23-24 Physics Math Assessment

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Physics Mathematics Skill Level Formative Assessment

Name: __________________________________ Period: ______ Date: ___________

Answer each of the following questions as completely and correctly as you can at this point in
the year. These questions represent typical math skills that are needed in order to successfully
complete problems in many of the units you will experience this year. Not all of these skills will
be used in every unit, but it is important for you to start the year with a general understanding of
how much extra time you will most likely need to devote to working on the mathematics
fundamentals along with the physics concepts that we will be learning.

This is a formative assessment. It will only be given a grade for completion (if a score is given
at all). As you go through the assessment, complete each question. At the end of each section,
give yourself a rating for that section using the following scale:
1 = I have never seen this type of math skill before
2 = I have seen this before in my math class (I think) but I really don’t have confidence
with it
3 = I think I understand what the question is asking, but I did struggle getting the answer
and needed to ask for some help with this
4 = I do understand the question, and I got an answer without a lot of help (or any)…but
I’m not totally confident that it’s correct
5 = I do understand the question and I am certain that I got the answer correct without
assistance from a friend or other source.
Answers for these questions will be provided after you have completed this assessment. At that
time you can check to see which ones you need to go back and double-check your work.

Part 1: Basic Geometry and Trig


1. Solve the following geometric problems.
a. Line B touches the circle at a single point. Line A extends through the center of the
circle.
i. What is line B in reference to the circle?
B
_______________
ii. How large is the angle between lines A and B?
A
_______________

b. Find the circumference (in m) and the area (in m2) of a circle of diameter 16.5 cm.

c. Calculate the volume and the surface area of a sphere of radius 0.023 m.

Self-rating=____
2. Solve the following problems using basic trigonometry. Show your work and/or explain how
you obtained your answer:

a. What is angle C? 30o


45o
_______________

30
b. What is angle  ? o


_______________

c. How large is  ?

_______________

30o

4
d. What is the area under the graph to the right?

_______________

e. What are the slopes of the two line segments


12 20

on the graph to the right? _____________

Use the triangle on the right to solve for:

b
i. B = _____________ 6.5 cm
4.5 cm
ii. a = _____________
a
iii. b = _____________ B

Using the generic triangle to the right, Right Triangle Trigonometry, and Pythagorean
Theorem solve the following. Your calculator must be in degree mode
f. = 55o and c = 32 m, solve for a and b.
_______________
g.  = 45o and a = 15 m/s, solve for b and c.
_______________ Self-rating = ____
Part 2: Fundamental Metrics
3. Name the fundamental metric units (name and abbreviation) for each of the following
measurements:
a. Length _____________
b. Time ______________
c. Mass ______________
4. a. 1 kg = ________ g
b. 1 m = ________ cm
c. 1 L = _________ mL
d. 1mm = ________ cm

5. Convert the following to the requested unit. If you don’t know the conversion factors look it
up! (your textbook is a great resource, as could be the internet…or a dictionary). If it
makes sense, report your answers in scientific notation.

a. 15050 mg =_________________kg

b. 4008 g = _______________ kg

c. 1.2 km = _______________ m

d. 823 nm = _______________ m

e. 0.77 m = _______________ cm

f. 8.8x10-8 m = _______________ mm

g. 25.0 m = _______________ m

h. 2.65 mm = _______________ m

i. 8.23 m = _______________ km

Self-rating = ____
6. Convert the following derived units using the factor-label method, the train track method, or
another method you know:

a. 5.4 L =_________________m3

b. 323 km/h =_________________m/s

c. 340 m/s =_________________miles/hr.

Self-rating = ____
Part 3: Algebraic manipulation of equations

1. Do your best to cancel units, and attempt to show the simplified units in the final answer.
Put the answer in scientific notation when appropriate. (HINT: Scientific notation is used
when it takes less time to write than the ordinary number does. As an example 200 is
easier to write than 2.00x102, but 2.00x108 is easier to write than 200,000,000).

a. _______________

b. _______________

c. _______________
Self-rating: _____
2. Solve for the variable indicated. Often problems in physics are done with variables only.
Don’t let the different letters confuse you. Manipulate them algebraically as though they
were numbers.

a. _______________

1
x=x 0 + v o t + at 2
2
b. , a = _______________

c. _______________
2 2
d. v =v 0 +2 ad , a=¿ _______________

e. , v = _______________

Self-rating = ____
3. Solve for x and y in the following system of equations—show your work.
2x + 4y = 18
x – y = -1

Self-rating = ____

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