Physics study guides

62 free physics guides across every exam we teach, from GCSE to AP, A level and university admissions tests.

AP Physics

• How hard is AP Physics?How hard is AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C? What makes each course challenging and how to make it easier.
• How to get a 5 on AP Physics 1A practical plan for a 5 on AP Physics 1: the eight units, what the exam rewards, how to practise free-response questions and a month-by-month plan.
• AP Physics 1 equation sheet, explainedThe AP Physics 1 equation sheet explained topic by topic: what each equation means, when to use it and the mistakes students make.
• AP Physics 2 equation sheet, explainedThe AP Physics 2 equation sheet explained: thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics equations and when to use them.
• AP Physics C equation sheet, explainedThe AP Physics C equation sheet explained for Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism, including the calculus forms and when to use them.
• AP Physics 1 units and review checklistAll eight AP Physics 1 units explained: what each covers, the key ideas to master and a review checklist for the exam.
• AP Physics 1 kinematics, made clearAP Physics 1 kinematics made clear: the constant-acceleration equations, motion graphs, projectiles and the mistakes to avoid.
• AP Physics 1 vs AP Physics CAP Physics 1 vs AP Physics C compared: maths needed, content, difficulty, college credit and how to choose the right course.
• AP Physics 1 forces and Newton's lawsAP Physics 1 Unit 2 made clear: Newton's three laws, free-body diagrams, friction, springs, circular motion and gravitation, with common mistakes.
• AP Physics 1 work, energy and powerAP Physics 1 Unit 3 explained: work, kinetic and potential energy, conservation of energy, energy bar charts and power.
• AP Physics 1 momentum and collisionsAP Physics 1 Unit 4 explained: momentum, impulse, conservation of momentum, elastic and inelastic collisions and the centre of mass.
• AP Physics 1 rotation, made clearAP Physics 1 Units 5 and 6 explained: torque, rotational inertia, rotational dynamics, rotational energy, angular momentum and rolling.
• AP Physics 1 fluids explainedAP Physics 1 fluids explained: density, pressure, buoyancy and Archimedes' principle, the continuity equation and Bernoulli's equation.
• AP Physics 2 units and reviewAP Physics 2 units explained: thermodynamics, electric force and potential, circuits, magnetism, optics, waves and modern physics, with review tips.
• AP Physics C: Mechanics reviewAP Physics C: Mechanics review: the units, the calculus skills you need, common free-response tasks and a plan for the exam.
• AP Physics C: E&M reviewAP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism review: the units, Gauss's law, potential, circuits, Ampère's and Faraday's laws, and a study plan.
• Angular momentum, explained with examplesAngular momentum explained for AP Physics: L = Iω, conservation of angular momentum, spinning skaters, angular impulse and rotational collisions, with practice.
• AP Physics 1 free-response questions: how to score wellHow to answer AP Physics 1 FRQs: the four question types, what earns points, writing justifications and derivations, and a fully worked practice FRQ.
• AP Physics 1 practice questions, with answersOriginal AP Physics 1 practice questions with full answers, by unit: kinematics, forces, energy, momentum, rotation, oscillations and fluids.
• Bernoulli's principle, explained with examplesBernoulli's principle explained for AP Physics: the continuity equation, Bernoulli's equation, faster flow and lower pressure, and Torricelli's theorem.
• Centripetal force, explained with examplesCentripetal force explained for AP Physics and A level: the formulas, what provides the force, vertical circles and banked curves, with practice and answers.
• Conservation of energy, explained with examplesConservation of energy explained for AP Physics and A level: energy stores, friction, springs, pendulums, roller coasters, power and efficiency, with practice.
• Coulomb's law, explained with examplesCoulomb's law explained for AP Physics and A level: the formula, the constant k, inverse square behaviour and forces from several charges, with practice.
• The Doppler effect, explained with examplesThe Doppler effect explained: why moving sources change frequency, the formula for sound, worked siren examples, red shift for light, and practice with answers.
• Faraday's law, explained with examplesFaraday's law explained for AP Physics and A level: magnetic flux, induced emf, Lenz's law, moving rods, generators and transformers, with practice and answers.
• Free-body diagrams, explained with examplesFree-body diagrams explained for AP Physics: which forces to include, inclines, hanging masses, lifts, and turning a diagram into F = ma, with practice.
• Gauss's law, explained with examplesGauss's law explained for AP Physics C E&M: electric flux, choosing Gaussian surfaces, fields of spheres, lines and planes, and conductors, with practice.
• Kirchhoff's laws, explained with examplesKirchhoff's laws explained for AP Physics and A level: the junction and loop rules, sign conventions and solving multi-loop circuits, with practice and answers.
• Magnetic force and magnetic fields, explainedMagnetic force explained for AP Physics, A level and GCSE: force on a moving charge and a wire, the right-hand and left-hand rules, and circular paths.
• Snell's law, explained with examplesSnell's law explained for AP Physics and A level: refractive index, n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂, the critical angle, total internal reflection and optical fibres.
• Torque, explained with examplesTorque explained for AP Physics 1 and C: the formula, lever arm, sign conventions, rotational equilibrium, beam problems and angular acceleration.
• The work-energy theorem, explained with examplesThe work-energy theorem explained for AP Physics: work by a constant force, forces at an angle, net work equals ΔKE, and force-displacement graphs.

GCSE Physics

• GCSE Physics topics: the full listEvery GCSE Physics topic for AQA and Edexcel, which topics are separate physics only, how the papers work and how to revise.
• GCSE Physics equations, explainedThe key GCSE Physics equations with what each symbol means and its units, grouped by topic, plus tips for using them in exams.
• AQA GCSE Physics required practicalsThe AQA GCSE Physics required practicals explained: what each investigates, the method, variables and how they are examined.
• GCSE Physics electricityGCSE Physics electricity explained: current, potential difference and resistance, series and parallel circuits, I-V graphs, mains electricity and power.
• GCSE Physics forcesGCSE Physics forces explained: scalars and vectors, resultant forces, Newton's laws, weight, terminal velocity, stopping distance and momentum.
• GCSE Physics energyGCSE Physics energy explained: energy stores and transfers, conservation of energy, kinetic and potential energy, efficiency, power and energy resources.
• GCSE Physics revision: a plan that worksA practical GCSE Physics revision plan: what to revise first, how to use past papers, six-mark questions, required practicals and equations.
• Density, explained with examplesDensity explained for GCSE Physics: the density equation, g/cm³ to kg/m³, the required practical for regular and irregular objects, and practice with answers.
• The electromagnetic spectrum, explainedThe electromagnetic spectrum explained for GCSE Physics: the seven EM waves in order, uses and dangers, how to remember the order, and v = fλ calculations.
• Nuclear fission and fusion, explainedNuclear fission and fusion explained for GCSE Physics: how uranium-235 splits, chain reactions, reactors, fusion in stars, and practice questions with answers.
• Half-life, explained with examplesHalf-life explained for GCSE Physics: radioactive decay and activity, reading half-life from a graph, calculations and choosing isotopes, with practice.
• Hooke's law, explained with examplesHooke's law explained for GCSE Physics: F = ke, the spring constant, the limit of proportionality, elastic energy and the required practical, with practice.
• Isotopes, explained with examplesIsotopes explained for GCSE Physics and Chemistry: atomic and mass number, nuclear notation, counting protons and neutrons, and radioactive isotopes.
• Kinetic energy, explained with examplesKinetic energy explained for GCSE Physics: E = ½mv², units, rearranging for speed or mass, energy transfers, braking and work done, with practice and answers.
• Momentum, explained with examplesMomentum explained for GCSE Physics: p = mv, conservation of momentum in collisions and explosions, force and rate of change of momentum, and car safety.
• Newton's laws of motion, explained with examplesNewton's three laws of motion explained for GCSE Physics: resultant force, inertia, F = ma, action-reaction pairs, terminal velocity and the required practical.
• Ohm's law, explained with examplesOhm's law explained for GCSE Physics: V = IR, I-V graphs for resistors, lamps and diodes, the resistance practical and series and parallel circuits.
• Specific heat capacity, explained with examplesSpecific heat capacity explained for GCSE Physics: the equation, why water heats slowly, the required practical and latent heat compared, with practice.
• The speed of sound, explained with examplesThe speed of sound explained for GCSE Physics: speeds in air, water and solids, v = fλ, echoes and sonar, measuring it in the lab, and ultrasound.

A level Physics

• A level Physics topics: the full listEvery A level Physics topic for AQA and Edexcel, the AQA option topics, the practical endorsement and how to revise.
• A level Physics formula sheet, explainedThe A level Physics data and formulae sheet explained by topic: mechanics, electricity, waves, fields, thermal and nuclear physics, and what to memorise.
• AQA A level Physics required practicalsAll 12 AQA A level Physics required practicals explained: what you measure, the key techniques and how practical skills are examined.
• A level Physics electricityA level Physics electricity explained: current, resistivity, I-V graphs, series and parallel circuits, potential dividers and emf.
• A level Physics wavesA level Physics waves explained: wave properties, progressive and stationary waves, superposition, interference, diffraction and refraction.
• A level Physics revision: a plan that worksA practical A level Physics revision plan: what to revise first, how to use past papers and mark schemes, and how to improve on multi-step questions.
• Capacitors, explained with examplesCapacitors explained for A level Physics: Q = CV, series and parallel, energy stored, charging and discharging, the time constant RC, with worked examples.
• The photoelectric effect, explained with examplesThe photoelectric effect explained for A level Physics: photons and E = hf, work function, threshold frequency, Einstein's equation and stopping potential.
• Simple harmonic motion, explained with examplesSimple harmonic motion explained for A level Physics: the SHM equation, mass-spring systems, pendulums, energy, damping and resonance, with worked examples.

TMUA and ESAT

• What is the ESAT?The ESAT explained: what it is, the modules, timings, scoring and how to prepare for the maths and physics modules.
• The ESAT specification, module by moduleThe ESAT syllabus explained: how the modules work, what Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics cover, timing, example questions and a revision plan.

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