Overview
The Physical Science subtest measures knowledge of core concepts in physics and chemistry. Content is drawn from the topics typically covered in high school and early undergraduate physical science courses — mechanics, energy, basic chemistry, waves, electricity, and the structure of matter.
Physical Science replaced the older General Science subtest when the Form T version of the AFOQT was introduced. The change narrowed the subject matter: General Science included biology, earth science, and environmental topics alongside physics and chemistry, while Physical Science focuses specifically on the physics and chemistry side. Candidates preparing from older study materials should verify that their content matches the current Physical Science scope.
Physical Science is not currently factored into any AFOQT composite score.
Format and Timing
You will have 10 minutes to answer 20 questions — 30 seconds per question. Questions are multiple choice with four or five answer options. Pacing is moderate but not punishing; most candidates finish the section with a minute or two to spare after practicing.
Content topics include:
- Mechanics: Newton's laws, forces, momentum, simple machines, gravity
- Energy: kinetic and potential energy, conservation of energy, work, power
- Waves and sound: frequency, wavelength, reflection, refraction, Doppler effect
- Electricity and magnetism: current, voltage, resistance, circuits, magnetic fields
- Thermodynamics: heat, temperature, phase changes, thermal expansion
- Chemistry basics: atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonds, acids and bases, chemical reactions
- Matter: states of matter, density, properties of elements and compounds
Questions test conceptual understanding more often than calculation. You may occasionally need to apply a simple formula (F = ma, V = IR), but extended computation is rare.
Composite Relevance
Physical Science is not currently factored into any AFOQT composite score. It does not contribute to Pilot, CSO, ABM, Academic Aptitude, Verbal, or Quantitative composites.
For study prioritization, Physical Science sits in the same tier as Situational Judgment and Self-Description Inventory — required portions of the exam that do not directly affect current composite outcomes. Candidates should understand the format and review core content, but heavy preparation is not warranted when composite-feeding subtests offer more direct score leverage.
The Air Force has indicated that non-scored Form T subtests may be incorporated into future scoring or used for research purposes. Physical Science in particular may be relevant to rated career fields (the technical content aligns with aviation and engineering domains), so it is possible that future scoring models will factor it into the Pilot, CSO, or ABM composites. For now, treat it as a required-but-non-scored subtest.
Strategy and Approach
Review core high school physical science content. Most questions test concepts from introductory physics and chemistry at a high school or first-year college level. A quick review of a standard physical science textbook's table of contents covers nearly all testable topics. You do not need graduate-level depth; you need solid coverage of the basics.
Prioritize concepts over calculations. Unlike Math Knowledge or Arithmetic Reasoning, Physical Science rarely asks you to compute an answer from scratch. Most questions test whether you understand a principle well enough to apply it qualitatively: "If you double the mass of an object, what happens to its gravitational force on another object?" The answer depends on understanding the inverse-square law, not on computing a specific value.
Know the common formulas, but don't memorize obscure ones. High-yield formulas worth committing to memory:
- Newton's second law: F = ma
- Ohm's law: V = IR
- Kinetic energy: KE = ½mv²
- Gravitational potential energy: PE = mgh
- Wave speed: v = fλ (frequency × wavelength)
- Density: ρ = m/V
These six formulas cover a large fraction of calculation-based questions.
Eliminate physically impossible answers. Many Physical Science questions can be narrowed by eliminating answer choices that violate basic physical principles. A question about momentum conservation can't have an answer that violates conservation; a question about electrical circuits can't have an answer that violates Kirchhoff's laws. Even partial knowledge of the topic often eliminates half the options.
Don't overinvest preparation time. If you're targeting a specific composite (Pilot, CSO, ABM, Quantitative, or Verbal), every hour spent on Physical Science is an hour not spent on a scored subtest. A light review pass of core content — one or two hours total — is usually sufficient. Save deep study for subtests where your effort directly raises composite scores.
Example Question
Question: A 2 kg object is pushed with a force of 10 newtons across a frictionless surface. What is the object's acceleration?
- (A) 0.2 m/s²
- (B) 2 m/s²
- (C) 5 m/s²
- (D) 8 m/s²
- (E) 20 m/s²
Analysis:
This is a direct application of Newton's second law: F = ma, rearranged to a = F / m.
- F = 10 N
- m = 2 kg
- a = 10 / 2 = 5 m/s²
Best answer: (C) 5 m/s²
The trap answers are (B) 2 m/s² (substituting mass for acceleration, a common reversal error) and (E) 20 m/s² (multiplying force by mass instead of dividing, a formula inversion error). Always confirm which quantity is the output of your formula before executing — half of Physical Science calculation errors come from inverting the equation.
Start Practicing
The timed quiz below matches Form T conditions: 10 minutes, 20 questions. Review core physical science content before practicing, then use timed sessions to build recognition speed on common question types. For composite-feeding priorities, see the composite scores guide, and consider shifting preparation time toward Math Knowledge or Aviation Information if you're pursuing a rated career field.
Start Practice Test