A-Level Mechanics Revision Guides
A-Level Maths
A-Level Mechanics Revision Guides
An Explanation Guide and a Practice Guide for A-Level Mechanics, used across exam boards.
- A-Level
- All boards
- 8 areas
The Explanation Guide sets out how each method works, step by step. The Practice Guide holds the questions with their answers and worked solutions, which is the part worked in three passes.
The two guides
Digital PDF, sent to the email address on your order.
The subject
Mechanics is one of the two applied halves of A-Level Maths, sat alongside Statistics. It covers quantities and units, kinematics in a straight line and in two dimensions, forces and Newton's laws, moments, friction and projectile motion.
The 3-step active recall method
Re-reading notes is a futile process when your aim is to remember the information and successfully apply it in exam settings. Active recall is the method you use to ensure the information sticks for a long period of time.
But even active recall can be futile unless you have a structured way of implementing it. This is where the 3-step active recall method comes in, a structured method that is signature to the Levo Learning guides.
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Step 1
Answer up to 10 questions cold, closed book, even if you are unsure on the topic.
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Step 2
Answer the same questions again, but open book. Write the correct answer down even if it seems pointless.
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Step 3
Repeat as step 1 and answer the questions closed book again.
Worked through the Practice Guide, one set of questions at a time.
Memorisation, then application
Marks are given for applying content to the question that has been set, which cannot happen while the content is still being looked up. Step 1 shows what is actually held.
Step 2 puts the correct wording in front of you while the gap is still fresh. Step 3 repeats the cold test, and the difference between the first and third attempt is the part that has moved.
In maths the same applies to method. The steps of a technique have to be produced without the worked solution in front of you before an unfamiliar question can be attempted.
What is covered
Open an area to see the methods inside it.
Quantities and units2 methods
- Converting between units
- Derived units in terms of SI base units
Kinematics: constant acceleration3 methods
- Constant acceleration in a straight line (SUVAT)
- Vertical motion under gravity
- Vector kinematics (constant acceleration)
Kinematics: motion graphs2 methods
- Multi-stage motion (trapezium speed-time graph)
- Interpreting a displacement-time graph
Kinematics: variable acceleration2 methods
- Variable acceleration in a straight line (calculus)
- Variable acceleration (calculus kinematics)
Projectiles5 methods
- Projectile motion under gravity
- Projectile launched from above the ground
- Horizontal projection from a height
- The equation of the trajectory of a projectile
- Speed and direction of a projectile at a given time
Forces, friction and equilibrium6 methods
- Limiting equilibrium on a rough inclined plane
- Equilibrium on a rough inclined plane (numerical)
- Block held on a rough incline by a horizontal force, then released
- Newton’s second law on a rough horizontal plane
- Rough horizontal plane with the force at an angle
- A particle in equilibrium under three forces
Connected particles4 methods
- Connected particles over a smooth pulley on a rough incline
- Connected particles over a pulley at a table edge
- Car and trailer: tension and thrust in a tow bar
- A person in an accelerating lift
Moments4 methods
- Moments: a uniform rod resting on a smooth peg
- Moments: a uniform rod on two supports
- Moments: a non-uniform rod (mass and centre of mass)
- Moments: a rod on the point of tilting
Questions
What is in the A-Level Mechanics guides?
Two guides. The Explanation Guide works through each method step by step.
The Practice Guide holds questions with answers and full worked solutions. Between them they cover 8 areas of mechanics.
Which exam board are the Mechanics guides for?
A-Level Maths content is common across the main boards, so the guides are used with AQA, Edexcel, OCR and MEI alike.
How do I use active recall with maths?
Work the Practice Guide in three passes. Attempt up to 10 questions closed book, work the same questions again with the solutions open and write the correct working down, then attempt them closed book again.