gre physics

The GRE physics test is an examination administered by • Lorentz force

the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The test attempts
to determine the extent of the examinees’ understanding • Induction
of fundamental principles of physics and their ability to
apply them to problem solving. Many graduate schools • Maxwell Equations and their applications
require applicants to take the exam and base admission
decisions in part on the results. • electromagnetic waves (electromagnetic radiation)
The scope of the test is largely that of the first three years
of a standard United States undergraduate physics cur- • AC circuits
riculum, since many students who plan to continue to
graduate school apply during the first half of the fourth • magnetic and electric fields in matter
year. It consists of 100 five-option multiple-choice ques-
tions covering subject areas including classical mechan-
ics, electromagnetism, wave phenomena and optics, ther- 1.3 3. Optics and wave phenomena (9%)
mal physics, relativity, atomic and nuclear physics, quan-
tum mechanics, laboratory techniques, and mathematical • wave properties
methods. The table below indicates the relative weights,
as asserted by ETS, and detailed contents of the major • superposition
topics.
• interference

1 Major content topics • diffraction

• geometrical optics
1.1 1. Classical mechanics (20%)
• kinematics • light polarization

• Newton’s laws of motion • Doppler effect

• work and energy

• rotational motion about a fixed axis 1.4 4. Thermodynamics and statistical me-
chanics (10%)
• dynamics of systems of particles

• central forces and celestial mechanics • laws of thermodynamics

• three-dimensional particle dynamics • thermodynamic processes

• Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism • equations of state
• noninertial reference frames
• ideal gases
• elementary topics in fluid dynamics
• Kinetic theory of gases

1.2 2. Electromagnetism (18%) • ensembles

• electrostatics • statistical concepts and calculation of thermody-
• currents and DC circuits namic quantities

• magnetic fields in free space • thermal expansion and heat transfer

1
2 1 MAJOR CONTENT TOPICS

1.5 5. Quantum mechanics (12%) 1.8 8. Laboratory methods (6%)

• fundamental concepts • data and error analysis

• electronics
• solutions of the Schrödinger wave equation
• instrumentation
• square wells (Particle in a box)
• radiation detection
• harmonic oscillators • counting statistics
• hydrogenic atoms • interaction of charged particles with matter

• spin • lasers and optical interferometers

• dimensional analysis
• angular momentum
• fundamental applications of probability and statis-
• wave function symmetry tics

• elementary perturbation theory

1.9 9. Specialized topics (9%)
• nuclear and particle physics
1.6 6. Atomic physics (10%)
• nuclear properties
• properties of electrons • radioactive decay

• Bohr model • fission and fusion

• reactions
• energy quantization • fundamental properties of elementary parti-
cles
• atomic structure
• condensed matter
• atomic spectra
• crystal structure
• selection rules • x-ray diffraction
• thermal properties
• black-body radiation
• electron theory of metals
• x-rays • semiconductors
• superconductors
• atoms in electric and magnetic fields
• mathematical methods

• single and multivariate calculus

1.7 7. Special relativity (6%)
• coordinate systems (rectangular, cylindrical,
spherical)
• introductory concepts of special relativity
• vector algebra and vector differential operators
• time dilation • Fourier series
• partial differential equations
• length contraction
• boundary value problems
• simultaneity • matrices and determinants
• functions of complex variables
• energy and momentum
• miscellaneous
• four-vectors and Lorentz transformation
• astrophysics
• • computer applications
 3

2 See also
• Graduate Record Examination

• GRE Biochemistry Test

• GRE Biology Test

• GRE Chemistry Test

• GRE Literature in English Test

• GRE Mathematics Test

• GRE Psychology Test

• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

3 References
[1] “GRE Subject Tests: Test Content and Structure”. ets.org.
Retrieved 2016-05-14.

[2] “GRE Subject Tests: Physics”. ets.org. Retrieved 2016-

05-14.

[3] “GRE Subject Tests: Scores”. ets.org. Retrieved 2016-

05-14.

[4] “GRE Subject Tests: About the GRE Subject Tests”.

ets.org. Retrieved 2016-05-14.

[5] “GRE Subject Tests: Fees”. ets.org. Retrieved 2016-05-

14.

[6] “GRE Subject Tests: Fee Reduction Program”. ets.org.

Retrieved 2016-05-14.

4 External links
• Official Description of the GRE Physics Test

• Detailed Solutions to ETS released tests - The Miss-

ing Solutions Manual, free online, and User Com-
ments and discussions on individual problems
• More solutions to the released tests - Includes solu-
tions to the recently released 2008 exam
• GRE Prep Course at Ohio State University - Prepa-
ration course, with links to all 4 publicly released
Physics GRE tests, as well as links to other Physics
GRE resources
• GR0877 Solutions - Solutions to 2008 exam
4 5 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

5 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

5.1 Text
• GRE Physics Test Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRE_Physics_Test?oldid=782688080 Contributors: The Cunctator, CYD, As-
troNomer, Andre Engels, Ram-Man, Michael Hardy, Flamurai, Angela, Timwi, Zoicon5, Nilmerg, Wmahan, Fg2, Mindspillage, Yosofun,
Leandros, Ylai, Ub3rm4th, Sortior, Keenan Pepper, Water Bottle, Woohookitty, SeventyThree, RussBot, Ohnoitsjamie, Nixeagle, Saxbryn,
Achoo5000, Banedon, Necromancerdc, Hebrides, Skittleys, Cmyaseen, Robina Fox, TAnthony, Magioladitis, Maheshkumaryadav, Kevg-
lynn, STBot, Axlq, Younge994, Kaebaka, Malcolmxl5, Mild Bill Hiccup, Anmay, SlaterDeterminant, XLinkBot, Engineering Guy, Hi878,
ChristopherKingChemist, OgreBot, Xiaoshan Math, Marie Poise, Josve05a, Maschen, Crackman256, ColRad85, Narky Blert, Hermione-
didallthework and Anonymous: 42

5.2 Images
• File:GRE_logo.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/GRE_logo.svg License: Public domain Contributors:
ETS GRE Original artist: User:Niamh O'C

5.3 Content license

• Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0