Evaluation
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
The Practical Endorsement
- 7 subtopics
- 24 things to know
- All three papers
What The Practical Endorsement covers
The practical endorsement belongs to module 1 and is assessed by the centre and reported separately from the grade. It covers using apparatus and measuring instruments correctly, working safely, and the specific techniques the endorsement requires across mechanics, electricity and waves.
Where it is assessed
All three papers
Practical skills and physical quantities, assumed throughout.
Check the OCR specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Analogue and digital measuring instrumentsRecall questions on analogue apparatus for length, temperature, pressure, force, angles and volume, reading and interpolating scales, and digital instruments for time, current, voltage, resistance and mass.Open →
- Improving accuracy with repeat timing, fiducial markers and plumb linesRecall questions on timing multiple oscillations to reduce uncertainty, using a fiducial marker when timing a pendulum, and using set squares and plumb lines to improve measurement accuracy.Open →
- Timing, calipers and micrometersRecall questions on stopwatches and their uncertainty, light gates, calipers and micrometers for small distances, vernier and digital scales, and how a vernier scale gives readings finer than the main scale.Open →
- Constructing and testing circuitsRecall questions on designing circuits, constructing them from circuit diagrams, polarity-sensitive components such as diodes, LEDs and electrolytic capacitors, and checking a circuit works before taking measurements.Open →
- Signal generators and oscilloscopesRecall questions on what a signal generator produces, what an oscilloscope displays, the volts/division and time-base settings, and using an oscilloscope to find the frequency of a signal.Open →
- Generating and measuring wavesRecall questions on microphones, loudspeakers, ripple tanks, vibration transducers, microwave and radio sources, and lasers or light sources used to investigate interference and diffraction.Open →
- Data loggers, modelling software and ionising radiationRecall questions on computer modelling, data loggers with sensors, software for processing data, detectors for ionising radiation and the rules, shielding, time and distance that make handling radioactive sources safe.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What do a loudspeaker and a microphone each do in wave experiments, and which wave phenomena can a ripple tank demonstrate?
Evaluation
State the main source of uncertainty when using a stopwatch for manual timing.
Process
What steps are involved in checking a circuit before taking measurements?
Evaluation
When measuring the period of a pendulum, why is it better to time 20 oscillations rather than just one?
Key term
What must circuits be constructed from when following circuit diagrams?
Key term
What apparatus is used to generate and observe water waves and their properties?
Key term
What apparatus can be used to investigate interference patterns with light?
Key term
Name an analogue apparatus that can be used to measure length or distance.
Key term
What digital instrument can be used to measure time intervals?
Key term
What is a stopwatch used for in physics experiments?
Key term
Give three examples of components where polarity is important when constructing circuits.
Key term
Name one type of analogue apparatus that can be used to measure length or distance.
Key term
What analogue apparatus is commonly used to measure temperature in a physics laboratory?
Key term
What analogue apparatus is commonly used to measure temperature?
Key term
What are calipers used to measure, and what types of scale can they have?
Key term
Why must polarity-sensitive components be connected in the correct orientation?
Key term
What is the function of a signal generator?
Key term
What is the function of an oscilloscope?
Process
How would you use an oscilloscope to determine the frequency of a signal?
Key term
What apparatus can be used to generate and measure sound waves?
Process
What role does shielding play in the safe handling of radioactive sources?
Process
How does minimising exposure time reduce the risk when handling radioactive sources?
Process
Why does maximising distance from a radioactive source improve safety?
Take The Practical Endorsement further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Calibration vs Zeroing
Calibration: comparison or adjustment against a known standard. Zeroing: setting an instrument to read zero before measurement.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Name one type of analogue apparatus that can be used to measure length or distance.
Model answer
A ruler or metre rule (also acceptable: tape measure, vernier calipers with analogue scale).
- 2
Give an example of analogue apparatus used to measure pressure.
Model answer
A Bourdon gauge or a manometer.
- 3
How does interpolation improve readings taken from an analogue scale?
Model answer
It allows the observer to estimate a reading to a fraction of the smallest scale division, giving greater precision than simply reading to the nearest marked division.
- 4
What digital instrument is used to measure electric current?
Model answer
A digital ammeter or a digital multimeter set to current mode.
- 5
Which digital instrument can measure electrical resistance directly?
Model answer
A digital multimeter (set to resistance/ohms mode) or a digital ohmmeter.
- 6
What analogue apparatus is commonly used to measure temperature in a physics laboratory?
Model answer
A liquid-in-glass thermometer (e.g. mercury or alcohol thermometer).
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
The Practical Endorsement revision questions
- What does The Practical Endorsement cover in OCR A-Level Physics A?
- 7 subtopics: analogue and digital measuring instruments, improving accuracy with repeat timing, fiducial markers and plumb lines, timing, calipers and micrometers, constructing and testing circuits, signal generators and oscilloscopes, generating and measuring waves and data loggers, modelling software and ionising radiation. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is The Practical Endorsement organised?
- By the OCR H556 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in The Practical Endorsement, 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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