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
Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum
- 4 subtopics
- 12 things to know
- Papers 1 and 3
What Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum covers
Newton's three laws stated properly, momentum as the quantity his second law really concerns, impulse, and the conservation of momentum in collisions.
Where it is assessed
Papers 1 and 3
Forces and motion, examined on Modelling Physics and Unified Physics.
Check the OCR specification ↗The 4 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Newton's three laws and linear momentumRecall questions on Newton's first and third laws, linear momentum, its equation, units and calculation, and momentum as a vector quantity.Open →
- Force as rate of change of momentumRecall questions on Newton's second law in terms of momentum, resultant force as rate of change of momentum, when F = ma applies, and how airbags and longer collision times reduce force.Open →
- Impulse and force-time graphsRecall questions on impulse, its equation, units and calculation, its relationship to change in momentum, and finding impulse from the area under linear and non-linear force-time graphs.Open →
- Conservation of momentum and collisionsRecall questions on the conditions for and principle of conservation of momentum, elastic and inelastic collisions, collision forces and vehicle safety, and momentum in one- and two-dimensional collisions with calculations.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Process
How do the two kinds of collision differ in what is conserved?
Numbers
How is resultant force related to momentum, and what equation links them?
Key term
What are the SI units of momentum?
Numbers
Write the equation that links impulse to change in momentum.
Numbers
Write the equation for impulse and identify each symbol.
Key term
Is momentum conserved in an inelastic collision?
Key term
State Newton's first law of motion.
Key term
Define linear momentum.
Key term
How is resultant force related to the rate of change of momentum?
Key term
Define impulse.
Key term
State the principle of conservation of momentum.
Take Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Newton's first law vs Newton's second law
Newton's first law: a body stays at rest or at constant velocity unless a net force acts. Newton's second law: the net force equals the rate of change of momentum.
Linear momentum vs Impulse
Linear momentum: the product of a body's mass and its velocity. Impulse: the product of a force and the time for which it acts.
Perfectly elastic collision vs Inelastic collision
Perfectly elastic collision: one in which the total kinetic energy is unchanged. Inelastic collision: one in which some kinetic energy is transferred to other forms.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
State Newton's first law of motion.
Model answer
An object remains at rest or continues to move at constant velocity unless acted upon by a resultant force.
- 2
Define linear momentum.
Model answer
Linear momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity.
- 3
Write the equation used to calculate linear momentum and state what each symbol represents.
Model answer
p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.
- 4
What are the SI units of momentum?
Model answer
kg m s⁻¹ (or equivalently N s).
- 5
Calculate the momentum when mass = 53.2 kg, velocity = 18.5 m s⁻¹.
Model answer
Momentum = 53.2 × 18.5 = 984 kg m s⁻¹.
- 6
Is momentum a scalar or a vector quantity?
Model answer
Momentum is a vector quantity.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum revision questions
- What does Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum cover in OCR A-Level Physics A?
- 4 subtopics: newton's three laws and linear momentum, force as rate of change of momentum, impulse and force-time graphs and conservation of momentum and collisions. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum organised?
- By the OCR H556 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum, 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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