Asel is the head of resources at Complete VCE Education and is currently pursing a Bachelor of Biomedicine degree under the Chancellor’s Scholarship. He graduated in 2022, achieving a raw 50 and a Premier’s Award in VCE physics, along with a 99.95 ATAR.

Logan is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable physics tutor and blog writer at Complete VCE Education and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Dental Science degree. He graduated in 2022 as school captain and dux, obtaining a VCE Physics raw score of 48 and a 99.70 ATAR.

"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

This famous quote by Newton captures the essence of physics – the way to make intellectual progress is through utilising the work and knowledge of those who came before. The same applies to VCE physics – applying fundamental principles such as Newton’s laws of motion can help us tackle complex and unfamiliar scenarios involving motion. Our U2 AoS 1 summary can help you solidify your knowledge, enabling you to approach any difficult question with confidence.

In this blog, we have included:

1. U2A1 summary which contains key knowledge to assist with SAC and exam preparation.

2. List of common mistakes/sources of confusion and common question types in this area of study.

Motion is ubiquitous in our day to day lives. Whether you are riding a bicycle or skiing down a slope, various everyday situations involving motion can be described using fundamental physics principles. In this area of study, you will cover several important concepts which characterise motion.

First, you will learn the difference between scalars and vectors. Scalars are quantities that only have a magnitude, such as distance and energy. Vectors are quantities that have both magnitude and direction, such as velocity or force. Key skills such as vector addition, vector subtraction and the resolution of vectors will be covered. Moreover, you will explore basic motion concepts such as displacement, velocity and acceleration. You will learn how to interpret displacement-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs, and apply equations of constant acceleration (often termed ‘suvat’ equations) to different scenarios.

Next, you will learn about Newton’s three laws of motion, which are fundamental principles that explain forces and motion. Newton’s first law states that “an object at rest or moving at a constant velocity will continue to do so unless acted on by an unbalanced force”. Newton’s second law states that “the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to the object’s mass”, and is commonly described using the formula F(net)=ma. Lastly, Newton’s third law states that “every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force, and these act on different objects”. You will also learn how to apply Newton’s laws in the context of complex situations involving motion such as inclined planes and connected bodies. Furthermore, you will explore the concepts of momentum and impulse in collisions involving multiple bodies, and use this to explain why safety features such as airbags or a crumple zone can protect the occupants during a collision.

In addition, you will learn the concept of torque, which is the turning effect produced by a force that acts at a certain distance from a ‘pivot point’, such as a spanner turning a bolt. You will apply this to various scenarios involving translational equilibrium, which is when the net force is zero, and rotational equilibrium, which is when the net torque around a pivot point is zero. Lastly, you will cover the concepts of energy, work and power. In particular, various types of energy will be explored such as gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy and elastic potential energy, and situations involving energy transformations between these types.

From velocity-time graphs to energy transformations, our comprehensive U2 AoS 1 summary, crafted by high-scoring expert tutors Asel and Logan, helps elucidate the area of study, breaking it down step by step. It will serve as a powerful revision tool for the SAC and exam, concisely covering the key knowledge associated with each dot point in the study design, as well as all the key formulas and equations you need to know. Utilising this summary for SAC revision will help you reinforce your conceptual understanding and can help identify knowledge gaps, ensuring that you possess a robust knowledge of the area of study.

Click here to download our U2 AoS 1 Summary

‍

‍

Common mistakes and areas of confusion in U2 AoS 1

As you read through the summary, it is important to take note of the following concepts which are common sources of confusion or error for students:

1. Vector subtraction:

o The change in a quantity (eg. change in velocity) is equal to the final minus the initial.

o If a change in direction has also occurred, you need to use vector subtraction (reverse the direction of the initial vector and add this to the final vector).

2. Finding the resultant vector:

o If the vector triangle is a right-angled triangle, the magnitude of the resultant vector can be found using Pythagoras, and the direction can be found using trigonometry.

o However, if the vector is not a right angled triangle, the best approach is to resolve the individual vectors into perpendicular components and add these separately in the horizontal and vertical directions. Then, add the net forces in the horizontal and vertical directions using a vector triangle.

3. Newton’s second law:

o For calculations involving inclined planes, resolve the gravitational force into perpendicular components, one down the plane and one perpendicular to this.

o For calculations involving connected bodies, to calculate the acceleration, treat the system as a whole. To find the force between the two bodies (eg. tension if connected by a string), isolate one of the bodies and use Newton’s second law.

4. Newton’s third law: The reaction force to the gravitational force on an object by the Earth is the gravitational force on the Earth by the object, NOT the normal force.

5. Torque calculations:

o Remember to consider the gravitational force acting on the beam in torque calculations (will act at the centre of mass of the beam).

o Rotational equilibrium: net torque = 0. Use this when calculating forces (or distances) causing rotation around pivot point. Don’t include forces acting at the pivot point itself.

o Translational equilibrium: net force = 0. Use this when calculating forces acting at the pivot point itself.

‍

Common question types in U2 AoS 1

-   Adding/subtracting vectors

-   Resolving vectors into perpendicular components

-   Interpreting velocity-time graphs and worded problems

-   Calculations involving the equations of constant acceleration

-   Newton’s three laws explanation questions

-   Newton’s second law calculations, including complex scenarios such as inclined planes and connected bodies

-   Calculations and explanations involving the conservation of momentum (eg. collisions)

-   Calculating impulse, including force-time graphs

-   Explaining how safety features (eg. airbags) work to protect occupants according to impulse

-   Calculations involving torque, translational equilibrium and rotational equilibrium

-   Calculating work done, including force-distance graphs

-   Power calculations

- Energy transformation calculations, including vertical spring questions

‍

Don’t miss out, subscribe below to access even more free resources! By joining our newsletter, you will stay updated with expert tips, new study materials, and special offers.

Interested in taking your learning further? Enrol in our classes to unlock a comprehensive bank of practice questions, revision sets, and a practice SAC designed to test and strengthen your knowledge — all supported by our experienced tutors.

Contact us today to book your free 15-minute academic consultation and find out how we can help you achieve your goals!

‍

‍