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
Dynamics
- 6 subtopics
- 18 things to know
- Component 1
What Dynamics covers
Dynamics is examined in Component 1, Newtonian Physics. It covers force and Newton's third law, free body diagrams and resultant force, newton's second law and F = ma, linear momentum, force as the rate of change of momentum and conservation of momentum in collisions.
The 6 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Force and Newton's third lawNewton's third law of motion and how a swimmer moves forwards using Newton's third law.Open →
- Free body diagrams and resultant forceShown on a free body diagram, resultant force on a body and equilibrant of a set of forces.Open →
- Newton's second law and F = maEquation F = ma, defining each symbol and its unit, newton's first law of motion and inertia of a body.Open →
- Linear momentumRecall questions on the definition of momentum and its unit, momentum as a vector and what that means for a sign convention, the principle of conservation of linear momentum and the condition for it, and worked one-dimensional collision and explosion calculations.Open →
- Force as the rate of change of momentumNewton's second law in terms of momentum and terms of momentum why an air bag protects a driver.Open →
- Conservation of momentum in collisionsPrinciple of conservation of linear momentum, isolated system in the context of momentum and elastic collision.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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State the equation for linear momentum, defining every symbol and its unit.
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Write the equation linking force, time and change of momentum, defining each symbol with its unit.
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Show that F = ma follows from the statement that force is the rate of change of momentum, when the mass is constant.
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Explain why a car's crumple zone reduces the force on the occupants in a crash.
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Define the newton.
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What is shown on a free body diagram?
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State the principle of conservation of linear momentum.
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State Newton's third law of motion.
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Name the forces that should appear on a free body diagram of a box being dragged at constant speed along a rough horizontal floor.
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State Newton's second law in the form used for a body of constant mass.
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Define linear momentum.
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Define an elastic collision.
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Why can a Newton's third law pair of forces never be shown on the same free body diagram?
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What is the resultant force on a body moving at constant velocity?
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State the equation F = ma, defining each symbol and its unit.
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Is momentum a scalar or a vector? Justify the answer.
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Define an inelastic collision.
Take Dynamics further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Constant velocity vs Constant acceleration
Constant velocity: no resultant force acts at all. Constant acceleration: a steady resultant force acts throughout.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a force?
Model answer
A force is an interaction that changes or tends to change the motion of a body, and it is a vector measured in newtons.
- 2
Define the newton.
Model answer
One newton is the resultant force that gives a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one metre per second squared.
- 3
State Newton's third law of motion.
Model answer
If body A exerts a force on body B, then body B exerts an equal and opposite force on body A.
- 4
State the four features that a Newton's third law pair of forces must share.
Model answer
The two forces are equal in magnitude, opposite in direction, of the same type, and they act on two different bodies along the same line.
- 5
Why can a Newton's third law pair of forces never be shown on the same free body diagram?
Model answer
The two forces of the pair act on different bodies, and a free body diagram shows only the forces acting on one chosen body.
- 6
A book rests on a table. Identify the reaction partner of the book's weight.
Model answer
The weight is the gravitational pull of the Earth on the book, so its partner is the equal gravitational pull of the book on the Earth.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Dynamics revision questions
- What does Dynamics cover in Eduqas A-Level Physics?
- 6 subtopics: force and newton's third law, free body diagrams and resultant force, newton's second law and f = ma, linear momentum, force as the rate of change of momentum and conservation of momentum in collisions. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Dynamics organised?
- By the Eduqas A420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Dynamics, 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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