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Quizzes > Science

Physics IQ Test: Check Your Knowledge of Mechanics and Flight

Quick physics aptitude test with instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Tye PingUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper cut style airplane gears and physics symbols on golden yellow background promoting aeronautical mechanics quiz

This Physics IQ test helps you check your understanding of core mechanics and simple aeronautics through quick, focused questions. After you finish, you will see your score and next steps, and you can try a logic puzzles test, a cognitive ability quiz, or an instant results iq test for broader practice.

What is the SI unit of force?
Watt
Joule
Pascal
Newton
The SI unit of force is named after Sir Isaac Newton and is defined as kg·m/s². It directly relates mass and acceleration as per Newton's second law. This unit is widely used in all mechanics calculations. .
Which statement best describes Newton's first law of motion?
An object will remain at rest or move in a straight line at constant speed unless acted on by a net external force.
Force equals mass times acceleration.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Newton's first law, also known as the law of inertia, states that a body in motion remains in motion with the same speed and direction unless acted upon by a net force. It establishes the concept of inertia and the necessity of a force to change motion. This principle underpins all classical mechanics. .
What is the SI unit of pressure?
Joule
Watt
Newton
Pascal
The SI unit for pressure is the Pascal, defined as one newton of force per square meter. It's used to quantify internal pressure, stress, and tensile strength. Many scientific and engineering domains use Pascals for standardized measurements. .
Work done by a constant force on an object is given by which relationship?
Work = Power × Time
Work = Mass × Acceleration
Work = Pressure × Volume
Work = Force × Displacement
Work is defined as the product of the component of force along the direction of displacement and the magnitude of this displacement. This linear relationship applies to constant forces in classical mechanics. It is a scalar quantity measured in joules. .
Which equation expresses the distance traveled under constant acceleration?
s = ut² + at²
s = vt²
s = ut
s = ut + ½at²
Under constant acceleration, the displacement s equals initial velocity u times time t plus half the acceleration a times time squared. This is one of the standard kinematic equations derived from integration of velocity. It predicts motion under uniform acceleration. .
How is density defined?
Energy per unit mass
Force per unit area
Mass per unit volume
Speed per unit time
Density is defined as the amount of mass contained in a unit volume of a substance. It is a fundamental property in fluid mechanics and materials science. It determines how substances float or sink in fluids. .
In aerodynamics, what is 'lift'?
The force acting perpendicular to the relative airflow
The force acting opposite to motion
The force pushing the aircraft forward
The gravitational force on the aircraft
Lift is the aerodynamic force that acts perpendicular to the relative airflow around an object, typically a wing. It results from pressure differences created by airflow speed variations. Lift must overcome weight for sustained flight. .
What does Bernoulli's principle state regarding fluid flow?
Pressure increases as fluid speed increases
Pressure decreases as fluid speed increases
Volume decreases as pressure decreases
Temperature rises with fluid speed
Bernoulli's principle explains that in a steady, incompressible flow, the sum of pressure energy, kinetic energy, and potential energy per unit volume is constant. As velocity increases, static pressure must drop to conserve the energy sum. This underlies lift generation on wings. .
Which equation represents the continuity equation for incompressible flow?
P? = P?
F = ma
Q = mcv?T
A?v? = A?v?
The continuity equation for incompressible fluids states that the volumetric flow rate must be constant along a streamline, so area times velocity remains constant. It ensures mass conservation in fluid dynamics. .
Which type of drag is caused by the friction of air against a surface?
Induced drag
Skin friction drag
Form drag
Wave drag
Skin friction drag arises from the viscous shear forces between the fluid and the surface. It depends on surface roughness and flow velocity. This drag component is significant at low speeds and for smooth bodies. .
What is the definition of the angle of attack of a wing?
The angle between lift vector and vertical axis
The angle between the wing chord line and the oncoming airflow
The angle between the wing and the fuselage
The angle between the wing and the horizontal plane
Angle of attack is the angle between the wing's chord line and the relative wind (oncoming airflow). It dictates lift generation and stall behavior. Pilots control it to manage lift during maneuvers. .
How is Mach number defined?
The ratio of lift to drag
The ratio of fluid density to pressure
The product of pressure and volume
The ratio of object speed to the speed of sound
Mach number is the dimensionless ratio of an object's speed to the local speed of sound. It characterizes flow regimes: subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic. Aircraft performance varies significantly across these regimes. .
What does the Reynolds number represent in fluid flow?
The ratio of pressure to temperature
The ratio of lift to drag
The ratio of kinetic to potential energy
The ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces
The Reynolds number indicates whether flow is laminar or turbulent by comparing inertial to viscous forces. Low values imply smooth, laminar flow; high values lead to turbulence. It's crucial for scaling aerodynamic tests. .
What condition leads to an aerodynamic stall on a wing?
Angle of attack exceeds the critical angle
Wing loading is too low
Airspeed exceeds the maximum speed
Altitude is too high
A stall occurs when the wing's angle of attack surpasses a critical threshold, causing flow separation and loss of lift. This effect is independent of airspeed once the critical angle is reached. Recovering requires reducing the angle of attack. .
In Bernoulli's equation P + ½?v² + ?gh = constant, which term represents potential energy per unit volume?
?gh
Neither term
P
½?v²
In Bernoulli's equation, ?gh represents the gravitational potential energy per unit volume, where ? is fluid density, g is gravitational acceleration, and h is height. The other terms correspond to static pressure and kinetic energy per unit volume. This form applies to incompressible flows. .
Where is the aerodynamic center (often approximated by the center of pressure) located on a typical subsonic wing?
At the leading edge
At the mid-chord point
At the trailing edge
At approximately the quarter-chord point
For subsonic airfoils, the aerodynamic center is usually near the quarter-chord point (25% of chord from the leading edge). Here, the pitching moment around that point remains nearly constant. This simplifies stability analyses. .
At approximately what Mach number do compressibility effects become significant for aerodynamic flow?
Around Mach 2.0
Around Mach 0.3
Around Mach 1.0
Around Mach 0.1
Compressibility effects in air become appreciable above Mach ~0.3, where density changes can't be neglected. Below this threshold, air may be treated as incompressible for many engineering calculations. This guideline ensures accurate aerodynamic predictions. .
What is the definition of the critical Mach number for an airfoil?
The Mach number where lift is maximum
The Mach number where drag is minimum
The Mach number at the speed of sound
The Mach number at which airflow somewhere reaches Mach 1
The critical Mach number is the free-stream Mach at which local flow velocity first reaches sonic conditions on the airfoil. Beyond this, shock waves form and drag rises sharply. It's key in transonic aircraft design. .
A normal shock wave in a supersonic flow is characterized by which pressure change?
Pressure remains constant
Pressure decreases across the shock
Pressure oscillates upstream
Pressure increases across the shock
Across a normal shock in supersonic flow, static pressure rises abruptly while velocity drops to subsonic levels. This irreversible process also increases entropy. It's fundamental in supersonic aerodynamics. .
Euler's equations for fluid motion are derived by neglecting which effect?
Gravitational forces
Viscous forces
Pressure forces
Inertial forces
Euler's equations model inviscid flow by omitting viscosity terms from the Navier - Stokes equations. They retain inertia, pressure, and body forces. This simplification is valid when viscous effects are negligible. .
What causes boundary layer separation on a wing surface?
Low Reynolds number only
High airspeed only
An adverse pressure gradient causing flow reversal near the surface
Excessive surface smoothness
Boundary layer separation occurs when the pressure gradient opposes the flow, slowing it until it reverses direction. This typically happens in zones of increasing pressure (adverse gradient). Separation leads to loss of lift and increased drag. .
How is the lift coefficient (C?) defined for a wing?
L/S
L/(½?V²S)
D/(½?V²S)
½?V²S/L
The lift coefficient is the non-dimensional ratio of lift force to dynamic pressure times wing area: C? = L/(½?V²S). It allows comparison of aerodynamic performance independent of scale. It varies with angle of attack and Mach number. .
What is the formula for dynamic pressure in fluid dynamics?
?gV
V²/2g
½?V²
?V
Dynamic pressure q is defined as ½ times fluid density times velocity squared. It represents kinetic energy per unit volume in fluid flow. It appears in Bernoulli's equation and aerodynamic load calculations. .
The Prandtl - Glauert singularity occurs as Mach number approaches which value in linear compressible flow theory?
1.2
0.3
0.8
1
The Prandtl - Glauert rule predicts infinite pressure coefficients as the free-stream Mach number approaches 1, known as the singularity. In reality, nonlinear effects and shock formation prevent infinite values. This concept guides transonic aerodynamic modeling. .
What phenomenon produces 'Mach diamonds' in the exhaust plume of a supersonic jet?
Viscous damping
Interaction of expansion and compression waves
Boundary layer transition
Laminar flow separation
Mach diamonds, or shock cells, form when supersonic jet exhaust undergoes alternating expansions and compressions, creating visible diamond-shaped shock patterns. They result from pressure mismatches with ambient air. This phenomenon is a hallmark of supersonic nozzle flow. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Core Mechanics -

    By answering physics quiz questions on kinematics and dynamics, you will deepen your understanding of fundamental mechanics principles.

  2. Apply Aeronautical Concepts -

    Through targeted IQ physics challenges, you will learn to apply principles of lift, drag, and thrust to real-world aeronautical scenarios.

  3. Evaluate Your Physics IQ -

    After completing the free scored quiz, you will evaluate your physics IQ to accurately gauge your proficiency across core topics.

  4. Interpret Quiz Metrics -

    Using detailed performance metrics, you will identify your strengths and areas for improvement to guide further study.

  5. Enhance Physics Trivia Recall -

    By engaging with diverse physics trivia questions, you will strengthen your recall of key concepts and boost your overall physics IQ.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Newton's Laws of Motion -

    Mastering Newton's three laws is essential for boosting your physics IQ; for example, F=ma quantifies how force affects acceleration. Use the mnemonic "Every Action Equals Reaction" to recall the third law. Try solving sample physics quiz questions on inertia and equilibrium for practice.

  2. Bernoulli's Principle in Aerodynamics -

    Bernoulli's equation (P+½ϝv²+ϝgh=constant) explains lift in an aeronautical concepts quiz by showing how faster airflow reduces pressure. Visualize airflow over a wing and calculate pressure differences to see lift in action. This principle often appears in IQ physics challenges about fluid dynamics.

  3. Conservation of Energy & Work-Energy Theorem -

    The principle that total energy remains constant lets you relate potential and kinetic energy (ΔK=W=F·d) in roller-coaster or pendulum problems. Practice converting mgh into ½mv² to improve your performance on physics trivia questions. Reliable sources like university physics labs offer step-by-step worked examples.

  4. Rotational Dynamics & Moment of Inertia -

    Rotational analogs of force and mass (torque τ=Iα) are crucial for understanding spinning objects - from flywheels to Earth's rotation. Calculate the moment of inertia I for different shapes (e.g., I=½MR² for a solid disk) and apply torque formulas in sample IQ physics problems. This strengthens your grasp of rotational mechanics on the quiz.

  5. Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) -

    SHM occurs when restoring force is proportional to displacement (F=-kx), leading to oscillations described by x=A·cos(ωt+φ). Memorize the relationship ω=√(k/m) for springs and practice solving oscillation period questions. SHM often features in physics quiz questions and trivia for testing wave and motion concepts.

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