Foundation Physics Tuition Online (Physics I and II)
Foundation Physics I and II: circular motion, gravitation, matter, fluids, oscillations and waves, then electricity, magnetism, heat and thermodynamics.
Founder & Head of School, Afterkelas
Afterkelas teaches foundation Physics online to students on university foundation programmes, for Physics I and Physics II. University tutors run live classes, 1-to-1 or in small groups, working from the student's own course outline.
What foundation Physics covers
The topics MQA's curriculum guidelines set for each course. Universities order and name them in their own way, so tutors map them to the student's outline.
Physics I
8 topics- Mechanics: circular and rotational motion
- Gravitation
- States of matter
- Fluids
- Simple harmonic motion
- Waves
- Wave optics
- Sound
Physics II
7 topics- Electrostatics
- Electricity: direct current
- Electricity: alternating current
- Magnetism
- Electromagnetism
- Heat
- Thermodynamics
Mechanics and waves, then electricity and heat
Physics I, which every science student takes, starts with circular motion and the rotation of rigid bodies, then covers gravitation, the elastic behaviour of solids, fluids, simple harmonic motion, waves, wave optics and sound. Physics II, for the physical sciences specialisation, covers electrostatics and capacitors, direct and alternating current circuits, magnetism and electromagnetic induction, then heat and thermodynamics.
Rotational motion and alternating current circuits are common sticking points, because both rely on ideas students meet for the first time at this level. Tutors slow down there, with more diagrams and more worked problems.
Where marks are lost
Calculations lose marks to units, significant figures and vector directions; explanations lose marks by being vague. Tutors drill a fixed layout: the equation first, then the substitution, then the answer with its unit.
Questions on fluids and thermodynamics often hinge on choosing the right principle, such as continuity or Bernoulli's equation, or which gas process applies. Students practise naming the principle before writing an equation.
Lab reports and your course outline
Lab reports are part of the coursework in most foundation physics courses. Tutors can explain the physics of an experiment, the graph and the treatment of uncertainties, but the report is the student's own. Because each university writes its own outline within MQA's guidelines, the tutor starts from that outline and its past assessments.
A question, worked through
A Physics I question on simple harmonic motion: a mass oscillating on a spring.
Question
A 0.50 kg mass on a horizontal spring of stiffness 200 N m⁻¹ oscillates with an amplitude of 0.040 m. Find (a) the angular frequency, (b) the period, (c) the maximum speed and (d) the maximum acceleration.
- (a) ω = √(k ÷ m) = √(200 ÷ 0.50) = √400 = 20 rad s⁻¹.
- (b) T = 2π ÷ ω = 2π ÷ 20 = 0.314 s.
- (c) The maximum speed is at the centre: v = ωA = 20 × 0.040 = 0.80 m s⁻¹.
- (d) The maximum acceleration is at the ends: a = ω²A = 400 × 0.040 = 16 m s⁻².
Answer (a) 20 rad s⁻¹. (b) 0.314 s. (c) 0.80 m s⁻¹. (d) 16 m s⁻².
Frequently asked questions
Do I take Physics II on a life sciences track?
Not in MQA's guideline structure: Physics I is in the science core for everyone, and Physics II belongs to the physical sciences specialisation. Universities can arrange their programmes differently, so check the course list for your programme.
Do you follow my university's course outline?
Yes. Names and order differ between universities, so the tutor works from the outline and past assessments the student shares.
When should foundation Physics tuition start?
In the first weeks of the semester, since mechanics comes first and the rest of Physics I builds on it.
How much does foundation Physics tuition cost?
The fee depends on the format (1-to-1 or a small group), how many classes a week and the tutor, so there is no single figure. Send an academic advisor the university, the course code and the latest assessment results on WhatsApp, and you will get the current packages and a quote, usually within one working day.