Physics 30 Diploma study plan

Map the Physics 30 course as a whole by listing every major unit and writing two or three sentences on how each connects to the others

Build a formula sheet from memory first, then correct it against your notes, grouping equations by unit and marking which variable each one solves for

Define momentum and impulse in your own words and derive the impulse-momentum relationship from Newton's second law without looking it up

Solve eight one-dimensional momentum problems, including at least two where you must decide whether momentum is conserved

Set up a fixed weekly study schedule with named time blocks and a running error log template

Classify every collision you encounter as elastic, inelastic, or explosive by testing kinetic energy and momentum conservation separately

Solve six two-dimensional collision problems by drawing vector diagrams and resolving momentum into perpendicular components

Explain the difference between an isolated system and a system with external net force using two original examples

Work through three problems involving a stationary target and one moving object, checking your answers for physical plausibility

Re-derive the conservation of momentum from the impulse-momentum theorem in writing

Describe the electric field around point charges and draw field lines for single and paired charges, including opposite and like charges

State Coulomb's law and solve eight problems that combine it with Newton's second law for a charged object in equilibrium

Distinguish electric potential energy from electric potential and compute each for simple configurations

Explain how electric potential difference relates to work done on a charge and apply it to a charged particle accelerated through a voltage

Connect the momentum work from weeks 1 and 2 to charged-particle problems by predicting the motion of a charge entering a field with initial velocity

State the right-hand rules for magnetic force on a moving charge and on a current-carrying wire, and apply them to ten orientation cases

Calculate the magnetic force on a charge moving at an angle to a field and identify when the force is zero

Derive the radius of a charged particle's circular path in a uniform magnetic field and solve four problems using it

Explain how a mass spectrometer separates ions by combining electric and magnetic fields

Combine momentum, circular motion, and magnetic force in at least two multi-step problems

Describe electromagnetic induction in your own words and state when a current is induced in a loop

Apply Lenz's law to eight scenarios, stating the direction of the induced current and the reasoning in one sentence each

Use the relationship between induced emf, number of turns, and rate of change of magnetic flux to solve six problems

Explain how a transformer changes voltage and current and solve four ideal-transformer problems

Relate induced emf to the magnetic force work from week 4 by tracing energy transfer in one worked example

Describe the photoelectric effect and explain which observations classical wave theory cannot account for

Use the photon energy relationship and the photoelectric equation to solve eight problems, including threshold frequency and stopping voltage

Interpret a graph of maximum kinetic energy against frequency and extract the work function and Planck's constant from its slope and intercept

Explain wave-particle duality and give one piece of evidence for each behaviour

Compute the de Broglie wavelength for electrons and macroscopic objects and compare the magnitudes

Describe the structure of the nucleus in terms of protons, neutrons, and the strong force, and explain why the strong force must be short-ranged

Write and balance nuclear decay equations for alpha, beta negative, beta positive, and gamma processes

Calculate mass defect and binding energy per nucleon for three nuclei and compare their stability

Explain fission and fusion in terms of binding energy per nucleon and identify which direction releases energy

Solve half-life problems, including ones that require finding elapsed time or an initial amount

Review your error log and re-solve every problem you previously got wrong without consulting the solution first

Complete two full-length timed practice sets under exam conditions and record your time per question

Rank the units by your practice accuracy and spend the remaining time on the two weakest

Summarise each unit on a single index card containing only the equations and decision rules you actually use

Write a short exam-day plan covering time allocation, which questions to attempt first, and how to check units and significant figures