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
Wave Properties
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Component 3
What Wave Properties covers
Wave Properties is examined in Component 3, Light, Nuclei and Options, Section A, which every student sits. It covers diffraction at slits and obstacles, wavelength, slit width and the spread of the beam, the principle of superposition, coherence and the conditions for interference, path difference and the interference conditions, young's double slit experiment, the historical importance of Young's experiment, the diffraction grating, comparing the grating with the double slit and stationary waves.
Where it is assessed
Component 3
Light, Nuclei and Options, Section A, the compulsory core.
Check the Eduqas specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Diffraction at slits and obstaclesRecall questions on what diffraction is and what it does not change, the ripple tank observations at a wide and a narrow gap, why sound diffracts round a doorway and light does not, and how diffraction limits the resolution of a telescope.Open →
- Wavelength, slit width and the spread of the beamRecall questions on diffraction depending on the ratio of wavelength to slit width, the condition for roughly semicircular spreading, the condition for a beam spreading through less than 180 degrees, and why a small loudspeaker spreads high notes more widely.Open →
- The principle of superpositionPrinciple of superposition, resultant displacement when two crests of equal amplitude meet and resultant when a crest meets a trough of equal amplitude.Open →
- Coherence and the conditions for interferenceCoherent sources, incoherent source and monochromatic source.Open →
- Path difference and the interference conditionsPath difference and order of a maximum.Open →
- Young's double slit experimentArrangement of Young's double slit experiment and seen on the screen in Young's experiment with monochromatic light.Open →
- The historical importance of Young's experimentRecall questions on what the experiment established about light, which model it challenged and why that model cannot account for a dark fringe, why the result was resisted, what later evidence supported it, and how the modern understanding of light relates to it.Open →
- The diffraction gratingDiffraction grating and every symbol in the grating equation.Open →
- Comparing the grating with the double slitResolving power of a grating and effect of using a grating with more lines per millimetre.Open →
- Stationary wavesInternodal distance in terms of the wavelength, distance between a node and the nearest antinode and first difference between a stationary and a progressive wave.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Give the equation used to find the wavelength in Young's experiment and define every symbol.
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Describe how a grating and a laser are used to measure a wavelength.
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Why does a double slit still give a recognisable pattern with only two slits?
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Define diffraction.
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What is the resultant displacement when two crests of equal amplitude meet?
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Define coherent sources.
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Define path difference.
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What did Young's experiment establish about the nature of light?
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How does a stationary wave arise?
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When a wave passes through a gap, into what region does diffraction carry it?
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State the condition for there to be very little diffraction at a slit.
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What is the resultant when a crest meets a trough of equal amplitude?
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What is meant by saying the wavefronts are continuous across the width of the beam?
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State the path difference condition for constructive interference from two sources in phase.
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Describe the arrangement of Young's double slit experiment.
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Which model of light did Young's result challenge?
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What is a diffraction grating?
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Why are the beams from a diffraction grating much further apart than the fringes from a double slit?
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Define a node.
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Describe what is seen when plane water waves in a ripple tank pass through a wide gap.
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Describe the wavefronts beyond a slit whose width is equal to or less than the wavelength.
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What happens to the two waves after they have passed through one another?
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Why must the two sources have the same frequency?
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State the path difference condition for destructive interference from two sources in phase.
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What is seen on the screen in Young's experiment with monochromatic light?
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Why was Young's result not accepted immediately?
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Derive the diffraction grating equation.
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Why are the beams from a grating much sharper than double slit fringes?
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Define an antinode.
Take Wave Properties further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define diffraction.
Model answer
Diffraction is the spreading of a wave as it passes through a gap or around the edge of an obstacle.
- 2
When a wave passes through a gap, into what region does diffraction carry it?
Model answer
Into the region of geometrical shadow behind the barrier, where a straight-line model of the wave would predict nothing.
- 3
Does diffraction change the wavelength of a wave?
Model answer
No, the wavelength, frequency and speed are all unchanged; only the direction of travel spreads.
- 4
Describe what is seen when plane water waves in a ripple tank pass through a wide gap.
Model answer
The waves pass through almost unchanged with straight wavefronts, spreading only slightly at the two edges.
- 5
Describe what is seen when the same waves pass through a gap about one wavelength wide.
Model answer
The waves spread out from the gap as roughly semicircular wavefronts, as though the gap were a new point source.
- 6
What happens to a wave passing an obstacle much smaller than its wavelength?
Model answer
The wave diffracts round it almost completely and continues with very little disturbance.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Wave Properties revision questions
- What does Wave Properties cover in Eduqas A-Level Physics?
- 10 subtopics: diffraction at slits and obstacles, wavelength, slit width and the spread of the beam, the principle of superposition, coherence and the conditions for interference, path difference and the interference conditions, young's double slit experiment, the historical importance of young's experiment, the diffraction grating, comparing the grating with the double slit and stationary waves. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Wave Properties organised?
- By the Eduqas A420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Wave Properties, 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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