A 2 Physics HELP !!! (TIPS, EXAM TYPICAL QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION)

[Anneihtseme]

Hi,
It's only a week left till the exam the Paper 4 one, I have gone through all the theories and understood the concepts ( about 80-90%) I also have learned definitions/formulas and am be able to do exercises in my text book.

But the problem is that I have been practicing some past papers ( about 7 papers from 2005 to 2010 both summer and winter) I found that the questions are just SO HARD. Yes, the content is the same, but the way to approach the question is just so SO DIFFERENT. It's like when I was doing the questions, I didn't think the right way, took time for me to think, then I didn't get the idea. After that I looked the mark scheme, then I was like 'aaaaaah, why am I didn't think that way, I should have thought some thing like this ' It means I understand the concepts but just different situations different approach, and I didn't get it right. Anyone are revising physics would probably have the same problems that I have.

I think I need to practice more exercises, the exercises that similar to the exam's one, not in the text book with simple situation, easy set up, easy approach ( by putting the formula in then you solved the question)

Do you guys know any websites that have exercises so that I can practice ? Because I think past papers aren't enough for me, everytime I do a past paper, I learn new things that outside of the text book (the way to solve that questions). I'm afraid when the real exam comes, I have to learn new things again ( everybody knows it's too late)

any tips ? Any suggestions? Notes?
I'd like to discuss about the A2 Physics here if you guys want ^^

 

[Mustehssun Iqbal]

Hi,
It's only a week left till the exam the Paper 4 one, I have gone through all the theories and understood the concepts ( about 80-90%) I also have learned definitions/formulas and am be able to do exercises in my text book.

But the problem is that I have been practicing some past papers ( about 7 papers from 2005 to 2010 both summer and winter) I found that the questions are just SO HARD. Yes, the content is the same, but the way to approach the question is just so SO DIFFERENT. It's like when I was doing the questions, I didn't think the right way, took time for me to think, then I didn't get the idea. After that I looked the mark scheme, then I was like 'aaaaaah, why am I didn't think that way, I should have thought some thing like this ' It means I understand the concepts but just different situations different approach, and I didn't get it right. Anyone are revising physics would probably have the same problems that I have.

I think I need to practice more exercises, the exercises that similar to the exam's one, not in the text book with simple situation, easy set up, easy approach ( by putting the formula in then you solved the question)

Do you guys know any websites that have exercises so that I can practice ? Because I think past papers aren't enough for me, everytime I do a past paper, I learn new things that outside of the text book (the way to solve that questions). I'm afraid when the real exam comes, I have to learn new things again ( everybody knows it's too late)

any tips ? Any suggestions? Notes?
I'd like to discuss about the A2 Physics hear if you guys want ^^

Which book are you using for Physics?? I used to experience the same things too. Don't get into loads of tension about it.
Do you know what doing past papers are for?? recall: practice! It isn't an exercise book, providing you with practice of concepts only, but it gives you practice as to how approach the questions, that come in CIE! And also read the examiner reports, if possible, they give you an idea as to how the examiners expect you to think during an examination. If you're having trouble in simple calculations, that's kind of trouble. Then you should revise from the book, especially the calculations part- or else it can be careless mistakes that can improve over-time.
And the most efficient way of learning physics has been, from what I know, questions make up in your mind, go find their answers- by either researching in the book or asking someone .
Clearing your doubts, one at a time improves a lot .
Write down your doubts on a piece of paper, and make a checklist of them so you don't miss any. Then get their answers. And don' t worry if the list is too big. Mine is more than a page, and it got almost more than half solved in one day

 

[Anneihtseme]

Hi thanks for your advices, my book is called Cambridge International As and A level Physics Course book by David Sang, Graham Jones,etc. The book's contents follow the syllabus very well but there s not many exercises that is near the typical exam questions, most of the exercises in the book are basic whereas questions in the exam are much more complicated. That's why I need more exercises that are similar to exam questions to practice.
By the way, where can i read examiner reports???? I think that would be very helpful.

 

[Mustehssun Iqbal]

Hi thanks for your advices, my book is called Cambridge International As and A level Physics Course book by David Sang, Graham Jones,etc. The book's contents follow the syllabus very well but there s not many exercises that is near the typical exam questions, most of the exercises in the book are basic whereas questions in the exam are much more complicated. That's why I need more exercises that are similar to exam questions to practice.
By the way, where can i read examiner reports???? I think that would be very helpful.

Well, that's a really good book, maybe the best out there about Physics!
Book suggestions, I studied from Chris Mee and there're exam style questions in it. But the ultimate book for mastering in Physics calculations, from what I know is Pacific volume 1 and 2. Lots of people run away from it because it looks complicated in it , but the questions are challenging but are worthwhile too. It's known especially for the examples given in it, and is quite an old book with lots of things extra from the syllabus. You got to know what things to skip in it. Same goes for Roger Muncaster. Pacific volume 1 and 2, and Roger Muncaster cover almost the same content, and there're very good questions and explanations too.
But I'm not sure if this is the right time to purchase a new book, but that also depends on your ability. These books are quite big.
Tomorrow's my Chemistry paper, please remember me in your prayers. After the practical, that is , on Thursday, I might post a lot of worksheets and examples on Xtremepaperforums inshallah.

You can read the examiner reports here: http://www.xtremepapers.com/papers/CIE/Cambridge International A and AS Level/Physics (9702)/
Click the links that shows er...

 

[hassam]

For accurate readings, thermometer must be much smaller than the system, so that the energy the thermometer gains or loses doesn’t significantly alter the energy content of the system.

 

[avelina]

do anyone know any tips for paper 34 chemistry and physics may/jun 2012 ???? please help me ....

 

[smartangel]

Hi thanks for your advices, my book is called Cambridge International As and A level Physics Course book by David Sang, Graham Jones,etc. The book's contents follow the syllabus very well but there s not many exercises that is near the typical exam questions, most of the exercises in the book are basic whereas questions in the exam are much more complicated. That's why I need more exercises that are similar to exam questions to practice.
By the way, where can i read examiner reports???? I think that would be very helpful.

i have the book too. but you know at the end of each chapter there are exam style questions and end of chap questions? where do we get answers for them? do u have them?

 

[hassam]

INTERNAL ENERGY:It is the sum of a random distribution [1] of kinetic and potential energies [1]
associated with the molecules of a system.
Why is the specific latent heat of fusion of any substance always less than its specific latent heat of vaporization?
As a solid melts into a liquid, its volume does not increase substantially and very little energy is required to do work against the atmospher as a result of this small volume increase. As a liquid vaporises into a gas, the increase in volume is very much larger and a lot more energy is required to do work against the atmosphere due to the large expansion. Hence a greater amount of energy is required for vaporisation compared to fusion.

 

[Anneihtseme]

i have the book too. but you know at the end of each chapter there are exam style questions and end of chap questions? where do we get answers for them? do u have them?

Yeah I know, but it's still not enough for the exam I think :| those questions aren't as complicated as the exam ones.

Like questions about Gravitaional Force/field and Coulomb's law/Electric field/Potential, in the text book, questions are simple but in the exam (past papers) They normally ask for Energy like potential/initial kinetic. prove why the Net work done is 0 from this point to the other point. (Q4 M/J10 p43)

The questions like putting an ice cube of -15 degree 16g into a container of water with mass 450g 34 degree (Q3b M/J10 p43). what's the final temperature? those kinds of questions are nowhere near the text book that I'm using the skills that needed is so SO DIFFERENT.

I'm just so afraid...
luckily the scale is kind of high. ~55% for an A But I'm still afraid that I'd be screwed somehow I want to be secure/certain

 

[smartangel]

Yeah I know, but it's still not enough for the exam I think :| those questions aren't as complicated as the exam ones.
I'm just so afraid...
luckily the scale is kind of high. ~55% for an A

do you have the answers to end of chapter questions and exam style questions?

 

[Anneihtseme]

yeah, I have a CD that have answers for that section. but no explain i think .