OFFICIAL SAT II PHYSICS DISCUSSION





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College Discussion Forums: SAT/ACT Tests and Test Preparation: May 2004 Archive: OFFICIAL SAT II PHYSICS DISCUSSION
By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 10:42 am: Edit

So, what did you guys think? The beginning was easy, but it had a few things that confused me. I'm hoping for a 780+. I omitted 2 and got maybe 8 to 10 wrong. I hope anyway...

By Doveofpeace (Doveofpeace) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 11:36 am: Edit

Just remember, no discussion of specific questions until after noon today.

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 12:10 pm: Edit

bump

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 01:04 pm: Edit

I was just breezing through the may 2003 sat physics discussion, and i realized that they have almost all the same questions... peculiar huh? Does college board reuse the questions from year to year?

By Gmf05 (Gmf05) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 01:08 pm: Edit

I doubt it. The test was very difficult I thought. All of the mechanics was a breeze, and most all of the electricity and magnetism was easy. But the hard questions tended to be VERY hard. i.e. I think there was one that involved differentiating a formula. How does everyone think the curve will be?

By Crypto86 (Crypto86) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 01:17 pm: Edit

I didn't take the test today but I plan on taking it in June. I've gotten 750 and 790 on the Kaplans diagnostic test and 1st practice test, respectively. I am good with everything except magnetism and atomic stuff, which I plan on studying on my own. If any of you have the Kaplans book, was the test harder than that? GMF, what did you get on practices and how many do you think you got wrong/omitted?

By Gmf05 (Gmf05) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 01:22 pm: Edit

The Kaplan book is much easier (IMO) than the actual test. The Kaplan test was more like an AP test, which I don't find too difficult. We've taken them in class and I consistently score well.

I never took a full length test out of Kaplan all at once, however I used all the questions. I probably got around 780+ on all of them though.

If I were you, I'd look more at something like 22 Real SAT II's to get an idea of what it's like. I haven't used it, but I imagine it must be better than Kaplan.

By Crypto86 (Crypto86) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 01:43 pm: Edit

Yeah, I kinda feel the Kaplans is pretty easy too. I don't want to be underprepared because I definately think I can get an 800 with good studying. I'll take a look at the 22 real SAT IIs. The reason I got the Kaplans book was because the Barrons was from 1999 and was way cluttered. I do extra things for NJ Science League with Physics, so I would be better prepared than the average student. However, I know that you are very smart and if you thought the "tough" ones were VERY tough, than it's a sign that I should do extra stuff. Thanks again.

If you can, do you remember how many magnetism/atomic/heat problems there were - that's my weak point so far.

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 01:44 pm: Edit

I used the 22 real sat II's physics test, it seemed much easier than this one. I got 7 wrong w/ 0 omits on the real satII's and i definitely id worse today. I was surprised by how hard it is. I didnt try kaplan, but i used PR which was easier, Barrons which ha irrelevant info, and sparknotes which was slightly harder. Some questions were not covered in any of those books i.e. pulsar, quasar junk. GMF, what did you put for the strength tester one, which point had the greatest velocity? I put 1m going up, but i wasnt sure... If energy is conserved it should have the same speed going up AND down,unless energy is lost by the sound of the bell and/or the collision

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 01:58 pm: Edit

I am in AP physics and i found some VERY challenging. There were 4 magnetism questions, about 5 heat ones, and one on the photoelectric effect. Was also a no-brainer about a neutral atom of nuclear charge +Q, and they asked for the total electron charge. Also GMF, for the one w/ the two blocks colliding i thought 2 answers were correct. It had block X and block Y and asked what V2 was dependent on... it should be both the ratio of masses, and V1 by conservation of momentum. What do you think? I eenie meenie minie moed it!

By Crypto86 (Crypto86) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:03 pm: Edit

Wow - this does seem really hard. No wonder the curve is so generous. I didn't think it would be THIS hard. I'm not in AP phys (just honors) but I do extra stuff on the side. I hope I can do really well on this. I may have to do a lot of extra stuff. I can't believe it would be super hard, but who knows. Like hard because you never learned that stuff or frustrating hard because it's concepts that are the "tough" parts of stuff you already learned? Anyways, I hope you all did well.

By Crypto86 (Crypto86) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:03 pm: Edit

*edit*

Double post

By Davidn08 (Davidn08) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:07 pm: Edit

the ratio one is definitely correct... i remember there being something slightly wrong with the other answer.

By Davidn08 (Davidn08) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:12 pm: Edit

i read in many previous posts (and know from kaplan & pr) that you need a raw score of about 60-63 for a 800, but do you think it's much less for this may exam? i figure that people taking it now are mostly very bright (i guess AP physics kids take it now since the timing fits quite nicely with the AP exam, + AP students have too many APs right now to be worrying about the SAT, so they're taking it in june and SATII now)... is that gunna screw up the curve a lot?

also, before the test, they asked if we were taking AP physics (that questionaire thing), you think they use the responses to determine the curve? did you people fill that circle in?

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:15 pm: Edit

awesome, i totally put that. Crypto, what school are you from? I am in NJ science league for physics II, im 34th. I go to jackson. The concepts were mainly the hardest paart, but i never learned that star phases junk.

By Crypto86 (Crypto86) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:22 pm: Edit

Physicskid123 - we only have honors phys at our school so I am in Physics I. My total score (when they update the damn website - been over 3 weeks!!) I will have a total score of 208 (64 Jan, omit Feb, 72 March and April). My friend is 11th in the state and got a 96 on the last test - he's awesome. We only have 4 people total on our team for phys (and only my friend and my scores count because the other two don't care) and we are still 11th in the state - pretty cool, eh?!) Anyways, I'm in Division 3 - Midland Park. My initials are MC. I'm looking forward to chem II next year!

Anyways, if you're in AP phys AND in NJ sci league phys II and you thought some of the problems were hard, I have some major studying to do (damn kaplans book making me think I'm hot stuff with that 790 practice!!! - ha!)

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:30 pm: Edit

haha, well im only in physics C mechanics, and i studied the rest of the topics myself. My initials are SS, and i have a 216 so far , 72 jan, 76 feb, omit march, 68 april. Good job w/ science league, those are reallly hard tests. Next year im doing bio II. Good luck w/ the SAT II's.

By Crypto86 (Crypto86) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:33 pm: Edit

Yeah, they are pretty hard. Good job with yours - I 've seen the phys II ones and they are pretty darn tough. Anyways, I'll just keep studying for the SAT II in June. I have 710 BioM and 700 Chem, so those are solid scores anyways, but I want to cement it with a REALLY good phys one. Hope you did well on this SAT II - I'm gonna check out the 22 SAT IIs and compare to kaplans.

By Gmf05 (Gmf05) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:40 pm: Edit

Physicskid - I put ratio of masses on the momentum question. However I don't remember the other answers. I actually omitted the bell question (one of 4 I omitted) because it WOULD be the same speed going up as coming down. I honestly don't think that there was a right answer available for that question.

By Korinfox (Korinfox) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:47 pm: Edit

for the bell question, it would NOT be the same speed going up as coming down. The question specifically stated that the rider made a loud sound when it hit the bell, indicating that energy was lost, so the correct answer was 1 meter above the ground on the way up

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 02:50 pm: Edit

Yeah! thanks Korin, I thought that, but i thought it was kinda farfetched. awesome.

By Tan125 (Tan125) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 03:00 pm: Edit

Here are a few harder questions that I remember. Please respond.

1. The ring in magnetism. My answer was first counterclockwise and then clockwise. I believe the answer is C

2. The hammer and bell one. The answer is 1 meter up. Because of loss of sound energy.

3. The prism thing. First in air then immerged in water. My answer was "angle more spread"...can someone confirm?

4. The astronomy question. I chose quasar. I semiguessed this one.

5. 1.5E15 Joules and 6 photons of 5.0E14 Joules. The answer is 2 photons.

6. The question that involves parallel plates with a voltage. I believe the answer is 1.8 times 10 to the power of something.

7. Pulley/incline system. The first diagram (choice A) has the fastest acceleration (2kg hanging and 0.5kg sliding). The one that is not moving is the (2kg hanging and 1kg sliding)

8. y-axis=I and x-axis=V has a linear slope of R. y-axis=Energy and x-axis=frequency has a linear slope of h with some work functions.

9. The quarks question. The impossible one is +2e.

10. Heat question. Solid mass at 10 degrees put in water of 20 degrees. Answer is between 15 degrees and 20 degrees.

By Korinfox (Korinfox) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 03:05 pm: Edit

ok
3. spectrum will be less spread, because nsin(theta)=nsin(theta) right? and if the ns are closer, the thetas will be closer
9. I think you mean -2e

By Gmf05 (Gmf05) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 03:10 pm: Edit

Korinfox - I put less spread as well.
2. I omitted.
5. Right.
9. Quarks - I think I put -2e. I don't remember the table though. However, I know I got it.
I don't remember the others.

By Tan125 (Tan125) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 03:10 pm: Edit

right, I meant -2e.

Hmm, I don't really get the spectrum question. If n of incidence is increased, that makes the theta of refraction greater. Wouldn't that make a more spread spectrum?

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 03:14 pm: Edit

Number 7, wouldnt the answer to the equilibrium system be the one with 2 kg sliding, and 1 kg hanging? b/c the y component of the sliding mass would be (2)(10m/s^2)(sin 30 deg.)= 10 N now the 1 kg mass would have a force (1 kg)(10 m/s^2) making the force 10 N. This would make the Vertical net force 0 on both sides. I am almost positive that the spectrum one would be closer together, since in water the ns would be nearer then the theta's would have to be closer together as well.

By Gmf05 (Gmf05) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 03:19 pm: Edit

If n of incidence is increased it bends less toward the normal. Less bending = less spreading.

By Tan125 (Tan125) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 04:06 pm: Edit

wait wait...Shouldn't less bending = more spreading?

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 04:31 pm: Edit

That one w/ the PV diagram that asked for which path was the internal energy increasing, what was the answer? There was a line pointing to the left, one to the right and down, and one straight up. I kinda guessed on it =/ I put the one going up and the one going down and right. What did you guys put?

By Tan125 (Tan125) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 04:53 pm: Edit

I put the one going up and the one going down and right.

By Gmf05 (Gmf05) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 05:36 pm: Edit

U = Q - W. I put the one going up (it was the only one gaining heat.) As temperature goes up, heat goes up. The other lines had heat remaining the same, and heat going down.

By Gmf05 (Gmf05) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 05:37 pm: Edit

Oh and Tan, why would less bending = more spreading?

By Xjay2max (Xjay2max) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 05:41 pm: Edit

as index of refraction goes down, velocity and angle increase.

as n goes up, v and theta decrease.

By Davidn08 (Davidn08) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 05:53 pm: Edit

the prism one... think of this way... if the 2 substances were the same, there would be no refraction/no bending/no spectrum (just a thin, straight monochromatic beam)... the more the 2 substances differ, the more refraction there will be, and since water has a closer index of refraction to glass than air does, there will be less refraction... the beam will be less like a spectrum and more like a thin white beam... make sense?

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 07:34 pm: Edit

The one that said like "which of the following CANNOT be made by either a diverging or converging lens" was the answer the one where the ray was pointed twards the bottom of the lens, then like bent upwards again through the focus? I think it was answer choice D or E... not sure which. And they definitely did use the same test as last may, check out the discussion, they have all the same questions. I remember reading last years discussion but too bad i forgot all the answers... darn.

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 07:58 pm: Edit

BUMP!

By Korinfox (Korinfox) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 08:13 pm: Edit

the choice was E because that was the one that just looked randomly drawn, that is my only explanation...

By Crypto86 (Crypto86) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 08:15 pm: Edit

I didn't take the test but I'm pretty sure that is right - we've worked on lenses for 2 weeks in our class (plus critical angles and such) and I have NEVER seen such a diagram.

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 08:16 pm: Edit

heh i knew it didnt look right...

By Dolphinz33 (Dolphinz33) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 11:36 pm: Edit

im taking them in june and im really worried now...wat is the best way to prepare?

By Gmf05 (Gmf05) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 12:14 am: Edit

Davidn - that was my logic. As for the other light question - it was definitely E. It was waaaay off. Korinfox - your logic worked perfectly well ^_~

By Jszab (Jszab) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 06:56 am: Edit

I did not know question about slit and arc of a wave. (60 or seventy something)

I) narrowing slit [ok]
II) decreasing wavlength [ok]
III) increasing frequency [ok???]

By Dannyferizzle (Dannyferizzle) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 10:34 am: Edit

it was I and II jszab--
and i'm pretty sure the graph was a PV diagram, and internal only changes when its PdeltaV, so all you had to was multiply when V changed which was the line to the left.

thats the only time the internal energy changes i think--there was no axis about temperature.

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 11:29 am: Edit

Jszab- I wasnt sure about that one either, but i looked it up when i got home. The answer was I, II, and III. III is true b/c c is a constant and decreasing wavelength implies an increase in frequency.

By Tan125 (Tan125) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 12:11 pm: Edit

But it doesn't ask you when the internal energy changes. I think it asks when the internal energy INCREASES.

Does anybody remember the exact question of the narrowing slits

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 12:17 pm: Edit

The question was something like "Which of the following will make the bright bands farther apart? I. Narrowing the slit. II. Increasing Wavelength. III. Decreasing frequency"

By Tan125 (Tan125) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 02:07 pm: Edit

Ok. thanks. Im pretty sure that I chose I II III.

By Jszab (Jszab) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 04:35 pm: Edit

Physicskid, You checked it, right?
Because I was not sure about my theory created during the test ;

If I, II, III I would have checked right...nevermind. Quite nice task, is not it? I like tasks, that need imagination.

How much did You made?
I made 73, and omitted 2, somewhere in the middle.
In about 55 minutes. I left it to take a deep breath before third exam. :)

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 08:54 pm: Edit

I omitted 2 as well... but i know of 4 I got wrong. Hopefully thats it, I have been studying soo much. Anything above 760 I am happy with, but 800 is such a magic number! I finished like 1 minute before time too.

By Yoeng (Yoeng) on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 10:00 pm: Edit

i'm gonna take one in june.. which book should i use for this?

By Physicskid123 (Physicskid123) on Monday, May 03, 2004 - 02:59 pm: Edit

I like PR and Sparknotes b/c they teach you everything in detail. Barrons has erroneous information, and bad practice tests. REA is too easy, PR and Sparknotes are perfect. Although 2 or 3 questions werent covered in them....


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