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Key Facts: Balearic PAU Physics Exam

90 Minutes

Exam time duration

UIB PAU Commission

EUR 69.21

Ordinary registration fee for Access Phase

UIB 2026 Fees

0–10 Scale

Grading scale for Bachillerato and PAU exams

Spanish Ministry of Education

4 Core Blocks

Gravitational Field, Electromagnetism, Waves & Optics, Modern Physics

UIB Syllabus

100 Questions

Practice bank size in OpenExamPrep

OpenExamPrep

Balearic Islands PAU Physics (UIB 2026) is a 90-minute university entrance exam assessing 2º Bachillerato Physics across 4 core syllabus domains.

Sample Balearic PAU Physics Practice Questions

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

1Two point masses m1 and m2 are initially separated by a distance r, exerting a gravitational force F on each other. If the separation distance is doubled to 2r while keeping the masses constant, what is the new gravitational force between them?

A.2 F

B.4 F

C.0.25 F

D.0.5 F

Explanation: According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, F = G * m1 * m2 / r^2. Because gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (1/r^2), doubling the separation distance r to 2r results in F' = G * m1 * m2 / (2r)^2 = F / 4 = 0.25 F.

2According to Kepler's third law of planetary motion, how does the orbital period T of a planet orbiting the Sun relate to its semi-major axis r?

A.T is directly proportional to r.

B.T^2 is directly proportional to r^3.

C.T^3 is directly proportional to r^2.

D.T is inversely proportional to r^2.

Explanation: Kepler's third law states that the square of the orbital period T of any planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis r of its orbit (T^2 / r^3 = constant = 4 pi^2 / (G M_sun)).

3A planet has twice the mass of Earth (M_p = 2 M_E) and twice the radius of Earth (R_p = 2 R_E). If the surface gravitational acceleration on Earth is g_E, what is the surface gravitational acceleration g_p on this planet?

A.0.5 g_E

B.g_E

C.2 g_E

D.4 g_E

Explanation: Gravitational field strength at the surface is given by g = G M / R^2. Substituting M_p = 2 M_E and R_p = 2 R_E yields g_p = G (2 M_E) / (2 R_E)^2 = 2/4 * (G M_E / R_E^2) = 0.5 g_E.

4Why is the gravitational potential energy U = -G M m / r defined with a negative sign when using the standard reference point at infinity?

A.Because gravity is a repulsive force at large distances.

B.Because work must be done against the attractive gravitational force to move a mass to infinity, where U = 0.

C.Because gravitational potential energy is a vector pointing toward the center of mass.

D.Because mass values are defined as negative in bound gravitational systems.

Explanation: By convention, gravitational potential energy is chosen to be zero at infinite separation (r = infinity). Since gravity is an attractive force, bringing a mass from infinity closer to the primary mass releases energy, making the potential energy negative. Positive work must be done by an external force to separate the masses to infinity.

5Kepler's second law (law of equal areas) is a direct consequence of which fundamental conservation law?

A.Conservation of linear momentum

B.Conservation of mechanical energy

C.Conservation of angular momentum

D.Conservation of electric charge

Explanation: Because the gravitational force exerted on a planet acts strictly along the line joining the planet to the central body (central force), the net torque about the central body is zero. Consequently, angular momentum L = m r v sin(theta) is conserved, which implies a constant areal velocity (dA/dt = L / (2 m) = constant).

6What is the gravitational field strength at an altitude h equal to the Earth's radius R_E above the surface of Earth? (Take surface gravitational acceleration as g = 9.8 m/s^2).

A.9.8 m/s^2

B.4.9 m/s^2

C.2.45 m/s^2

D.0 m/s^2

Explanation: The distance from the center of Earth is r = R_E + h = R_E + R_E = 2 R_E. The gravitational field strength is g(r) = G M / r^2 = G M / (2 R_E)^2 = g_surface / 4 = 9.8 / 4 = 2.45 m/s^2.

7A satellite orbits Earth in a circular orbit of radius r with speed v. If the satellite is moved to a circular orbit of radius 4r, what will its new orbital speed be?

A.0.25 v

B.0.5 v

C.2 v

D.4 v

Explanation: Equating centripetal force to gravitational force gives m v^2 / r = G M m / r^2, so orbital speed is v = sqrt(G M / r). For a new radius r' = 4r, the new orbital speed is v' = sqrt(G M / (4r)) = 0.5 * sqrt(G M / r) = 0.5 v.

8Calculate the escape velocity from the surface of a planet with mass M = 6.0 x 10^24 kg and radius R = 6.4 x 10^6 m. (G = 6.67 x 10^-11 N m^2/kg^2).

A.7.9 km/s

B.11.2 km/s

C.15.8 km/s

D.22.4 km/s

Explanation: Escape velocity is obtained by setting initial mechanical energy to zero: 1/2 m v_esc^2 - G M m / R = 0, giving v_esc = sqrt(2 G M / R). Plugging in values: v_esc = sqrt(2 * 6.67e-11 * 6.0e24 / 6.4e6) = sqrt(1.25e8) = 11180 m/s = 11.2 km/s.

9A satellite of mass m = 500 kg is in a circular orbit around Earth (M = 6.0 x 10^24 kg) at a radius r = 1.0 x 10^7 m. What is its total mechanical energy E?

A.-1.0 x 10^10 J

B.-2.0 x 10^10 J

C.1.0 x 10^10 J

D.2.0 x 10^10 J

Explanation: For a circular orbit, kinetic energy is K = 1/2 G M m / r and potential energy is U = -G M m / r. Total mechanical energy is E = K + U = -G M m / (2 r). Calculating: E = -(6.67e-11 * 6.0e24 * 500) / (2 * 1.0e7) = -2.001e12 / 2.0e7 = -1.0 x 10^10 J.

10An object weighs 600 N on Earth's surface. What would it weigh on the surface of Planet X, which has 3 times Earth's mass and 2 times Earth's radius?

A.450 N

B.600 N

C.900 N

D.1350 N

Explanation: Weight is W = m g = m (G M / R^2). On Planet X: W_X = m G (3 M_E) / (2 R_E)^2 = 3/4 * (m G M_E / R_E^2) = 0.75 * W_E = 0.75 * 600 N = 450 N.

About the Balearic PAU Physics Exam

The Balearic Islands PAU Physics examination (Proves d'Accés a la Universitat, UIB 2026) is the official standardized assessment for 2º Bachillerato physics students seeking university entry in Spain. The exam evaluates quantitative problem solving and conceptual understanding across Gravitational Field, Electromagnetism, Waves & Optics, and Modern Physics. This practice bank provides 100 high-quality questions with full step-by-step calculations and explanations.

Exam sponsor: PAU Organising Commission of the Balearic Islands / UIB. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Written 90-minute standardized exam evaluating Gravitational Field, Electromagnetism, Waves & Optics, and Modern/Nuclear Physics. Local practice items are an English-language MCQ study adaptation of the official open/semi-constructed Balearic Islands PAU paper, not an official translation or format simulation.

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 69.21 ordinary registration fee (Access Phase); EUR 13.85 per additional Admission Phase subject paper (UIB 2026)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

UIB - Proves d'Accés a la Universitat (PAU) Física

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.

25%

Gravitational Field & Orbital Mechanics

Newton's law of universal gravitation, Kepler's laws, gravitational field strength, potential energy, escape velocity, and satellite orbits.

30%

Electromagnetism & Induction

Electric fields, Coulomb's law, magnetic fields, Lorentz force, Biot-Savart law, Faraday-Lenz law of electromagnetic induction, and induced EMF.

25%

Waves, Sound & Optics

Mechanical wave parameters, wave equation, sound intensity, Doppler effect, interference, Snell's law, total internal reflection, and thin lenses.

20%

Modern & Nuclear Physics

Special relativity basics, photoelectric effect, de Broglie wavelength, nuclear binding energy, radioactive decay laws, fission, and fusion.

Preparing for the Balearic 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 Gravitational Field, Electromagnetism, Waves & Optics, and Modern/Nuclear Physics. Local practice items are an English-language MCQ study adaptation of the official open/semi-constructed Balearic Islands PAU paper, not an official translation or format simulation.
Time limit: 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
Exam / certification fees: EUR 69.21 ordinary registration fee (Access Phase); EUR 13.85 per additional Admission Phase subject paper (UIB 2026) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 100 available questions
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Balearic PAU Physics: Suggested Study Strategy

1Practice gravitational and electrostatic field calculations, keeping track of sign conventions for potential energy and work.

2Master right-hand rules for magnetic force vectors and magnetic fields produced by currents.

3Understand Snell's law, critical angle calculations, and lens thin-lens equations with correct sign conventions.

4Review photoelectric effect equation E = hf = W0 + Ek_max and radioactive half-life calculations N(t) = N0 * e^(-lambda * t).

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these official Balearic Islands PAU Physics questions?

Local practice items are an English-language MCQ study adaptation of the official open/semi-constructed Balearic Islands PAU paper, not an official translation or format simulation. Use official UIB past papers for open problem-solving practice.

What is the format of the official Balearic Islands PAU Physics exam?

The official PAU Physics exam administered by UIB is a 90-minute written examination featuring numerical problems and conceptual questions.

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