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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
Kinematics
- 6 subtopics
- 18 things to know
- Component 1
What Kinematics covers
Kinematics is examined in Component 1, Newtonian Physics. It covers displacement, velocity and acceleration, displacement-time graphs, velocity-time graphs and non-uniform acceleration, the equations of uniformly accelerated motion, free fall, air resistance and terminal velocity and projectile motion.
The 6 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Displacement, velocity and accelerationMean speed, mean velocity and instantaneous velocity.Open →
- Displacement-time graphsRecall questions on what the gradient represents, the shapes for rest, constant velocity and acceleration, what a negative gradient means, finding an instantaneous velocity from a tangent on a curve, and reading a whole journey off the graph.Open →
- Velocity-time graphs and non-uniform accelerationRecall questions on the gradient as acceleration and the area as displacement, the shape for uniform acceleration, areas below the axis, finding an instantaneous acceleration from a tangent, and estimating an area under a curve.Open →
- The equations of uniformly accelerated motionRecall questions on the four suvat equations and the condition of uniform acceleration they require, choosing the right one when a quantity is unknown, the sign convention for vertical motion, and worked problems checked in both directions.Open →
- Free fall, air resistance and terminal velocityFree fall and terminal velocity.Open →
- Projectile motionRecall questions on treating the horizontal and vertical motions independently, why the horizontal velocity is unchanged, time of flight and range, the components of a launch velocity at an angle, maximum height, and worked calculations from a cliff and over level ground.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Why does a sign convention have to be fixed before the equations of motion are used?
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Explain, in terms of forces, why a falling object reaches a terminal velocity.
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How does air resistance change the time a thrown ball takes to rise compared with the time it takes to fall back?
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Describe how the acceleration of free fall is measured by the freefall method in the laboratory.
Numbers
For a projectile launched at 25.0 m s⁻¹ at 40.0°, calculate the time of flight over level ground
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Define displacement.
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What physical quantity is given by the gradient of a displacement-time graph?
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What physical quantity is given by the gradient of a velocity-time graph?
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Define mean speed.
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What is plotted on each axis of a displacement-time graph?
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Show by units that the area under a velocity-time graph must be a displacement.
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State the principle of independence of horizontal and vertical motion for a projectile.
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Define mean velocity.
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What shape is a displacement-time graph for a body moving with constant velocity?
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What shape is a velocity-time graph for a body with uniform acceleration?
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Derive v = u + at from the definition of acceleration.
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For a projectile moving freely under gravity, describe the vertical component of its velocity.
Take Kinematics further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Deceleration vs Negative displacement
Deceleration: the body is slowing while still travelling forwards. Negative displacement: the body is now on the opposite side of its starting point.
Free fall vs Falling through air
Free fall: gravity is the only force acting and the acceleration stays at 9.81 m s⁻². Falling through air: a resistive force also acts and the acceleration falls to zero.
Uniform velocity vs Uniform acceleration
Uniform velocity: the rate of change of position never alters, giving a straight position-time line. Uniform acceleration: that rate itself changes at a steady rate, giving a curved one.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define displacement.
Model answer
Displacement is the distance moved in a stated direction from a fixed starting point, measured in metres.
- 2
Define mean speed.
Model answer
Mean speed is the total distance travelled divided by the total time taken.
- 3
Define mean velocity.
Model answer
Mean velocity is the total displacement divided by the total time taken, and it has the direction of that displacement.
- 4
What is meant by an instantaneous velocity?
Model answer
Instantaneous velocity is the velocity at one particular moment, found as the displacement divided by the time interval in the limit as that interval becomes vanishingly small.
- 5
Define acceleration.
Model answer
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time, measured in m s⁻² and acting in the direction of the velocity change.
- 6
State the SI unit of acceleration in base units.
Model answer
Acceleration is measured in m s⁻².
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Kinematics revision questions
- What does Kinematics cover in Eduqas A-Level Physics?
- 6 subtopics: displacement, velocity and acceleration, displacement-time graphs, velocity-time graphs and non-uniform acceleration, the equations of uniformly accelerated motion, free fall, air resistance and terminal velocity and projectile motion. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Kinematics organised?
- By the Eduqas A420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Kinematics, 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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