Key term
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
Capacitors
Capacitors in parallel and combined circuits
- 2 things to know
- Papers 1, 2 and 3
Overview
Recall questions on total capacitance in parallel and calculations, potential difference and charge for parallel capacitors, Kirchhoff's laws in capacitor circuits, and investigating capacitors in parallel.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
For two capacitors in parallel, write the equation for total capacitance.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Calculate the total capacitance when capacitors of 47 μF and 93 μF are connected in parallel.
Model answer
Total capacitance = 47 + 93 = 140 μF.
- 2
For two capacitors in parallel, write the equation for total capacitance.
Model answer
C_total = C₁ + C₂
- 3
What is true about the potential difference across capacitors connected in parallel?
Model answer
All capacitors in parallel have the same potential difference across them.
- 4
How is charge distributed among capacitors connected in parallel?
Model answer
The charge stored is shared between the capacitors.
- 5
Do Kirchhoff's laws apply to circuits containing capacitors and resistors?
Model answer
Yes, Kirchhoff's laws apply: the sum of potential differences around a loop equals zero, and current into a junction equals current out.
- 6
State Kirchhoff's voltage law as it applies to a circuit loop containing capacitors.
Model answer
The sum of potential differences around any closed loop equals zero.
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