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Eduqas A-Level Physics A420QS
Basic Physics
Kinematics
Dynamics
Energy Concepts
Circular Motion
Vibrations
Topic overviewDefining simple harmonic motionFrequency, period, amplitude and phaseThe displacement equation for simple harmonic motionVelocity in simple harmonic motionDisplacement and velocity graphsThe mass-spring oscillatorThe simple pendulumEnergy in simple harmonic motionFree oscillation and dampingForced oscillation and resonance
Kinetic Theory
Thermal Physics
Conduction of Electricity
Resistance
Topic overviewPotential difference and the voltResistance, Ohm's law and the ohmI–V characteristics of a metal wire and a filament lampElectrical power and energy transferThe microscopic origin of resistanceResistivity and the equation R = ρl/AResistance and temperatureSuperconductivity and the transition temperatureHigh temperature superconductors and their uses
D.C. Circuits
Capacitance
Solids Under Stress
Electrostatic and Gravitational Fields of Force
Topic overviewElectric field strength and Coulomb's lawGravitational field strength and Newton's law of gravitationField lines and equipotential surfacesElectric potential and potential energyGravitational potential and potential energyResultant fields and potentials from several sourcesComparing electric and gravitational fields
Using Radiation to Investigate Stars
Orbits and the Wider Universe
Topic overviewKepler's laws of planetary motionNewton's law of gravitation applied to planets and satellitesDeriving Kepler's third law for a circular orbitUsing orbital data to find the mass of the central objectGalactic rotation curves and dark matterThe centre of mass of a two-body systemThe Doppler shift of spectral lines and radial velocityMasses in a double system from radial velocity dataHubble's law, the age of the universe and its fate
The Nature of Waves
Wave Properties
Topic overviewDiffraction at slits and obstaclesWavelength, slit width and the spread of the beamThe principle of superpositionCoherence and the conditions for interferencePath difference and the interference conditionsYoung's double slit experimentThe historical importance of Young's experimentThe diffraction gratingComparing the grating with the double slitStationary waves
Refraction of Light
Photons
Topic overviewPhotons and the quantum of lightDemonstrating the photoelectric effectThe vacuum photocell and stopping potentialEinstein's equation and the energy graphThe electromagnetic spectrum and photon energiesLine emission and line absorption spectraAtomic energy levelsIonisation energy from an energy level diagramElectron diffraction and the de Broglie relationship
Lasers
Nuclear Decay
Topic overviewSpontaneous decay and the nature of α, β and γ radiationNuclear transformation equations and nuclide notationDistinguishing α, β and γ by ionisation, penetration and rangeBackground radiation and gamma intensity with distanceActivity, the becquerel and the decay constantThe exponential decay law and half-life
Particles and Nuclear Structure
Topic overviewThe Rutherford alpha particle scattering experimentCoulomb repulsion in the plum pudding and Rutherford modelsQuarks and leptons: the first generationAntiparticles, annihilation and their symbolsHadrons: baryons, antibaryons and mesonsQuark composition of the proton, neutron and pionsThe four fundamental interactionsConservation laws in particle reactions
Nuclear Energy
Magnetic Fields
Topic overviewThe motor effect and Fleming's left-hand ruleF = BIl sinθ and measuring magnetic flux densityThe force on a moving charge, F = Bqv sinθThe Hall effect and the Hall probeMagnetic fields due to a straight wire and a solenoidForces between current-carrying conductorsCharged particle beams and accelerators
Electromagnetic Induction
Option A: Alternating CurrentsOption A
Topic overviewElectromagnetic induction in a rotating coilFrequency, period, peak and rms valuesMean power dissipated in a resistorUsing an oscilloscope to measure voltage and frequencyInductors in a.c. circuits and inductive reactanceCapacitors in a.c. circuits and capacitive reactancePhasors, phase angle and impedanceResonance in the series RCL circuit and the Q factor
Option B: Medical PhysicsOption B
Topic overviewThe nature and properties of X-raysX-ray production and controlling the beamAttenuation of X-rays and half-value thicknessX-ray imaging, fluoroscopy and radiographyComputed tomography scanningUltrasound generation and acoustic impedanceUltrasound scanning and the Doppler techniqueMagnetic resonance and MRIRadiation effects on living matter and dosimetryRadionuclide tracers, the gamma camera and PET
Option C: The Physics of SportsOption C
Topic overviewCentre of gravity, stability and topplingMoments in muscle systems and other sporting contextsImpulse and Newton's second law in sportThe coefficient of restitutionMoment of inertiaAngular acceleration, torque and angular momentumConservation of angular momentum and rotational energyProjectiles, Bernoulli's equation and drag
Option D: Energy and the EnvironmentOption D
Mathematical Requirements (Appendix C)
Topic overviewUnits, prefixes and standard formSignificant figures and arithmetic meansUncertainty and how uncertainties combineRatios, proportionality and order of magnitude estimatesRearranging and solving physics equationsLogarithms, exponentials and decayResolving vectors, Pythagoras and trigonometryRadians, small angles, areas and volumesStraight-line graphs, gradients and interceptsTangents, areas under curves and logarithmic plots
Basic Physics
- 7 subtopics
- 21 things to know
- Component 1
What Basic Physics covers
Basic Physics is examined in Component 1, Newtonian Physics. It covers SI base units and prefixes, checking equations for homogeneity, scalars and vectors, adding and resolving vectors, density, moments and the principle of moments and centre of gravity and equilibrium.
The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- SI base units and prefixesRecall questions on the six base SI units and the quantities they measure, the standard prefixes and their powers of ten, converting between them, expressing a derived unit in base units, and why a consistent set of units matters in a calculation.Open →
- Checking equations for homogeneityRecall questions on reducing every term of an equation to base units and comparing the two sides, worked checks on named equations, why a homogeneous equation need not be correct, and what a mismatch tells you before any number is substituted.Open →
- Scalars and vectorsScalar quantity, vector quantity and four vector quantities met in mechanics.Open →
- Adding and resolving vectorsCoplanar vectors, parallelogram rule for adding two vectors and triangle rule for adding two vectors.Open →
- DensityEquation for density, defining every symbol and its unit, density of water in kg m⁻³ and in g cm⁻³ and how the density of a small irregular solid is measured.Open →
- Moments and the principle of momentsTurning effect of a force, moment of a force about a point and principle of moments.Open →
- Centre of gravity and equilibriumCentre of gravity of a body, where the centre of gravity lies in a uniform sphere and two conditions for a body to be in equilibrium.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Test the equation T = 2π√(l/g) for homogeneity, where l is a length and g an acceleration.
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Why is speed a scalar while velocity is a vector?
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State the equation for density, defining every symbol and its unit.
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Describe how the density of a regular solid such as a metal cube is measured in the laboratory.
Numbers
An alloy is made from equal volumes of two metals of densities 2700 kg m⁻³ and 8900 kg m⁻³. Calculate the density of the alloy.
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What distinguishes a base unit from a derived unit?
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What is meant by coplanar vectors?
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State the unit of a moment and explain why it is not called a joule.
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Define the centre of gravity of a body.
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Express the newton in SI base units.
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Define a scalar quantity.
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Describe the parallelogram rule for adding two vectors.
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Describe how the principle of moments is used to determine an unknown mass with a metre rule.
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State where the centre of gravity lies in a uniform sphere.
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Express the joule in SI base units.
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What does it mean to say that an equation is homogeneous?
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Define a vector quantity.
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Describe the triangle rule for adding two vectors.
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Why is a long-handled spanner easier to use than a short one on a stiff bolt?
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State where the centre of gravity lies in a uniform solid cylinder.
Take Basic Physics further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Stable equilibrium vs Unstable equilibrium
Stable equilibrium: a small displacement raises the centre of gravity and the body returns. Unstable equilibrium: the displacement lowers it and the body moves further away.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Name the six base SI units required in this course, and state the quantity each one measures.
Model answer
The kilogram (kg) measures mass, the metre (m) length, the second (s) time, the ampere (A) electric current, the mole (mol) amount of substance and the kelvin (K) thermodynamic temperature.
- 2
What distinguishes a base unit from a derived unit?
Model answer
A base unit is defined independently of every other unit, while a derived unit is built as a combination of base units.
- 3
Express the newton in SI base units.
Model answer
Since F = ma, the newton is kg m s⁻².
- 4
Express the joule in SI base units.
Model answer
Work is force × distance, so the joule is kg m² s⁻².
- 5
Express the watt in SI base units.
Model answer
Power is energy per unit time, so the watt is kg m² s⁻³.
- 6
Express the pascal in SI base units.
Model answer
Pressure is force per unit area, so the pascal is kg m⁻¹ s⁻².
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Basic Physics revision questions
- What does Basic Physics cover in Eduqas A-Level Physics?
- 7 subtopics: si base units and prefixes, checking equations for homogeneity, scalars and vectors, adding and resolving vectors, density, moments and the principle of moments and centre of gravity and equilibrium. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Basic Physics organised?
- By the Eduqas A420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Basic 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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