ASRJC H2 Physics
Summary Notes 2023
Name: _______________________________________
Class : _______________________________________
The Summary Notes compiles key concepts, definitions, equations and applications, and is meant as a
summary to aid your revision. This does not replace lecture notes, which you should read for detailed
explanations. You should also make your own notes / annotations to highlight key learning points which
you have learnt to help you reinforce your understanding of the concepts.
Important terms in the syllabus are in bold font – their definitions or meanings can be tested through a
‘recall’ question. Hence, we suggest you memorise all statements containing bold terms and use them
to help you understand the concepts contained within.
,1 Measurements Summary Notes
A. Physical Quantities and SI Units B. Errors and Uncertainties
• Base quantities and units • A systematic error will result in all readings
having a constant error in one direction.
Base Unit
Base Quantity • A random error will result in a scatter of
Name Abbrev
readings about a mean value.
Length metre m
Mass kilogram kg • Systematic error vs Random error
Time second s
Electric current ampere A Systematic Error Random Error
Temperature kelvin K Constant deviation of Scatter of readings
Amt of subst mole mol readings in 1 dir from about mean value
the true value
Avogadro Constant, NA Eliminated by Reduced by taking
1 mol of 12C is 12g, calibration curve and average of
control experiments repeated readings
1 atom of 12C is approx 12u.
• Accuracy is the degree to which a
m N n – no of mol; N – no of atom
n= = measurement approaches the true value.
Me N A m – mass; Mr – molar mass
• Precision is the degree of agreement of
• Derived units are products or quotients of base repeated measurements of the same quantity.
units
• Precision vs Accuracy
Rules for working out the units of derived
quanitites: Precision Accuracy
i. If 2 or more quantities are added together, degree of agreement degree of agreement
they must have the same units. between means of between experiment
ii. The rules of algebraic multiplication and
the same quantity value and true value
division apply
Readings close to Mean close to true
• A homogenous equation is one where all the mean value
terms in the equation have the same units. Small random error Small systematic
error
• A physically correct equation is homogeneous,
but a homogeneous equation may not be • Determining the uncertainty in a derived
physically correct. quantity
• Useful prefixes (memorise) i. If y = kx + z (k is a const)
then y = kx + z
pico 10-12 p deca 101 da
wx 2
nano 10-9 n hecto 102 h ii. If y = k (k is a const)
micro 10-6 kilo 103 k z3
y w x z
milli 10-3 m mega 106 M then = +2 +3
centi 10-2 c giga 109 G y w x z
deci 10-1 d tera 1012 T
• Actual uncertainty, y , is always expressed to
1 s.f.
• Fractional (Δy/y) or Percentage uncertainty can
be to 2 or 3 s.f. (only 2 s.f. for practical)
,• Plotting of a graph has the following
advantages:
i. reduce random error
ii. identify/avoid systematic error
iii. check for ‘poor’ reading
C. Scalars and Vectors
• Scalar is a quantity that has magnitude only, not
direction.
• Vector is a quantity having both magnitude and
direction.
• Components of a vector
Fx = F cos
Fy F Fy = F sin
2 2
F = Fx + Fy
Fy
Fx = tan −1
Fx
• Relative velocity
To find velocity of A relative to B, we use
𝑣⃗𝐴/𝐵 = 𝑣⃗𝐴 − 𝑣⃗𝐵
In terms of vector diagram, it is represented as
below.
𝑣⃗𝐴 𝑣⃗𝐵
−𝑣⃗𝐵
𝑣⃗𝐴/𝐵 𝑣⃗𝐴
, 2 Kinematics Summary Notes • Interpretation of graphs
A. Rectilinear Motion Graph Gradient Area
s-t v -
• Displacement is the distance of an object or a v-t a s
point, in a specified direction, from some a-t - v
reference point.
• Speed is the distance travelled divided by the • Derive the equations of motion (for linear and
time taken. constant acceleration motion)
• Average speed is the total distance travelled v = u + at s = ut + 21 at 2
divided by the total time taken. v 2 = u 2 + 2as s = 21 (u + v )t
• Velocity is the rate of change of displacement. State sign convention when using the equations
of motion
• Average velocity is the total change of
displacement divided by the total time taken. • Graph for free falling object
v w/o Rair s w/o Rair
• Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
w Rair
w Rair
• Acceleration of free fall is the acceleration of a
body towards the surface of Earth when the only t
t
force acting on it is its weight. where Rair is air resistance
• Instantaneous vs Average B. Projectile Motion
ux = u
Instantaneous Average
u
𝒅𝒔 ∆𝒔 Take as +ve,
𝒗= <𝒗>= uy = 0
𝒅𝒕 ∆𝒕
Gradient at a point total displacement ay = g
=
in an s-t graph total time
𝒅𝒗 ∆𝒗 u ux = u cos
𝒂= <𝒂>=
𝒅𝒕 ∆𝒕
Gradient at a point total change in velocity Take as +ve,
=
in a v-t graph total time uy = u sin
ay = − g
s s s1
v = =
t t1 ux = u cos
s1
s ds u Take as +ve,
t
v= uy = u sin
(0,0) t1 dt t =t1 ay = g
t
Summary Notes 2023
Name: _______________________________________
Class : _______________________________________
The Summary Notes compiles key concepts, definitions, equations and applications, and is meant as a
summary to aid your revision. This does not replace lecture notes, which you should read for detailed
explanations. You should also make your own notes / annotations to highlight key learning points which
you have learnt to help you reinforce your understanding of the concepts.
Important terms in the syllabus are in bold font – their definitions or meanings can be tested through a
‘recall’ question. Hence, we suggest you memorise all statements containing bold terms and use them
to help you understand the concepts contained within.
,1 Measurements Summary Notes
A. Physical Quantities and SI Units B. Errors and Uncertainties
• Base quantities and units • A systematic error will result in all readings
having a constant error in one direction.
Base Unit
Base Quantity • A random error will result in a scatter of
Name Abbrev
readings about a mean value.
Length metre m
Mass kilogram kg • Systematic error vs Random error
Time second s
Electric current ampere A Systematic Error Random Error
Temperature kelvin K Constant deviation of Scatter of readings
Amt of subst mole mol readings in 1 dir from about mean value
the true value
Avogadro Constant, NA Eliminated by Reduced by taking
1 mol of 12C is 12g, calibration curve and average of
control experiments repeated readings
1 atom of 12C is approx 12u.
• Accuracy is the degree to which a
m N n – no of mol; N – no of atom
n= = measurement approaches the true value.
Me N A m – mass; Mr – molar mass
• Precision is the degree of agreement of
• Derived units are products or quotients of base repeated measurements of the same quantity.
units
• Precision vs Accuracy
Rules for working out the units of derived
quanitites: Precision Accuracy
i. If 2 or more quantities are added together, degree of agreement degree of agreement
they must have the same units. between means of between experiment
ii. The rules of algebraic multiplication and
the same quantity value and true value
division apply
Readings close to Mean close to true
• A homogenous equation is one where all the mean value
terms in the equation have the same units. Small random error Small systematic
error
• A physically correct equation is homogeneous,
but a homogeneous equation may not be • Determining the uncertainty in a derived
physically correct. quantity
• Useful prefixes (memorise) i. If y = kx + z (k is a const)
then y = kx + z
pico 10-12 p deca 101 da
wx 2
nano 10-9 n hecto 102 h ii. If y = k (k is a const)
micro 10-6 kilo 103 k z3
y w x z
milli 10-3 m mega 106 M then = +2 +3
centi 10-2 c giga 109 G y w x z
deci 10-1 d tera 1012 T
• Actual uncertainty, y , is always expressed to
1 s.f.
• Fractional (Δy/y) or Percentage uncertainty can
be to 2 or 3 s.f. (only 2 s.f. for practical)
,• Plotting of a graph has the following
advantages:
i. reduce random error
ii. identify/avoid systematic error
iii. check for ‘poor’ reading
C. Scalars and Vectors
• Scalar is a quantity that has magnitude only, not
direction.
• Vector is a quantity having both magnitude and
direction.
• Components of a vector
Fx = F cos
Fy F Fy = F sin
2 2
F = Fx + Fy
Fy
Fx = tan −1
Fx
• Relative velocity
To find velocity of A relative to B, we use
𝑣⃗𝐴/𝐵 = 𝑣⃗𝐴 − 𝑣⃗𝐵
In terms of vector diagram, it is represented as
below.
𝑣⃗𝐴 𝑣⃗𝐵
−𝑣⃗𝐵
𝑣⃗𝐴/𝐵 𝑣⃗𝐴
, 2 Kinematics Summary Notes • Interpretation of graphs
A. Rectilinear Motion Graph Gradient Area
s-t v -
• Displacement is the distance of an object or a v-t a s
point, in a specified direction, from some a-t - v
reference point.
• Speed is the distance travelled divided by the • Derive the equations of motion (for linear and
time taken. constant acceleration motion)
• Average speed is the total distance travelled v = u + at s = ut + 21 at 2
divided by the total time taken. v 2 = u 2 + 2as s = 21 (u + v )t
• Velocity is the rate of change of displacement. State sign convention when using the equations
of motion
• Average velocity is the total change of
displacement divided by the total time taken. • Graph for free falling object
v w/o Rair s w/o Rair
• Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
w Rair
w Rair
• Acceleration of free fall is the acceleration of a
body towards the surface of Earth when the only t
t
force acting on it is its weight. where Rair is air resistance
• Instantaneous vs Average B. Projectile Motion
ux = u
Instantaneous Average
u
𝒅𝒔 ∆𝒔 Take as +ve,
𝒗= <𝒗>= uy = 0
𝒅𝒕 ∆𝒕
Gradient at a point total displacement ay = g
=
in an s-t graph total time
𝒅𝒗 ∆𝒗 u ux = u cos
𝒂= <𝒂>=
𝒅𝒕 ∆𝒕
Gradient at a point total change in velocity Take as +ve,
=
in a v-t graph total time uy = u sin
ay = − g
s s s1
v = =
t t1 ux = u cos
s1
s ds u Take as +ve,
t
v= uy = u sin
(0,0) t1 dt t =t1 ay = g
t
