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
The Nature of Waves
- 6 subtopics
- 18 things to know
- Component 3
What The Nature of Waves covers
The Nature of Waves is examined in Component 3, Light, Nuclei and Options, Section A, which every student sits. It covers progressive waves and energy transfer, transverse and longitudinal waves, polarisation, phase and antiphase, wave quantities and the wave equation and wave graphs and wavefronts.
Where it is assessed
Component 3
Light, Nuclei and Options, Section A, the compulsory core.
Check the Eduqas specification ↗The 6 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Progressive waves and energy transferProgressive wave, intensity of a wave and unit of intensity.Open →
- Transverse and longitudinal wavesTransverse wave and longitudinal wave.Open →
- PolarisationUnpolarised light and why polarising sunglasses reduce glare.Open →
- Phase and antiphaseRecall questions on what in phase and in antiphase mean, the separations that produce each, the phase difference of a whole cycle in degrees and radians, converting a fraction of a wavelength into a phase difference, and identifying phase from a snapshot of the wave.Open →
- Wave quantities and the wave equationDisplacement of a point on a wave, amplitude of a wave and wavelength of a wave.Open →
- Wave graphs and wavefrontsRecall questions on what goes on the axes of a displacement–time and a displacement–position graph, which gives the period and which the wavelength, obtaining the frequency and speed, what a wavefront is, and why a ray is at right angles to it.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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How do transverse and longitudinal waves differ, what is an example of each, and what replaces crests and troughs in a longitudinal wave?
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Define polarisation.
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What separation along a wave puts two points in phase?
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Define the displacement of a point on a wave.
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What quantities are plotted on a displacement–time graph for a wave?
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What is a progressive wave?
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Define a transverse wave.
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Why can only a transverse wave be polarised?
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What separation puts two points in antiphase?
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Define the amplitude of a wave.
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What quantities are plotted on a displacement–position graph for a wave?
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Describe what happens to a particle of the medium as a wave passes it.
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Define a longitudinal wave.
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What is unpolarised light?
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State the phase difference of one complete cycle in degrees and in radians.
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Define the wavelength of a wave.
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Which quantity is read directly from a displacement–time graph?
Take The Nature of Waves further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
In phase vs In antiphase
In phase: the two points are at the same stage of the cycle. In antiphase: they are exactly half a cycle apart.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a progressive wave?
Model answer
A progressive wave is a disturbance that travels through a medium or through space, transferring energy from one place to another.
- 2
What does a progressive wave transfer, and what does it not transfer?
Model answer
It transfers energy, and it does not transfer any matter from one place to another.
- 3
Describe what happens to a particle of the medium as a wave passes it.
Model answer
The particle oscillates about its own fixed equilibrium position and returns to it, so it ends up where it started.
- 4
Give an everyday observation that shows a wave carries no matter with it.
Model answer
A cork floating on water bobs up and down as ripples pass beneath it but does not travel along with them.
- 5
How is the energy carried by a wave related to its amplitude?
Model answer
The energy is proportional to the square of the amplitude, so doubling the amplitude carries four times the energy.
- 6
What is meant by the intensity of a wave?
Model answer
Intensity is the power carried by the wave through unit area at right angles to its direction of travel.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
The Nature of Waves revision questions
- What does The Nature of Waves cover in Eduqas A-Level Physics?
- 6 subtopics: progressive waves and energy transfer, transverse and longitudinal waves, polarisation, phase and antiphase, wave quantities and the wave equation and wave graphs and wavefronts. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is The Nature of Waves organised?
- By the Eduqas A420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in The Nature of Waves, 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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