Numbers
AQA A-Level Physics 7408
Measurements and Their Errors
Particles and Radiation
Topic overviewConstituents of the atomStable and unstable nucleiParticles, antiparticles and photonsParticle interactionsClassification of particlesQuarks and antiquarksApplications of conservation lawsThe photoelectric effectCollisions of electrons with atomsEnergy levels and photon emissionWave-particle duality
Waves
Mechanics and Materials
Electricity
Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics
Fields and Their Consequences
Topic overviewFieldsNewton's lawGravitational field strengthGravitational potentialOrbits of planets and satellitesCoulomb's lawElectric field strengthElectric potentialCapacitanceParallel plate capacitorEnergy stored by a capacitorCapacitor charge and dischargeMagnetic flux densityMoving charges in a magnetic fieldMagnetic flux and flux linkageElectromagnetic inductionAlternating currentsTransformers
Nuclear Physics
AstrophysicsOptional topic
Topic overviewAstronomical telescope consisting of two converging lensesReflecting telescopesSingle dish radio telescopes, I-R, U-V and X-ray telescopesAdvantages of large diameter telescopesClassification by luminosityAbsolute magnitude, MClassification by temperature, black-body radiationPrinciples of the use of stellar spectral classesThe Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagramSupernovae, neutron stars and black holesDoppler effectHubble's lawQuasarsDetection of exoplanets
Medical PhysicsOptional topic
Topic overviewPhysics of visionDefects of vision and their correction using lensesEar as a sound detection systemSensitivity and frequency responseDefects of hearingSimple ECG machines and the normal ECG waveformUltrasound imagingFibre optics and endoscopyMagnetic resonance (MR) scannerThe physics of diagnostic X-raysImage detection and enhancementAbsorption of X-raysCT scannerImaging techniquesHalf-lifeGamma cameraUse of high-energy X-raysUse of radioactive implantsImaging comparisons
Engineering PhysicsOptional topic
Turning Points in PhysicsOptional topic
Topic overviewCathode raysThermionic emission of electronsSpecific charge of the electronPrinciple of Millikan's determination of the electronic charge, eNewton's corpuscular theory of lightSignificance of Young's double slits experimentElectromagnetic wavesThe discovery of photoelectricityWave–particle dualityElectron microscopesThe Michelson-Morley experimentEinstein's theory of special relativityTime dilationLength contractionRelativistic mass and energy
ElectronicsOptional topic
Topic overviewMOSFET (metal-oxide semiconducting field-effect transistor)Zener diodePhotodiodeHall effect sensorDifference between analogue and digital signalsLC resonance filtersThe ideal operational amplifierInverting amplifier configurationNon-inverting amplifier configurationSumming amplifier configurationReal operational amplifiersCombinational logicSequential logicAstablesPrinciples of communication systemsTransmission mediaTime-division multiplexingAmplitude (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) techniques
Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics
- 7 subtopics
- 46 things to know
- Papers 2 and 3
What Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics covers
Further mechanics and thermal physics is examined on Papers 1, 2 and 3, with periodic motion on Paper 1 and thermal physics on Paper 2. It extends mechanics to circular and oscillating motion, then treats heat, the gas laws and the kinetic theory that explains them.
Where it is assessed
Papers 2 and 3
Core content, then practical skills and data analysis.
Check the AQA specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Circular motionAngular speed, centripetal acceleration and centripetal force, and what supplies it.Open →
- Simple harmonic motion (SHM)The defining condition a = −ω²x, the displacement, velocity and acceleration equations, and the graphs.Open →
- Simple harmonic systemsThe mass-spring system and the simple pendulum, energy in SHM, damping, and the two required practicals.Open →
- Forced vibrations and resonanceFree and forced vibration, the condition for resonance, and how damping changes the resonance curve.Open →
- Thermal energy transferSpecific heat capacity, specific latent heat, changes of state, and measuring both.Open →
- Ideal gasesBoyle's and Charles's laws, pV = nRT and pV = NkT, absolute zero, and work done by a gas.Open →
- Molecular kinetic theory modelDeriving the kinetic theory equation, root mean square speed, and internal energy of an ideal gas.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Numbers
What unit is angular speed measured in, and how is centripetal acceleration calculated?
Numbers
What do the terms in a = ω²r mean, and what happens to a if ω is doubled, or if r is doubled at constant ω?
Numbers
How is centripetal force calculated from linear and from rotational quantities?
Numbers
How is angular speed found from frequency, and what does halving the mass do to the force?
Key term
How many radians are there in one complete revolution?
Key term
What is required for an object to maintain motion in a circular path at constant speed?
Numbers
How is simple harmonic motion defined, and which way does the acceleration point?
Numbers
What do the symbols in a = −ω²x mean, and why is a cosine used for displacement?
Numbers
How is velocity expressed in SHM, and why does the equation carry a ± sign?
Numbers
Where is speed greatest in SHM, and how does the velocity graph relate to displacement?
Numbers
At maximum displacement in SHM, what are the velocity and acceleration?
Numbers
What happens as an oscillator passes through the centre, and what shape is the displacement graph?
Numbers
What is the time period of a mass-spring system, and what does it depend on?
Numbers
What small-angle approximation is used, and when does a pendulum truly show SHM?
Numbers
Why is the potential energy curve parabolic, and how does kinetic energy vary with time?
Numbers
Why does kinetic energy vary at twice the frequency of displacement, and what is damping?
Evaluation
In the mass-spring practical, what is plotted and what does the gradient give?
Evaluation
In the pendulum practical, what is plotted and what does the gradient give?
Evaluation
Why time many oscillations rather than one in the mass-spring and pendulum practicals?
Numbers
What are the two systems used in Required Practical 7 to investigate simple harmonic motion?
Numbers
What is resonance, and what condition must be met for it to occur?
Process
Why is amplitude greatest at resonance, and what is damping?
Process
How do heavy and light damping change the shape of the resonance curve?
Key term
What effect does heavy damping have on the resonance curve of a system?
Key term
What determines the resonant frequency of an air column?
Key term
What are specific heat capacity and specific latent heat, and what unit is the former in?
Process
What unit is specific latent heat in, and how is the electrical method set up?
Numbers
How is specific heat capacity calculated electrically, and what is done in the method of mixtures?
Process
Why does temperature stay constant during a change of state?
Process
In the method of mixtures, what temperature measurement is taken after mixing?
Key term
What equipment can be used to investigate how temperature changes with time during a phase change?
Numbers
What do Boyle's law and Charles's law each state for a fixed mass of gas?
Numbers
What do N and n stand for in the gas equations, and what is absolute zero?
Numbers
When is pV = NkT used instead of pV = nRT, and when is W = pΔV valid?
Numbers
What is the value and unit of the molar gas constant, and how is the Boltzmann constant defined?
Key term
What are molar mass and molecular mass, and what units does molar mass take?
Numbers
How are molar mass and molecular mass related, and why is one so much larger?
Key term
What does extrapolating a Charles's law graph to zero volume indicate?
Key term
Under what conditions do real gases approximate ideal gas behaviour?
Numbers
In the kinetic theory derivation, how are the momentum change and the force on a wall found?
Numbers
How is root mean square speed calculated, and what forms the internal energy of an ideal gas?
Numbers
How is the average kinetic energy of a gas molecule related to temperature?
Numbers
Why does a factor of one third appear in the kinetic theory derivation?
Key term
State the kinetic theory assumption regarding the motion of gas molecules
Process
According to molecular kinetic theory, how does pressure arise in a gas?
Take Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Angular speed vs Linear speed
Angular speed: angle swept per unit time. Linear speed: distance travelled per unit time.
Specific heat capacity vs Specific latent heat
Specific heat capacity: energy required per kilogram per kelvin. Specific latent heat: energy required per kilogram for state change.
Brownian motion vs Molecular motion
Brownian motion: random motion of suspended visible particles. Molecular motion: random motion of microscopic constituent particles.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Why does an object moving in a circular path at constant speed still experience an acceleration?
Model answer
Although the speed is constant, the direction of velocity is continuously changing, which constitutes a change in velocity and therefore an acceleration.
- 2
Explain why an object in uniform circular motion has zero tangential acceleration but non-zero centripetal acceleration.
Model answer
The speed is constant so there is no acceleration along the direction of motion (tangential), but the velocity direction changes continuously, requiring an acceleration directed towards the centre.
- 3
What is required for an object to maintain motion in a circular path at constant speed?
Model answer
A centripetal force is required.
- 4
Why is centripetal force not a separate type of force but rather a description of the role a force plays?
Model answer
Centripetal force describes any force (such as tension, friction, or gravity) that acts towards the centre of a circular path to maintain circular motion; it is not a distinct force in itself.
- 5
In what direction does centripetal force act?
Model answer
Towards the centre of the circular path.
- 6
What is the direction of centripetal acceleration?
Model answer
Towards the centre of the circular path.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics revision questions
- What does Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics cover in AQA A-Level Physics?
- 7 subtopics: circular motion, simple harmonic motion (shm), simple harmonic systems, forced vibrations and resonance, thermal energy transfer, ideal gases and molecular kinetic theory model. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics organised?
- By the AQA 7408 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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