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
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Radioactive decay and the three radiations
- 6 things to know
- Papers 1, 2 and 3
Overview
Recall questions on the spontaneous and random nature of decay, the composition, range, ionising power and absorbers of alpha, beta and gamma radiation, and the radiation absorption experiment.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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What thickness and type of material is needed to stop beta particles?
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What materials and thicknesses are required to significantly reduce gamma radiation?
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What is the composition of an alpha particle?
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When investigating radiation absorption, why should the source be positioned at a fixed distance from the detector?
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What is a beta-minus particle and how is it produced?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What does it mean to say that radioactive decay is spontaneous?
Model answer
It occurs without any external trigger or cause and cannot be induced or prevented by physical or chemical conditions.
- 2
Why is it impossible to predict exactly when a particular radioactive nucleus will decay?
Model answer
Because radioactive decay is random — it is impossible to predict which particular nucleus will decay next or when a specific nucleus will decay.
- 3
What are gamma rays and what properties do they have regarding charge and mass?
Model answer
High-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from an excited nucleus, carrying no charge and no mass.
- 4
What thickness and type of material is needed to stop beta particles?
Model answer
A few millimetres of aluminium.
- 5
What materials and thicknesses are required to significantly reduce gamma radiation?
Model answer
Several centimetres of lead or metres of concrete.
- 6
What is the approximate range of alpha particles in air, and why is it so short?
Model answer
A few centimetres, due to their high ionising power.
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