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Imperial Physics Interview Questions

Hi i have an interview on thursday for Bsc Physics at imperial.

I really want to know what questions people were asked at their interviews so i know what kind of thing to expect. I'm fine doing problem-solving when i'm in an exam situation with no one watching me, but i'm sure i won't do well with someone there, waiting for me to come up with a solution. Anyway, could people please post questions that they got at their interviews, physics and maths ones especially!

thank you

Also, i would much rather do theoretical physics at uni, but applied for straight physics because i heard it was really hard to get into the theoretical course. Is this true? How easy would it be for me to switch later on at some point? I don't do further maths either, so i don't really have anything showing my mathematical ability , and i'm sure i won't do well in any problem-solving questions i get in interview.

please answer this - i'm really nervous about, and i'd really like to go to imperial college! God i'm glad i didn't apply to cambridge - the interview would be much worse!

Reply 1

kcfch

14

hi there
i went a few days ago and the woman who interviewed me asked me some general questions first and then asked me one physics question; why does ice float? she then elaborated on it a bit, and asked me a few more things which led from that question. but honestly, dont be nervous! i was really, and i ended up thinking why?

Reply 2

Stef90

yeah, imperial's interview is a cakewalk compared to oxbridge.

but don't worry, they'll probably only ask you a couple of questions (after discussing your PS). For example they asked me to differentiate x² through first principles and then he gave me a Young's slits problem.

So good luck and enjoy yourself!

Reply 3

Sinay

OP

2

from first principles? i wouldn't be able to do that. What was the young's slit one like, was it straight forward or did it require some thinking?

Also, did any A2 maths and physics appear in the questions?

Reply 4

HCD

16

Sinay

Also, i would much rather do theoretical physics at uni, but applied for straight physics because i heard it was really hard to get into the theoretical course. Is this true? How easy would it be for me to switch later on at some point?

You can do the exact same course as we theoreticians. Exactly the same. If you want to, that is. As Ashy likes to point out at regular intervals, there are no advantages to doing Theoretical Physics. :p:

For me, it's because I know my future self would be tempted by the "softer options", but by putting down for F390, I resolve to do the hardcore maths, and force my future self to work!

Reply 5

Stef90

i think there's a proof in the C1 maths book, basically: http://www.mathsrevision.net/alevel/pages.php?page=23

the young's slits question took a couple of minutes, nothing too difficult and they could ask you some stuff from the beginning of the A2 syllabuses

Reply 6

Sinay

OP

2

thanks for the link stef! - that's really interesting HCD, i won't bother switching in that case

Reply 7

HCD

16

Hope to see you in lectures next year, then! :p:

Reply 8

ashy

17

HCD

You can do the exact same course as we theoreticians. Exactly the same. If you want to, that is. As Ashy likes to point out at regular intervals, there are no advantages to doing Theoretical Physics. :p:

For me, it's because I know my future self would be tempted by the "softer options", but by putting down for F390, I resolve to do the hardcore maths, and force my future self to work!

Oh the shame of it.

Reply 9

Good bloke

19

karmenchiu

why does ice float?

Surely this could be answered by a bright primary school pupil.

Reply 10

ashy

17

Good bloke

Surely this could be answered by a bright primary school pupil.

But you're expected to show at least a little more sophisticated knowledge than a bridge primary school pupil would know.

Pupil: it's less dense. -Correct.

You: Well it's less dense because when water freezes it forms a lattice where the atoms within it are further apart - therefore the number of atoms per unit volume decreases and its overall density decreases..... etc etc.

Reply 11

Chemical_Scum

14

ashy

But you're expected to show at least a little more sophisticated knowledge than a bridge primary school pupil would know.

Pupil: it's less dense. -Correct.

You: Well it's less dense because when water freezes it forms a lattice where the atoms within it are further apart - therefore the number of atoms per unit volume decreases and its overall density decreases..... etc etc.

...because of the hydrogen bonds between molecules in water being stronger in the liquid phase than the solid as the delta positive/unshielded hydrogen nucleus/proton is attracted to the highly electronegative lone pairs on the valence shell of the oxygens. however in the solid phase the bond angles do not allow for the 2 hydrogens 2 h bond to 2 adjacent oxygens so the molecules are further apart as a solid than a liquid. i could go further but thats as much as i expect theyd want.

Reply 12

Gimperial

11

This sounds more like a chemistry answer than physics. I doubt anyone with a physics a-level would come up with that

Reply 13

ashy

17

My answer was more Physicsy :p:

ANYWAY that's not the point. My point was that you're expected to be able to show a certain level of sophistication - the question may be one that most people can answer, but it'll allow you to think quite deeply about a topic and show off just how much you know.

Reply 14

kcfch

14

ashy

You: Well it's less dense because when water freezes it forms a lattice where the atoms within it are further apart - therefore the number of atoms per unit volume decreases and its overall density decreases..... etc etc.

more or less what i said :biggrin:

Reply 15

Blackwater

I have an interview on the 28th and I have to say I've never seen the differentiation from first principles thing in my life. Is it something we're expected to know or work out as we go along? :s-smilie:

Reply 16

PierreSonne

Blackwater : if you've understood what differentiation is, it won't be a problem for you... But you shouldn't be worried about that because it's likely you won't have this question ! (I didn't have this question, so maybe they ask new questions at each interview)
And if we have an interview at Imperial its likely we'll get an offer !! (I hop ^^)

Reply 17

MOBA X

PierreSonne

Blackwater : if you've understood what differentiation is, it won't be a problem for you... But you shouldn't be worried about that because it's likely you won't have this question ! (I didn't have this question, so maybe they ask new questions at each interview) and if we have an interview at Imperial its likely we'll get an offer (I hop ^^)

well i think it is something everyone doing maths should know but it turns out that its not taught in uk schools which is a real shame, i remember learning it years ago in secondary school. its not a very difficult concept to grasps so its worth looking at before your interview but a really good maths student should be able to work it out as they go along.good luck

Reply 18

Chemical_Scum

14

ashy

My answer was more Physicsy :p:

ANYWAY that's not the point. My point was that you're expected to be able to show a certain level of sophistication - the question may be one that most people can answer, but it'll allow you to think quite deeply about a topic and show off just how much you know.

yea your right offcourse though i recon the person they asked had done chem a level and thats why they asked that question. for instance in my interview i was asked a physicsy question with a chemistry twist. balls falling one a polymer one a metal, same mass blah blah which hits first then u change the dynamics and make it a hot day and coza the bonds in the metal the polymer hits first as volume of metal increases and thus effect of air resist increases. i also got the old fridge question. imperial asked by far the best questions that iv come across. even more interesting and clever than oxbridge that id seen, tho they are far more chilled and less concerned with u having massive prior knowledge they are just as clever. my advice is to ask about anything ur unsure, eg how a fridge or 2 stroke engine works shud it come up and then ul be alright.dnt ever let urself pretend 2 knw wts going on lol.

Reply 19

figureeight

11

I think I once did do differentiation from first principles last year, although my teacher got to a stage where we had something like 0/0 and he said, "yeahhh, that will be fine... so the differential of x^2 is 2x. QED"

Man I do love that.

Anyways - Imperial! The interview really isnt that bad, I didn't get asked a single academic question, only about my personal statement.

Oh, its Saturday, and the interview was on Thursday...

I'm so clever like that.

Imperial Physics Interview Questions

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