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
Kinetic Theory
- 5 subtopics
- 15 things to know
- Component 1
What Kinetic Theory covers
Kinetic Theory is examined in Component 1, Newtonian Physics. It covers the ideal gas equation of state, assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases, the Avogadro constant, the mole and molar mass, the kinetic theory pressure equation and molecular kinetic energy and temperature.
The 5 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- The ideal gas equation of stateValue and unit of the molar gas constant, value and unit of the Boltzmann constant and boyle's law and the condition under which it holds.Open →
- Assumptions of the kinetic theory of gasesAssumption the kinetic theory makes about the forces between molecules and random distribution of energy among the molecules of a gas.Open →
- The Avogadro constant, the mole and molar massAvogadro constant and physical meaning of the Boltzmann constant.Open →
- The kinetic theory pressure equationMean square speed of the molecules of a gas and root mean square speed.Open →
- Molecular kinetic energy and temperatureRecall questions on ½m⟨c²⟩ = (3/2)kT and what it says about the meaning of temperature, its derivation from the kinetic theory equation and the gas law, worked calculations of mean kinetic energy and root mean square speed, and comparing two gases at one temperature.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
State the equation of state for an ideal gas in terms of the number of molecules, defining every symbol and its unit.
Numbers
Nitrogen has a relative molecular mass of 28.0. Calculate the number of molecules in 0.0140 kg of nitrogen.
Key term
Explain in terms of molecular motion why a gas exerts a pressure on the walls of its container.
Key term
State the kinetic theory expression for the pressure of an ideal gas in terms of the number of molecules, defining every symbol.
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Compare the root mean square speeds of hydrogen and oxygen molecules in the same container at the same temperature.
Key term
State the equation linking the mean translational kinetic energy of a gas molecule to the thermodynamic temperature, defining every symbol and its unit.
Key term
Why does the relationship ½m⟨c²⟩ = (3/2)kT refer to translational kinetic energy only?
Key term
State the assumption the kinetic theory makes about the volume of the gas molecules themselves.
Key term
State the assumption the kinetic theory makes about the forces between molecules.
Key term
Define the Avogadro constant.
Key term
State the value and unit of the molar gas constant.
Key term
State the assumption the kinetic theory makes about collisions between molecules and with the walls.
Key term
State the value and unit of the Avogadro constant.
Key term
State the total translational kinetic energy of one mole of a monatomic ideal gas.
Take Kinetic Theory further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
State the equation of state for an ideal gas in its molar form, defining every symbol and its unit.
Model answer
The equation is pV = nRT, where p is the pressure in Pa, V is the volume in m³, n is the number of moles, R is the molar gas constant in J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ and T is the thermodynamic temperature in K.
- 2
State the equation of state for an ideal gas in terms of the number of molecules, defining every symbol and its unit.
Model answer
The equation is pV = NkT, where p is the pressure in Pa, V is the volume in m³, N is the number of molecules, k is the Boltzmann constant in J K⁻¹ and T is the thermodynamic temperature in K.
- 3
State the value and unit of the molar gas constant.
Model answer
The molar gas constant R is 8.31 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹.
- 4
State the value and unit of the Boltzmann constant.
Model answer
The Boltzmann constant k is 1.38 × 10⁻²³ J K⁻¹.
- 5
Why must the temperature in pV = nRT be in kelvin rather than degrees Celsius?
Model answer
The equation states that pV is directly proportional to temperature, and that proportionality only holds on a scale whose zero is absolute zero.
- 6
State Boyle's law and the condition under which it holds.
Model answer
Boyle's law states that the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its volume, provided the temperature stays constant.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Kinetic Theory revision questions
- What does Kinetic Theory cover in Eduqas A-Level Physics?
- 5 subtopics: the ideal gas equation of state, assumptions of the kinetic theory of gases, the avogadro constant, the mole and molar mass, the kinetic theory pressure equation and molecular kinetic energy and temperature. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Kinetic Theory organised?
- By the Eduqas A420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Kinetic Theory, 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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