Leaving Cert Physics - NOTES

.-=MR. JOE=-. · 19-05-2004 3:27pm #1

Hey guys,

I typed up a few notes while studying physics today. You guys may find them usefull. It's basically all the laws and rules we need to know. I've included page references for the "Real World Physics" book. Let me know what ye think!

Physics Laws (word document)

Joe

EDIT

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

JUST A NOTE TO SAY THE JOULE'S LAW BIT IN MY NOTES IS A BIT MIXED UP, SORRY.

DON'T HOLD ME RESPONISIBLE IF THERE'S SOMETHIN ELSE WRONG WITH THEM AND YOU FAIL YOUR PHYSICS.

Thanks

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

seamus · 19-05-2004 3:42pm

Link disnae work.
Damn Geocities

Attach them to teh post, or better still, upload them to my site (see Profile) </blatantplug>

subway_ie · 19-05-2004 5:42pm

Nice notes, I've started doing the same thing with my english notes recently - it seems to be a good way to revise them. If you're handy with LaTex, you might try doing one with all the equations/formulae you need, and an explanation of when you use them?

AndrewWK · 19-05-2004 8:48pm

Did they work for you? Still down for me.

subway_ie · 19-05-2004 8:54pm

Yeah, it worked for me. Quite a big download for a three page document though (1.1MB). A little off topic - but what option are you doing? Applied Electricity or Atomic?

Seifer · 19-05-2004 9:40pm

We're doing the particle physics. Its way easier than the applied electricity (from what I've seen of it anyway) and there's not much they can really ask on it that will catch you out ie. there aren't many ways to vary the questions.

.-=MR. JOE=-. · 19-05-2004 9:49pm

particle physics too!

Dman_15 · 19-05-2004 11:19pm

add a ? after the address. the link will work then

AndrewWK · 19-05-2004 11:21pm

Thanks Dman, downloading them now.

Particle Physics here too \o/

Edit: Nice notes btw

senordingdong · 19-05-2004 11:51pm

No i still can get it to work. But before i go to the trouble of this big download, are they worth it?

subway_ie · 20-05-2004 4:09pm

Originally posted by senordingdong
No i still can get it to work. But before i go to the trouble of this big download, are they worth it?

It's basically just the "Real World Physics" book laws all together on one sheet. TBH, you're better off writing them out yourself rather than just printing them out, it'll be easier to learn.

Has anybody not revised any section of the course they're definetly not going to do in the exam? Loads of people in my class have abandoned electricity - seems a bit stupid to me?

AndrewWK · 20-05-2004 5:31pm

I'm not doing electricity either. I hate it, never really clicked with me.

subway_ie · 20-05-2004 5:58pm

Originally posted by AndrewWK
I'm not doing electricity either. I hate it, never really clicked with me.

Do you not think it's a little early to be ruling stuff out - I mean, what if it comes up in Section A - then you're forced to do the other 3, no matter how hard they are - or if there are 3 electricity questions on Q5 and there's usually a fairly easy electricity question in Q.12....

AndrewWK · 20-05-2004 6:36pm

I don't think it's too early really. I've been studying things like mechanics, particle physics, light, heat etc. like mad so unless something terrible comes up I think I should be okay.

.-=MR. JOE=-. · 20-05-2004 8:22pm

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

JUST A NOTE TO SAY THE JOULE'S LAW BIT IN MY NOTES IS A BIT MIXED UP, SORRY.

DON'T HOLD ME RESPONISIBLE IF THERE'S SOMETHIN ELSE WRONG WITH THEM AND YOU FAIL YOUR PHYSICS.

Thanks

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

subway_ie · 20-05-2004 9:11pm

Originally posted by .-=MR. JOE=-.
WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

JUST A NOTE TO SAY THE JOULE'S LAW BIT IN MY NOTES IS A BIT MIXED UP, SORRY.

DON'T HOLD ME RESPONISIBLE IF THERE'S SOMETHIN ELSE WRONG WITH THEM AND YOU FAIL YOUR PHYSICS.

Thanks

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

Crap. Now who can I use as my scapegoat??? Blaming the teacher is just *so* blasé.

Seifer · 20-05-2004 10:58pm

Leaving out electricity is stupid. You're severly limiting your options and even then you might not be able to completely avoid it. There's still time to read over those chapters and you should.

subway_ie · 21-05-2004 7:06am

Originally posted by Seifer
Leaving out electricity is stupid. You're severly limiting your options and even then you might not be able to completely avoid it. There's still time to read over those chapters and you should.

Even if you're just to learn off the definitions/laws and the forumlae, take a quick look over the experiments. It could come in *very* handy in Q5 or Q12

Q_Elexra · 21-05-2004 9:36am

Can anyone give any advice on Physics revision books? I used LSMS last year and failed:mad: . Failing Physics is the only reason I am repeating would have driven me nuts for the rest of my life.

subway_ie · 21-05-2004 4:05pm

Originally posted by Q_Elexra
Can anyone give any advice on Physics revision books? I used LSMS last year and failed:mad: . Failing Physics is the only reason I am repeating would have driven me nuts for the rest of my life.

I've got a great one: "Physics", by Dan O'Regan - it's geared towards the old course, but it's very thorough and goes through everything you're going to need. I hear that there's another one (it's black... that's about all I know about it, don't have a name for it) that's supposed to be much better for the practicals. But, don't you think It's a bit late to be investing in a revision book at this time of year?

dudara · 22-05-2004 4:59pm

I was giving a grind recently on electricity and I can't believe how much of the stuff that they've cut out of the course.

NeoSlicerZ · 22-05-2004 5:10pm

Definitions there will only give you half marks, put down 3 points to be safe.. Definition; unit and/or formula.

subway_ie · 22-05-2004 5:29pm

Originally posted by NeoSlicerZ
Definitions there will only give you half marks, put down 3 points to be safe.. Definition; unit and/or formula.

If you check the marking schemes, you don't actuall need all of that - maybe only if you mess up on the actual definition. If they want a unit/formula, they'll ask for it - but obviously it's no harm in putting it in if you know it. My teacher is constantly going on about expanding on answers, experiements, forumale, etc, but if you check the schemes, it's not required. Just a waste of valuable time really.

Whywontitwrok · 24-05-2004 6:14pm

For the last month or so I have been convering the course on my own. I now have the whole course covered and feel MUCH better about it (my teacher is such an idiot!)

What I would like to know is what are the sections that come up for each question? We were never told this (unlike in chemistry (thats right physics and chemistry!))

for example is Q1 a test on heat of vaporisation/melting 100% of the time

or is say Q8 A question on light all the time

I need to pass physics really to get my points, Need 300 and got 350 in my mocks (computer applications) I passes in my mocks but got 40%

:D

thanks for the help

subway_ie · 24-05-2004 8:19pm

There's no set structure whatsoever (except that Question 1-4 will be based on practicals). Question 5 is *usually* short questions, but is liable to change. Question 10 has been divided up into two parts, the applied electricity and particle physics option - this question is the only one thats guaranteed to be coming up for the first 3 years of the exam, after that, it's liable to change. This is only the 3rd time its being examined, so we should be ok. Since there are only 2 papers, and one (decent) sample paper, you can't find any patters. Don't even bother trying, just keep revising.

Whywontitwrok · 24-05-2004 9:31pm

WHAT! our physcics teacher said that the option (either of them) has yet to come up!
but that we may aswel do them just incase! what a b4st4rd!

K revision here I come

senordingdong · 24-05-2004 9:34pm

I heard from an apparently reliable source that we should disregard the questions from the last two years because the new course isnt old enough for them to start doubling over the questions.
This doesnt make the course any easier but it does cut out a decent amount of stuff.

Anybody else hear about this or have any clarification/arguement on the matter?

.-=MR. JOE=-. · 24-05-2004 9:52pm

the new course isnt old enough for them to start doubling over the questions.

I guess that sounds logical enough. Don't think I'll risk it though.

Seifer · 24-05-2004 11:21pm

Like joe said its logical but I won't be doing it.
The reason: for example, you don't revise any of the experiments that have come up and they repeat one; your choice is gone.
Not worth the risk in my opinion.

subway_ie · 25-05-2004 7:22am

Originally posted by Whywontitwrok
WHAT! our physcics teacher said that the option (either of them) has yet to come up!
but that we may aswel do them just incase! what a b4st4rd!

K revision here I come

Both options have come up every year under question 10 a and b.... if your teacher didn't know that, then if I were you, I'd be very concerned...

Whywontitwrok · 25-05-2004 7:14pm

Oh I am!!

He said they hadnt come up yet but they have the option to put them in so we better fo them :S

I have had to go through the whole course myself since easter. I got 40% in my mocks and as long I can keep that mark I *should* be OK.

Just gotta knuckle down!

subway_ie · 25-05-2004 7:17pm

Originally posted by Whywontitwrok
I have had to go through the whole course myself since easter. I got 40% in my mocks and as long I can keep that mark I *should* be OK.

Just gotta knuckle down!

Be VERY, VERY careful. If you think you might be close to failing (40% is a bit dodgy...), then you're better off doing ordinary level. A D3 in honours is worth alot less then an A2 in ordinary level. If I were you, I'd only stick with higher if you need it for matriculation. Otherwise, I'd drop down and take the points, unless you're prepared to "knuckle down" *seriously* hard to get up past the C2 mark. Anyway, do whatever you feel is right, just beware of failing higher level.

A good tip: If youg know anybody who's doing exam supervision for the LC, the day (or sometime around that time) they start, they'll be given a booklet of corrections for exam papers - usually there's one or two for physics, maths and applied - sometimes they can give away questions (not the exact question, but you get an idea of what's being asked from the context of the correction), it's handy if you can get the info. I know of two people who predicted exactly the hydrostatics question on the applied paper about 3 years ago by this method.

senordingdong · 25-05-2004 10:04pm

Originally posted by Seifer

you don't revise any of the experiments that have come up and they repeat one; your choice is gone.

That was the point of the tip, we were told not to expect anything that has already been asked.

Whywontitwrok · 26-05-2004 12:14am

Well I believe I can pass physics, I dont just want to cope out and drop down and take the "easy" route. I want to do it cause I know I can crap teacher or not. I have learned A LOT more than I knew at my mocks and I know I can do it.

Its more for me that im doing higher level.

Maths Teacher · 26-05-2004 2:48pm

There seems to be a lot of confusion out there on the new Physics paper. You can download files free from the Notice Board of a website set up by teachers to help students: Physics Help.

We outline all the questions on the paper telling you how to approach them and we give you summaries of all the experiments.
Good luck with your studies.

subway_ie · 26-05-2004 6:16pm

That Physics Help website isn't very good... the general physics course summary is ok, but the practical PDFs are terrible, maybe for (very) lastminute revision (ie, looking at the pictures before you go into the exam, reading the precautions) but I don't think it would be very beneficial in revision where you actually need to go into large amoutns of detail on pracitcals, definitions, etc.

subway_ie · 26-05-2004 6:31pm

Physics Website

The mechanics question is Question 6 on the paper. I advice students not to attempt this question unless they do Applied Maths or are very good at Maths.

Total crap – I’ve never seen any question in which you need to have done applied maths. If you made any attempt whatsoever at the mechanics, question 6 should be simple. Newtons laws and equations are covered by the applied maths course, but also on the physics course. You even have to derive them for the physics course for feck sake.

I realise that some people may absolutely despise mechanics (which is generally thought of as being the easiest part of the course), many students actually do question 6. If I were you, I'd ignore the advice about only doing Q6 if you do applied. It'll only make you even more nervous while in an already nervewracking exam - consider *all* questions. Even read the applied electricity option, just in case (or vice versa for the particle physics).

Leaving Cert Physics - NOTES

Were the notes useful? 4 votes

Comments