The Physics PHYA2 thread! 5th June 2013

I was just saying how you could have two perfectly valid different curves depending on what you think the terminal speed in the oil and the speed it reaches in the air are.

Me too; my university place is effectively resting on this retake, as if I don't ace it I have to make up for it in Units Four and Five, which would be a lot more effort... Very pleased to have just realised that I didn't get all the TIR stuff wrong. In a burst of post exam madness, my friend convinced me that TIR worked the opposite way round...

I thought this also. I don't think it'd reach its terminal velocity over such a short distance, so a straight line, up to a slight curve, before a horizontal line, should be equally fine

I'm still considering whether to go pure physics or physics and philosophy. I want to go into physics but I do love philosophy so I'm really not sure.
And yeah that's true, with physics you need more of a background in the general concepts so that you can at least understand the question. Plus half of it will be maths and I stupidly didn't pick FM so I'll need to do some of that too.


No that's right, less work is done because there's less force per amount of extension Or as you put it there so you'll get the mark.
Definitely 1, possibly 2 I'm still not sure whether I'm right about the intensity


There's no way you could realistically guess 6082 (which was the answer). If they can see that and can see something to do with pythagoras you'll get the marks so I think you'll be fine.

I'm in the same position as you. Resat unit 1 in January, and just did this paper. Not looking forward to Unit 4 being on the same day as my C4! D: The hardest and third hardest modules I'm doing -.-

I'm still considering whether to go pure physics or physics and philosophy. I want to go into physics but I do love philosophy so I'm really not sure.
And yeah that's true, with physics you need more of a background in the general concepts so that you can at least understand the question. Plus half of it will be maths and I stupidly didn't pick FM so I'll need to do some of that too.

Anyone remember question 6e?

You can clearly see the 6000 and 1000 and the squared about the 6000 and the first bit of the square root and the answer but the second half of the square root (over the 1000 squared) is a bit dodgy and so is the 2 for the squared like I had to go over it 3 times to prove its a two? So would this get the two marks?

Not having Further Maths sounds a bit worrying, though I don't know what resulting effect that'll have on you. I guess you'll need to do extra well in the PAT to make up for it? If you're interested in Physics and Philosophy, just go for it, as if you're rejected from it, you're automatically considered for Physics

Was that the earthquakes wave question? "What can we tell about a wave that can be polarised?"

I'd be very surprised if they didn't give you both marks because even if it's really scruffy you can see what you were trying to do even if parts aren't completely legible or fully extended or whatever and you can see an answer that you could've only gotten from doing that. 2 marks.


I'm going to pick it up next year just to AS level. Yeah that's part of my reasoning for starting early, if I can nail it and I think I can then they'll probably overlook the fact I'll only be taking FM during that year. I'd enjoy but it's just a question of whether or not I could get a career or do (eventually) a doctorate with it. It's not accredited anymore which would make it harder so I don't know, decision I'll have to make I guess. The fact you can apply for it and still be considered for straight physics is good though, I was happy when I saw that in their prospectus.

So you'd say two marks then

Was that the earthquakes wave question? "What can we tell about a wave that can be polarised?"

Any ideas on the grade boundary for an A? Most people in my school came out the exam feeling it caught them out.

Scientists can deduce that polarised waves are transverse waves. EG, radio waves.

Yep! around 44-46/70 for an A.

Wasn't it given in the question that the waves were transverse?

And what was the question 6e, to which the answer was 750m?

Do you think it will be that low?


Posted from TSR Mobile