Key term
CCEA A-Level Physics 1210
Physical Quantities, Scalars and Vectors
Moments and Equilibrium
Linear Motion and Dynamics
Newton's Laws of Motion
Linear Momentum and Impulse
Work, Energy and Power
Current, Charge and Potential Difference
Resistance and Resistivity
Topic overviewResistance and Ohm's lawOhmic and non-ohmic behaviourResistors in series and in parallelInvestigating current, voltage and resistance in series and parallel circuitsElectrical power and energy in resistive circuitsResistivity and the equation R = ρl/AMeasuring the resistivity of a metalCurrent–voltage characteristics of a conductor, a lamp and a diodeResistance, temperature and superconductivity
Internal Resistance and Potential Dividers
Topic overviewInternal resistance and terminal potential differenceConsequences of internal resistance for external circuitsMeasuring electromotive force and internal resistanceThe potential divider and variable outputPotential dividers in lighting and heating control circuitsLoaded potential dividers and output voltage calculations
Waves
Refraction
Lenses
Superposition, Interference and Diffraction
Topic overviewSuperposition of wavesStanding waves, nodes and antinodesStanding waves on stretched stringsStanding waves in a pipe closed at one endMeasuring the speed of sound with a resonance tubeConditions for observable interferencePath difference and phase differenceYoung's double slitDiffraction at a single slitThe diffraction grating
Quantum Physics
Wave-Particle Duality
Astronomy
Practical Skills and Data Analysis
Topic overviewChoosing and using measuring instrumentsPrecision, accuracy and recording measurementsUsing the cathode ray oscilloscope to measure voltage and frequencyTables, graphs and presenting resultsLinearising a relationship and using the gradientAbsolute and percentage uncertaintyCombining uncertainties and uncertainty on a graphRandom and systematic error, reliability and refining an experiment
Deformation of Solids
Thermal Physics
Topic overviewBoyle's law, Charles's law and the pressure lawThe ideal gas equation pV = nRTThe Avogadro constant, the mole and pV = NkTInternal energy and the distribution of molecular energyThe kinetic theory equation pV = ⅓Nm⟨c²⟩Average molecular kinetic energy and temperatureAbsolute zero and the kelvin scaleSpecific heat capacity and the electrical method
Uniform Circular Motion
Simple Harmonic Motion
Topic overviewDefining simple harmonic motion and a = −ω²xDisplacement, velocity and acceleration: x = A cos ωtThe simple pendulum and T = 2π√(l/g)The loaded spiral spring and T = 2π√(m/k)SHM graphs and finding velocity from a gradientFree vibrations, forced vibrations and resonanceDamping: light, critical and over-damping
The Nucleus and Radioactive Decay
Topic overviewAlpha-particle scattering and the nuclear atomNuclear radius and nucleon numberThe density of nuclear matterAlpha, beta and gamma radiation: nature, penetration and rangeNuclear equations and changes in nucleon and proton numberThe random and exponential nature of radioactive decayActivity, the decay constant and A = −λNExponential decay calculations with A = A₀e^(−λt)Half-life and measuring it
Nuclear Energy, Fission and Fusion
Gravitational Fields
Electric Fields
Capacitors
Magnetic Fields
Charged Particles and Accelerators
Linear Motion and Dynamics
- 6 subtopics
- 17 things to know
- Unit AS 1
What Linear Motion and Dynamics covers
Linear Motion and Dynamics is examined in Unit AS 1, Forces, Energy and Electricity, and drawn on again in Unit AS 3, Practical Techniques and Data Analysis. It covers displacement, velocity and acceleration, the equations of motion for uniform acceleration, measuring the acceleration of free fall with light gates, displacement–time and velocity–time graphs, projectile motion and projectile calculations.
Where it is assessed
Unit AS 1
Forces, Energy and Electricity, and again in Unit AS 3, Practical Techniques and Data Analysis.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 6 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Displacement, velocity and accelerationVelocity and state its SI unit, average velocity and acceleration and state its SI unit.Open →
- The equations of motion for uniform accelerationRecall questions on the four suvat equations and when they may be used, choosing the right one when time or final velocity is unknown, the sign convention for vertical motion, worked problems on a car accelerating and braking and a stone dropped or thrown upwards, and why a journey in stages cannot be done in one step.Open →
- Measuring the acceleration of free fall with light gatesRecall questions on the apparatus and procedure for the two-light-gate method, how the software gets the velocity at each gate, the two equations for g from the velocities, why the interrupt card must pass squarely through the beam, the trade-off in card length, and the main sources of uncertainty.Open →
- Displacement–time and velocity–time graphsRecall questions on what the gradient of each graph represents and what the area under a velocity–time graph gives, the shapes for constant velocity and for uniform acceleration, negative gradients and areas below the axis, finding an instantaneous acceleration from a curve, and worked problems on a vehicle and a train.Open →
- Projectile motionProjectile motion as the combination of two separate motions, why the horizontal velocity of a projectile stays constant and acceleration of a projectile at every point of its flight.Open →
- Projectile calculationsRecall questions treating the horizontal and vertical motions separately: time of flight and range for a ball leaving a bench, the components of a launch velocity at an angle, maximum height, total flight time and range over level ground, and why the horizontal component never changes.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
State the equation for uniform acceleration in terms of initial and final velocity, defining each symbol and its unit.
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Explain how a journey can have a large average speed but an average velocity of zero.
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State the apparatus needed to measure the acceleration of free fall using light gates.
Process
Outline the procedure for measuring the acceleration of free fall using two light gates and an interrupt card.
Key term
State the accepted value of the acceleration of free fall near the Earth's surface and explain why an experimental value is usually a little smaller.
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Explain why the horizontal and vertical motions of a projectile can be treated independently.
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Describe the velocity of a projectile at the highest point of its path.
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Describe how air resistance changes the real path of a projectile compared with the ideal parabola.
Numbers
A football is kicked at 12 m s⁻¹ at 60° above the horizontal. Calculate the maximum height it reaches, taking g as 9.81 m s⁻².
Key term
Explain how the equation s = ½(u + v)t follows from the definition of average velocity.
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What does the gradient of a displacement–time graph represent?
Key term
Explain the sign convention that must be applied when using the equations of motion.
Key term
What does a horizontal section of a displacement–time graph tell you about the motion?
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Explain why the horizontal component of a projectile's launch velocity never appears in the calculation of its time of flight.
Numbers
A stone is dropped from rest and falls 45 m. Calculate its speed on landing, taking g as 9.81 m s⁻².
Key term
What does a negative gradient on a displacement–time graph tell you about the motion?
Take Linear Motion and Dynamics further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Uniform acceleration vs Uniform velocity
Uniform acceleration: the rate of change of motion is steady, so the speed keeps altering. Uniform velocity: nothing is changing at all, so the body travels in a straight line at a fixed rate.
A deceleration always vs A negative acceleration always
A deceleration always: the object is slowing down. A negative acceleration always: it only means the change is directed along the axis chosen as the minus direction, which speeds the object up if it is already travelling that way.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define displacement.
Model answer
Displacement is the straight-line distance of an object from a stated starting point, measured in a stated direction, and it is a vector quantity measured in metres.
- 2
Define velocity and state its SI unit.
Model answer
Velocity is the rate of change of displacement, a vector quantity measured in metres per second (m s⁻¹).
- 3
Define average velocity.
Model answer
Average velocity is the total displacement divided by the total time taken for that displacement, and it is quoted with a direction.
- 4
Define acceleration and state its SI unit.
Model answer
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, a vector quantity measured in metres per second squared (m s⁻²).
- 5
State the equation for average velocity, defining each symbol and its unit.
Model answer
Average velocity is v̄ = Δs/Δt, where v̄ is in m s⁻¹, Δs is the total displacement in metres and Δt is the total time taken in seconds.
- 6
State the equation for uniform acceleration in terms of initial and final velocity, defining each symbol and its unit.
Model answer
Acceleration is a = (v − u)/t, where a is in m s⁻², u is the initial velocity in m s⁻¹, v the final velocity in m s⁻¹ and t the time taken in seconds.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Linear Motion and Dynamics revision questions
- What does Linear Motion and Dynamics cover in CCEA A-Level Physics?
- 6 subtopics: displacement, velocity and acceleration, the equations of motion for uniform acceleration, measuring the acceleration of free fall with light gates, displacement–time and velocity–time graphs, projectile motion and projectile calculations. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Linear Motion and Dynamics organised?
- By the CCEA 1210 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Linear Motion and Dynamics, on a schedule.
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