MATSEC AM Physics study plan
MATSEC AM Physics · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Mechanics and Materials
Derive and apply the SUVAT equations to projectile and free-fall problems without referring to notes
Construct free-body diagrams for systems involving friction, tension, and inclined planes, then solve for unknown forces using Newton's second law
Resolve forces and motion into perpendicular components and verify answers by an independent energy method
Solve at least 15 mechanics problems under timed conditions, logging every error by cause (sign, unit, concept)
Your checkpoint
A worked-solutions booklet of 15 timed mechanics problems with an error-cause log summarising the top three recurring mistakes
Mechanics and Materials
Apply conservation of momentum and energy to collisions and explosions, distinguishing elastic from inelastic cases
Derive and use the equations for uniformly accelerated circular motion, including centripetal force and angular velocity
Define and calculate stress, strain, Young's modulus, and elastic potential energy for wires and springs
Interpret and sketch force-extension graphs, identifying the limit of proportionality, elastic limit, and yield point
Your checkpoint
One-page formula sheet for momentum, circular motion, and materials, each formula annotated with its conditions of validity
Electricity and Electromagnetism
Apply Coulomb's law and electric field definitions to point-charge and parallel-plate configurations
Derive and use expressions for capacitance, energy stored, and the behaviour of capacitors in series and parallel
State and apply Kirchhoff's laws to multi-loop circuits, solving simultaneous equations for branch currents
Calculate the internal resistance and terminal potential difference of a real cell from given data
Your checkpoint
A set of 10 solved circuit problems, each with a labelled circuit description, the equations used, and a numerical check of power balance
Electricity and Electromagnetism
Apply F = BIL and F = BQv to determine the magnitude and direction of magnetic forces on conductors and moving charges
Use Faraday's and Lenz's laws to calculate induced emf and identify the direction of induced current
Explain the operation of a transformer and calculate turns ratio, voltage, and current relationships
Distinguish the behaviour of a capacitor and an inductor in d.c. and a.c. circuits qualitatively
Your checkpoint
A self-marked mini-paper of 12 electricity and magnetism questions completed in 90 minutes, with a written reflection on any topic scoring below 60%
Waves, Optics and Thermal Physics
Apply the wave equation, superposition, and path-difference conditions to two-source interference problems
Derive and use the double-slit and diffraction-grating equations, including the effect of wavelength and slit spacing
Describe and calculate the behaviour of light through thin lenses using the lens equation and magnification
Explain total internal reflection and calculate the critical angle for given media
Your checkpoint
A summary table of wave and optics formulae with a worked example and one common pitfall noted for each
Waves, Optics and Thermal Physics
Define and apply the first law of thermodynamics to isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, and isochoric processes
Use the ideal gas equation and kinetic theory relationships to calculate pressure, temperature, and molecular speeds
Calculate heat transfer by conduction and specific or latent heat in change-of-state problems
Sketch and interpret p-V diagrams, identifying work done as the area under the curve
Your checkpoint
A solved problem set of 8 thermal physics questions including at least two full p-V diagram analyses with shaded work areas
Modern Physics and Practical/Experimental Skills
Apply the photoelectric equation to calculate threshold frequency, work function, and stopping potential
Use Einstein's mass-energy relation and binding-energy data to analyse nuclear decay and fission or fusion energy release
Describe the Bohr model and calculate energy-level transitions and emitted photon wavelengths
Explain the significance of the Michelson-Morley experiment and state the postulates of special relativity
Your checkpoint
A concept map linking photons, energy levels, nuclear binding energy, and relativity, with a short written justification for each arrow
Modern Physics and Practical/Experimental Skills & Mechanics and Materials & Electricity and Electromagnetism & Waves, Optics and Thermal Physics
Design and describe a controlled experiment for a given hypothesis, specifying independent, dependent, and controlled variables and a suitable measurement technique
Evaluate given experimental data by calculating uncertainties, identifying systematic and random errors, and commenting on precision and accuracy
Complete two full timed mock papers under exam conditions and mark them against a mark scheme
Consolidate weak areas flagged across weeks 1 to 7 into a prioritised revision list
Your checkpoint
Two completed timed mock papers with self-marked scores and a one-page final revision checklist ranked by weakness
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 70% on an unseen 10-question mechanics and materials test, with no more than one error attributable to a conceptual misunderstanding
Week 4: Score at least 65% on the self-marked electricity and magnetism mini-paper and correctly solve at least one multi-loop Kirchhoff problem unaided
Week 6: Correctly answer, from memory, every formula on the wave, optics, and thermal summary table and apply each to one worked example
Week 8: Achieve at least 70% on both timed mock papers and demonstrate full marks on the experimental-design and uncertainty-evaluation questions