Physics reading notes — every syllabus unit and chapter

Whole-subject revision

Sheets that span every unit — open these the week before the paper.

Physics Formula Sheet — Rapid RevisionEvery Physics relation on the MECEE-BL blueprint on one page: mechanics, heat, waves and optics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics — with the constants and unit traps that cost marks.18 minPremiumLocked

Mechanics

10 questions in the paper · 8 chapters · 8/8 with notes

10 Q

Unit overview

Mechanics: Unit Map and Reading OrderWhat the Mechanics unit covers, how many of the 50 Physics questions it carries, and the order to read its eight chapter notes in.2 min

1.1
Physical quantities, vectors and scalars
Precision, accuracy, significant figures and dimensional analysis · Concept, laws and calculations related to vectors and scalars
Physical Quantities, Vectors and Scalars: Units, Errors, ResultantsSI units and prefixes, precision against accuracy, significant-figure arithmetic, error combination, the dimensional formulae that get asked, and every vector law from the parallelogram to the river crossing.19 min
1.2
Kinematics
Concepts, calculations and graphical treatment of linear and projectile motion, with and without resistive force
Kinematics: Motion Graphs, Free Fall and the ProjectileThe three equations of motion, what every slope and area on a motion graph means, free-fall and relative-motion numericals, the full projectile set, and what air resistance does to all of it.

Heat and thermodynamics

7 questions in the paper · 6 chapters · 6/6 with notes

7 Q

Unit overview

Heat and Thermodynamics: Unit Map and Reading OrderWhat the Heat and thermodynamics unit covers, how many of the 50 Physics questions it carries, and the order to read its six chapter notes in.2 min

2.1
Thermal energy, heat, temperature and thermometers
Concept of thermal energy, heat and temperature · Modes and laws of heat flow: zeroth law and Stefan–Boltzmann law · Liquid-in-glass, resistance and radiation thermometers: principle, advantages and limitations
Heat, Temperature and Thermometers: What Each One Can Read

Waves and optics

8 questions in the paper · 6 chapters · 6/6 with notes

8 Q

Unit overview

Optics: Unit Map and Reading Order (the Light Half)What the optics half of Waves and optics covers, how many questions the unit carries, and the order to read its three chapter notes in.2 min Sound: Unit Map and Reading Order (the Wave Half)What the sound half of Waves and optics covers, how many questions the unit carries, and the order to read its three chapter notes in.2 min

Current electricity and magnetism

9 questions in the paper · 7 chapters · 7/7 with notes

9 Q

Unit overview

Current Electricity and Magnetism: Unit Map and Reading OrderWhat the Current electricity and magnetism unit covers, how many of the 50 Physics questions it carries, and the order to read its seven chapter notes in.2 min

4.1
Electrical quantities
Ohm's and Joule's laws · Resistance, emf, potential difference, energy and power
Electrical Quantities: Drift, Ohm, Resistivity and the Real CellDrift velocity and current, ohmic against non-ohmic conductors, resistivity and its temperature coefficient, Joule heating, emf against terminal pd, and the power and kilowatt-hour arithmetic behind every bulb question.

Electrostatics and capacitors

4 questions in the paper · 3 chapters · 3/3 with notes

4 Q

Unit overview

Electrostatics and Capacitors: Unit Map and Reading OrderWhat the Electrostatics and capacitors unit covers, how many of the 50 Physics questions it carries, and the order to read its three chapter notes in.2 min

5.1
Electric charge and electric field
Field due to point charges · Electrostatic induction · Coulomb's law and its applications
Electric Charge and Electric Field: Coulomb, Induction, Field LinesCharge quantisation and conservation, the field of a point charge and of a dipole, why a neutral scrap of paper jumps to a comb, and every Coulomb's law numerical the paper can set.

Modern physics

12 questions in the paper · 7 chapters · 7/7 with notes

12 Q

Unit overview

Modern Physics: Unit Map and Reading OrderWhat the Modern physics unit covers, how many of the 50 Physics questions it carries, and the order to read its seven chapter notes in.2 min

6.1
Nuclear physics
Nucleus: charge, size, mass and density · Mass defect, binding energy per nucleon and Einstein's mass–energy relation · Nuclear fusion and fission
Nuclear Physics: The Curve of Binding Energy and What It Pays ForNuclear size, mass and density from R = R₀A^⅓; mass defect and binding energy per nucleon; and one graph that explains why fusion below iron and fission above it both release energy.

Physics

Whole-subject revision

Physical quantities, vectors and scalars

Kinematics

Thermal energy, heat, temperature and thermometers

Electrical quantities

Electric charge and electric field

Nuclear physics

Dynamics

Rotational dynamics

Fluid statics and dynamics

Circular and periodic motion

Gravity

Elasticity

Thermal expansion

Quantity of heat

Ideal gas

First law of thermodynamics

Second law of thermodynamics

Wave motion

Stationary waves

Acoustic phenomena

Reflection, refraction and dispersion

Interference

Diffraction and polarisation

Electrical circuits

Thermoelectric effect

Alternating currents

Magnetic properties of materials

Magnetic field

Electromagnetic induction

Field strength, potential and potential energy

Capacitors

Electron

Photon and the photoelectric effect

Wave–particle duality and X-rays

Radioactivity

Solids and semiconductor devices

Particle physics and recent trends