Primary FRCA Part 1: Physics & Equipment Flashcards Exam
2026-2027 | Most Recent Exam Actual Complete Real Exam
242 Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Already Graded A+ |Guaranteed Success!! Newest Exam | Just
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Apply principles of physics and measurement to anaesthesia, including pressure,
flow, gas laws, vaporizers, electrical safety, and monitoring. (242 cards)
1
Q
Describe the differences in the relative effects of viscosity and density on
laminar and turbulent flow.
ANSWERS:
Laminar: viscosity has a greater effect than density
Turbulent: density has a greater effect than viscosity
2
Q
What is paramagnetism and which gases are paramagnetic?
ANSWERS:
Paramagnetic gases are attracted by a magnetic field (and can be analysed by a
paramagnetic analyser) due to the presence of unpaired outer orbital electrons.
Examples: oxygen, nitric oxide
3
Q
What is the critical temperature of a substance?
ANSWERS:
,A substance above its critical temperature cannot be liquified irrespective of the
pressure applied to it.
4
Q
What is the critical temperature of oxygen?
ANSWERS:
-118 degrees
5
Q
What is a sieving coefficient?
ANSWERS:
It provides a measure of how different molecules move across a semi-
permeable membrane. In renal replacement therapy, it is the ratio of the
concentration of a molecule in the ultrafiltrate compared to the concentration
in the blood.
Smaller molecules equilibrate across the membrane more readily and have a
coefficient around 1.
6
Q
Briefly explain how a pulse oximeter works.
ANSWERS:
In pulse oximetry, red (660nm) and infrared (940nm) LEDs blink on and off 30
times per second. The degree of absorbance of these wavelengths by a
photodetector is measured, and is correlated with known data to provide an
estimate of oxygen saturations.
,Oxygenated haemoglobin absorbs infrared (940nm) light to a greater degree
than deoxygenated haemoglobin. The reverse is true of red light.
The off:off signal allows for the photodetector to establish the degree of
ambient light which is then subtracted from the received signal.
7
Q
What is a purpose of a diode?
ANSWERS:
Convert AC to DC current
(known as rectification)
May also be referred to as a rectifier.
8
Q
What is the saturated vapour pressure of water at 37 degrees?
ANSWERS:
6.3 kPa
9
Q
How much does pressure increase by as you go underwater?
ANSWERS:
1 atmosphere for every 10 m of depth
10
Q
Define:
latent heat of vaporisation
, ANSWERS:
Energy required to change one unit of mass from liquid to gas
e.g. water boiling
11
Q
Define:
latent heat
ANSWERS:
Energy required to transform matter from one state to another.
12
Q
Define:
latent heat of fusion
ANSWERS:
Energy required to change one unit of mass from solid to liquid.
e.g. when ice melts
13
Q
Define:
specific heat capacity
ANSWERS:
Determines the energy needed to raise 1 kg of the substance by a temperature
of 1 degree.
14
2026-2027 | Most Recent Exam Actual Complete Real Exam
242 Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Already Graded A+ |Guaranteed Success!! Newest Exam | Just
Released!!
Apply principles of physics and measurement to anaesthesia, including pressure,
flow, gas laws, vaporizers, electrical safety, and monitoring. (242 cards)
1
Q
Describe the differences in the relative effects of viscosity and density on
laminar and turbulent flow.
ANSWERS:
Laminar: viscosity has a greater effect than density
Turbulent: density has a greater effect than viscosity
2
Q
What is paramagnetism and which gases are paramagnetic?
ANSWERS:
Paramagnetic gases are attracted by a magnetic field (and can be analysed by a
paramagnetic analyser) due to the presence of unpaired outer orbital electrons.
Examples: oxygen, nitric oxide
3
Q
What is the critical temperature of a substance?
ANSWERS:
,A substance above its critical temperature cannot be liquified irrespective of the
pressure applied to it.
4
Q
What is the critical temperature of oxygen?
ANSWERS:
-118 degrees
5
Q
What is a sieving coefficient?
ANSWERS:
It provides a measure of how different molecules move across a semi-
permeable membrane. In renal replacement therapy, it is the ratio of the
concentration of a molecule in the ultrafiltrate compared to the concentration
in the blood.
Smaller molecules equilibrate across the membrane more readily and have a
coefficient around 1.
6
Q
Briefly explain how a pulse oximeter works.
ANSWERS:
In pulse oximetry, red (660nm) and infrared (940nm) LEDs blink on and off 30
times per second. The degree of absorbance of these wavelengths by a
photodetector is measured, and is correlated with known data to provide an
estimate of oxygen saturations.
,Oxygenated haemoglobin absorbs infrared (940nm) light to a greater degree
than deoxygenated haemoglobin. The reverse is true of red light.
The off:off signal allows for the photodetector to establish the degree of
ambient light which is then subtracted from the received signal.
7
Q
What is a purpose of a diode?
ANSWERS:
Convert AC to DC current
(known as rectification)
May also be referred to as a rectifier.
8
Q
What is the saturated vapour pressure of water at 37 degrees?
ANSWERS:
6.3 kPa
9
Q
How much does pressure increase by as you go underwater?
ANSWERS:
1 atmosphere for every 10 m of depth
10
Q
Define:
latent heat of vaporisation
, ANSWERS:
Energy required to change one unit of mass from liquid to gas
e.g. water boiling
11
Q
Define:
latent heat
ANSWERS:
Energy required to transform matter from one state to another.
12
Q
Define:
latent heat of fusion
ANSWERS:
Energy required to change one unit of mass from solid to liquid.
e.g. when ice melts
13
Q
Define:
specific heat capacity
ANSWERS:
Determines the energy needed to raise 1 kg of the substance by a temperature
of 1 degree.
14
