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
Physical Quantities and Units
Physical quantities, estimation and unit conversions
- 2 things to know
- All three papers
Overview
Recall questions on the numerical value and unit of a physical quantity, order-of-magnitude estimates and their assumptions, and converting squared and cubed units with prefixes.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Explain the general principle for converting a unit with a prefix when the unit is squared.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What are the two parts that make up any physical quantity?
Model answer
A numerical value and a unit.
- 2
In the expression '9.81 m s⁻²', which part is the numerical value?
Model answer
9.81
- 3
In the expression '9.81 m s⁻²', which part is the unit?
Model answer
m s⁻²
- 4
When estimating a physical quantity, to what level of precision should the estimate typically be expressed?
Model answer
To an appropriate order of magnitude (power of ten).
- 5
Why are reasonable assumptions important when making order-of-magnitude estimates?
Model answer
They allow sensible approximations of unknown values, enabling a realistic estimate of the final quantity.
- 6
When converting cm³ to m³, why must the conversion factor be cubed?
Model answer
Because each linear dimension is converted (1 cm = 10⁻² m), and volume involves three dimensions, so the factor becomes (10⁻²)³ = 10⁻⁶.
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