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
Thermal Physics
- 8 subtopics
- 24 things to know
- Unit A2 1
What Thermal Physics covers
Thermal Physics is examined in Unit A2 1, Deformation of Solids, Thermal Physics, Circular Motion, Oscillations and Atomic and Nuclear Physics, and drawn on again in Unit A2 3. It covers Boyle's law, Charles's law and the pressure law, the ideal gas equation pV = nRT, the Avogadro constant, the mole and pV = NkT, internal energy and the distribution of molecular energy, the kinetic theory equation pV = ⅓Nm⟨c²⟩, average molecular kinetic energy and temperature, absolute zero and the kelvin scale and specific heat capacity and the electrical method.
Where it is assessed
Unit A2 1
Deformation of Solids, Thermal Physics, Circular Motion, Oscillations and Atomic and Nuclear Physics, and again in Unit A2 3.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 8 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Boyle's law, Charles's law and the pressure lawRecall questions on the statement of each of the three gas laws and an experiment to demonstrate each, the shapes of the graphs and what to plot for a straight line through the origin, why pressure changes must be made slowly, the combined equation pV/T = constant, worked calculations, and why temperatures must be in kelvin.Open →
- The ideal gas equation pV = nRTIdeal gas and value and unit of the molar gas constant.Open →
- The Avogadro constant, the mole and pV = NkTValue and unit of the Avogadro constant and value and unit of the Boltzmann constant.Open →
- Internal energy and the distribution of molecular energyInternal energy of a substance and temperature and internal energy.Open →
- The kinetic theory equation pV = ⅓Nm⟨c²⟩Mean square speed of the molecules of a gas, root mean square speed and how the kinetic theory equation accounts for Boyle's law.Open →
- Average molecular kinetic energy and temperatureRecall questions on ½m⟨c²⟩ = (3/2)kT and what it says about the meaning of temperature, its derivation from pV = ⅓Nm⟨c²⟩ and pV = NkT, worked calculations of mean kinetic energy and root mean square speed, comparing helium with oxygen at one temperature, and why light gases escape a planet's atmosphere.Open →
- Absolute zero and the kelvin scaleAbsolute zero of temperature, value of absolute zero on the Celsius scale and temperature of the triple point of water in kelvin.Open →
- Specific heat capacity and the electrical methodRecall questions on the definition of specific heat capacity, Q = mcΔθ and the SI unit, worked energy calculations, the electrical method with a metal block using an immersion heater, joulemeter and thermometer, why oil is put in the thermometer hole, the effect of heat lost to the surroundings, and how the result is obtained from a graph.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Describe an experiment to show that p/T is constant for a fixed mass of gas at constant volume.
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Why must temperatures in the gas laws always be in kelvin and never in degrees Celsius?
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State the ideal gas equation in the form using the number of moles, and define every symbol.
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Explain what is meant by saying that molecular energies are randomly distributed.
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State the kinetic theory equation for the pressure of an ideal gas and define every symbol.
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Explain how the kinetic theory equation accounts for Boyle's law.
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At the same temperature, how do the root mean square speeds of hydrogen and oxygen molecules compare?
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Explain how a pressure against temperature graph for a fixed mass of gas at constant volume can be used to find absolute zero.
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Why is it wrong to say that a gas at 40 °C is twice as hot as a gas at 20 °C?
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Describe an electrical method for determining the specific heat capacity of a metal block.
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State the equation used to find the electrical energy supplied by a heater when measuring specific heat capacity, defining every symbol
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State the ideal gas equation in the form using the number of molecules, and define every symbol.
Numbers
Calculate the mean kinetic energy of a gas molecule at 300 K.
Key term
State the value and unit of the molar gas constant.
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State the value and unit of the Avogadro constant.
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Define the internal energy of a substance.
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How is the total kinetic energy of one mole of an ideal gas obtained from the average kinetic energy of a molecule?
Numbers
Calculate the pressure of 2.0 mol of an ideal gas occupying 0.050 m³ at 300 K.
Key term
State the value and unit of the Boltzmann constant.
Key term
Why does the internal energy of a fixed mass of ideal gas depend only on its temperature?
Numbers
Calculate the total internal energy of 1.0 mol of an ideal gas at 300 K.
Key term
What is meant by absolute zero of temperature?
Key term
State the equation for the thermal energy needed to change the temperature of a substance and define every symbol.
Take Thermal Physics further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
State Boyle's law.
Model answer
For a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature, the pressure is inversely proportional to the volume, so pV = constant.
- 2
Describe an experiment to show that pV is constant for a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature.
Model answer
A column of dry air is trapped in a graduated glass tube by oil, and a foot pump raises the pressure on the oil, which is read on a Bourdon gauge. The length of the trapped column gives the volume, and readings are taken slowly so that the air stays at room temperature. The product of pressure and volume is the same for every reading.
- 3
What shape is the graph of pressure against volume for a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature?
Model answer
It is a smooth curve of the shape of a rectangular hyperbola, falling steeply at small volumes and flattening at large volumes.
- 4
What quantities should be plotted to give a straight line through the origin for a gas obeying Boyle's law?
Model answer
Pressure should be plotted on the y-axis against 1/V on the x-axis, which gives a straight line through the origin of gradient equal to the constant pV.
- 5
Why must the pressure be changed slowly when testing Boyle's law?
Model answer
Compressing a gas quickly warms it, so slow changes allow heat to escape and keep the gas at the constant temperature the law requires.
- 6
State the law relating the volume and the temperature of a fixed mass of gas at constant pressure.
Model answer
For a fixed mass of gas at constant pressure the volume is directly proportional to the absolute temperature, so V/T = constant. This is Charles's law.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Thermal Physics revision questions
- What does Thermal Physics cover in CCEA A-Level Physics?
- 8 subtopics: boyle's law, charles's law and the pressure law, the ideal gas equation pv = nrt, the avogadro constant, the mole and pv = nkt, internal energy and the distribution of molecular energy, the kinetic theory equation pv = ⅓nm⟨c²⟩, average molecular kinetic energy and temperature, absolute zero and the kelvin scale and specific heat capacity and the electrical method. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Thermal Physics organised?
- By the CCEA 1210 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in 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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