| O LEVEL PURE PHYSICS Paper 3 Practical — Planning (P) |
| Paper 3 | Planning (P) | Overall | Syllabus |
| 40 marks │ 1h 50 min | ~5–6 marks per planning question | Paper 3 = 20% of O Level | 6091 (Physics) |
Section 1: What is Planning in O Level Physics?
Planning questions test your ability to design a complete, logical physics investigation from scratch. Unlike open-ended experiments, a planning question gives you a proposed relationship between two quantities and asks you to design an experiment to verify it or find constants within it.
Physics Planning: You must always state clearly how you will measure each physical quantity, name the specific instrument, state how to control other variables, and describe how to extract a constant from a graph. Vague answers like ‘measure the voltage’ with no mention of instrument or method score zero.
The Four Pillars of Every Physics Planning Answer
| Pillar | What It Requires | Mark Value |
| 1. Variables | State IV (what you change), DV (what you measure), and CVs (what you keep constant) — with specific quantities and symbols | 1 mark |
| 2. Procedure | Numbered steps describing: specific apparatus, how IV is changed, how DV is measured, how many readings to take | 2–3 marks |
| 3. Graph & Analysis | State the graph to plot, what gradient and intercept represent, and how to find the unknown constant from the graph | 1–2 marks |
| 4. Additional Detail | Safety precautions linked to specific hazards, and accuracy improvements specific to this experiment | 1 mark |
| Key O Level Physics Rule: Always use the same symbols as the equation given in the question. Write variables explicitly as ‘the independent variable is [symbol], which is [quantity].’ Measurements must be linked to a named instrument. Equations must be linearised step-by-step before stating the graph. |
Section 2: The Three Types of Physics Planning Questions
O Level Physics planning questions fall into three broad types. Recognising the type immediately tells you what the DV is, what apparatus you need, and how to linearise the equation.
Type A: Electrical Circuit Investigations
You investigate how a circuit component (resistor, LDR, thermistor, capacitor) behaves as one electrical quantity is varied.
| Feature | Details |
| Typical IVs | Distance from a light source / cm; temperature / °C; resistance / Ω; voltage / V; time / s |
| Typical DVs | Current I / A; voltage V / V; resistance R / Ω; charge Q / C; count rate |
| Key CVs | Supply voltage; other resistances in circuit; temperature of environment; light intensity of surroundings |
| Measurement | Voltmeter across component; ammeter in series; ohmmeter or calculate R = V/I; ruler for distance |
| Conclusion | Plot suitable graph (e.g. R against d); gradient or intercept gives the unknown constant |
| Calculating Resistance: R = V / I. If measuring voltage across LDR (V_L) and voltage across fixed resistor (V_AB) with known R: current I = V_AB / R. Then R_LDR = V_L / I. Always state which voltmeter reading you are using. |
The full set of notes, which includes sections such as Step-by-Step Formula is available in hard copy for students who sign up for any of our regular practical lessons, Crash Courses or Mock Exams.
- Topics Tested in Past O-Level Physics Paper 3 Practical Exam
- Topics Tested in Past O-Level Chemistry Paper 3 Practical Exam
- Topics Tested in Past O-Level Biology Paper 3 Practical Exam
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