Prep4Uni Physics 1 - Student Guide

Prep4Uni.Online Physics 1 is a step-by-step primer on the mechanics you’ll use in every STEM degree. It starts from the essentials and builds toward exam-ready problem solving with clear visuals, fully worked examples, and graded practice.

Designed for pre-university learners, first-year STEM students, and returning learners who want to turn “I kind of get it” into confident, calculation-ready understanding.

Focus: kinematics, forces (Newton’s laws), energy & work, momentum, fields, and simple circular/rotational ideas where needed.
How you’ll learn: concept → worked example → guided practice → quick recap, with plain-English explanations and neat diagrams.
What you’ll gain: stronger fundamentals, faster set-up of equations, and exam-style confidence for university mechanics.
Assumed background: basic algebra and right-triangle trigonometry; everything else is taught from first principles.

If you’re preparing for engineering or physics courses and want a clear, practice-rich path to mastery, this course is for you.

Course Overview

Prep4Uni Physics 1 is an introductory, mechanics-focused course for learners
heading into university engineering or physics who want a clear, confidence-building start.
We begin with the essentials, then apply them to real motion—so formulas become tools, not
hurdles.

SECTION I — Foundations of Physics:
Units and measurement, vectors and scalars, forces and motion, work–energy–power,
and fields. Short concept notes are paired with neat visuals and quick checks to confirm understanding.
SECTION II — Mechanics in Action:
Kinematics and projectiles (ideal and with air resistance), modelling assumptions,
and interpretation of graphs. You’ll practice setting up problems systematically and explaining results.

Every topic includes concise explanations, clean diagrams, fully worked examples,
low-barrier quizzes (no login), and curated links for deeper exploration. The course is
fully self-paced and designed to build both competence (methods that work)
and confidence (knowing why they work) before you tackle university modules.

You’ll finish with: stronger fundamentals, faster setup of equations,
and a habit of checking units, limits, and assumptions—the hallmarks of successful first-year study.

Syllabus at a Glance

Five concise chapters build from essentials to real motion. Each chapter includes quick concept notes,
fully worked examples, short checks for understanding, and a practice set.

Chapter 1: Quantities and Measurement
Units (SI), prefixes, significant figures, measurement error, and vectors vs. scalars.
Outcome: set up problems with correct units, convert confidently, and report answers to a sensible precision.
Chapter 2: Forces and Moments
Free-body diagrams, Newton’s laws, equilibrium, moments/torque, couples, and center of gravity.
Outcome: model forces cleanly, check balance conditions, and compute turning effects in simple mechanisms.
Chapter 3: Motion and Forces
Kinematics (s–v–a–t), motion graphs, constant-acceleration equations, friction and drag (qualitative).
Outcome: translate between words, equations, and graphs; choose and apply the right kinematics relation.
Chapter 4: Energy and Fields
Work, kinetic and potential energy, power, efficiency, gravitational and electric fields, field lines and equipotentials.
Outcome: use energy methods to cross-check force/kinematics solutions and reason about field effects.
Chapter 5: Projectile Motion
Horizontal/angled launches, time of flight, range, maximum height, effects of air resistance (qualitative).
Outcome: decompose motion into perpendicular components, solve step-by-step, and explain assumptions clearly.

Study flow per chapter: concept → worked example → mini-quiz → practice set → recap.

What You’ll Achieve

These are the concrete skills you’ll be able to demonstrate after completing the course.

Use SI units, prefixes, significant figures, and vectors correctly in worked solutions.
Draw clean free-body diagrams and apply F = ma in horizontal/vertical components.
Pick the right kinematics form for a situation: time-based (v=u+at) or displacement-based (v²=u²+2as).
Track energy transfers (work, KE, GPE, elastic) and argue from conservation principles.
Describe fields, equipotentials, and ideal projectile motion (and note drag effects qualitatively).

Prerequisites & Pacing

Come as you are—this course assumes only basic algebra and right-triangle trigonometry.

Math: rearranging formulas, sine/cosine, reading simple graphs.
Time plan: 5 chapters → ~5–10 hours if you attempt all exercises.
Sequence: Chapters 1→5 are cumulative; revisit earlier chapters when stuck.

Study Kit (Downloadables)

Print once, use throughout: reduce cognitive load and speed up revision.

Formula Sheet (A4) — kinematics, forces, energy, fields. (PDF link coming soon)
Mistake Tracker — log first wrong step + corrected step to prevent repeats. (PDF link coming soon)

Tip: keep these at the front of your notebook; update after each chapter.

How to Use the Exercises

A simple loop: attempt → check → diagnose → re-solve → recap.

Quick checks: try “Learning-Check” items before peeking at answers.
Worked examples: annotate why each step is valid (law, definition, identity).
Problems: solve without hints; if stuck, name the missing idea (e.g., “forgot components”).
Error log: record the first wrong step and re-solve correctly after a short break.

Notation & Conventions

Consistency prevents sign errors and unit slips—the most common exam mistakes.

Vectors: italic letters for scalars and vectors (components v_x, v_y).
Signs: right/up positive unless stated; g = 9.8 m·s⁻² acts downward.
Units: SI only; keep units on each line until the final boxed answer.
Sig. figs.: match the least precise input unless instructions differ.

Help & Updates

If a step isn’t clear, cite the chapter and question label via our contact page—we’ll refine the solution and update the page.

Freshness: This course is periodically reviewed to add clarifications from learner feedback.

Physics 1 — Quick FAQ

Do I need prior physics?

No. The course starts with units, vectors, and measurement. If you can rearrange formulas and use basic trig, you’re ready.

How should I pace the chapters?

Aim for 1–2 hours per chapter. Do the Learning-Checks immediately; save the longer Problems for spaced practice.

Calculator and notation rules?

Use SI units; keep 3–4 significant figures in intermediate steps; label vectors with components and directions explicitly.

Where do I find more practice?

Each chapter ends with graded Problems. Re-attempt missed items after 24–48 hours and log them in the Mistake Tracker.

How is drag handled in projectiles?

Core results use ideal motion (no drag) for clarity. You’ll also see qualitative notes on air resistance and terminal velocity so you can reason about real-world deviations.

Next Steps

Start with Topic 1: Quantities and Measurement.
Read the overview first, then move through the sub-sections in order.
In each chapter, follow this flow:
Concept → Worked example → Mini-quiz → Practice set → Recap.
Use the worked examples as templates for your own solutions.
Attempt the EXERCISES (two parts):
- Questions & Answers — quick checks for immediate feedback.
- Problems & Solutions — exam-style items with step-by-step reasoning.
When you get stuck, bookmark the section and move on. After seeing the idea again in a new context,
return and try the same item without looking at the solution first.
As you finish a chapter, write a 3-line recap:
(1) key formula(s), (2) when to use them, (3) a common mistake to avoid.
This builds a compact revision sheet for later topics.
Revisit earlier chapters whenever a later problem references them
(e.g., use Quantities & Measurement for unit checks in energy and motion questions).

Good to know: Prep4Uni Physics 1 is self-paced — take your time, review as often as needed, and use the worked
examples and mini-quizzes to measure progress.

Additional Resources

Reinforce the ideas in Prep4Uni Physics 1 with these curated pages from across Prep4Uni.Online. Each link deepens a core skill that appears throughout the course (units, forces, motion, energy, and fields).

- Classical Mechanics — A big-picture hub for how forces produce motion and how models (particles, rigid bodies) are used in analysis.
  
  Supports: Chapters 2–5 (forces, energy, projectiles).
- Dynamics and Kinematics — Puts “how things move” (kinematics) together with “why they move” (dynamics) using vectors and free-body diagrams.
  
  Supports: Chapters 2–3 (forces & motion).
- Kinematics — Displacement, velocity, acceleration, and motion graphs in 1D/2D.
  
  Supports: Chapters 3 & 5 (motion equations, projectile paths).
- Statics — Conditions for equilibrium, moments, and resultant forces.
  
  Supports: Chapter 2 (forces & moments).
- Newton’s First Law of Motion — Inertia and what “no net force” really means in practice.
  
  Supports: Chapters 2–3 (free-body reasoning).
- Newton’s Second Law of Motion — Connecting net force to acceleration in component form.
  
  Supports: Chapters 2–3 (F=ma, problem setup).

Newton’s Third Law of Motion — Interaction pairs, contact forces, and common misconceptions.

Supports: Chapters 2–3 (action–reaction pairs in diagrams).
Fundamental Forces of Nature — How gravity, electromagnetism, and the nuclear forces fit into a unified view.

Supports: Chapter 4 (energy & fields).
Solid Mechanics — Stress, strain, and material response; bridges physics with engineering applications.

Supports: Chapters 2 & 4 (forces, energy viewpoint).

How to use these: skim the overview, note the key definitions and diagrams, then return to your current chapter and re-attempt one previously tricky problem. If it now feels straightforward, you’ve closed that knowledge gap.