Introduction to Pure Physics
Required Texts
• Physics Matters (4th Edition), Marshall
Cavendish
– No need to bring to school
– For pre-lesson reading and enrichment
• Conceptual Learning Physics (3rd Edition), GLM
– Bring to every Physics Lesson
• 2014 Topical TYS, SAP
– Assignments
• We will order the texts for you in bulk from
school bookshop
Other Materials
• Two Physics files
– [colour] file for Practicals
– [colour] file for Assignments & Quizzes
• For Lab Sessions, bring your own:
– 30 cm long ruler
– Calculator
– Graph Paper
– Foolscap Paper
What you will be studying in Physics
• Your Physics syllabus number is 5059
• Your first piece of HW is to download and
print out your physics syllabus from
seab.gov.sg and put it in your file (print double
sided, two pages per sheet)
• You are only the second batch to take this
Physics syllabus. Some textbooks &
assignments may not be up-to-date with the
syllabus changes.
What you will be studying in Physics
• Physics consists of 4 broad themes:
– Mechanics
– Thermal Physics
– Waves
– Electricity & Magnetism
• You will study the first 3 in Sec 3, and the last
one in Sec 4.
• Your practical sessions will also be based on
these 4 themes.
Physics Lessons
• Your Physics lessons will be taught mainly
using powerpoint slides.
• These slides will not be printed out for you,
but they will be uploaded.
• After we’ve covered a major topic, we will
have a short quiz on the topic just covered.
Each quiz will be taken into account for CA.
Assignments
• Most of the time, assignments will be given to
you as questions from your TYS.
• You are to do the assignments and submit on
foolscap paper.
• Assignments will NOT be taken into account
for CA (implication: please do NOT copy
assignments)
Physics Blog
• Take down this blog url:
• PPPHS2014.wordpress.com
• At this blog, we will post Physics related
announcements (including assignment
questions), upload lesson slides as well as
solutions to assignments & quizzes.
SPA
• 20% of your Physics O level grade will be taken
from your School-based Practical Assessment,
or SPA.
• SPA is an exam which be conducted 3 times in
Sec 4, twice in the lab and once in the
classroom.
• We will start training you for SPA in Sec 3.
• You will learn more about SPA in your first
Physics practical class.
How to do well in Physics
• MOST IMPORTANT: pay attention in class
– every lesson you do not pay attention in, you will
need 3 times the amount of time to learn on your own
• Seek help ASAP when you don’t understand
– Iack of understanding will snowball until you find it
too difficult to want to catch up
• Learn to make your own notes
– it is not the reading of notes which is the best form of
studying, but the making of your own notes
• Revise constantly so that you do not forget what
you’ve learned
– studies show optimal revision time is 7 days and 3
weeks later