§-Past paper

VICPhysics2024

VCE Physics 2024

Walkthrough of the 2024 VCE physics exam: what it assessed, strategy tips, and the common errors flagged in the official marker report.

Marks: 130
Time: 150 min
Authority: VCAA
Updated: 2026-05-29

Open the official PDF ->Official marking notes

What this paper assessed

This VCAA Physics Units 3 & 4 examination is a 130-mark paper sat over 150 minutes (plus 15 minutes reading time), combining multiple choice (Section A) with short- and extended-answer items (Section B). It assesses:

Unit 3 - How do fields explain motion and electricity? Gravitational, electric and magnetic fields ( $F = \frac{GMm}{r^2}$ , field strength, potential energy in fields), the application of fields to motion (satellites, projectile and circular motion), and electromagnetic induction generating electricity (Faraday's and Lenz's laws, transformers, transmission).
Unit 4 - How have creative ideas and investigation revolutionised thinking in physics? Waves and light (interference, diffraction, the wave model), the photoelectric effect and quantum nature of light/matter, and Einstein's special relativity (time dilation, length contraction, mass-energy equivalence).

Many items require extracting data from a graph, applying a relationship, then commenting on the limitations of the model. The extended response rewards structured reasoning over volume of writing. The 2024 paper leaned harder on application where the context was unfamiliar but the skill was core.

Structure and timing

130 marks in 150 minutes is about 1.15 minutes per mark:

Section A (~20 MC marks): ~25 minutes - about 1.2 min each, flagging uncertain items.
Section B (~110 marks): ~120 minutes at ~1.1 min/mark. A 6-mark field or induction problem deserves ~7 minutes.
Keep the final ~10 minutes for unit and significant-figure checks and flagged MC.

For each calculation, list the formula, the substituted values, and the answer with units; for graph items, mark gradient and intercept before stating the physical meaning.

Worked practice questions (exam-style)

Worked example

Question 1 (5 marks): A satellite of mass 800 kg orbits Earth at a radius of $8.0 \times 10^6\ \text{m}$ . Calculate its orbital period. (Take $G = 6.67 \times 10^{-11}\ \text{N m}^2\,\text{kg}^{-2}$ , $M_{Earth} = 5.97 \times 10^{24}\ \text{kg}$ .)

For a circular orbit, gravity provides the centripetal force, giving $v = \sqrt{\dfrac{GM}{r}}$ :

v = \sqrt{\frac{(6.67\times10^{-11})(5.97\times10^{24})}{8.0\times10^6}} = \sqrt{4.978\times10^{7}} \approx 7.06\times10^3\ \text{m s}^{-1}.

Period $T = \dfrac{2\pi r}{v}$ :

T = \frac{2\pi (8.0\times10^6)}{7.06\times10^3} = \frac{5.027\times10^7}{7.06\times10^3} \approx 7.12\times10^3\ \text{s}.

The orbital period is about $\mathbf{7.1 \times 10^3\ s}$ (≈ 1.98 hours). The satellite's mass does not affect the period.

Worked example

Question 2 (5 marks): A coil of 200 turns and cross-sectional area $2.5 \times 10^{-3}\ \text{m}^2$ sits in a magnetic field perpendicular to the coil. The field changes uniformly from 0.60 T to 0.20 T in 0.50 s. Calculate the magnitude of the average induced EMF.

Flux per turn: $\Phi = BA$ . Change in flux:

\Delta\Phi = (B_f - B_i)A = (0.20 - 0.60)(2.5\times10^{-3}) = (-0.40)(2.5\times10^{-3}) = -1.0\times10^{-3}\ \text{Wb}.

Faraday's law for $N$ turns:

|\varepsilon| = N\left|\frac{\Delta\Phi}{\Delta t}\right| = 200 \times \frac{1.0\times10^{-3}}{0.50} = 200 \times 2.0\times10^{-3} = 0.40\ \text{V}.

Average induced EMF $= \mathbf{0.40\ V}$ . (The induced current would oppose the decreasing flux, by Lenz's law.)

Worked example

Question 3 (5 marks): Monochromatic light of wavelength 450 nm is incident on a metal whose work function is $2.0\ \text{eV}$ . Determine whether photoelectrons are emitted, and if so, find their maximum kinetic energy. (Take $h = 6.63\times10^{-34}\ \text{J s}$ , $c = 3.0\times10^8\ \text{m s}^{-1}$ , $1\ \text{eV} = 1.60\times10^{-19}\ \text{J}$ .)

Because we are given a wavelength rather than a frequency, we use $E = hc/\lambda$ to find the photon energy. We then convert to electron-volts to compare directly with the work function.

Step 1: Calculate the photon energy

Convert the wavelength: $450\ \text{nm} = 450\times10^{-9}\ \text{m}$ . Then:

E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} = \frac{(6.63\times10^{-34})(3.0\times10^8)}{450\times10^{-9}} = \frac{1.989\times10^{-25}}{4.50\times10^{-7}} = 4.42\times10^{-19}\ \text{J}.

Step 2: Convert to eV and compare with the work function

E = \frac{4.42\times10^{-19}}{1.60\times10^{-19}} \approx 2.76\ \text{eV}.

Since $2.76\ \text{eV} > 2.0\ \text{eV}$ (the work function), the photon has sufficient energy and photoelectrons are emitted.

Step 3: Find the maximum kinetic energy

The maximum kinetic energy is the photon energy minus the energy used to free the electron:

E_{k,\max} = E - W = 2.76 - 2.0 = 0.76\ \text{eV} \approx 0.76 \times 1.60\times10^{-19} \approx 1.2\times10^{-19}\ \text{J}.

Final answer: photoelectrons are emitted; maximum kinetic energy is $0.76\ \text{eV}$ ( $\approx 1.2\times10^{-19}\ \text{J}$ ).

Common errors students made

The 2024 VCAA examination report flagged that students:

omitted units in answers;
mixed scalar and vector quantities;
treated projectile motion as one-dimensional rather than resolving components;
forgot that induced EMF depends on the rate of change of flux, not flux itself.

Further traps to avoid:

Inconsistent units - not converting nm to m, or eV to J, before substituting.
Applying time dilation/length contraction in the wrong reference frame, or forgetting effects are reciprocal.
Using the wrong significant figures - match the precision of the data.
Stating a graph trend without quoting gradient/intercept values and their physical meaning.

How to use this paper

Sit Section A in ~25 minutes, then Section B in ~120 minutes, with calculator and the VCAA formula sheet ready.
Self-mark against the official VCAA assessment report and answers at the links in the frontmatter, awarding method marks line by line.
For each calculation, write the relationship, substitute, then evaluate with units and sig figs.
Rewrite one extended response per session as principle, application to the named scenario, and evaluation of assumptions/limitations.

Use this paper well

Sit the paper under exam conditions (150 minutes, 130 marks).
Mark yourself against the official VCAA marking notes.
Compare against the Physics hub to find the syllabus dot points this paper tested.

What this paper assessed

Structure and timing

Worked practice questions (exam-style)

Common errors students made

How to use this paper

Use this paper well

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