VCE Physics Question Thread!

[Floatzel98]

Might be off topic but I'm kinda getting anxious for physics next year...I looked at VCAA 2014 a couple hours ago and literally couldn't do any of it even the motion and electronics section which made me scared lmao.

I think I'm putting too many expectations on myself already and expect myself to understand U3&4 exams with my U1&2 knowledge, sigh.

I wouldn't worry at all. You are definitely more prepared than I was. I doubt I even looked at a VCAA exam when I was doing 1/2. I had the exact same problem in specialist this year. At the start of the year when our teacher gave us past exam questions I didn't know how to do almost any of them. If it makes you feel better, I honestly didn't understand a lot of motion physics, conceptually and otherwise, until we did dynamics in spesh haha.

My best advice would be just forget about looking at exams, you aren't expected to know everything already. Contrary to that, maybe try to use it as motivation; keep learning. Make a checklist of things you didn't know from the 2014 exam and tick things off as you do learn them. Just some ideas, but in the end don't worry about it., you'll be fine

[dankfrank420]

I know the question your talking about. "Extension" refers to whatever the displacement of the end of the spring is after you've done something to it, like attaching a mass to it. If the spring was 0.4m long and you added a mass that made it's total length 1m, it's extension is 1-0.4 = 0.6m

Exactly, that's why I'm so confused.

The VCAA examiners report contradicts what you and I are agreeing on 

[Adequace]

I wouldn't worry at all. You are definitely more prepared than I was. I doubt I even looked at a VCAA exam when I was doing 1/2. I had the exact same problem in specialist this year. At the start of the year when our teacher gave us past exam questions I didn't know how to do almost any of them. If it makes you feel better, I honestly didn't understand a lot of motion physics, conceptually and otherwise, until we did dynamics in spesh haha.

My best advice would be just forget about looking at exams, you aren't expected to know everything already. Contrary to that, maybe try to use it as motivation; keep learning. Make a checklist of things you didn't know from the 2014 exam and tick things off as you do learn them. Just some ideas, but in the end don't worry about it., you'll be fine

Ah, thanks for the reassurance.

Good luck on the physics exam everyone.

[zsteve]

Hi,
Only thing I'm a bit worried about for the Physics exam are the spring questions that turned up in 2013 and 2014 - they were highly conceptual. Does anyone have ideas of how to prepare for those? (i.e. any questions in Checkpoints, etc) (Other than that, I'm bracing myself for Spesh and then Chem )

[odeaa]

Hi,
Only thing I'm a bit worried about for the Physics exam are the spring questions that turned up in 2013 and 2014 - they were highly conceptual. Does anyone have ideas of how to prepare for those? (i.e. any questions in Checkpoints, etc) (Other than that, I'm bracing myself for Spesh and then Chem )

Those spring questions will be the death of me man, praying that they give em a miss this year. It's just the wording that got me, made absolutely no sense considering it was a vcaa which are usually crystal clear

[zsteve]

Those spring questions will be the death of me man, praying that they give em a miss this year. It's just the wording that got me, made absolutely no sense considering it was a vcaa which are usually crystal clear

Well hopefully, since Tasmania Jones is nowhere to be seen
I mean, I coped with those questions, but I couldn't see the proof (2014) that maximal Ek occurred in the middle of the oscillation. It made logical/practical sense, but I wasn't satisfied until I had shown that it was so using a mathematical method. Not entirely sure how VCAA wanted it to be argued, although I suspect they just wanted people to go by 'instinct'

[dankfrank420]

Well hopefully, since Tasmania Jones is nowhere to be seen
I mean, I coped with those questions, but I couldn't see the proof (2014) that maximal Ek occurred in the middle of the oscillation. It made logical/practical sense, but I wasn't satisfied until I had shown that it was so using a mathematical method. Not entirely sure how VCAA wanted it to be argued, although I suspect they just wanted people to go by 'instinct'

The answer to this question confused the fuck outta me.

Did you manage to get it correct?

[dankfrank420]

Those spring questions will be the death of me man, praying that they give em a miss this year. It's just the wording that got me, made absolutely no sense considering it was a vcaa which are usually crystal clear

3 years in a row? I wouldn't think so.

[odeaa]

3 years in a row? I wouldn't think so.

That's what I'm hoping, although each year they've been poorly done. And 90% of physics is exact same as the preceding year ahaha it's not as though they're scared of repetition

[Orson]

I got 126/150 for VCAA 2013. How did you guys go? I've got VCAA 2014 to go...

[zsteve]

Will work rigorous mathematical proof and post here (hope so anyway) stay tuned

[zsteve]

Hi guys,
Attempted doing a general proof but messed that up twice (misconceptions abounded )
However, here's my working for the VCAA 2014 question again. It completely avoids the assumption that max speed occurs in middle of oscillation (and is thus the mathematically rigorous method of proof). The examiners' report simply stated that max speed = middle of oscillation. This is probably a handy fact to remember then But for those who are curious or don't like assumptions:

Spoiler

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2692D5EC8060E581!6587&authkey=!AHb8GmRybJWZUUo&ithint=file%2cpdf

Does use methods knowledge which is beyond the Physics SD, but who cares. My physics teacher said it was acceptable.

[odeaa]

Hi guys,
Attempted doing a general proof but messed that up twice (misconceptions abounded )
However, here's my working for the VCAA 2014 question again. It completely avoids the assumption that max speed occurs in middle of oscillation (and is thus the mathematically rigorous method of proof). The examiners' report simply stated that max speed = middle of oscillation. This is probably a handy fact to remember then But for those who are curious or don't like assumptions:

Spoiler

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2692D5EC8060E581!6587&authkey=!AHb8GmRybJWZUUo&ithint=file%2cpdf

Does use methods knowledge which is beyond the Physics SD, but who cares. My physics teacher said it was acceptable.

link doesnt seem to work for me, keen to see this

[Orson]

link doesnt seem to work for me, keen to see this

Can someone please explain why the 'wrong' way of doing VCAA 2013 Question 1 is wrong? itute did it that way, but VCAA said it was wrong.

Thanks so much everyone!

[odeaa]

Can someone please explain why the 'wrong' way of doing VCAA 2013 Question 1 is wrong? itute did it that way, but VCAA said it was wrong.

Thanks so much everyone!

Which part of the question? part a?