O-Level Physics Mechanics Practical Playbook (Paper 3)
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)30 Nov 2025, 00:00 Z
Reviewed by
Chee Wei Jie
Academic Advisor (Physics)
TL;DR
Paper 3 explicitly lists measurement, density, (g), and moments investigations as core practical experiences for 6091 Physics in 2026 (SEAB syllabus).
MMO marks hinge on disciplined instrument handling - calipers, micrometers, balances, spring balances, and stopwatches all appear in the six mechanics tasks.
ACE credit comes from linking gradients, intercepts, and systematic effects to the mechanics concepts that the syllabus expects (forces equilibrium, torque balance, free-fall model).
Keep Your Physics Practical Stack On Track
Use our O-Level Physics Experiments hub to find companion drills for every Paper 3 skill before you attempt these walkthroughs.
1 | Measurement toolkit spotlighted by SEAB
- The 2026 syllabus requires candidates to measure length, volume, mass, temperature, current, and voltage with standard lab instruments before they tackle any mechanics investigation (items 1–2, SEAB 2026 Physics syllabus).
- Practise density determinations for regular and irregular solids that sink in water - examiners expect buoyancy corrections, displaced-volume readings, and significant-figure discipline (item 2, SEAB 2026 Physics syllabus).
- Calibrate balances and spring balances before recording measurements, and note zero-error corrections because Planning (P) marks reward risk controls (SEAB 2026 Physics syllabus).
| Instrument | MMO focus | PDO / ACE reminders |
| Tapes / rules / calipers | Align scale centrally and quote to 0.1 cm or 0.01 cm depending on instrument. | Record zero offsets, repeat along perpendiculars, and compute average diameters for density or moment arms. |
| Micrometers | Check ratchet clicks for consistent pressure. | Apply zero-error correction before averaging; express radius/diameter with propagated uncertainty in ACE commentary. |
