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I am really struggling with A-Level Maths (Mechanics)

I just had the worst maths test of my life today.
What can I do to get better at mechanics?
I do not want to get a tutor just yet as it is quite early in my A-Levels and I do not get one unless I am absolutely certain nothing else will help.

Any resources (websites, videos, etc.) would be appreciated.

Reply 1

Original post
by d159p
I just had the worst maths test of my life today.
What can I do to get better at mechanics?
I do not want to get a tutor just yet as it is quite early in my A-Levels and I do not get one unless I am absolutely certain nothing else will help.
Any resources (websites, videos, etc.) would be appreciated.

What topic did you do your test on / what resources are you currently using?

Reply 2

Original post
by mqb2766
What topic did you do your test on / what resources are you currently using?

Chapter 9 & 10 I think - Acceleration ones
Currently only using my textbook & question book.

Reply 3

Original post
by d159p
Chapter 9 & 10 I think - Acceleration ones
Currently only using my textbook & question book.

Is that the suvat one? Also which board are you doing?

Reply 4

I'd recommend watching videos from TL Maths and Zeeshan Zamurred on YouTube and as for practice questions I'd recommend using the textbook and working your way through the topics and definitely do the mixed exercise questions and the review exercise questions.

Reply 5

Original post
by d159p
Chapter 9 & 10 I think - Acceleration ones
Currently only using my textbook & question book.

I recommend: https://www.drfrost.org/courses.php?coid=12814

Reply 6

Original post
by d159p
I just had the worst maths test of my life today.
What can I do to get better at mechanics?
I do not want to get a tutor just yet as it is quite early in my A-Levels and I do not get one unless I am absolutely certain nothing else will help.
Any resources (websites, videos, etc.) would be appreciated.

A level in a week book, and millions of past exam style questions with answers from text books, revision guides.

Reply 7

Original post
by mqb2766
Is that the suvat one? Also which board are you doing?

Yes. Suvat is on the constant acceleration topic. I am doing Edexcel.

Reply 8

Original post
by m_ahmed_w
I'd recommend watching videos from TL Maths and Zeeshan Zamurred on YouTube and as for practice questions I'd recommend using the textbook and working your way through the topics and definitely do the mixed exercise questions and the review exercise questions.

Thank you :smile: Note taken.

Reply 9

Original post
by d159p
Yes. Suvat is on the constant acceleration topic. I am doing Edexcel.

It usually helps to say what you understand / dont understand etc, but a few general comments are:

suvat is a generalisation of gcse speed-distance-time but now covers the case where acceleration is constant / non-zero. First thing to make sure you understand is how displacement - velocity - acceleration (force) are related in terms of basic calculus, graphs, examples so you can do simple thought experiments, ... Similarly how distance travelled is related to displacement and also for speed and velocity.

Youve met two of the equations in gcse physics so v = u + at as its a simple definition of (constant) accelertion a = (v-u)/t and change in momentum so mv-mu = mat where the force is ma. Youve also met v^2 = u^2 + 2as as its effectively just the change in KE is work done so 1/2 mv^2 - 1/2 mu^2 = mas. The other 3 suvat equations you now know can be derived from these in a couple of lines as there are 5 suvat terms and 5 equations, each of which involves 4 variables so each one eliminates one of the suvat variables

Simple questions say youre given 3 varaibles and have to work out the 4th using the appropriate equation. It helps to sketch the scenario or velocity-time graph or ... and clearly write down the suvat = values and choose the appropriate equation to get what you want. The equations are linear or quadratic, so its basic gcse stuff to solve them.

More complex questions may involve two bodies, or two suvat phases or ... but the previous comments about sketching the info, writing down the suvat variables and equations and ... still apply. You typically use simultaneous equations to write down and solve each suvat phase/body

Really, thats about it apart from practicing and seeing where you get stuck. If that happens post the question/attempt here and you should soon become reasonably happy with doing the questions. Arguably the key thing about answering questions is being systematic about sketching stuf, writing down the suvat info, selecting appropriate equations... then some understanding about where the equations come from, what the variables represent, if youre using quadratics, why you usually get two solutions etc.

Your textbook, pmt, drfrost, tlmaths, .. all have decent info, but remember it builds on your gcse physics so thinking about those scenarios may help as well.
(edited 1 year ago)

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