Physics 3 &4

[Bozo]

For all those that completed physics this year. In your honest opinion, how hard is it and how much study time etc would have to be put in to get a good score. Is it drastically different from year 11 physics?

[MBBS]

Where do you live?

Do you need a tutor?

[ilovecake]

If you're good at understanding concepts then there is nothing to it. As for the time spent on it I did very little, I wouldn't do any work (just pay attention to whats being said in class) then when it comes time for the SAC's just spend a night or two going over question on the topic. I got an A+ average SAC mark doing it this way but I find I can pick up concepts very easily. As for year 11 physics, Unit 3 in year 12 is pretty much just the stuff you learnt in year 11 and Unit 4 is even easier then that.

[Bozo]

So just basically keep up to date and your set.!

[m@tty]

Honestly, I did very very little in terms of study for Physics. Read the text a few times, read some other notes, read some internet stuff etc. When it was nearing exam time, just do some practice exams. The concepts are not very difficult to grasp in unit 3, the calculations can be a little tough though. It's the opposite in unit 4; the concepts are bizarre but their application simple and repetitive. Although there can still be some hard questions, obviously.

The detailed studies are quite straightforward also, made particularly easy in the exam by the multiple choice format.

Ah..

Oh, and if you weren't aware you can bring a two sided A4 cheat sheet into each exam. This can be very useful, if you work it to your advantage. It can serve as a reminder of the key concepts, a database of weird facts relevant to the exam taht could be of use. You can put whatever you want onto it.

Personally I'd say it is quite a straightforward subject which can be very interesting. I didn't put too much effort in and  still had the necessary understanding for the exams. I just make careless errors all the time. You need to watch out for these; they are the downfall of many students.

Other than that, Physics is awesome. Do it.

And no, 3+4 is a direct follow on from unit 1+2 apart from a few new areas which crop up in year 12, and also a few branches are left behind, such as radioactivity. However the basics are still covered quickly in 3+4 so you don't have to have done 1+2.

[AnotherChance]

Well, I really didn't do much work during unit 1+2, hence the bad score of 66% and 72 on the unit 1 and 2 exam... But I put a lot of effort into it this year especially unit 3, Like Ilovecake said, as long as you understand all the theory and concepts, And do a few chapter reviews before the SACs to maximize your sac score. I've got an A+ average as well but the thing is the exams still matter more..

Key thing: If you don't understand one concept make sure you ask the teacher a lot of questions until you understand..

[Killerkob]

Understanding Concepts - 1/2 the work
Applying equations - 1/4 of the work
Efficiently answering questions in a short amount of time - 1/4 of the work

I think alot of people don't practice their time skills. You need the knowledge ingrained to be able to quickly retrieve it, imo.
Oh and I attached ALL my VCE Physics cheat sheets. There'll be plenty of motion within those, but it's up to you to find it. I made my digitally in Word too, so they'll be easy to edit.

[kyzoo]

exams are easy-ish, concepts are hard to grasp at first.

[Blakhitman]

Do it.

It's like the further of science, but it's fun to do too.

[schnappy]

For all those that completed physics this year. In your honest opinion, how hard is it and how much study time etc would have to be put in to get a good score. Is it drastically different from year 11 physics?

I think it's drastically different to 1/2.

I probably put in about 10 hours of effort out of school and found it quite easy.

There are about 3 concepts I can think off the top of my head I found hard to get, but once you get them the entire course is quite easy.

My SAC marks were all above 90% throughout the year, I had problems in Light&Matter though. I just couldn't be bothered going over everything so I figured I should still go ok in the SAC though. It bought my SAC score down from about 95 to 88... tsk tsk. UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS at the cost of your vanity (Ask ask ask).

Unit3 is largely calculations, very little conceptual work. Unit 4 I found harder until exam time. Come exam time I had a whole semester to contemplate on the ideas presented, and it was very easy. To answer questions.

[appianway]

You don't need to do too much work if you understand the concepts. Try and do some more challenging questions to cement the ideas - I sort of ditched the VCE textbook and did motion questions from my dad's old uni books. I found that more enjoyable and I had a good understanding of motion after that.

[thushan]

Says she who is purely awesome at physics
But yeah, I reckon appianway is right

[Bozo]

Has anybody got a cheat sheet or summary of Units 1+2 lights,mirrors,lenses and motion.

Thanks in advance!

[schnappy]

Has anybody got a cheat sheet or summary of Units 1+2 lights,mirrors,lenses and motion.

Thanks in advance!

Meh, that's the most boring physics you'll ever find. I failed it, it's not in 3/4, just wing it and learn the awesome part of light in 3/4

[pi]

Has anybody got a cheat sheet or summary of Units 1+2 lights,mirrors,lenses and motion.

Thanks in advance!

Here Bozo (attached), my detailed was flight and the left-over room is for your own extra notes/practice qs.

This is the one I took into the Unit 2 exam, we were only allowed one A4 page (double sided), so this is that one.