Cutline SummerFor your next chapter at OtagoPHSI191
Summer prep course.
Build a method for physics questions before first year begins. PHSI191 preparation in Cutline Summer starts with maths and units, then connects motion, energy, fluids, electricity and light to biological problems.
Included in the whole Cutline Summer programme.
Forces in balance
A crate moves right across a level floor at constant velocity. A horizontal pull of 45 N acts to the right. What is the friction force? The pull and friction are the only horizontal forces.
In the full lesson videos, your tutor explains each step out loud, so you can follow the method as well as the working.
How to prepare for PHSI191
If you can follow a worked answer but struggle to start alone, practise choosing the model before choosing the equation. Draw what is happening, list what is known and identify the quantity the question asks for.
Refresh the maths you will use
Rearrange equations with symbols before putting numbers in. Revisit ratios, powers of ten, graph gradients and basic trigonometry. Notice whether the difficulty is the maths or the physical idea.
Draw before calculating
For a forces question, draw the object and the forces acting on it. Choose a direction to call positive. This makes the signs in your equation a decision you can explain.
Check the result against the situation
Check units and ask whether the sign and size make sense. If an input doubles, predict the direction of the change before calculating again.
Try the reasoning
An introductory Cutline example, not an official exam question.
The same perpendicular force is spread over a larger contact area. How does the average pressure change?
Show the explanation
Average pressure decreases because pressure = force / area. The force is unchanged and the area is larger. This comparison assumes the stated force is the perpendicular force acting over that area.
A formula is also a relationship. Use it to make a prediction, with its assumptions, before doing arithmetic.
What the PHSI191 Summer course will cover
Tutors will walk you through realistic physics exam-style questions, explaining how to choose an approach and work through the calculations.
Planned Cutline Summer modules. These describe our preparation scope, not an official university course outline or a claim that every assessment is covered.
Physics jumpstart
Units, graphs, algebra, ratios, trigonometry, vector components, scientific notation and logarithms.
Practise applying it: Rearrange an equation, substitute values and check the units and sign of your answer.
Motion and forces
Displacement, acceleration and projectiles; force diagrams, friction, drag, circular motion, torque and equilibrium.
Practise applying it: Draw a force diagram and use Newton’s laws to justify the resulting motion.
Energy and momentum
Work, kinetic and potential energy, conservation, power, efficiency, momentum, impulse and collisions.
Practise applying it: Choose an energy or momentum model and explain what is conserved in a collision.
Oscillations and waves
Spring forces and energy, simple harmonic motion, wave propagation, interference and standing waves.
Practise applying it: Use a wave pattern to identify nodes and connect wavelength with frequency.
Solids and fluids
Density, deformation, pressure, buoyancy, surface tension, fluid flow, viscosity, diffusion and osmosis.
Practise applying it: Calculate pressure or flow and state which assumptions make your model appropriate.
Heat and thermodynamics
Temperature, gases, phase changes, calorimetry, humidity, heat transfer and energy use in the body.
Practise applying it: Choose the right heat calculation for a temperature change or a phase change.
Electricity and circuits
Charge, electric fields, potential, capacitors, current, resistance, circuit laws and charging circuits.
Practise applying it: Use circuit laws to calculate current and potential difference across connected components.
Light and optics
Reflection, refraction, lenses, mirrors, the eye, corrective lenses, interference, diffraction and resolution.
Practise applying it: Use a ray diagram and lens equation to explain image position and size.
Atoms, radiation and matter
Atomic energy levels, photons, nuclear decay, half-life, radiation interactions, dose and medical imaging.
Practise applying it: Calculate radioactive decay and explain how radiation interacts with tissue in an imaging example.
Part of Cutline Summer
One programme covering CELS191, CHEM191, PHSI191 and HUBS191. Choose Summer for the course, or Summer + Mentoring for additional support.
Short lessons, tutor walkthroughs and exam-style practice are planned for Summer. Try a beta lesson to see the approach while the full programme is being built.
- Summer
- NZ$699
- Summer + Mentoring
- NZ$1,199
- Programme access
- 16 November 2026 to 28 February 2027
Prices are in NZD and include GST. These are whole-programme plans, not separate paper purchases.
Join the free waitlistConfirm your email for Summer updates and the free student guide. No payment today.
Compare plans and enrolment datesQuestions about PHSI191 preparation
Is this Otago JumpStart Physics?
No. Cutline Summer is an independent preparation programme. Otago runs its own JumpStart Physics course with specific eligibility criteria. If your school physics or maths background is limited, read the university’s guidance before deciding what support fits.
Is this different from the PHSI191 question bank?
Yes. Summer is preparation before the year begins. If you are already taking the paper, visit PHSI191 practice questions for the in-year practice options.
For official paper information, see Otago’s PHSI191 page and its HSFY preparation guidance.
Explore the other Summer papers
Read the HSFY summer preparation guide
Cutline is independent of the University of Otago. Summer is optional preparation, not a university paper or a requirement for admission. Summer is new, so programme outcomes are not yet measured.