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
The de Broglie wavelength
- 3 things to know
- Unit AS 2
Overview
De Broglie equation, defining every symbol with its unit and de Broglie's hypothesis.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
How does the de Broglie relation apply to photons?
Key term
Why can an electron microscope resolve much finer detail than a light microscope?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
State the de Broglie equation, defining every symbol with its unit.
Model answer
λ = h/mv, where λ is the de Broglie wavelength in metres, h is the Planck constant in J s, m is the mass of the particle in kg and v is its speed in m s⁻¹.
- 2
Write the de Broglie equation in terms of momentum.
Model answer
λ = h/p, where p is the momentum of the particle in kg m s⁻¹ and h is the Planck constant in J s.
- 3
State de Broglie's hypothesis.
Model answer
De Broglie proposed that every moving particle has an associated wavelength given by the Planck constant divided by its momentum, so that matter as well as radiation shows wave-particle duality.
- 4
Why is the wavelength associated with a moving particle called its de Broglie wavelength?
Model answer
It is named after de Broglie, who first suggested that the relation λ = h/p already known for photons should apply to particles with mass as well.
- 5
What happens to the de Broglie wavelength of a particle as its speed increases?
Model answer
The wavelength decreases, because it is inversely proportional to the momentum and therefore to the speed for a given mass.
- 6
What happens to the de Broglie wavelength of particles of the same speed as their mass increases?
Model answer
The wavelength decreases in inverse proportion to the mass, which is why heavier particles show wave behaviour far less readily.
Other ways to work this
The same content, four other ways.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
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.
Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.