PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

Free Practice Questions for Canary PAU Physics

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Spain Canary Islands PAU (Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad)

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Canary Islands PAU Applied Mathematics for Social Sciences II

Practice Questions

Canary Islands PAU Artistic Drawing II

Practice Questions

Canary Islands PAU Artistic Foundations

Practice Questions

Canary Islands PAU Biology

Practice Questions

Canary Islands PAU Business and Business Model Design

Practice Questions

Canary Islands PAU Chemistry

Practice Questions
Exam Review

Key Facts: Canary PAU Physics Exam

90 Minutes

Exam duration

COPAU / ULPGC / ULL

EUR 76.12

Base registration fee for Access Phase

Gobierno de Canarias

0–10 Scale

Grading scale for Bachillerato and PAU exams

Spanish Ministry of Education

5 Core Blocks

Gravitation, Electromagnetism, Waves, Optics, Modern Physics

LOMLOE Physics Syllabus

100 Questions

Practice bank size in OpenExamPrep

OpenExamPrep

Canary Islands PAU Physics (ULPGC & ULL 2026) is a 90-minute university entrance exam assessing 2º Bachillerato Physics across 5 core subject blocks.

Sample Canary PAU Physics Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Canary PAU Physics exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1An artificial satellite moves in a circular path around Earth at an orbital distance r1. If the radius of its orbit is quadrupled (r2 = 4 r1), what is the new orbital period T2 in terms of the initial period T1?
A.T2 = 2 T1
B.T2 = 4 T1
C.T2 = 8 T1
D.T2 = 16 T1
Explanation: By Kepler's third law, T^2 / r^3 is constant for any body orbiting the same central mass. Therefore, (T2 / T1)^2 = (r2 / r1)^3 = (4)^3 = 64. Taking the square root gives T2 / T1 = sqrt(64) = 8, so T2 = 8 T1.
2An object of mass m is at an altitude h equal to Earth's radius (h = R_E) above Earth's surface. If the gravitational field strength at the surface is g0 = 9.80 m/s², what is the gravitational field strength g at that altitude?
A.4.90 m/s²
B.1.225 m/s²
C.9.80 m/s²
D.2.45 m/s²
Explanation: Gravitational field strength varies inversely with the square of the distance to Earth's center: g = G M_E / r². At the surface r1 = R_E, while at an altitude h = R_E the distance from the center is r2 = R_E + h = 2 R_E. Thus, g = G M_E / (2 R_E)² = g0 / 4 = 9.80 / 4 = 2.45 m/s².
3A mass m = 100 kg is moved between two points A and B located on the same equipotential surface of Earth's gravitational field. What work does the gravitational force do during this displacement?
A.9800 J
B.0 J
C.Depends on the path taken between A and B
D.980 J
Explanation: The work done by a conservative force such as gravity is W = -m (V_B - V_A). Since both points lie on the same equipotential surface, V_A = V_B, so Delta V = 0 and the work is exactly 0 J.
4A satellite follows a circular orbit around Earth of radius r = 4 R_E, both radii measured from Earth's centre. If v0 is the orbital speed for a circular orbit of radius r0 = R_E, what is the satellite's orbital speed v?
A.v = 2 v0
B.v = v0
C.v = v0 / 4
D.v = v0 / 2
Explanation: The speed in a circular orbit of radius r is found by equating the gravitational force to the centripetal force: G M m / r² = m v² / r => v = sqrt(G M / r). If the radius goes from R_E to 4 R_E, the speed decreases by a factor of sqrt(4) = 2, so v = v0 / 2.
5Which of the following statements correctly characterizes the conservative nature of the gravitational field?
A.The work done along any closed path is zero.
B.The gravitational force always does positive work on any moving mass.
C.The gravitational potential increases when approaching the central mass.
D.A satellite's kinetic energy stays constant in any elliptical orbit.
Explanation: By definition, a force field is conservative if the circulation of the force around any closed loop is zero (oint F · dr = 0), or equivalently, if the work done between two points depends only on the initial and final positions.
6Taking the convention that gravitational potential energy is zero at infinity (U(infinity) = 0), what is the sign and expression for the potential energy of a mass m at a distance r from Earth?
A.Positive, U(r) = +G M_E m / r²
B.Positive, U(r) = +G M_E m / r
C.Negative, U(r) = -G M_E m / r²
D.Negative, U(r) = -G M_E m / r
Explanation: Because the gravitational force is attractive, positive work must be done against the field to move a mass from r out to infinity. With U(infinity) = 0, the potential at any finite point r is negative: U(r) = -G M_E m / r.
7Calculate the escape velocity from Earth's surface (M_E = 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg, R_E = 6.37 × 10⁶ m, G = 6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²).
A.7.91 km/s
B.11.18 km/s
C.15.81 km/s
D.22.36 km/s
Explanation: Escape velocity is found from conservation of mechanical energy, setting the total energy to zero at infinity: 1/2 m ve² - G M_E m / R_E = 0 => ve = sqrt(2 G M_E / R_E) = sqrt(2 × 6.674×10⁻¹¹ × 5.97×10²⁴ / 6.37×10⁶) = sqrt(1.250×10⁸) = 11180 m/s = 11.18 km/s.
8A satellite of mass m = 500 kg is moved from a circular orbit of radius r1 = 2 R_E to another circular orbit of radius r2 = 3 R_E. What is the minimum energy that must be supplied to the satellite? (Data: g0 = 9.80 m/s², R_E = 6.37 × 10⁶ m).
A.1.56 × 10¹⁰ J
B.5.20 × 10⁹ J
C.1.30 × 10⁹ J
D.2.60 × 10⁹ J
Explanation: The total energy of a satellite in a circular orbit of radius r is E = -G M m / (2 r) = -m g0 R_E² / (2 r). At r1 = 2 R_E, E1 = -m g0 R_E / 4. At r2 = 3 R_E, E2 = -m g0 R_E / 6. The energy that must be supplied is Delta E = E2 - E1 = m g0 R_E (1/4 - 1/6) = m g0 R_E / 12 = 500 × 9.80 × 6.37×10⁶ / 12 = 2.60 × 10⁹ J.
9What is the relationship between the escape velocity ve and the orbital speed vorb for a circular orbit of the same radius r around a celestial body?
A.ve = sqrt(2) * vorb
B.ve = vorb / sqrt(2)
C.ve = 2 * vorb
D.ve = vorb
Explanation: The formulas are vorb = sqrt(G M / r) and ve = sqrt(2 G M / r). Dividing the two expressions gives ve / vorb = sqrt(2), so ve = sqrt(2) * vorb ≈ 1.414 vorb.
10A geostationary satellite orbits in the equatorial plane with a period T = 24 hours (86400 s). Calculate the orbital radius r measured from Earth's center (M_E = 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg, G = 6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²).
A.4.22 × 10⁷ m
B.5.45 × 10⁷ m
C.3.58 × 10⁷ m
D.6.37 × 10⁶ m
Explanation: Applying Kepler's third law T² = (4 pi² / (G M_E)) r³, we solve for r = (G M_E T² / (4 pi²))^(1/3). Substituting with G M_E = 3.984×10¹⁴ and T² = 7.465×10⁹: r = (3.984×10¹⁴ × 7.465×10⁹ / 39.478)^(1/3) = (7.534×10²²)^(1/3) = 4.22 × 10⁷ m (about 42,200 km from Earth's center, or roughly 35,800 km above the surface).

About the Canary PAU Physics Exam

The Canary Islands PAU Physics examination (Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad 2026) is the official standardized assessment for 2º Bachillerato physics students seeking university entry in the Canary Islands (ULPGC and ULL). The exam evaluates student mastery across five core domains: Gravitational Field & Satellite Motion, Electromagnetic Field, Wave Motion & Acoustics, Geometrical & Physical Optics, and Modern Physics. This practice bank provides 100 high-quality questions with fully worked numeric solutions and comprehensive distractor explanations.

Exam sponsor: Canary Islands PAU Organising Commission (COPAU) / ULPGC & ULL. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Written 90-minute standardized exam evaluating Gravitation, Electromagnetism, Waves, Optics, and Modern Physics with numerical problem solving.

Time Limit

90 minutes (1.5 hours)

Passing Score

Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% PAU >= 5.0 to pass).

Exam / Certification Fees

EUR 76.12 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase (set by Gobierno de Canarias / COPAU).

Exam sponsor website

Fees, 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.

20%

Gravitational Field & Satellite Motion

Universal gravitation, gravitational field and potential, conservative fields, orbital dynamics, Kepler's laws, and escape velocity.

20%

Electromagnetic Field

Coulomb's law, electric field and potential, Gauss's law, Lorentz force, magnetic field of conductors, and Faraday-Lenz electromagnetic induction.

20%

Wave Motion & Acoustics

Harmonic progressive waves, wave equations, intensity and decibel sound levels, standing waves, resonance, and the Doppler effect.

20%

Geometrical & Physical Optics

Reflection and refraction, Snell's law, total internal reflection, thin lenses, optical instruments, interference, diffraction, and wave-particle nature of light.

20%

Modern Physics

Special relativity, photoelectric effect, de Broglie matter waves, nuclear binding energy, mass defect, and radioactive decay laws.

Preparing for the Canary PAU Physics Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% PAU >= 5.0 to pass).
  • Assessment: Written 90-minute standardized exam evaluating Gravitation, Electromagnetism, Waves, Optics, and Modern Physics with numerical problem solving.
  • Time limit: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
  • Exam / certification fees: EUR 76.12 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase (set by Gobierno de Canarias / COPAU). 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

Canary PAU Physics: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master orbital velocity $v_{orb} = \sqrt{G M / r}$ and satellite total energy $E_T = -G M m / (2 r)$, as well as escape velocity $v_e = \sqrt{2 G M / R}$.
2Practice vector calculations for electric and magnetic fields and apply Faraday's law \mathcal{E} = -d\Phi/dt with induced emf direction determined by Lenz's law.
3Calculate sound level decibels using \beta = 10\log_{10}(I/10^{-12}) and wave parameter relations v = \lambda f = \omega / k.
4Apply thin lens equation \frac{1}{f'} = \frac{1}{s'} - \frac{1}{s} with correct Cartesian sign conventions (s < 0 for real objects in front of the lens).
5Solve photoelectric effect problems h f = W_0 + E_{k,max}, relativistic mass-energy relations, and radioactive decay N(t) = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this practice bank in the same format as the real Canary Islands PAU exam?

No, and it is important to know the difference. The official Canary Islands PAU paper is a 90-minute examination sat in Spanish and built around structured written problems, data and diagram interpretation, and justified extended answers. Under the 2026 PAU design rules agreed by COPAU and the CRUE, open and semi-constructed responses must account for at least 70% of every paper, so the real exam contains no multiple-choice section. This bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation of the same official 2º Bachillerato syllabus — not an official translation, not a past paper, and not a simulation of the exam format. Use it to drill the underlying knowledge and reasoning quickly, then practise setting out full numeric solutions with units, diagrams and physical justification separately, because that is what the examiners actually mark.

What is the fee for the PAU Physics exam in the Canary Islands?

The base registration fee is EUR 76.12 for the Access Phase set by Gobierno de Canarias / COPAU for ULPGC and ULL.

What passing score is required on the PAU Physics paper?

Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase to combine with Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% PAU >= 5.0 to pass).

How long is the PAU Physics examination?

The exam duration is 90 minutes (1.5 hours).

Which universities administer the PAU in the Canary Islands?

The exam is coordinated by the Commission (COPAU) and administered by Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and Universidad de La Laguna (ULL).