MATSEC IM Physics study plan
MATSEC IM Physics · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Mechanics and Properties of Matter
Derive and apply the equations of uniformly accelerated motion to solve multi-stage kinematics problems without looking at notes
Draw complete free-body diagrams for systems involving friction, inclines, pulleys and connected masses, then write the Newton's second law equations for each body
Resolve forces and velocities into perpendicular components and reconstruct resultants using trigonometry
State and apply the conditions for equilibrium of a rigid body, including moments about an arbitrary point
Your checkpoint
A handwritten solutions booklet of 20 kinematics and dynamics problems, each with a labelled free-body diagram, the governing equations written before substitution, and a checked final answer with units
Mechanics and Properties of Matter
Apply conservation of linear momentum and Newton's law of restitution to one- and two-dimensional collision problems
Calculate work done by constant and variable forces and convert between work, kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy
Compute moments of inertia for standard bodies and apply the parallel-axis theorem to rotational problems
Use the principle of moments and centre-of-gravity reasoning to analyse toppling and stability of extended objects
Solve fluid problems using density, pressure in a liquid column, Pascal's principle, Archimedes' principle and the continuity equation
Your checkpoint
A one-page formula-and-conditions sheet for mechanics, plus 15 solved problems (5 collisions, 5 rotational dynamics, 5 fluids) with a short note on which conservation law justified each step
Waves, Oscillations and Optics
Describe and sketch the graphs of displacement, velocity and acceleration for simple harmonic motion, and derive the relations between them
Apply the SHM equations for period of a mass-spring system and a simple pendulum to numerical problems
Explain resonance, damping and forced oscillation in terms of amplitude-frequency behaviour and give one physical example of each
Distinguish transverse from longitudinal waves and apply the wave equation to determine speed, frequency and wavelength
Your checkpoint
A set of three hand-drawn SHM graphs (x, v and a against time on the same axes) with the phase relationships annotated, plus 12 solved oscillation and wave problems
Waves, Oscillations and Optics
Apply the laws of reflection and refraction, including Snell's law, refractive index and total internal reflection, to ray diagrams
Construct accurate ray diagrams for converging and diverging lenses and locate images using the thin-lens equation
Explain two-source interference and diffraction qualitatively using path difference and coherence
Use the diffraction-grating equation to calculate wavelength or order, and describe how a double-slit pattern differs from a grating pattern
Describe the electromagnetic spectrum in order of wavelength and state one use and one hazard for each region
Your checkpoint
A 10-question self-test on optics and waves, completed closed-book, with every wrong answer corrected in writing and the underlying misconception named
Electricity, Magnetism and Electronics
Apply Ohm's law, resistivity and the series and parallel resistor rules to combined circuits
Calculate the electromotive force and internal resistance of a cell from a terminal-potential versus current graph
Apply Kirchhoff's laws to two-loop circuits and solve the resulting simultaneous equations
Compute energy and power dissipated in circuit elements and explain the heating effect of current
Your checkpoint
A fully solved two-loop circuit problem showing the chosen current directions, both Kirchhoff equations, the simultaneous solution and a power balance check, plus a summary table of circuit formulas
Electricity, Magnetism and Electronics
Describe the magnetic flux density around a straight wire and a solenoid, and apply the force-on-a-current-carrying-conductor equation
Explain electromagnetic induction using Faraday's and Lenz's laws, and determine the direction of an induced current
State the properties of the p-n junction diode and use a diode in a half-wave rectification circuit
Explain the action of an operational amplifier as a comparator and as an inverting amplifier, and calculate gain from resistor values
Draw and interpret truth tables for NOT, AND, OR, NAND and NOR gates and combine them into simple logic circuits
Your checkpoint
A hand-drawn diagram set covering one rectifier circuit, one op-amp amplifier circuit and one three-gate logic circuit, each with a written explanation of how it works and the expected output for a stated input
Thermal Physics, Modern Physics and Fields
Apply the ideal gas equation and the gas laws to problems involving changes of state of a fixed mass of gas
Distinguish specific heat capacity from specific latent heat and solve calorimetry problems including mixtures and phase change
State the first law of thermodynamics and apply it to isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric and isochoric processes
Describe the photoelectric effect and use the photoelectric equation to find threshold frequency, work function or stopping potential
Explain radioactive decay in terms of half-life and solve decay problems using the exponential relation
Your checkpoint
A single A4 revision sheet of thermal and modern physics formulas with the meaning and SI unit of every symbol, plus 12 solved problems split evenly between thermal and modern physics
Thermal Physics, Modern Physics and Fields & Mechanics and Properties of Matter
Describe gravitational and electric fields in terms of field strength, potential and potential gradient, and draw comparable field-line diagrams for each
Apply Coulomb's law and the electric field equations for point charges and uniform fields between parallel plates
Relate gravitational and electric field concepts explicitly, noting the analogous and differing quantities
Complete two full timed mock papers under exam conditions and mark them against the mark scheme
Re-derive the five formulas you most often get wrong, based on your mock-paper error log
Your checkpoint
Two completed timed mock papers with a written error log listing each lost mark, the cause (knowledge gap, misread question, algebra slip or unit error) and the specific corrective action taken
Milestones
Week 2: Without notes, solve one collision problem, one rotational problem and one fluid-pressure problem in under 25 minutes total, and score at least 80% on the Week 2 formula sheet self-quiz
Week 4: Score at least 70% on the closed-book optics and waves self-test, and correctly draw the image position for a converging lens in all three object-distance cases (beyond 2f, between f and 2f, inside f)
Week 6: Solve a two-loop Kirchhoff circuit and an inverting amplifier gain calculation correctly in one sitting, and produce a valid truth table for a three-gate combination without reference material
Week 8: Average at least 65% across the two timed mock papers, with no domain scoring below 50% and a completed error log showing a named corrective action for every lost mark