and minimize M." With such a question, you don't even need to know the correct formula, but you do need to understand how the pulley system works. The downward motion is due to the gravitational force on m and is opposed by the force of friction on M, so we would maximize the downward acceleration by maximizing m and minimizing M.

3. If the system does not move, which of the following must be true? You would then be given a number of formulas relating M, m, and . The idea behind such a question is that the system does not move if the downward force on m is less than or equal to the force of friction on M.

From Sparknotes - Physics guide....