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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
Solids Under Stress
- 6 subtopics
- 18 things to know
- Component 2
What Solids Under Stress covers
Solids Under Stress is examined in Component 2, Electricity and the Universe. It covers Hooke's law and the spring constant, stress, strain and the Young modulus, work done in deforming a solid, crystalline, amorphous and polymeric solids, metals under stress: dislocations and ductile fracture and brittle solids and rubber under stress.
The 6 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Hooke's law and the spring constantHooke's law, spring constant and limit of proportionality.Open →
- Stress, strain and the Young modulusTensile stress and state its unit, tensile strain and state its unit and young modulus and state its unit.Open →
- Work done in deforming a solidRecall questions on the area under a force–extension graph, the equation ½Fx and its equivalent ½kx², why the factor of a half appears, the energy stored elastically, and what the area of a loading and unloading loop represents.Open →
- Crystalline, amorphous and polymeric solidsThree classes into which solids are grouped, atomic arrangement in a crystalline solid and atomic arrangement in an amorphous solid.Open →
- Metals under stress: dislocations and ductile fractureElastic strain and plastic strain, happening to the atoms during plastic deformation of a metal and dislocation in a metal crystal.Open →
- Brittle solids and rubber under stressBrittle material, shape of the stress–strain graph for rubber during loading and hysteresis in a stretched rubber sample.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Outline how the Young modulus of a metal in the form of a wire is determined.
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Why does the force on a specimen fall slightly just before ductile fracture even though the true stress is rising?
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Explain how a brittle material fractures.
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How is the work done in deforming a solid found from a force–extension graph?
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Name the three classes into which solids are grouped.
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State Hooke's law.
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Define tensile stress and state its unit.
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State the expression for the work done in stretching a solid that obeys Hooke's law.
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Describe the atomic arrangement in a crystalline solid.
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Describe the shape of the force–extension graph for a ductile metal such as copper.
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What is meant by a brittle material?
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Define the spring constant.
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Why is the Young modulus a more useful measure of stiffness than the spring constant?
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Why is the work done in stretching a Hookean spring ½Fx rather than Fx?
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Describe the atomic arrangement in an amorphous solid.
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Distinguish between elastic strain and plastic strain.
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Why does a surface scratch weaken a sheet of glass so severely?
Take Solids Under Stress further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
State Hooke's law.
Model answer
Hooke's law states that the extension of a body is directly proportional to the force applied to it, provided the limit of proportionality is not exceeded.
- 2
State the equation for Hooke's law, defining every symbol and its unit.
Model answer
The equation is F = kx, where F is the applied force in newtons (N), k is the spring constant in newtons per metre (N m⁻¹) and x is the extension in metres (m).
- 3
Define the spring constant.
Model answer
The spring constant is the force needed per unit extension of the spring.
- 4
What shape is a graph of force against extension for a spring obeying Hooke's law, and what does its gradient represent?
Model answer
The graph is a straight line through the origin, and its gradient is the spring constant.
- 5
What is meant by the limit of proportionality?
Model answer
The limit of proportionality is the largest force for which the extension is still directly proportional to the force applied.
- 6
Distinguish between extension and length in a stretching experiment.
Model answer
The length is the total distance from end to end of the specimen, while the extension is the increase in that length caused by the applied force.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Solids Under Stress revision questions
- What does Solids Under Stress cover in Eduqas A-Level Physics?
- 6 subtopics: hooke's law and the spring constant, stress, strain and the young modulus, work done in deforming a solid, crystalline, amorphous and polymeric solids, metals under stress: dislocations and ductile fracture and brittle solids and rubber under stress. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Solids Under Stress organised?
- By the Eduqas A420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Solids Under Stress, 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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