What does translating information between graphical, numerical and algebraic forms involve?

Converting data presented in one form (such as a table of values) into another form (such as a graph or equation), and vice versa.

What is the difference between instantaneous rate of change and average rate of change?

Instantaneous rate of change is the rate at a specific moment (gradient of tangent), while average rate of change is calculated over an interval (gradient of chord between two points).

How can logarithmic plots be used to test whether data follow an exponential relationship?

If ln y plotted against x gives a straight line, the relationship is exponential (y = Aeᵏˣ).

How can logarithmic plots be used to test whether data follow a power law?

If log y plotted against log x gives a straight line, the relationship is a power law (y = kxⁿ), with the gradient giving the power n.

Describe the shape of a graph representing y = e⁻ˣ.

An exponential decay curve starting at y = 1 when x = 0, decreasing and approaching zero asymptotically as x increases.

How should scales be selected for graph axes?

Scales should be chosen so that plotted points spread across at least half the available grid in each direction, making patterns and gradients easier to determine.

OCR A-Level Physics A H556

Practical Skills in the Written Papers

Topic overview Planning an experiment Implementing and recording Processing and interpreting data Plotting and interpreting graphs Evaluating results and procedures Mathematical skills and notation

The Practical Endorsement

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Physical Quantities and Units

Topic overview Physical quantities, estimation and unit conversions S.I. base and derived units Prefixes, homogeneity and labelling conventions

Making Measurements and Analysing Data

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Nature of Quantities

Topic overview Scalars and vectors Adding and resolving vectors

Motion

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Materials

Topic overview Hooke's law and springs Force-extension graphs and work done Elastic potential energy, stress and strain The Young modulus Stress-strain graphs and material behaviour

Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum

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Charge and Current

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Energy, Power and Resistance

Topic overview Circuit symbols and diagrams Potential difference and e.m.f.Energy transfer in circuits Ohm's law and I-V characteristics Filament lamps, diodes, thermistors and LDRs Resistivity and how it is measured How resistivity varies with temperature Electrical power and the kilowatt-hour

Electrical Circuits

Topic overview Kirchhoff's laws and combining resistances E.m.f., internal resistance and lost volts Potential dividers

Waves

Topic overview Progressive waves and their properties The wave equation Reflection, refraction and diffraction Wave graphs and intensity The electromagnetic spectrum Polarisation Refraction and refractive index Critical angle and total internal reflection The principle of superposition Interference, coherence and path difference Two-source interference, Young's double-slit experiment and the diffraction grating Forming stationary waves Stationary waves on strings and in air columns Measuring the speed of sound Node spacing, amplitude and phase in stationary waves Harmonics and the fundamental mode

Quantum Physics

Topic overview Photons, electronvolts and the Planck constant from LEDs Demonstrating the photoelectric effect Work function and Einstein's equation Electron diffraction The de Broglie equation

Thermal Physics

Topic overview Thermal equilibrium and absolute temperature The kinetic model of solids, liquids and gases Brownian motion and internal energy Specific heat capacity Measuring specific heat capacity Specific latent heat Measuring specific latent heat Moles, the Avogadro constant and kinetic theory Gas laws, the ideal gas equation and r.m.s. speed Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, Boltzmann constant and internal energy

Circular Motion

Topic overview Radians, angular velocity and period Centripetal force and acceleration

Oscillations

Topic overview Describing simple harmonic motion The defining equation of simple harmonic motion and timing oscillations Velocity, period and graphical relationships Energy in a simple harmonic oscillator Damping, forced oscillations and resonance

Gravitational Fields

Topic overview Gravitational fields and field strength Newton's law of gravitation Field strength of a point mass and the uniform field near Earth Kepler's laws and orbital motion Orbital period and geostationary orbits Gravitational potential Gravitational potential energy and escape velocity

Astrophysics and Cosmology

Topic overview The solar system and the birth of a star The death of a low-mass star Supernovae, neutron stars and black holes The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram Energy levels and emission spectra Absorption spectra and spectral lines Photon energy and the diffraction grating Wien's law and Stefan's law Astronomical distances, parallax and the cosmological principle Doppler shift and Hubble's law The expanding universe and the Big Bang Evidence for the Big Bang and dark energy

Capacitors

Topic overview Capacitance and charging a capacitor Capacitors in series Capacitors in parallel and combined circuits Energy stored by a capacitor Charging and discharging through a resistor Investigating capacitor discharge The time constant Iterative modelling, exponential decay and the constant-ratio property

Electric Fields

Topic overview Electric fields and field lines Coulomb's law and electric field strength Uniform fields, parallel plates and permittivity Electric potential Electric potential energy and capacitance of a sphere

Electromagnetism

Topic overview Magnetic fields and field patterns Fleming's left-hand rule and the motor effect Magnetic flux density and the tesla Charged particles in magnetic fields Magnetic flux, flux linkage and Faraday's law Transformers and the a.c. generator

Nuclear and Particle Physics

Topic overview Alpha-particle scattering and the nuclear model Proton number, nucleon number and isotopes The strong nuclear force and nuclear radius Particles, antiparticles and hadrons Leptons and the quark model Quark composition and charges Beta decay in the quark model Radioactive decay and the three radiations Nuclear decay equations Activity, decay constant and half-life Exponential decay and radioactive dating Mass-energy equivalence Annihilation, mass defect and binding energy Binding energy per nucleon and induced fission The fission reactor and nuclear waste Nuclear fusion and balancing nuclear equations

Medical Imaging

Topic overview The X-ray tube X-ray attenuation and imaging CAT scanning Medical tracers and the gamma camera PET scanning Ultrasound and the piezoelectric transducer Acoustic impedance and reflection Doppler ultrasound

Practical Skills in the Written Papers

Plotting and interpreting graphs

1 thing to know
All three papers

Overview

Recall questions on translating between graphical and algebraic forms, rates of change, logarithmic plots for exponential and power laws, choosing scales and axis labels, intercepts, areas under graphs and the shapes of standard graphs.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What quantities should be shown on graph axes?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What does translating information between graphical, numerical and algebraic forms involve?
Model answer
Converting data presented in one form (such as a table of values) into another form (such as a graph or equation), and vice versa.
2
What is the difference between instantaneous rate of change and average rate of change?
Model answer
Instantaneous rate of change is the rate at a specific moment (gradient of tangent), while average rate of change is calculated over an interval (gradient of chord between two points).
3
How can logarithmic plots be used to test whether data follow an exponential relationship?
Model answer
If ln y plotted against x gives a straight line, the relationship is exponential (y = Aeᵏˣ).
4
How can logarithmic plots be used to test whether data follow a power law?
Model answer
If log y plotted against log x gives a straight line, the relationship is a power law (y = kxⁿ), with the gradient giving the power n.
5
Describe the shape of a graph representing y = e⁻ˣ.
Model answer
An exponential decay curve starting at y = 1 when x = 0, decreasing and approaching zero asymptotically as x increases.
6
How should scales be selected for graph axes?
Model answer
Scales should be chosen so that plotted points spread across at least half the available grid in each direction, making patterns and gradients easier to determine.

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