100+ Free Physics 30 Diploma Practice Questions

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Question 1

Score: 0/0

Using E = mc², the energy released when 2.0 × 10⁻³ kg of mass is fully converted to energy (c = 3.00 × 10⁸ m/s) is approximately

9.0 × 10¹⁶ J

6.0 × 10⁵ J

1.8 × 10⁵ J

1.8 × 10¹⁴ J

to track

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Key Facts: Physics 30 Diploma Exam

A 50-mark closed-book diploma exam (36 multiple-choice + 14 numerical-response) designed for 3 hours, worth 30% of the final Physics 30 mark; 50% is acceptable and 80% is the standard of excellence.

Sample Physics 30 Diploma Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Physics 30 Diploma exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A 0.50 kg ball moves to the right at 4.0 m/s. What is the magnitude of its momentum?

A.0.13 kg·m/s

B.2.0 kg·m/s

C.4.5 kg·m/s

D.8.0 kg·m/s

Explanation: Momentum is defined as p = mv. With m = 0.50 kg and v = 4.0 m/s, p = (0.50)(4.0) = 2.0 kg·m/s. Momentum is a vector quantity directed in the same direction as the velocity.

2Which statement best defines impulse?

A.The product of force and the time over which it acts

B.The rate of change of momentum per unit mass

C.The product of mass and acceleration

D.The change in kinetic energy of an object

Explanation: Impulse is defined as J = FΔt, the product of the net force and the time interval over which it acts. By the impulse–momentum theorem, impulse equals the change in momentum: FΔt = Δp.

3A net force of 12 N acts on a cart for 0.50 s. What is the magnitude of the impulse delivered to the cart?

A.6.0 N·s

B.12 N·s

C.24 N·s

D.0.042 N·s

Explanation: Impulse J = FΔt = (12 N)(0.50 s) = 6.0 N·s. The unit N·s is equivalent to kg·m/s, the unit of momentum, consistent with the impulse–momentum theorem.

4According to the impulse–momentum theorem, the impulse on an object equals its change in

A.kinetic energy

B.potential energy

C.acceleration

D.momentum

Explanation: The impulse–momentum theorem states FΔt = Δp = mΔv. The net impulse applied to an object equals the change in its momentum. This follows directly from Newton's second law written as F = Δp/Δt.

5A 1200 kg car travelling at 20 m/s east comes to rest in 4.0 s. What is the magnitude of the average net force acting on it?

A.6000 N

B.4800 N

C.24 000 N

D.300 N

Explanation: Using the impulse–momentum theorem, FΔt = Δp, so F = mΔv/Δt = (1200)(20)/4.0 = 6000 N. The force acts opposite to the motion (westward) to decelerate the car.

6Momentum is conserved in a collision when

A.the collision is perfectly elastic

B.kinetic energy is conserved

C.no external net force acts on the system

D.the objects have equal masses

Explanation: The law of conservation of momentum applies to an isolated system, meaning the net external force acting on the system is zero. Internal forces between colliding objects are equal and opposite and cancel, so total momentum is unchanged.

7A 2.0 kg object moving at 3.0 m/s east collides and sticks to a stationary 4.0 kg object. What is the common velocity after the collision?

A.1.0 m/s east

B.1.5 m/s east

C.2.0 m/s east

D.6.0 m/s east

Explanation: This is a perfectly inelastic collision. Conserving momentum: (2.0)(3.0) + 0 = (2.0 + 4.0)v, so 6.0 = 6.0v and v = 1.0 m/s east. The objects move together with the same velocity afterward.

8In a perfectly elastic collision between two objects, which quantities are conserved?

A.Momentum only

B.Kinetic energy only

C.Both momentum and kinetic energy

D.Neither momentum nor kinetic energy

Explanation: A perfectly elastic collision conserves both total momentum and total kinetic energy. Momentum is always conserved in an isolated system; kinetic energy is additionally conserved only when the collision is elastic.

9A 0.16 kg hockey puck moving at 25 m/s is struck and rebounds in the opposite direction at 25 m/s. What is the magnitude of the change in the puck's momentum?

A.0 kg·m/s

B.4.0 kg·m/s

C.8.0 kg·m/s

D.12.5 kg·m/s

Explanation: Taking the initial direction as positive, p_i = (0.16)(25) = 4.0 kg·m/s and p_f = (0.16)(-25) = -4.0 kg·m/s. Δp = p_f - p_i = -4.0 - 4.0 = -8.0 kg·m/s, so the magnitude is 8.0 kg·m/s.

10Why does bending the knees when landing from a jump reduce the force on the legs?

A.It decreases the change in momentum

B.It conserves kinetic energy

C.It increases the impulse delivered

D.It increases the time over which momentum changes

Explanation: Since FΔt = Δp, the change in momentum is fixed by the landing speed and mass. Bending the knees increases Δt, the stopping time. For a fixed Δp, a larger Δt means a smaller average force F.

About the Physics 30 Diploma Exam

The Physics 30 Diploma Examination is the Grade 12 provincial exam set by Alberta Education and Childcare in Canada. The exam consists of 50 machine-scored questions worth 1 mark each: 36 multiple-choice and 14 numerical-response items, for a total of 50 marks. It covers four units of the Physics 30 program of studies: Momentum and Impulse (Unit A, 10-20%), Forces and Fields (Unit B, 25-35%), Electromagnetic Radiation (Unit C, 25-35%), and Atomic Physics (Unit D, 20-30%). Students are provided a physics data sheet of constants and equations and may use approved calculators. The diploma exam is worth 30% of a student's final blended course mark, with the school-awarded grade making up the other 70%.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Designed for 3 hours; up to 6 hours allowed

Passing Score

Acceptable standard 50%, standard of excellence 80%; exam is 30% of the final blended course mark

Exam Fee

No fee for eligible Alberta students in a scheduled session; rewrite/adult/out-of-province fees may apply (Alberta Education and Childcare, Provincial Assessment Sector)

Physics 30 Diploma Exam Content Outline

10-20%

Momentum and Impulse (Unit A)

Conservation of momentum, the impulse-momentum theorem, and elastic and inelastic collisions in one and two dimensions.

25-35%

Forces and Fields (Unit B)

Gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields; Coulomb's law; charges in fields; electromagnetic induction; motors and generators.

25-35%

Electromagnetic Radiation (Unit C)

Wave and particle models of light, reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, photoelectric effect, Compton effect, and photon momentum.

20-30%

Atomic Physics (Unit D)

Rutherford and Bohr models, energy levels and spectra, the nucleus, radioactive decay and half-life, fission, fusion, and E = mc-squared.

How to Pass the Physics 30 Diploma Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Acceptable standard 50%, standard of excellence 80%; exam is 30% of the final blended course mark
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Designed for 3 hours; up to 6 hours allowed
Exam fee: No fee for eligible Alberta students in a scheduled session; rewrite/adult/out-of-province fees may apply

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Physics 30 Diploma Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize and practise the core equations: p = mv, impulse FΔt = Δp, Coulomb's law F = kq₁q₂/r², the magnetic force F = qvB, the photoelectric equation E = hf = W + Ek, and E = mc².

2Use the official data-sheet constants rounded to three significant digits (e.g. k = 8.99 × 10⁹, h = 6.63 × 10⁻³⁴) to match the expected numerical-response answers.

3Allocate study time by unit weighting: Forces and Fields and Electromagnetic Radiation together can make up well over half the exam.

4Practise numerical-response questions carefully, since they require entering exact digits and account for 14 of the 50 marks.

5Work through released diploma exams and the practice items on Alberta's digital assessment platform to learn the question style.

6Be precise with vectors and signs in momentum and field problems, especially in two-dimensional collisions and field-direction questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Physics 30 diploma exam?

The exam has 50 machine-scored questions worth 1 mark each: 36 multiple-choice and 14 numerical-response questions, for a total of 50 marks.

How long is the Physics 30 diploma exam?

It is designed to be completed in 3 hours, but all students may take up to an additional 3 hours, for a maximum of 6 hours.

What counts as passing on the Physics 30 diploma exam?

The acceptable standard is a final course mark of 50%, and the standard of excellence is 80%. The diploma exam itself is worth 30% of the final blended course mark.

Which units are tested on Physics 30?

Four units: Momentum and Impulse (10-20%), Forces and Fields (25-35%), Electromagnetic Radiation (25-35%), and Atomic Physics (20-30%).

Is a formula sheet provided on the Physics 30 diploma exam?

Yes. Students are given a physics data sheet with constants and equations and should use the data-sheet values rounded to three significant digits rather than constants stored in a calculator.

100+ Free Physics 30 Diploma Practice Questions

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