Free Practice Questions for Physics 30 Diploma
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Key Facts: Physics 30 Diploma Exam
The Physics 30 diploma exam has 50 machine-scored questions: 36 multiple-choice and 14 numerical-response, each worth 1 mark (Alberta Education and Childcare).
The exam is designed for 3 hours but students may take up to 6 hours total (Alberta Education).
The diploma exam counts for 30% of a student's final blended Physics 30 mark in the 2025-2026 school year.
The acceptable standard corresponds to 50% and the standard of excellence to 80% (Alberta Education and Childcare).
Forces and Fields and Electromagnetic Radiation are each weighted 25-35% of the exam (Physics 30 program of studies).
Momentum and Impulse is weighted 10-20% and Atomic Physics 20-30% of the exam (Alberta Education).
Students are provided a physics data sheet and should use its constants to three significant digits, not calculator-stored values.
The diploma exam is administered in January, April, June, and August each year by Alberta Education and Childcare.
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 review concepts for the Physics 30 Diploma exam. 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?
2Which statement best defines impulse?
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?
4According to the impulse–momentum theorem, the impulse on an object equals its change in
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?
6Momentum is conserved in a collision when
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?
8In a perfectly elastic collision between two objects, which quantities are conserved?
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?
10Why does bending the knees when landing from a jump reduce the force on the legs?
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%.
Exam sponsor: Alberta Education and Childcare, Provincial Assessment Sector. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
100 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 / Certification Fees
No fee for eligible Alberta students in a scheduled session; rewrite/adult/out-of-province fees may apply
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Momentum and Impulse (Unit A)
Conservation of momentum, the impulse-momentum theorem, and elastic and inelastic collisions in one and two dimensions.
Forces and Fields (Unit B)
Gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields; Coulomb's law; charges in fields; electromagnetic induction; motors and generators.
Electromagnetic Radiation (Unit C)
Wave and particle models of light, reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, photoelectric effect, Compton effect, and photon momentum.
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.
Preparing for 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 / certification fees: No fee for eligible Alberta students in a scheduled session; rewrite/adult/out-of-province fees may apply Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Physics 30 Diploma: Suggested Study Strategy
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.