Moving from AS to the Second Year of OCR A Level Physics

You have survived your first year of OCR A Physics. The second year is where it comes together, but it can feel like a step up. Modules 5 and 6 are more abstract, the maths becomes more demanding, and the exams expect you to connect topics rather than answer them in isolation.

For most pupils yes — mainly because it is more abstract and more maths-heavy, and the exams are synoptic.

First-year questions usually stay within one topic. Full A Level questions are synoptic: they combine ideas, often from both years, and expect you to choose the right physics from a much larger toolkit.

The physics is still about capacitors, but now you handle exponential decay, work with energy as well as charge ($E \propto Q^2$), and explain a subtle difference in reasoning. That is the real jump.

Answer honestly — this is a guide to what you should focus on first, not a test.

1. Topics become more abstract

Gravitational, electric and magnetic fields are invisible — you reason about them through models, field lines and equations rather than direct observation.

2. The maths steps up

You meet radians, angular quantities, exponential decay, natural logs, log-linear graphs and inverse-square laws. Capacitor discharge and radioactive decay follow the same exponential pattern: $Q = Q_0 e^{-t/RC}$ and $N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}$.

3. Exams become synoptic

Any paper can pull together first-year and second-year content, so your first-year knowledge is live exam material you must keep warm.

Some first-year topics are the direct foundation for the hardest second-year content.

Many pupils think they are struggling with second-year Physics when the real issue is the new maths. Spend regular time on these skills over summer.

Radians and angular quantities

Circular motion and SHM use radians, not degrees: $\text{radians} = \text{degrees} \times \frac{\pi}{180}$. You also meet $\omega = 2\pi f$, $v = \omega r$ and $a = \omega^2 r$.

Exponential decay, natural logs and log graphs

Capacitor discharge and radioactive decay both decay exponentially: $Q = Q_0 e^{-t/RC}$ and $N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}$. Taking natural logs turns an exponential into a straight line — for example $\ln N = \ln N_0 - \lambda t$, so a graph of $\ln N$ against $t$ has gradient $-\lambda$.

Inverse-square laws

Gravitational and electric fields from point sources obey inverse-square laws, e.g. $g = \frac{GM}{r^2}$. Doubling the distance reduces the field to a quarter, not a half — get comfortable with this proportional reasoning.

A $2200 \text{ μF}$ capacitor is charged to $12 \text{ V}$, then discharged through a $47 \text{ kΩ}$ resistor. Calculate the potential difference across the capacitor $60 \text{ s}$ after discharge begins.

1. Find the time constant in base units: $RC = (47 \times 10^{3}) \times (2200 \times 10^{-6}) = 103 \text{ s}$.
2. Potential difference decays like charge: $V = V_0 e^{-t/RC}$.
3. Substitute: $V = 12 \times e^{-60/103} = 12 \times 0.558 = 6.7 \text{ V}$ (2 s.f.).

Tap each card to sort it. This shows how explanation quality steps up.

These topics are brand new in the second year of OCR A Physics. Tick the ones you feel confident you understand the maths behind — the rest are your summer and Year 13 priorities.

Around 2–3 short sessions per week, each 30–45 minutes. The aim is warm first-year knowledge and the new maths in place.

Your aim is to avoid the "I understood it in lesson, so I'm fine" trap — and to keep first-year content alive.