OCR A-level Physics A Paper 2 - 9th June 2025 [Exam Chat]

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How did your OCR A-level Physics A Paper 2 exam go today?

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OCR A-Level Physics A Paper 2: Exploring physics (H556/02) - Monday 9th June 2025 [Exam Chat]
Welcome to the exam discussion thread for this exam.
Introduce yourself! Let others know what you're aiming for in your exams, what you are struggling with in your revision or anything else.
Wishing you all the best of luck. :yy:

General Information
Date/Time: Monday 9th June 2025 AM
Length: 2h 15m
Good luck!
Click here to find exam discussions for other A-level subjects

Students react to A-level Physics Paper 2

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 1

fuzzy-vista

8

I guess onto paper 2, hope we get a better paper 😕😕

Reply 2

Oppenheimerfr

10

This better not be like paper 1 😡

Reply 3

Kbv23

7

Cant believe paper 2 gonna be my redemption paper

Reply 4

micah77

3

are paper 2 Qs often quite hard or weird? asking bc i find that there’s so much more content to revise im just hoping the qs aren’t difficult

Reply 5

Oppenheimerfr

10

Original post

by micah77

are paper 2 Qs often quite hard or weird? asking bc i find that there’s so much more content to revise im just hoping the qs aren’t difficult

I think since the content is harder, the questions might be easier

Reply 6

Anonymous2246

12

what are you guys doing to learn the medical physics content?

Reply 7

Oppenheimerfr

10

Original post

by Anonymous2246

what are you guys doing to learn the medical physics content?

ZPhysics + fcs + have masterclass at school during study leave dedicated to medical

Reply 8

shadowtutor

3

Hi everyone! I’m a lecturer and I enjoy helping students with OCR A-Level Physics. If anyone is struggling with any topics in Paper 2, I have some quick revision notes I can share. Just let me know!

Reply 9

Oppenheimerfr

10

Original post

by shadowtutor

Hi everyone! I’m a lecturer and I enjoy helping students with OCR A-Level Physics. If anyone is struggling with any topics in Paper 2, I have some quick revision notes I can share. Just let me know!

Yess please, do u have medical physics and electricity?

Reply 10

fuzzy-vista

8

Original post

by shadowtutor

Hi everyone! I’m a lecturer and I enjoy helping students with OCR A-Level Physics. If anyone is struggling with any topics in Paper 2, I have some quick revision notes I can share. Just let me know!

Yess pleaseee

Reply 11

shadowtutor

3

Hi! Sure, here are some quick, exam-focused revision notes for Medical Physics and Electricity. I've kept them clear and packed with key terms to help you remember what to write in answers. Let me know if you’d like any part explained in more detail!
Medical Physics – Key Revision Points
X-Rays

•

X-rays are produced when high-speed electrons hit a metal target (anode).

•

Control of X-rays:

•

Tube voltage (kV) affects X-ray energy/penetration.

•

Tube current (mA) affects intensity (number of X-rays).

•

X-ray attenuation mechanisms:

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Photoelectric effect: Dominates at low energy, key for image contrast.

•

Compton scattering: Dominates at mid energies, reduces image quality.

•

Pair production (only at very high energies, not typical in medical imaging).

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Contrast media: Substances like barium or iodine absorb X-rays more to enhance image contrast.

CT (Computed Tomography) Scans

•

Multiple X-ray images taken at different angles.

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Reconstructed into a cross-sectional 3D image using computer algorithms.

Ultrasound

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High-frequency sound waves (1–15 MHz).

•

Used for soft tissue imaging (e.g., fetus, organs).

•

Reflection occurs at boundaries between tissues of different acoustic impedance.

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Piezoelectric effect: Crystals generate/receive ultrasound pulses.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

•

Uses strong magnetic fields and radiofrequency waves.

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Aligns hydrogen nuclei in the body; detects their signals after RF pulse.

•

Good for imaging soft tissues (brain, spine, joints).

Electricity – Key Revision Points
Current, Voltage, and Resistance

•

Current (I): Flow of charge per second (A).

•

Voltage (V): Energy transferred per unit charge (J/C).

•

Resistance (R): Opposition to current flow. Formula: V = IR

Ohm’s Law

•

For ohmic conductors, current is directly proportional to voltage (constant temperature).

•

Non-ohmic devices (e.g. filament lamp, diode) don’t follow Ohm’s law.

Power and Energy

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Power (P) = VI = I²R = V²/R

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Energy (E) = Power × time = VIt

Kirchhoff’s Laws

•

1st Law (Current Law): Total current entering a junction = total current leaving.

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2nd Law (Voltage Law): Total EMF = total potential drops in a loop.

Series and Parallel Circuits

•

Series:

•

Current same in all components.

•

Voltages add up.

•

Parallel:

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Voltage same across branches.

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Total current = sum of branch currents.

Internal Resistance

•

Real batteries have internal resistance r.

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Terminal voltage: V = E – Ir, where E is emf.

Potential Divider

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Divides voltage in proportion to resistors: Vout = (R2 / (R1 + R2)) × Vin

Capacitors (if included in your spec)

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Store energy in an electric field.

•

Q = CV

•

Discharge follows exponential decay.

Reply 12

Oppenheimerfr

10

Thank you

Reply 13

shadowtutor

3

Original post

by Oppenheimerfr

Thank you

You’re very welcome - glad it helped!If anyone else is stuck on a specific topic in Physics/ Computer science, feel free to ask. I’m happy to put together more quick revision notes if it’ll make the prep easier.
All you need to do is focus on the key points - memorise them well. Then, in the exam, use those points as a base to expand into a full answer. Make sure the key terms are clearly explained and highlighted. That’s what will help you score high marks.

Reply 14

Kbv23

7

Original post

by shadowtutor

You’re very welcome - glad it helped!If anyone else is stuck on a specific topic in Physics/ Computer science, feel free to ask. I’m happy to put together more quick revision notes if it’ll make the prep easier.
All you need to do is focus on the key points - memorise them well. Then, in the exam, use those points as a base to expand into a full answer. Make sure the key terms are clearly explained and highlighted. That’s what will help you score high marks.

For computer science i need advice on how to revise the pre-release and content for AQA been spamming past papers but haven't seen convincing progress

Reply 15

shadowtutor

3

Totally get you — past papers alone don’t always show quick progress.
For the pre-release, try breaking it into parts (input/output, logic, file handling). Code each section yourself and note what it does. Think about how they could ask you to improve or explain it.
For content, revise one topic at a time (like OOP or databases), then do 2–3 past paper questions just on that. Check the mark scheme closely — wording matters a lot.
Let me know if you want a quick breakdown of the pre-release or tricky topics!

Reply 16

Kbv23

7

Original post

by shadowtutor

Totally get you — past papers alone don’t always show quick progress.
For the pre-release, try breaking it into parts (input/output, logic, file handling). Code each section yourself and note what it does. Think about how they could ask you to improve or explain it.
For content, revise one topic at a time (like OOP or databases), then do 2–3 past paper questions just on that. Check the mark scheme closely — wording matters a lot.
Let me know if you want a quick breakdown of the pre-release or tricky topics!