VCE Physics worked exam problems by Area of Study: the 2026 guide

What this guide is for

VCE Physics Unit 3-4 exam preparation requires fluency with calculation patterns across all areas of study. This guide presents worked problems for each AoS, with step-by-step solutions showing the marking conventions VCAA expects.

Unit 3 AoS 1: Motion in two dimensions

Projectile motion

Problem. A ball is thrown horizontally at 15 m/s from a height of 20 m. (a) Time to hit the ground. (b) Horizontal range.

Solution.

(a) Vertical motion: $s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2$. $u = 0$ vertical, $a = 9.8$ m/s$^2$ down, $s = 20$ m.

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$t = 2.02$ s.

(b) Horizontal motion: $x = v_x t = 15 \times 2.02 = 30.3$ m.

Circular motion

Problem. A car of mass 1200 kg goes around a curve of radius 50 m at 20 m/s. Find the centripetal force.

Solution. $F_c = mv^2/r = 1200 \times 400 / 50 = 9600$ N.

Unit 3 AoS 2: Fields and forces

Gravitational

Problem. A satellite orbits Earth in a circular orbit of radius $r = 7.0 \times 10^6$ m. Find its orbital period. ($GM = 3.99 \times 10^{14}$ m$^3$/s$^2$.)

Solution. $T^2 = \frac{4\pi^2 r^3}{GM} = \frac{4\pi^2 (7 \times 10^6)^3}{3.99 \times 10^{14}}$.

$r^3 = 3.43 \times 10^{20}$. $T^2 = 4\pi^2 \times 3.43 \times 10^{20} / 3.99 \times 10^{14} = 3.39 \times 10^7$. $T = 5821$ s $\approx 97$ min.

Electric field between parallel plates

Problem. A 12 V battery is connected across parallel plates 2.0 mm apart. (a) Field strength? (b) Force on an electron in the field?

Solution.

(a) $E = V/d = 12 / 0.002 = 6000$ V/m.

(b) $F = qE = 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \times 6000 = 9.6 \times 10^{-16}$ N.

Unit 3 AoS 3: Electromagnetic induction

Faraday's law

Problem. A coil of 200 turns with area 0.040 m$^2$ is in a magnetic field that changes from 0.20 T to 0.50 T in 0.50 s. Find the induced EMF.

Solution. $\Delta \Phi$ per turn = $\Delta B \times A = 0.30 \times 0.040 = 0.012$ Wb.

$\varepsilon = N \frac{\Delta \Phi}{\Delta t} = 200 \times 0.012 / 0.50 = 4.8$ V.

Transformer

Problem. A transformer has 500 primary turns and 100 secondary turns. Input 240 V at 0.5 A. Find secondary voltage and current (ideal transformer).

Solution. $V_s / V_p = N_s / N_p = 100/500 = 1/5$. $V_s = 48$ V.

Power conservation: $V_p I_p = V_s I_s$. $I_s = V_p I_p / V_s = 240 \times 0.5 / 48 = 2.5$ A.

Unit 4 AoS 1: Light and matter

Photoelectric effect

Problem. Light of frequency $7.5 \times 10^{14}$ Hz incident on a metal with work function 2.4 eV. ($h = 4.14 \times 10^{-15}$ eV s.) Find $E_{k,max}$ of ejected electrons.

Solution. Photon energy $= hf = 4.14 \times 10^{-15} \times 7.5 \times 10^{14} = 3.1$ eV.

$E_{k,max} = hf - \phi = 3.1 - 2.4 = 0.7$ eV.

de Broglie

Problem. An electron is accelerated through 200 V. Find its de Broglie wavelength.

Solution. Shortcut: $\lambda = 1.226 / \sqrt{V}$ nm $= 1.226/\sqrt{200} = 0.087$ nm.

Unit 4 AoS 2 (interference and waves)

Young's double-slit

Problem. Light $\lambda = 600$ nm, slits 0.20 mm apart, screen 1.5 m away. Find fringe spacing.

Solution. $\Delta x = \lambda L / d = 600 \times 10^{-9} \times 1.5 / 0.20 \times 10^{-3} = 4.5 \times 10^{-3}$ m $= 4.5$ mm.

Malus's law

Problem. Unpolarised light intensity $I_0$ passes through a polariser, then through a second at 30 degrees to the first. Find the final intensity.

Solution. After first polariser: $I_0/2$. After second (Malus): $(I_0/2) \cos^2(30) = (I_0/2)(3/4) = 3 I_0/8$.

Multi-mark working pattern

For each numerical question:

1. State the principle (Faraday's law, Newton's second law).
2. Write the formula in symbolic form.
3. Substitute values with units.
4. Calculate with appropriate significant figures.
5. State the answer with units.

VCAA awards method marks for correct identification of the principle and formula, even if the calculation slips.

Common errors

Unit conversion forgotten. mm, MHz, mW, kV all need converting to SI base units.

Significant figures. Typically 3 sig fig (occasionally 2 for very imprecise data).

Vector vs scalar confusion. Force, momentum, velocity are vectors; speed and energy are scalars.

Sign convention. Choose positive direction, apply consistently.

Wrong $h$ value. Use $h = 6.626 \times 10^{-34}$ J s, or $h = 4.14 \times 10^{-15}$ eV s, but match units throughout.

In one sentence

VCE Physics Unit 3-4 exam problems test calculation across all areas of study (projectile and circular motion, gravitational and electric fields, magnetic forces, electromagnetic induction, light and matter waves, photoelectric effect, interference); strong responses identify the physics principle, write the formula, substitute with units, calculate to 3 sig fig, and state the final answer with units.