Useful Links
Access to good resources makes Scholarship Physics much easier to comprehend, so quickPhysics NZ has compiled a list of superb resources available to anyone and everyone. All of the provided links will open in a new tab.
Links to Videos
Sam Hight and The Physics Lounge:
Sometimes, written resources cannot get the point across as easily as visual and aural resources can. Sam Hight has great video resources where past paper questions are explained and topics reviewed succinctly.
- The Physics Lounge Home Page: http://pl.samhight.com/
- Sam Hight YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNU1XvdgBxjPA_oj_s7mFfw
Andrew Sargent:
Following on with the audio-visual learning resources is Andrew Sargent's YouTube channel. As well as explaining answers to examination questions, Andrew Sargent also provides links to other resources, such as notes, through the 'About' page on his channel.
- Andrew Sargent YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4w3qN2fKGPtxwhjnbcGrIg/about
- Year 13 Content Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1V5m_DJHLkcfmhCTVNlME9idU81TVRfcjNxejNTT2l0b09XZWFISms2NUlqTE9mNERYeGc
stewartphysics
stewartphysics is another great YouTube resources which, unlike the aforementioned YouTube channels, explains physical concepts and ideas rather than going over past paper questions. These short videos can be used in the days leading up to the Scholarship Physics examination, to ensure that all key concepts are understood.
- stewartphysics YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/stewartphysics/featured
Lectures by Walter Lewin. They will make you ♥ Physics.
Yes, this one may seem a bit odd at first glance, especially considering that his YouTube channel is mainly made up of art reviews and quizzes, but this is a superb resource. Walter Lewin was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is arguably the best university for physics in the world. Being in the physics faculty, he obviously had a great passion for physics which comes through in his lectures. Some of the lectures can make quite difficult viewing, but it is completely worth it if you can stick them out. Included in the video descriptions are lecture notes and assignments with answers, which make for a great question bank.
- 8.01x Physics I: Classical Mechanics Lectures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWnfJ0-xXRE&list=PLyQSN7X0ro203puVhQsmCj9qhlFQ-As8e
- 8.02x Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtlJoXxlSFE&list=PLyQSN7X0ro2314mKyUiOILaOC2hk6Pc3j
- 8.03 Physics III: Vibrations and Waves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf3XlpPtBo0&list=PLyQSN7X0ro22WeXM2QCKJm2NP_xHpGV89
Khan Academy
One of the best websites for video-based learning is Khan Academy. If you want to learn physics, Khan Academy is a brilliant resource.
- Physics, Science, Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics
PhysicsTube
The YouTube of the physics world, PhysicsTube has explanations and examples for nearly every single physics concept needed for Scholarship Physics. Play these videos in the background of your study, or use them as quick breaks from intensive revision.
- PhysicsTube: http://physicstube.co.nz
No Brain Too Small
If you have got to Level 3 without the aid of No Brain Too Small, congratulations. But to those who regularly use this website, keep doing so as it has some brilliant resources, including notes and past papers. To access the Scholarship Physics page, one must Google 'Scholarship Physics No Brain Too Small' or use the link provided below, as there is no internal link within the website. The Scholarship Physics page is perfect for accessing past papers.
- No Brain Too Small Level 3 Physics: http://www.nobraintoosmall.co.nz/html/senior_physics/NCEA3_physics.html
- No Brain Too Small Scholarship Physics: https://www.nobraintoosmall.co.nz/NCEA/phySch/phySch.htm
the Physics Classroom
A combination of activities, quizzes, animations and explanations, this website has it all.
- the Physics Classroom: https://www.physicsclassroom.com
Advanced Placement Past Paper Questions
Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are US based high school courses that are aimed at top students, enabling them to have an experience of introductory level university courses while still at high school. The AP Physics past papers require a bit more calculus than the average Level 3 or A Level examination, and are hence good practise for Scholarship Physics.
- AP Past Papers: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-physics-1/exam/past-exam-questions
Sometimes, written resources cannot get the point across as easily as visual and aural resources can. Sam Hight has great video resources where past paper questions are explained and topics reviewed succinctly.
- The Physics Lounge Home Page: http://pl.samhight.com/
- Sam Hight YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNU1XvdgBxjPA_oj_s7mFfw
Andrew Sargent:
Following on with the audio-visual learning resources is Andrew Sargent's YouTube channel. As well as explaining answers to examination questions, Andrew Sargent also provides links to other resources, such as notes, through the 'About' page on his channel.
- Andrew Sargent YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4w3qN2fKGPtxwhjnbcGrIg/about
- Year 13 Content Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1V5m_DJHLkcfmhCTVNlME9idU81TVRfcjNxejNTT2l0b09XZWFISms2NUlqTE9mNERYeGc
stewartphysics
stewartphysics is another great YouTube resources which, unlike the aforementioned YouTube channels, explains physical concepts and ideas rather than going over past paper questions. These short videos can be used in the days leading up to the Scholarship Physics examination, to ensure that all key concepts are understood.
- stewartphysics YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/stewartphysics/featured
Lectures by Walter Lewin. They will make you ♥ Physics.
Yes, this one may seem a bit odd at first glance, especially considering that his YouTube channel is mainly made up of art reviews and quizzes, but this is a superb resource. Walter Lewin was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is arguably the best university for physics in the world. Being in the physics faculty, he obviously had a great passion for physics which comes through in his lectures. Some of the lectures can make quite difficult viewing, but it is completely worth it if you can stick them out. Included in the video descriptions are lecture notes and assignments with answers, which make for a great question bank.
- 8.01x Physics I: Classical Mechanics Lectures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWnfJ0-xXRE&list=PLyQSN7X0ro203puVhQsmCj9qhlFQ-As8e
- 8.02x Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtlJoXxlSFE&list=PLyQSN7X0ro2314mKyUiOILaOC2hk6Pc3j
- 8.03 Physics III: Vibrations and Waves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf3XlpPtBo0&list=PLyQSN7X0ro22WeXM2QCKJm2NP_xHpGV89
Khan Academy
One of the best websites for video-based learning is Khan Academy. If you want to learn physics, Khan Academy is a brilliant resource.
- Physics, Science, Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics
PhysicsTube
The YouTube of the physics world, PhysicsTube has explanations and examples for nearly every single physics concept needed for Scholarship Physics. Play these videos in the background of your study, or use them as quick breaks from intensive revision.
- PhysicsTube: http://physicstube.co.nz
Links to Notes
No Brain Too Small
If you have got to Level 3 without the aid of No Brain Too Small, congratulations. But to those who regularly use this website, keep doing so as it has some brilliant resources, including notes and past papers. To access the Scholarship Physics page, one must Google 'Scholarship Physics No Brain Too Small' or use the link provided below, as there is no internal link within the website. The Scholarship Physics page is perfect for accessing past papers.
- No Brain Too Small Level 3 Physics: http://www.nobraintoosmall.co.nz/html/senior_physics/NCEA3_physics.html
- No Brain Too Small Scholarship Physics: https://www.nobraintoosmall.co.nz/NCEA/phySch/phySch.htm
the Physics Classroom
A combination of activities, quizzes, animations and explanations, this website has it all.
- the Physics Classroom: https://www.physicsclassroom.com
Links to Questions
Advanced Placement Past Paper Questions
Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are US based high school courses that are aimed at top students, enabling them to have an experience of introductory level university courses while still at high school. The AP Physics past papers require a bit more calculus than the average Level 3 or A Level examination, and are hence good practise for Scholarship Physics.
- AP Past Papers: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-physics-1/exam/past-exam-questions
Other Links
These links are, perhaps, the most useful links on the quickPhysics NZ website. They provide you with information about the syllabus, as well as grade thresholds and boundaries which indicate what level you need to be performing at to obtain a Scholarship or Outstanding Scholarship. Keep these links handy, or regularly return to this page, to ensure that you constantly have an eye on what your goals are.
- NZQA Scholarship Physics Page: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/awards/new-zealand-scholarship/scholarship-subjects/scholarship-physics/
- NZQA Scholarship Results and Boundaries: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/awards/new-zealand-scholarship/scholarship-results/
- NZQA Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/awards/new-zealand-scholarship/questions-and-answers/
PhysLink Physics and Astronomy Reference
This site has every constant, proportionality or quantity that you need to know, and more. It is a very handy for when you have forgotten something like the composition of air, or unit conversions (especially useful for some of the imperial units used in the AP questions), so keep this link close-by.
- PhysLink Physics and Astronomy Reference: https://www.physlink.com/Reference/Index.cfm
Sciblogs
Finally, this post on Sciblogs from Marcus Wilson, a physicist working at The University of Waikato with a BA(Hons) from Cambridge University and PhD from Bristol University, about how he finds Scholarship Physics hard. Return to this post regularly, as it provides some context around Scholarship Physics, because it is one of the most difficult examinations one can sit at the high school level. Remember, if it was easy, everyone would do it.
- Sciblogs Scholarship Physics Post: https://sciblogs.co.nz/physics-stop/2009/09/17/scholarship-physics-questions/
