Physics
- I did OCR A but should be the similar for each exam board
- I went from 45% in February to 65% in A levels improving 20% in 3 months
- After you learn each chapter complete the end of chapter practice
questions in the textbook, you can also complete the summary questions in
each smaller section if you need extra help for certain chapters
- You can also watch videos on YouTube that explain the topics in more
depth:
- My Physics Tutoring
- Physics Online - YouTube
- Science Shorts - YouTube
- MUST WATCH VIDEO BEFORE EXAMS: How to Actually Prepare for A Level
Physics Exams
- During Exams complete all the past papers from 2017 to 2025 before each
paper but split Paper 3 a third before paper 1 and a third between paper 1
and 2 and then the rest between paper 2 and paper 3
- The day before every exam look through every past paper you have
completed and make a list of all the mistakes and knowledge gaps and
polish up on them
- If there is a specific area you struggle with you can use practice questions
on each topic on PMT - OCR (A) Physics Revision - Physics & Maths Tutor
- Also watch livestreams on the YouTube channels i listed above as they go
through predicted papers and ZPhysics does a day before livestream where
you can ask more specific questions
, OCR A Level Physics A (H556)
Complete Revision Notes
Original, specification-aligned notes for the full A Level course
Aligned to the OCR H556 specification and the OUP A Level Physics A for
OCR Student Book
Textbook: Graham Bone, Gurinder Chadha & Nigel Saunders — ISBN
9780198352181
These notes are an original summary and revision resource, not a reproduction of the
textbook.
Course overview
OCR A Level Physics A (H556) is organised into six teaching modules. Modules 1 and 2
underpin the whole course; Modules 3 and 4 are mainly Year 12 content; Modules 5 and 6
are mainly Year 13 content.
Module Title Main content
Planning, measurement,
Development of practical
1 uncertainty, graphs, analysis
skills in physics
and practical competence
Units, quantities,
2 Foundations of physics uncertainty, scalars and
vectors
Kinematics, forces, energy,
3 Forces and motion materials, Newton's laws
and momentum
Electrons, waves and Electricity, circuits, waves
4
photons and quantum physics
Thermal physics, circular
Newtonian world and
5 motion, SHM, gravity, stars
astrophysics
and cosmology
Capacitors, fields,
Particles and medical electromagnetism,
6
physics nuclear/particle physics and
imaging
, Assessment
Paper 1 — Modelling physics: Modules 1, 2, 3 and 5.
Paper 2 — Exploring physics: Modules 1, 2, 4 and 6.
Paper 3 — Unified physics: Modules 1–6, with synoptic links between topics.
Practical Endorsement: reported separately from the A Level grade.
Exam tip: Do not revise topics as isolated chapters. Paper 3 especially rewards linking
ideas — for example energy + circular motion, fields + particles, or waves + medical
imaging.
Contents
Module 1 — Development of practical skills in physics
Module 2 — Foundations of physics
Module 3 — Forces and motion
Module 4 — Electrons, waves and photons
Module 5 — Newtonian world and astrophysics
Module 6 — Particles and medical physics
Formula and constants quick reference
Core practical methods and exam checklist
Module 1 — Development of practical skills in physics
1.1 Planning investigations
State a clear independent variable (the quantity deliberately changed), dependent variable (the
quantity measured) and relevant control variables.
A good method must state what apparatus is used, how measurements are taken, the range
and intervals of the independent variable, how controls are maintained, and how repeats are
used.
Choose measuring instruments with a resolution appropriate to the scale of the change you are
trying to detect.
When a relationship is being tested, plan a graph that will make the predicted relationship easy
to identify. Linearising a model is often stronger than simply plotting the raw variables.
Risk assessment: identify hazard, risk and control measure. A hazard is a source of harm; risk
combines the probability and severity of harm.
Repeatability, reproducibility and validity
Repeatable: the same person using the same method and equipment obtains similar results.
Reproducible: a different person, method or equipment obtains consistent results.
Valid: the investigation actually tests the intended relationship, with important confounding
variables controlled.
Accuracy: closeness to the true or accepted value. Precision: closeness of repeated
measurements to each other.
, Exam tip: Never use 'human error' as a complete evaluation point. Name the actual
limitation — e.g. reaction time, parallax, zero error, heat loss, inconsistent release point
— and explain how it affects the result.
1.2 Measurements, uncertainty and errors
Resolution is the smallest change an instrument can display or distinguish.
A reading from an analogue scale is normally quoted to the nearest scale division or an
appropriate fraction of it. Digital instruments are normally quoted to the displayed resolution.
Absolute uncertainty has the same unit as the measurement. Percentage uncertainty =
(absolute uncertainty / measured value) × 100%.
Percentage uncertainty = (Δx / x) × 100%
For repeated measurements, a useful estimate of random uncertainty is half the range: Δx ≈
(max − min)/2.
Half-range uncertainty = (maximum value − minimum value) / 2
Random errors cause scatter and can be reduced by repeats and averaging.
Systematic errors shift readings in the same direction and are not removed by averaging.
Examples: zero error, miscalibrated sensor, heat loss that is always present.
Zero error is a systematic offset when the instrument reads a non-zero value for a true zero
input.
Combining uncertainties
For addition/subtraction, add absolute uncertainties as a conservative rule.
For multiplication/division, add percentage (fractional) uncertainties.
For a power y = x^n, percentage uncertainty in y ≈ |n| × percentage uncertainty in x.
If y = xⁿ, then Δy/y ≈ |n| (Δx/x)
Exam tip: In graph questions, OCR often expects uncertainty to be represented by error
bars or by steepest/shallowest acceptable lines, not just a quoted percentage.
1.3 Graphs and data analysis
Choose axes so the plotted data use most of the available graph area. Put the independent
variable on the x-axis unless there is a strong reason not to.
Label each axis with quantity and unit, for example time / s or potential difference / V.
A best-fit line should represent the trend and should not be forced through the origin unless
theory requires it.
Gradient = change in y / change in x using a large triangle. Include units from y-units divided by
x-units.
Gradient = Δy / Δx
The y-intercept often represents a physical constant or systematic offset; interpret it using the
model.
For a curved graph, instantaneous rate of change is found from the gradient of a tangent.
To compare a model y = kxⁿ with data, logs can be used: log y = n log x + log k. A log-log plot
has gradient n.
- I did OCR A but should be the similar for each exam board
- I went from 45% in February to 65% in A levels improving 20% in 3 months
- After you learn each chapter complete the end of chapter practice
questions in the textbook, you can also complete the summary questions in
each smaller section if you need extra help for certain chapters
- You can also watch videos on YouTube that explain the topics in more
depth:
- My Physics Tutoring
- Physics Online - YouTube
- Science Shorts - YouTube
- MUST WATCH VIDEO BEFORE EXAMS: How to Actually Prepare for A Level
Physics Exams
- During Exams complete all the past papers from 2017 to 2025 before each
paper but split Paper 3 a third before paper 1 and a third between paper 1
and 2 and then the rest between paper 2 and paper 3
- The day before every exam look through every past paper you have
completed and make a list of all the mistakes and knowledge gaps and
polish up on them
- If there is a specific area you struggle with you can use practice questions
on each topic on PMT - OCR (A) Physics Revision - Physics & Maths Tutor
- Also watch livestreams on the YouTube channels i listed above as they go
through predicted papers and ZPhysics does a day before livestream where
you can ask more specific questions
, OCR A Level Physics A (H556)
Complete Revision Notes
Original, specification-aligned notes for the full A Level course
Aligned to the OCR H556 specification and the OUP A Level Physics A for
OCR Student Book
Textbook: Graham Bone, Gurinder Chadha & Nigel Saunders — ISBN
9780198352181
These notes are an original summary and revision resource, not a reproduction of the
textbook.
Course overview
OCR A Level Physics A (H556) is organised into six teaching modules. Modules 1 and 2
underpin the whole course; Modules 3 and 4 are mainly Year 12 content; Modules 5 and 6
are mainly Year 13 content.
Module Title Main content
Planning, measurement,
Development of practical
1 uncertainty, graphs, analysis
skills in physics
and practical competence
Units, quantities,
2 Foundations of physics uncertainty, scalars and
vectors
Kinematics, forces, energy,
3 Forces and motion materials, Newton's laws
and momentum
Electrons, waves and Electricity, circuits, waves
4
photons and quantum physics
Thermal physics, circular
Newtonian world and
5 motion, SHM, gravity, stars
astrophysics
and cosmology
Capacitors, fields,
Particles and medical electromagnetism,
6
physics nuclear/particle physics and
imaging
, Assessment
Paper 1 — Modelling physics: Modules 1, 2, 3 and 5.
Paper 2 — Exploring physics: Modules 1, 2, 4 and 6.
Paper 3 — Unified physics: Modules 1–6, with synoptic links between topics.
Practical Endorsement: reported separately from the A Level grade.
Exam tip: Do not revise topics as isolated chapters. Paper 3 especially rewards linking
ideas — for example energy + circular motion, fields + particles, or waves + medical
imaging.
Contents
Module 1 — Development of practical skills in physics
Module 2 — Foundations of physics
Module 3 — Forces and motion
Module 4 — Electrons, waves and photons
Module 5 — Newtonian world and astrophysics
Module 6 — Particles and medical physics
Formula and constants quick reference
Core practical methods and exam checklist
Module 1 — Development of practical skills in physics
1.1 Planning investigations
State a clear independent variable (the quantity deliberately changed), dependent variable (the
quantity measured) and relevant control variables.
A good method must state what apparatus is used, how measurements are taken, the range
and intervals of the independent variable, how controls are maintained, and how repeats are
used.
Choose measuring instruments with a resolution appropriate to the scale of the change you are
trying to detect.
When a relationship is being tested, plan a graph that will make the predicted relationship easy
to identify. Linearising a model is often stronger than simply plotting the raw variables.
Risk assessment: identify hazard, risk and control measure. A hazard is a source of harm; risk
combines the probability and severity of harm.
Repeatability, reproducibility and validity
Repeatable: the same person using the same method and equipment obtains similar results.
Reproducible: a different person, method or equipment obtains consistent results.
Valid: the investigation actually tests the intended relationship, with important confounding
variables controlled.
Accuracy: closeness to the true or accepted value. Precision: closeness of repeated
measurements to each other.
, Exam tip: Never use 'human error' as a complete evaluation point. Name the actual
limitation — e.g. reaction time, parallax, zero error, heat loss, inconsistent release point
— and explain how it affects the result.
1.2 Measurements, uncertainty and errors
Resolution is the smallest change an instrument can display or distinguish.
A reading from an analogue scale is normally quoted to the nearest scale division or an
appropriate fraction of it. Digital instruments are normally quoted to the displayed resolution.
Absolute uncertainty has the same unit as the measurement. Percentage uncertainty =
(absolute uncertainty / measured value) × 100%.
Percentage uncertainty = (Δx / x) × 100%
For repeated measurements, a useful estimate of random uncertainty is half the range: Δx ≈
(max − min)/2.
Half-range uncertainty = (maximum value − minimum value) / 2
Random errors cause scatter and can be reduced by repeats and averaging.
Systematic errors shift readings in the same direction and are not removed by averaging.
Examples: zero error, miscalibrated sensor, heat loss that is always present.
Zero error is a systematic offset when the instrument reads a non-zero value for a true zero
input.
Combining uncertainties
For addition/subtraction, add absolute uncertainties as a conservative rule.
For multiplication/division, add percentage (fractional) uncertainties.
For a power y = x^n, percentage uncertainty in y ≈ |n| × percentage uncertainty in x.
If y = xⁿ, then Δy/y ≈ |n| (Δx/x)
Exam tip: In graph questions, OCR often expects uncertainty to be represented by error
bars or by steepest/shallowest acceptable lines, not just a quoted percentage.
1.3 Graphs and data analysis
Choose axes so the plotted data use most of the available graph area. Put the independent
variable on the x-axis unless there is a strong reason not to.
Label each axis with quantity and unit, for example time / s or potential difference / V.
A best-fit line should represent the trend and should not be forced through the origin unless
theory requires it.
Gradient = change in y / change in x using a large triangle. Include units from y-units divided by
x-units.
Gradient = Δy / Δx
The y-intercept often represents a physical constant or systematic offset; interpret it using the
model.
For a curved graph, instantaneous rate of change is found from the gradient of a tangent.
To compare a model y = kxⁿ with data, logs can be used: log y = n log x + log k. A log-log plot
has gradient n.
