though.) We hope you see that, without a calculator, it is pointless to try to get a precise numerical answer
to this kind of question.
Fine ... Then What Kinds of Questions Will Be Asked on the Multiple-Choice
Section?
Fair enough. We break down the kinds of questions into five categories. First, the categories of questions
that involve numbers:
- easy calculations
- order of magnitude estimates
Most questions, though, do NOT involve numbers at all. These are:
- proportional reasoning
- concept questions, subdivided into
a. “Why?” questions, and
b. diagram questions- direct solution with variables
Okay, let’s take a look at a sample of each of these.
Easy Calculations
These test your knowledge of formulas.
A ball is dropped from a 45-m-high platform. Neglecting air resistance, how much time will it take for
this ball to hit the ground?(A) 1.0 s
(B) 2.0 s
(C) 3.0 s
(D) 4.0 s
(E) 5.0 sYou should remember the kinematics equation: . Here the initial velocity is zero
because the ball was “dropped.” The distance involved is 45 meters, and the acceleration is caused by
gravity, 10 m/s^2 . The solution must be found without a calculator, but notice how easy they have made the
numbers: