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
Wave-Particle Duality
- 4 subtopics
- 11 things to know
- Unit AS 2
What Wave-Particle Duality covers
Wave-Particle Duality is examined in Unit AS 2, Waves, Photons and Astronomy, and drawn on again in Unit AS 3, Practical Techniques and Data Analysis. It covers wave model, photon model and both, electron diffraction, the de Broglie wavelength and calculations with the de Broglie equation.
Where it is assessed
Unit AS 2
Waves, Photons and Astronomy, and again in Unit AS 3, Practical Techniques and Data Analysis.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 4 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Wave model, photon model and bothRecall questions on what wave-particle duality means, which properties of light the wave model explains, which effects need the photon model, which are explained by either, and the case-by-case classification of diffraction, the photoelectric effect, Young's fringes, line spectra, polarisation and reflection.Open →
- Electron diffractionRecall questions on the electron diffraction tube and what is seen on its screen, why a ring pattern rather than spots appears, why a crystal is used rather than a slit, how the ring size changes with the accelerating voltage and how that supports de Broglie, why a cricket ball cannot be diffracted, and why the tube must be evacuated.Open →
- The de Broglie wavelengthDe Broglie equation, defining every symbol with its unit and de Broglie's hypothesis.Open →
- Calculations with the de Broglie equationRecall questions applying λ = h/mv to an electron, a proton, a neutron, a cricket ball and a walking person, working back from a wavelength to a speed or a momentum, the derivation of λ = h/√(2meV) for an accelerated electron, and why about 100 V is a suitable accelerating voltage for a demonstration.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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How does the de Broglie relation apply to photons?
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Why can an electron microscope resolve much finer detail than a light microscope?
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At what speed must an electron travel to have a de Broglie wavelength of 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ m?
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Derive an expression for the de Broglie wavelength of an electron accelerated from rest through a potential difference V.
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Explain the statement that light travels as a wave but interacts as a particle.
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What is seen on the fluorescent screen in an electron diffraction tube?
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Give one observation that could never be explained by treating light purely as a stream of particles.
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In an electron diffraction tube, why is a ring pattern produced rather than a set of separate spots?
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What happens to the diameters of the rings when the accelerating voltage in an electron diffraction tube is increased?
Numbers
Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of an electron travelling at 1.0 × 10⁷ m s⁻¹.
Take Wave-Particle Duality further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is meant by wave-particle duality?
Model answer
Wave-particle duality is the idea that electromagnetic radiation and matter each show wave behaviour in some experiments and particle behaviour in others, and that a complete description needs both models.
- 2
Name three properties of light that are explained by the wave model.
Model answer
Diffraction, interference and polarisation are all explained by the wave model and cannot be explained by treating light as a stream of particles.
- 3
Name two effects that require the photon model rather than the wave model.
Model answer
The photoelectric effect and the production of line spectra both require the photon model, because each depends on radiation delivering its energy in discrete amounts.
- 4
Name two behaviours of light that can be explained by either model.
Model answer
Reflection at a plane surface and refraction at a boundary can both be described successfully by the wave model or by the photon model.
- 5
Is the formation of a diffraction grating pattern explained by the wave model, the photon model or both?
Model answer
By the wave model, because the sharp beams arise from the superposition of waves from many slits arriving in phase.
- 6
Is the photoelectric effect explained by the wave model, the photon model or both?
Model answer
By the photon model only, because the threshold frequency and the instant emission cannot be reconciled with energy arriving as a continuous wave.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Wave-Particle Duality revision questions
- What does Wave-Particle Duality cover in CCEA A-Level Physics?
- 4 subtopics: wave model, photon model and both, electron diffraction, the de broglie wavelength and calculations with the de broglie equation. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Wave-Particle Duality organised?
- By the CCEA 1210 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Wave-Particle Duality, 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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