ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Physics => Topic started by: Comma on November 28, 2010, 10:08:52 am

Title: Where to Start?
Post by: Comma on November 28, 2010, 10:08:52 am
I'm planning on learning the unit 3 physics course over the summer holidays, however, I seem to be a bit lost...  ::)

I'm not quite sure where to start or how to go about doing this. Should I just go through the text book and then do questions from there or...? Help?
And because I've learned all the theory, should I just leave it there and follow my teacher's timeline, or should I then revise constantly through the semester?

Any help would be much appreciated  :D
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: xZero on November 28, 2010, 01:15:31 pm
Read through the text book and do all the exercises so during the semister u can start doing checkpoints and practice exams
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: dptjandra on November 28, 2010, 02:21:01 pm
I didn't do that with physics, but I did a similar thing with methods.

I just went though the book bit by bit and did all relevant questions in the book which I could be bothered doing.

Then I followed my teacher's timeline entirely during the semester.
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: Comma on November 29, 2010, 10:04:06 am
Yeah, that's kind of what I'm wondering.

Is it more beneficial to go over the course once and do a heap of practice exams or is it better to go over it twice (once over the holidays and then again in class) and have the concepts really cemented in my head?
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: onur369 on November 29, 2010, 10:23:08 am
If I were you, Id start to study by re-doing all of the Motion questions from your Unit 1&2 textbook. If not just go over the chapter review questions from the book. Or just try and do some trial exams which have some motion involved.
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: dptjandra on November 29, 2010, 01:39:58 pm
I would save practise exams until the end.  It is actually good to still have a few gaps in your knowledge by the beginning of the year, but a firm foundation.  It forces you to actually listen in class instead of wasting time.
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: pi on November 29, 2010, 01:43:27 pm
I would save practise exams until the end.  It is actually good to still have a few gaps in your knowledge by the beginning of the year, but a firm foundation.  It forces you to actually listen in class instead of wasting time.

+1
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: onur369 on November 29, 2010, 03:53:26 pm
Im finishing Unit 3 on the holidays so Ive got heaps of time to go over again at school and do trials for mid year.
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: bblovee on December 19, 2010, 06:28:10 pm
don't give yourself too much of a workload
start by reading your textbook and just familiarising yourself with the concept and maths aspect of the course
theres no hurry to cram an entire unit during the holidays
relax and enjoy it while you can!
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: golden on December 21, 2010, 03:16:56 pm
I didn't do Unit 1 or 2 Physics, so I haven't at all done Physics (besides year 10 which was one term where we learnt material quite different from Unit 3 and 4).

Sometimes when I see a Physics motion question, i'm not sure whether if I should use what rule, especially if the question doesn't use the particular word. Eg. momentum, KE, PE etc. What should I do to overcome this?

If I had done Physics Unit 1 and 2, i'm quite sure this might come more quickly, but as I have not done it, does anyone have any tips to quickly develop the skills?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: Bozo on December 21, 2010, 06:34:10 pm
Simply read the theory and familiarise yourself with the required formulas and units, as an example KE meaning Kinetic energy has the formula 1/2mv^2 and you automatically know that because its ENERGY, the final answer will be in Joules. So its all about linking what its asking you with what you need.

Title: Re: Where to Start?
Post by: taiga on December 24, 2010, 02:36:50 am
I recommend getting "A+ notes" rewriting everything there in your own words, then do the questions. Eaach question you get wrong, note it down, and if it is a recurring problem, put it on a preliminary cheat sheet :)