Process
OCR A-Level Physics A H556
Practical Skills in the Written Papers
The Practical Endorsement
Topic overviewAnalogue and digital measuring instrumentsImproving accuracy with repeat timing, fiducial markers and plumb linesTiming, calipers and micrometersConstructing and testing circuitsSignal generators and oscilloscopesGenerating and measuring wavesData loggers, modelling software and ionising radiation
Physical Quantities and Units
Making Measurements and Analysing Data
Nature of Quantities
Motion
Forces in Action
Work, Energy and Power
Materials
Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum
Charge and Current
Energy, Power and Resistance
Electrical Circuits
Waves
Topic overviewProgressive waves and their propertiesThe wave equationReflection, refraction and diffractionWave graphs and intensityThe electromagnetic spectrumPolarisationRefraction and refractive indexCritical angle and total internal reflectionThe principle of superpositionInterference, coherence and path differenceTwo-source interference, Young's double-slit experiment and the diffraction gratingForming stationary wavesStationary waves on strings and in air columnsMeasuring the speed of soundNode spacing, amplitude and phase in stationary wavesHarmonics and the fundamental mode
Quantum Physics
Thermal Physics
Topic overviewThermal equilibrium and absolute temperatureThe kinetic model of solids, liquids and gasesBrownian motion and internal energySpecific heat capacityMeasuring specific heat capacitySpecific latent heatMeasuring specific latent heatMoles, the Avogadro constant and kinetic theoryGas laws, the ideal gas equation and r.m.s. speedMaxwell-Boltzmann distribution, Boltzmann constant and internal energy
Oscillations
Gravitational Fields
Astrophysics and Cosmology
Topic overviewThe solar system and the birth of a starThe death of a low-mass starSupernovae, neutron stars and black holesThe Hertzsprung-Russell diagramEnergy levels and emission spectraAbsorption spectra and spectral linesPhoton energy and the diffraction gratingWien's law and Stefan's lawAstronomical distances, parallax and the cosmological principleDoppler shift and Hubble's lawThe expanding universe and the Big BangEvidence for the Big Bang and dark energy
Capacitors
Topic overviewCapacitance and charging a capacitorCapacitors in seriesCapacitors in parallel and combined circuitsEnergy stored by a capacitorCharging and discharging through a resistorInvestigating capacitor dischargeThe time constantIterative modelling, exponential decay and the constant-ratio property
Electric Fields
Electromagnetism
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Topic overviewAlpha-particle scattering and the nuclear modelProton number, nucleon number and isotopesThe strong nuclear force and nuclear radiusParticles, antiparticles and hadronsLeptons and the quark modelQuark composition and chargesBeta decay in the quark modelRadioactive decay and the three radiationsNuclear decay equationsActivity, decay constant and half-lifeExponential decay and radioactive datingMass-energy equivalenceAnnihilation, mass defect and binding energyBinding energy per nucleon and induced fissionThe fission reactor and nuclear wasteNuclear fusion and balancing nuclear equations
Astrophysics and Cosmology
The death of a low-mass star
- 2 things to know
- Papers 1, 2 and 3
Overview
Recall questions on how a low-mass star becomes a red giant, planetary nebulae, white dwarfs, electron degeneracy pressure and the Chandrasekhar limit.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Define a white dwarf, and explain how the electron degeneracy pressure that supports it arises.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What happens in a low-mass star when hydrogen in its core is exhausted?
Model answer
The core contracts and heats while hydrogen shell burning begins around the core.
- 2
Why does a low-mass star expand to become a red giant after core hydrogen exhaustion?
Model answer
The increased energy output from hydrogen shell burning causes the outer layers to expand and cool.
- 3
What fusion process can occur in the core of a red giant, and what elements are produced?
Model answer
Helium fusion can begin when core temperatures become high enough, producing carbon and oxygen.
- 4
What is a planetary nebula?
Model answer
A planetary nebula is an expanding shell of ionised gas ejected from the outer layers of a low-mass star in its final stages.
- 5
What stellar remnant remains after a low-mass star ejects its outer layers as a planetary nebula?
Model answer
The remaining core becomes a white dwarf.
- 6
Define a white dwarf.
Model answer
A white dwarf is a hot, dense stellar remnant with no ongoing fusion, supported against gravity by electron degeneracy pressure.
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