1.1 Current Exam Facts

What Module 2 Physics Is—and Why It Matters

EASA Part-66 Module 2 — Physics is a mandatory basic-knowledge module on the path to a European Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML). It is not a soft “general science” paper. The syllabus tests whether you can apply classical physics—matter, mechanics, fluids, heat, light, and sound—to the systems and processes you will meet as a licensed aircraft technician. Mass and balance, hydraulic pressure, Bernoulli effects in pitot-static and venturi systems, gas laws in pneumatic and engine contexts, material stress, vibration and resonance, and the optics of inspection tools all rest on Module 2 ideas. Later modules assume you already think in those terms.

You sit Module 2 as part of the Part-66 modular examination system. Delivery is not a single worldwide vendor exam like some professional certifications: examinations are conducted by a National Aviation Authority (NAA) or by an approved Part-147 training organisation under the authority of the applicable NAA. Booking procedures, exact fee schedules, and local admin rules therefore differ by country and school, but the content standard and pass rule are set at European level.

Legal syllabus: (EU) 2023/989

The current training and examination syllabus for Module 2 is set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/989, which updates Appendix I to Part-66. The regulation is applicable from 12 June 2024. When you prepare, treat that date as the cut-over for the official knowledge levels and topic list—not an older printed handout from a training organisation that may still quote pre-2023/989 wording. Your study guide and practice bank for this exam ID track Module 2 Physics under that regulatory frame: 2.1 Matter, 2.2 Mechanics, 2.3 Thermodynamics, 2.4 Optics (Light), and 2.5 Wave Motion and Sound.

Always confirm with your NAA or Part-147 that your sitting is under the current implementing rules if you are near a regulatory transition window. For study purposes on OpenExamPrep, assume 2023/989 Module 2 Physics is the target.

Exam format by licence category

Part-66 multi-choice module exams scale with licence category. For Module 2 Physics the industry-standard published pattern used across NAAs and Part-147 schools is:

Both patterns share the same pass mark: 75%. That is a per-module rule—you must clear 75% on Module 2 itself; strong scores on other modules do not average out a fail. There is no negative marking, so unanswered questions cannot help you. Leave no blank.

Important option-count note: the real Part-66 multi-choice examination uses three-option questions. Many practice banks (including this site’s bank) present four options to force sharper discrimination while you train. On exam day, expect A / B / C only. Do not be surprised by the shorter option list; use the extra distractors in practice as tougher rehearsal, then re-read every stem carefully in the three-option environment.

Essays, calculators, units, and fees

Under (EU) 2023/989, essay-style assessment remains only for Module 7 (Maintenance Practices). Module 2 has no essay paper—you will not write long free-text answers for Physics. That does not make the paper easy: multi-choice items still require formula selection, unit consistency, and conceptual discrimination (for example mass versus weight, absolute temperature versus Celsius, static versus dynamic pressure).

Calculators: plan as if no calculator is provided or permitted for numerical work. Typical Module 2 numbers are chosen so that arithmetic stays manageable with careful pencil work—simple products, fractions, rearrangements of F = ma, density, Boyle’s and Charles’s law, and power relationships. Practise mental arithmetic and SI conversion until it is automatic.

Units: work in SI units unless a stem deliberately quotes another system and asks you to convert. Density in kg/m³, force in newtons, pressure in pascals (or kPa/bar when the question states), energy in joules, temperature in kelvin for gas-law work—these are the default language of the module and of European maintenance documentation.

Fees: there is no single EU-wide fixed fee. Cost varies by NAA and by Part-147 organisation. As a practical planning range used across schools and authorities, candidates commonly see about EUR 50–230 per module sitting. Confirm the current fee with the body that will examine you; budget for retakes separately.

Attempts, waiting rules, and credit validity

Part-66 modular exams are not unlimited free retries:

1. You may attempt a given multi-choice module up to three consecutive times.
2. After a third consecutive failure, a 90-day waiting period applies before further attempts at that module.
3. A passed examination credit remains valid for 10 years toward issue of the relevant Aircraft Maintenance Licence.

That 10-year credit clock is why many candidates sit basic modules early in a structured Part-147 course, then return for later modules and experience requirements without “losing” the Physics pass—so long as the licence is issued within the validity window. Do not treat a pass as permanent licence credit forever; it is examination credit with a defined life.

How the paper feels on the day

Expect a single timed multi-choice sitting (65 minutes for B1/B2/B2L or 40 minutes for A/B3) without a scheduled mid-exam break. Questions mix pure concept items (“which statement about inertia is correct?”) with short calculation items (“a force of 200 N accelerates a 50 kg mass—what is the acceleration?”). Stems are often aviation-flavoured: a hydraulic jack, a tyre inflation pressure, a free-fall tool from a height, a vibrating panel near resonance, or a venturi in a carburettor or pitot system. The physics is classical; the context is the hangar and the aircraft.

Pacing strategy that works for Module 2:

• First pass: answer every pure-concept item immediately and flag calculation-heavy stems.
• Second pass: work the calculations with units written out so you do not mix grams with kilograms or °C with K.
• Final minute: ensure no blank—guessing is better than silence when there is no penalty.
• For gas-law and energy items, convert temperature to kelvin and mass to kg before substituting into a formula.

Relationship to the rest of the AML path

Module 2 is foundational, not isolated. Module 6 (Materials and Hardware) expects stress, strain, and material behaviour language. Module 7 (Maintenance Practices) assumes you understand torque, force, friction, and safe work with fluids and heat. Module 8 (Basic Aerodynamics) builds on fluid dynamics and Bernoulli ideas introduced here. Powerplant modules lean on thermodynamics, gas behaviour, and energy conversion. Passing Module 2 with genuine understanding—rather than pure memorisation of option patterns—pays interest for years of study and on the job.

Treat this section as your logistics briefing. The next section maps the official syllabus topics and knowledge levels so you know what to study; later chapters teach each physics block with aviation examples and practice checks.