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
Energy Concepts
- 6 subtopics
- 18 things to know
- Component 1
What Energy Concepts covers
Energy Concepts is examined in Component 1, Newtonian Physics. It covers work done by a constant force, work done when the force is not along the motion, gravitational and elastic potential energy, kinetic energy and the work-energy relationship, conservation of energy and power, dissipative forces and efficiency.
The 6 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Work done by a constant forceRecall questions on the definition of work and its unit, the equation for a force along the motion, the energy transferred, worked calculations, and why no work is done when there is no displacement.Open →
- Work done when the force is not along the motionRecall questions on W = Fs cos θ and why the cosine appears, the work done by a force at right angles and at 180° to the motion, resolving the force against thinking of the displacement, and worked problems on a dragged or pushed load.Open →
- Gravitational and elastic potential energyGravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy.Open →
- Kinetic energy and the work-energy relationshipRecall questions on the kinetic energy equation, the fourfold change when speed doubles, the relationship Fx = ½mv² − ½mu² and its derivation, what a negative value indicates, and worked problems on accelerating and braking.Open →
- Conservation of energyPrinciple of conservation of energy, three mechanical energy stores considered in this topic and closed system in energy calculations.Open →
- Power, dissipative forces and efficiencyEquation P = Fv, defining every symbol and its unit, dissipative force and equation for efficiency as a percentage.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Numbers
A friction force of 45 N acts on a box pushed 8.0 m along a floor. Calculate the work done by friction.
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State the equation for the change in gravitational potential energy near the Earth's surface, defining every symbol and its unit.
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State the equation for the elastic potential energy stored in a spring obeying Hooke's law, defining every symbol and its unit.
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Explain why the elastic potential energy stored in a spring is ½kx² rather than kx².
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State the equation for kinetic energy, defining every symbol and its unit.
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State the work-energy relationship for a constant force acting along the line of motion, defining each symbol.
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Explain why a bouncing ball does not return to its original height.
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State the equation linking power, work and time, defining every symbol and its unit.
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State the equation P = Fv, defining every symbol and its unit, and explain how it follows from P = W/t.
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Explain why a car has a maximum speed on a level road even though the engine power is constant.
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Define the work done by a constant force acting along the direction of motion.
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Explain the origin of the cos θ factor in W = Fx cos θ.
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State the principle of conservation of energy.
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State the relationship between the work done on a body and the energy transferred to it.
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What is the work done by a force acting at right angles to the motion?
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Define kinetic energy.
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Name the three mechanical energy stores
Take Energy Concepts further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Energy lost by a system vs Energy destroyed
Energy lost by a system: the energy has been transferred out of the system, usually to the surroundings as internal energy. Energy destroyed: cannot happen at all.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define the work done by a constant force acting along the direction of motion.
Model answer
The work done is the force multiplied by the distance moved in the direction of that force.
- 2
State the equation for work done by a constant force along the line of motion, defining each symbol and its unit.
Model answer
The equation is W = Fx, where W is the work done in J, F is the force in N and x is the distance moved in the direction of the force in m.
- 3
Define the joule.
Model answer
One joule is the work done when a force of one newton moves its point of application one metre in the direction of the force.
- 4
State the relationship between the work done on a body and the energy transferred to it.
Model answer
The work done on a body by a force is exactly equal to the energy transferred to that body by the force, so work is a measure of energy transfer.
- 5
Is work a scalar or a vector quantity?
Model answer
Work is a scalar, so the work done by several forces is added arithmetically without regard to direction.
- 6
A horizontal force of 250 N drags a crate 12 m across a floor in the direction of the force. Calculate the work done.
Model answer
The work done is 250 × 12 = 3.0 × 10³ J. Dividing 3000 J by 12 m returns the 250 N force.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Energy Concepts revision questions
- What does Energy Concepts cover in Eduqas A-Level Physics?
- 6 subtopics: work done by a constant force, work done when the force is not along the motion, gravitational and elastic potential energy, kinetic energy and the work-energy relationship, conservation of energy and power, dissipative forces and efficiency. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Energy Concepts organised?
- By the Eduqas A420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Energy Concepts, 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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