VCE Physics: the exam, Units 3 and 4, and practice questions with answers

Each daily paper has 8 original questions worth 25 to 35 marks. The Year 12 Physics paper fits Unit 3 in its circular motion, gravitational, electric and magnetic field, and electromagnetic induction questions; skip capacitors, ideal gases, simple harmonic motion and radioactivity. The Year 11 Physics paper fits in its projectile, momentum, energy, uncertainty, diffraction and photoelectric effect questions; skip circuits, particles and Young modulus.

The VCE Physics exam

You get a formula sheet, and you may bring one scientific calculator and pre-written notes on one folded A3 sheet (or two A4 sheets taped together). Every outcome in Units 3 and 4 can be examined, along with the key science skills. That is the VCAA's exam specification for the study design from 2024. In 2026 the exam is on Thursday 12 November, 9:00 to 11:45 am, and results come out on Thursday 10 December.

VCE Physics Units 3 and 4

School-assessed Coursework is worth 30% of the study score in Unit 3 and 20% in Unit 4, which includes the poster. The VCAA moderates your school's SAC marks against the group's exam results, keeping your rank in the group. Study scores are scaled to a mean of 30, out of 50.

VCE Physics practice questions with answers

We wrote these for this page. Use g = 9.8 m/s², e = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ C, m_e = 9.109 × 10⁻³¹ kg and h = 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J s.

1. A banked curve. A curve of radius 80 m is banked so that a car at 20 m/s needs no friction. Find the banking angle. Answer: the horizontal part of the normal force provides the centripetal force, so tan θ = v² ÷ (rg) = 400 ÷ 784 = 0.510 and θ = 27.0°. Explore circles in the Circular Motion Calculator.

2. An electron in fields. An electron is accelerated from rest through 2000 V, then enters a 0.010 T magnetic field at right angles. Find its speed and the radius of its path. Answer: its kinetic energy is qV = 3.20 × 10⁻¹⁶ J, so v = √(2E_k ÷ m) = 2.65 × 10⁷ m/s. Setting qvB equal to mv² ÷ r gives r = mv ÷ (qB) = 1.5 cm. This speed is under 10% of c, so the classical formula is fine.

3. Transmission losses. A generator sends 50 kW through lines with a total resistance of 4.0 Ω. Compare the power lost when it transmits at 10 kV and at 2.0 kV. Answer: at 10 kV, I = P ÷ V = 5.0 A and the loss is I²R = 100 W. At 2.0 kV, I = 25 A and the loss is 2500 W, 25 times more. That is why step-up transformers raise the voltage for transmission.

4. Young's double slit. Red light of wavelength 650 nm passes through two slits 0.25 mm apart onto a screen 2.0 m away. How far apart are the bright fringes? Answer: Δx = λL ÷ d = 650 × 10⁻⁹ × 2.0 ÷ 0.25 × 10⁻³ = 5.2 mm. Fringes at all is evidence that light behaves as a wave. See the pattern in the Wave Interference simulator.

5. Matter waves. What is the de Broglie wavelength of the electron in question 2? Answer: λ = h ÷ p = h ÷ (mv) = 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ ÷ (9.109 × 10⁻³¹ × 2.65 × 10⁷) = 2.7 × 10⁻¹¹ m, similar to the gaps between atoms in a crystal lattice, which is why a crystal diffracts electrons of this energy. Photons carry momentum too: work out a photon's energy in our Light and Energy course, then press Mark.

6. Time dilation. A muon's lifetime at rest is 2.2 µs. How long does it last, measured from Earth, when it travels at 0.98c? Answer: γ = 1 ÷ √(1 − 0.98²) = 5.03, so the Earth observer measures 2.2 × 5.03 = 11 µs. That's why muons made high in the atmosphere reach the ground.

Use the daily papers as a VCE Physics trial

1. Sit today's Year 12 Physics paper to the suggested time, 35 to 45 minutes, with your A3 notes and formula sheet.
2. Skip the capacitor, ideal gas, simple harmonic motion and radioactivity questions.
3. For Unit 4, sit the diffraction and photoelectric questions on the Year 11 Physics paper; neither paper has special relativity, so use VCAA past exams for it.
4. Mark it and sort each lost mark by area of study.

Common VCE Physics mistakes

• Drawing a centripetal force as an extra force. It is the net force, made up of real forces such as normal force, gravity or tension.
• Using altitude as the orbital radius. Measure r from the centre of the planet.
• Forgetting to square the current when working out transmission losses.
• Saying brighter light gives faster photoelectrons. Intensity changes how many; frequency sets their maximum energy.
• Swapping proper time and dilated time. Proper time is measured in the frame where the clock is at rest, and it is always the shorter one.

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