Numbers
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
Electric Fields
Uniform fields, parallel plates and permittivity
- 3 things to know
- Papers 1, 2 and 3
Overview
Recall questions on uniform field strength E = V/d with calculations, capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor, relative permittivity, and the motion of charged particles in a uniform electric field.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Evaluation
State the relationship between electric field strength, potential difference, and plate separation in a uniform electric field.
Evaluation
Write the equation for uniform electric field strength between parallel plates and define each symbol.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Calculate the electric field strength when potential difference = 400 V, plate separation = 0.044 m.
Model answer
Electric field strength = 400 ÷ 0.044 = 9090 V m⁻¹.
- 2
State the relationship between electric field strength, potential difference, and plate separation in a uniform electric field.
Model answer
The electric field strength equals the potential difference divided by the separation of the plates.
- 3
Write the equation for uniform electric field strength between parallel plates and define each symbol.
Model answer
E = V/d, where E is electric field strength, V is the potential difference between the plates, and d is the separation of the plates.
- 4
What quantities are needed to calculate the electric field strength in a uniform field between parallel plates?
Model answer
The potential difference between the plates (V) and the separation of the plates (d).
- 5
Write the equation for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with a vacuum between the plates.
Model answer
C = ε₀A/d, where C is capacitance, ε₀ is the permittivity of free space, A is the plate area, and d is the plate separation.
- 6
How does the capacitance equation for a parallel plate capacitor change when a dielectric is inserted between the plates?
Model answer
The permittivity of free space (ε₀) is replaced by the permittivity of the dielectric material (ε), giving C = εA/d.
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