OAE Physics (035) study guide
OAE Physics (035) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The OAE Physics (035) is a subject-matter assessment used in Ohio's educator-licensure process for candidates who want to teach physics. It is typically taken by people completing an teacher-preparation program, by candidates adding a physics endorsement to an existing license, and by out-of-state educators seeking Ohio licensure. The exam is delivered in English as multiple choice and samples the full breadth of introductory and secondary physics rather than a single course. The content is organized into six domains: Nature of Science, Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Waves and Optics, Thermodynamics and Energy, and Modern Physics. The OAE Physics (035) study guide has 6 sections and about 1,843 words.
01Nature of Science
The Nature of Science domain tests how physics knowledge is constructed and checked: experimental design, measurement quality, uncertainty, data representation, and the roles of models, laws, and theories. A controlled experiment changes one independent variable while holding others constant and measures a dependent variable.
297 words, about 1 min02Mechanics
The Mechanics domain tests motion, forces, energy, momentum, circular motion, and gravitation. Expect free-body diagrams, kinematics graphs, conservation laws, and multi-step problems combining forces and energy.
301 words, about 2 min03Electricity and Magnetism
The Electricity and Magnetism domain tests electrostatic force and field, electric potential, DC circuits, capacitance, magnetic forces, and electromagnetic induction. Problems often combine circuit analysis with energy or field reasoning.
330 words, about 2 min04Waves and Optics
Waves and Optics tests wave properties, sound, light, reflection, refraction, lenses and mirrors, interference, diffraction, and polarization. Expect ray diagrams, the wave equation, Snell’s law, and image calculations.
307 words, about 2 min05Thermodynamics and Energy
Thermodynamics and Energy tests heat, temperature, thermal energy transfer, gas behavior, the laws of thermodynamics, and efficiency. Expect calorimetry, PV reasoning, and energy-conservation calculations.
316 words, about 2 min06Modern Physics
Modern Physics tests relativity, quantum ideas, atomic structure, the photoelectric effect, wave–particle duality, and nuclear physics. Expect photon-energy calculations, decay reasoning, and mass–energy relations.
292 words, about 1 min