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
Waves
Progressive waves and their properties
- 4 things to know
- Papers 2 and 3
Overview
Recall questions on transverse and longitudinal waves, displacement, amplitude, wavelength, period, phase difference, frequency and wave speed, and what a progressive wave transfers.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What are the phase difference, period and frequency of a wave, and what units is each measured in?
Key term
What is wave speed and its SI unit, and when an oscilloscope is used, what must first be displayed and what is measured to find the period?
Key term
What does a progressive wave transfer, and what does it not transfer?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
How are the oscillations of particles oriented relative to the direction of wave propagation in a transverse wave?
Model answer
The oscillations of particles are perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
- 2
In a longitudinal wave, what is the relationship between particle oscillation direction and wave propagation direction?
Model answer
The oscillations of particles are parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
- 3
Define displacement in the context of wave motion.
Model answer
Displacement is the distance of a point on the wave from its equilibrium position, measured in metres.
- 4
What is meant by the amplitude of a wave?
Model answer
Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its equilibrium position.
- 5
Define wavelength.
Model answer
Wavelength is the minimum distance between two points on a wave that are in phase, measured in metres.
- 6
What is the period of a wave?
Model answer
Period is the time taken for one complete oscillation of a point on the wave, measured in seconds.
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