Key term
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
Conduction of Electricity
- 5 subtopics
- 15 things to know
- Component 2
What Conduction of Electricity covers
Conduction of Electricity is examined in Component 2, Electricity and the Universe. It covers electric charge and the coulomb, electric current and the ampere, conductors, insulators and charge carriers, drift of free electrons in a metal and Deriving and using I = nAve.
The 5 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Electric charge and the coulombSI unit of electric charge, magnitude of the charge carried by a single electron and saying that charge is quantised.Open →
- Electric current and the ampereRecall questions on the definition of current as rate of flow of charge, I = Q/t, the coulomb and the ampere, worked conversions between charge, current and time, and counting the electrons that pass in a stated time.Open →
- Conductors, insulators and charge carriersElectrical conductor, charge carriers responsible for conduction in a metal and two kinds of charge carrier in a semiconductor.Open →
- Drift of free electrons in a metalDrift velocity of the free electrons in a conductor and current density and state its unit.Open →
- Deriving and using I = nAveRecall questions on the meaning of each symbol, the derivation from the volume of charge passing in one second, typical drift velocities and why they are so slow, why a lamp lights immediately despite that, and worked calculations comparing conductors.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
State the equation I = nAve and define every symbol with its unit.
Key term
What is the SI unit of electric charge, and what symbol is used for it?
Key term
What is meant by an electrical conductor?
Key term
What changes in the motion of the free electrons when a potential difference is applied along a wire?
Key term
State the magnitude of the charge carried by a single electron.
Key term
Define electric current.
Key term
Name the charge carriers responsible for conduction in a metal.
Key term
Define the drift velocity of the free electrons in a conductor.
Numbers
A copper wire of diameter 0.80 mm carries 2.0 A. Calculate the drift velocity, taking n = 8.5 × 10²⁸ m⁻³.
Key term
Why is the coulomb described as a very large unit of charge?
Key term
Express the ampere in terms of the coulomb and the second.
Key term
Which particles carry the current through a salt solution?
Key term
State the order of magnitude of the drift velocity in a domestic copper wire carrying a few amperes.
Key term
Show that the right-hand side of I = nAve has the unit of current.
Take Conduction of Electricity further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is the SI unit of electric charge, and what symbol is used for it?
Model answer
Electric charge is measured in the coulomb, and its symbol is C.
- 2
State the magnitude of the charge carried by a single electron.
Model answer
An electron carries a charge of magnitude 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C.
- 3
Why is the coulomb described as a very large unit of charge?
Model answer
One coulomb is the combined charge of about 6.25 × 10¹⁸ electrons, so the charge on one electron is a minute fraction of it.
- 4
How many electrons must pass a point for a total charge of 1.0 C to be transferred?
Model answer
The number is 1.0 ÷ (1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹) = 6.3 × 10¹⁸ electrons.
- 5
State the sign and value of the charge on an electron and on a proton.
Model answer
The electron carries −1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C and the proton carries +1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C.
- 6
A small metal sphere carries a charge of −4.8 × 10⁻¹⁷ C. How many excess electrons does it hold?
Model answer
The number is (4.8 × 10⁻¹⁷) ÷ (1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹) = 300 excess electrons. Multiplying 300 by 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C returns the stated charge.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Conduction of Electricity revision questions
- What does Conduction of Electricity cover in Eduqas A-Level Physics?
- 5 subtopics: electric charge and the coulomb, electric current and the ampere, conductors, insulators and charge carriers, drift of free electrons in a metal and deriving and using i = nave. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Conduction of Electricity organised?
- By the Eduqas A420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Conduction of Electricity, 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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