Key term
OCR A-Level Physics B H557
Planning
Implementing
Analysis
Evaluation
Practical Skills
Use of Apparatus and Techniques
Fundamental Data Analysis
Imaging and Signalling
Topic overviewReal images and the curvature of wave-frontsLens power and focal lengthThe thin lens equation and the Cartesian conventionLinear magnificationMeasuring the power and focal length of a converging lensImages as arrays of numbersBits, bytes and the information in an imageEnhancing a digital imageWave-forms, frequency and wave speedSampling and digitising an analogue signalNoise, resolution and digital transmissionPolarisation of electromagnetic waves
Sensing
Topic overviewCurrent and the flow of chargePotential difference, e.m.f. and energy transferResistance, conductance and Ohm's lawSeries and parallel combinationsPower and energy in electric circuitsInternal resistance and e.m.f.Kirchhoff's laws and conservation in circuitsResistivity and conductivityCharge carrier number density in metals, semiconductors and insulatorsCurrent-potential difference characteristics and circuit componentsThe potential dividerSensing circuits and calibration
Mechanical Properties of Materials
Topic overviewElastic and plastic deformation and fractureHooke's law and force-extension graphsElastic strain energyStress, strain and the Young modulusMeasuring the Young modulus and fracture stress of a metalDescribing and comparing materialsMetals, ceramics and polymersDirect evidence for the size and spacing of particles
Waves and Quantum Behaviour
Topic overviewWaves, phase and superpositionStanding waves on stringsStanding waves in air columns and the speed of soundRefraction, refractive index and Snell's lawTwo-slit interferenceDiffraction at a narrow apertureThe diffraction gratingMeasuring the wavelength of lightPhotons and the quantum E = hfEvidence that photons exchange energy in quantaQuantum behaviour: phasors and probability of arrivalElectron diffraction and the de Broglie wavelength
Space, Time and Motion
Topic overviewScalars, vectors and their representationResolving and adding vectorsDescribing motion: displacement, velocity and accelerationMotion graphsThe kinematic equations for constant accelerationProjectiles and motion in two dimensionsMeasuring motion in the laboratoryDetermining the acceleration of free fallNewton's laws of motionTerminal velocity and resistive forcesMomentum and impulseConservation of momentum and collisionsWork, energy and its conservationPower and modelling motion in small time steps
Creating Models
Topic overviewCapacitance and charge storageEnergy stored on a capacitorCapacitor discharge and the exponential modelThe time constant of an RC circuitCharging a capacitorInvestigating capacitor charge and dischargeRadioactive decay as a random processActivity, decay constant and half-lifeDetermining the half-life of an isotopeIterative numerical models of exponential changeExponential curves on linear and logarithmic scalesSimple harmonic motion: the defining relationshipSolutions and graphs of simple harmonic motionModelling oscillations step by stepEnergy in simple harmonic motionPeriod of a mass–spring system and a simple pendulumFree and forced vibrations, damping and resonance
Out Into Space
Topic overviewGravitational and kinetic energy changesMotion in a uniform gravitational fieldGravitational force and the radial fieldGravitational field strengthGravitational potential energy in a radial fieldGravitational potential and equipotentialsGraphs and diagrams of gravitational fieldsAngular velocity and motion in a horizontal circleCircular gravitational orbits
Our Place in the Universe
Matter: Very Simple
Topic overviewEnergy transfer and specific thermal capacityFinding specific thermal capacity by an electrical methodIdeal gases and the gas lawsInvestigating the gas laws and absolute zeroMoles, the Avogadro constant and the Boltzmann constantThe equation of state for an ideal gasImpulse and force–time graphsThe kinetic theory of ideal gasesTemperature, average energy per particle and internal energyRandom walk of molecules in a gas
Matter: Hot or Cold
Electromagnetism
Topic overviewMagnetic flux, B-fields and flux linkageElectromagnetic induction: Faraday's and Lenz's lawsGraphs of current, flux and induced e.m.f.The dynamoThe transformerEddy currents and real transformersForces on current-carrying conductorsMagnetic circuits, permeance and machine designInvestigating induction, flux density and transformers
Charge and Field
Topic overviewThe uniform electric fieldRadial fields and the inverse square lawElectric potential and potential energyField and potential graphsField lines and equipotential surfacesThe electronvolt and accelerating chargesMillikan's experiment and the discreteness of chargeMoving charges in magnetic fieldsComparing electric and gravitational fields
Probing Deep Into Matter
Topic overviewParticle accelerators and high-energy beamsScattering and the nuclear atomPaths of scattered particles and closest approachDiscrete energy levels in atomsElectron standing waves and the confined electronQuarks, hadrons and leptonsConservation laws and nuclear equationsCharged particles in detectors and magnetic fieldsRelativistic energy and the relativistic factor
Ionising Radiation and Risk
Topic overviewThe nature of ionising radiationsEffects on living tissue and radiation safetyAbsorbed dose, effective dose and riskBinding energy and nuclear stabilityThe Nuclear Valley and modes of decayFission, fusion and nuclear powerActivity, half-life and the decay constantInvestigating absorption and half-life
Space, Time and Motion
- 14 subtopics
- 42 things to know
- Components 01, 02 and 03
What Space, Time and Motion covers
Space, Time and Motion is examined in all three written papers — the specification states that Components 01, 02 and 03 each assess content from across all the teaching modules, so nothing is confined to one paper. It covers scalars, vectors and their representation, Resolving and adding vectors, Describing motion: displacement, velocity and acceleration, motion graphs, the kinematic equations for constant acceleration, Projectiles and motion in two dimensions, measuring motion in the laboratory, Determining the acceleration of free fall, newton's laws of motion, terminal velocity and resistive forces, momentum and impulse, conservation of momentum and collisions, work, energy and its conservation and power and modelling motion in small time steps.
Where it is assessed
Components 01, 02 and 03
Every module can be assessed on any of the three papers.
Check the OCR specification ↗The 14 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Scalars, vectors and their representationRecall questions on scalars and vectors, displacement against distance, representing vectors, velocity and acceleration, accelerating at constant speed, average speed and velocity over a lap, the change in a vector and a rebounding ball, the resultant of two vectors, and free-body force diagrams for a book on a table and a block on a slope.Open →
- Resolving and adding vectorsRecall questions on splitting a vector into perpendicular components, combining perpendicular vectors for magnitude and direction, scale drawings, and problems on boats, aircraft and a rope at an angle.Open →
- Describing motion: displacement, velocity and accelerationRecall questions on average and instantaneous velocity, average speed against average velocity, (u + v)/2 and why it needs constant acceleration, uniform acceleration and its unit, cyclist and train calculations, negative acceleration, zero velocity with non-zero acceleration, choosing a positive direction, and finding instantaneous velocity from readings.Open →
- Motion graphsRecall questions on the gradients of displacement–time and velocity–time graphs, the areas under velocity–time and acceleration–time graphs, graphs for constant velocity and uniform acceleration, tangents to curves, irregular areas and areas below the axis, a ball thrown upwards and caught, and a decreasing positive gradient.Open →
- The kinematic equations for constant accelerationRecall questions on the equations linking velocity, acceleration, time and displacement, the condition for using them, choosing one when time is unknown, vertical motion under gravity, and sign conventions.Open →
- Projectiles and motion in two dimensionsRecall questions on the independence of perpendicular motions, the horizontal and vertical motion of a projectile, its parabolic path, a dropped and a rolled ball landing together, time of flight and range for a ball leaving a table or launched at 30°, velocity at the highest point, air resistance, constant vertical acceleration, a boat crossing a current, and perpendicular forces.Open →
- Measuring motion in the laboratoryRecall questions on light gates, ticker tape and video analysis, needing a known length in shot, air tracks and friction-compensated runways, and why a gate gives an average velocity.Open →
- Determining the acceleration of free fallRecall questions on the trapdoor and electromagnet method, working from height and time, what to plot and its gradient, a systematic timing error, light gates, and why mass does not matter.Open →
- Newton's laws of motionRecall questions on Newton's first, second and third laws, F = ma from the momentum form, resultant force, car and football calculations, why third law pairs never cancel, the partner of a book's weight, a passenger thrown forwards, the newton, mass as inertia, rocket propulsion, and the floor force in an accelerating lift.Open →
- Terminal velocity and resistive forcesRecall questions on how acceleration changes during a fall, the velocity–time graph, forces on a ball bearing in a viscous liquid, marker placement, nested paper cones, and falling in a vacuum.Open →
- Momentum and impulseRecall questions on defining momentum and impulse, their units, impulse as the area under a force–time graph, why rebounds change momentum most, crumple zones and catching, and average force.Open →
- Conservation of momentum and collisionsRecall questions on the conservation of momentum and why it follows from Newton's third law, the condition for it, trolleys sticking together and the kinetic energy lost, elastic and inelastic collisions, trolleys pushed apart by a spring, signs for direction, head-on collisions, gun and rifle recoil, air track tests, and the Earth's unnoticed momentum change.Open →
- Work, energy and its conservationRecall questions on work done ΔE = FΔs and FΔs cos θ, forces at right angles to motion, the joule, conservation of energy, kinetic energy Eₖ = ½mv² and gravitational potential energy mgh with calculations, the landing speed v = √(2gh), why doubling speed quadruples kinetic energy, braking, and energy lost to friction.Open →
- Power and modelling motion in small time stepsRecall questions on power and the watt, power = ΔE/t and power = Fv, climber, car and motor calculations, why higher speeds need more power, iterative models of motion and their two update rules, why start-of-interval velocities underestimate displacement, smaller time steps, and modelling forces that vary with speed.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Why do momentum directions need signs, and how fast does a 3.2 kg rifle recoil firing a 4.0 g bullet at 400 m s⁻¹?
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Why does a car's kinetic energy quadruple when its speed doubles, where does the energy go during braking, and why does friction waste energy?
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A force F acts at an angle θ to the horizontal. Give expressions for its horizontal and vertical components.
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Define average velocity.
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What does the gradient of a displacement–time graph represent?
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State the equation linking final velocity, initial velocity, acceleration and time.
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Describe the horizontal motion of a projectile when air resistance is negligible.
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How is a light gate used to measure the speed of a trolley?
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How does the trapdoor and electromagnet method measure the acceleration of free fall?
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State Newton's second law of motion in terms of momentum.
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How can terminal velocity be investigated using a ball bearing in a viscous liquid?
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Define momentum and give its unit.
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Define power.
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What is the difference between a scalar and a vector quantity?
Numbers
Calculate the horizontal component of a 50 N force acting at 30° above the horizontal.
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Define instantaneous velocity.
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What does the gradient of a velocity–time graph represent?
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State the equation giving displacement in terms of initial velocity, acceleration and time.
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Describe the shape of the path of a projectile launched at an angle above the horizontal.
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How can a single light gate be used to measure the acceleration of a trolley?
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How is g calculated from the height fallen and the time taken from rest?
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Show how F = ma follows from the momentum form of Newton's second law when the mass is constant.
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In the falling ball-bearing experiment, how do you know that terminal velocity has been reached?
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Is momentum a vector or a scalar quantity?
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State the principle of conservation of momentum.
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Define the work done by a force.
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State the equation for average power in terms of energy transferred and time.
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Classify displacement, speed, velocity and mass as scalar or vector.
Numbers
Calculate the vertical component of a 50 N force acting at 30° above the horizontal.
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How does average speed differ from average velocity for a journey that is not in a straight line?
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What does the area under a velocity–time graph represent?
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Which kinematic equation links velocity and displacement without involving time?
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A ball is launched at 20 m s⁻¹ at 30° to the horizontal. What is its initial vertical velocity?
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How is acceleration found from a ticker tape?
Numbers
A ball falls 1.5 m from rest in 0.55 s. Calculate the acceleration of free fall.
Numbers
A resultant force of 3.0 kN acts on a car of mass 1500 kg. What is its acceleration?
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Why should the first marker be placed some way below the surface of the liquid in the ball-bearing experiment?
Numbers
Calculate the momentum of a 1200 kg car travelling at 15 m s⁻¹.
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Why does conservation of momentum follow from Newton's third law?
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State the equation for work done when the force is parallel to the displacement.
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Define the watt.
Take Space, Time and Motion further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Distance vs Displacement
Distance: the whole length of the route actually travelled, a scalar that keeps adding up whatever direction the motion takes. Displacement: The straight line from the starting point to the finishing point together with its direction, a vector that comes to zero over a closed path.
Mass vs Weight
Mass: the quantity of matter in a body, measured in kilograms; it fixes how much inertia the body has and is the same wherever the body is taken. Weight: The gravitational pull on a body, measured in newtons and equal to mg, so it is smaller on the Moon than on the Earth.
Momentum vs Kinetic energy
Momentum: the product of a body's mass and its velocity, a vector in kg m s⁻¹, whose total stays the same in every collision. Kinetic energy: The ½mv² a body has because it is moving, a scalar that stays the same only in an elastic collision.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is the difference between a scalar and a vector quantity?
Model answer
A scalar has magnitude only, while a vector has both magnitude and direction.
- 2
Classify displacement, speed, velocity and mass as scalar or vector.
Model answer
Displacement and velocity are vectors, while speed and mass are scalars.
- 3
Define displacement.
Model answer
Displacement is the straight-line distance from the starting point to the finishing point, together with its direction.
- 4
Why can the displacement of a moving object be zero when the distance it has travelled is not?
Model answer
Distance accumulates along the whole route, but displacement depends only on the start and finish, so a closed path gives zero displacement.
- 5
How is a vector represented on a scale diagram?
Model answer
It is drawn as an arrow whose length is proportional to the magnitude and whose direction is that of the quantity.
- 6
Define velocity.
Model answer
Velocity is the rate of change of displacement, and it is a vector pointing in the direction of that change.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Space, Time and Motion revision questions
- What does Space, Time and Motion cover in OCR A-Level Physics B?
- 14 subtopics: scalars, vectors and their representation, resolving and adding vectors, describing motion: displacement, velocity and acceleration, motion graphs, the kinematic equations for constant acceleration, projectiles and motion in two dimensions, measuring motion in the laboratory, determining the acceleration of free fall, newton's laws of motion, terminal velocity and resistive forces, momentum and impulse, conservation of momentum and collisions, work, energy and its conservation and power and modelling motion in small time steps. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Space, Time and Motion organised?
- By the OCR H557 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Space, Time and Motion, 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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