Key term
CCEA AS-Level Physics 1210
Physical Quantities, Scalars and Vectors
Moments and Equilibrium
Linear Motion and Dynamics
Newton's Laws of Motion
Linear Momentum and Impulse
Work, Energy and Power
Current, Charge and Potential Difference
Resistance and Resistivity
Topic overviewResistance and Ohm's lawOhmic and non-ohmic behaviourResistors in series and in parallelInvestigating current, voltage and resistance in series and parallel circuitsElectrical power and energy in resistive circuitsResistivity and the equation R = ρl/AMeasuring the resistivity of a metalCurrent–voltage characteristics of a conductor, a lamp and a diodeResistance, temperature and superconductivity
Internal Resistance and Potential Dividers
Topic overviewInternal resistance and terminal potential differenceConsequences of internal resistance for external circuitsMeasuring electromotive force and internal resistanceThe potential divider and variable outputPotential dividers in lighting and heating control circuitsLoaded potential dividers and output voltage calculations
Waves
Refraction
Lenses
Superposition, Interference and Diffraction
Topic overviewSuperposition of wavesStanding waves, nodes and antinodesStanding waves on stretched stringsStanding waves in a pipe closed at one endMeasuring the speed of sound with a resonance tubeConditions for observable interferencePath difference and phase differenceYoung's double slitDiffraction at a single slitThe diffraction grating
Quantum Physics
Wave-Particle Duality
Astronomy
Practical Skills and Data Analysis
Topic overviewChoosing and using measuring instrumentsPrecision, accuracy and recording measurementsUsing the cathode ray oscilloscope to measure voltage and frequencyTables, graphs and presenting resultsLinearising a relationship and using the gradientAbsolute and percentage uncertaintyCombining uncertainties and uncertainty on a graphRandom and systematic error, reliability and refining an experiment
Waves
- 7 subtopics
- 21 things to know
- Unit AS 2
What Waves covers
Waves is examined in Unit AS 2, Waves, Photons and Astronomy, and drawn on again in Unit AS 3, Practical Techniques and Data Analysis. It covers transverse and longitudinal waves, amplitude, period, frequency and wavelength, phase and phase difference, reading wave graphs, the wave equation, polarisation and the electromagnetic spectrum.
Where it is assessed
Unit AS 2
Waves, Photons and Astronomy, and again in Unit AS 3, Practical Techniques and Data Analysis.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page. CCEA AS Physics students sit this topic in the first year.
- Transverse and longitudinal wavesTransverse wave, longitudinal wave and compressions and rarefactions of a sound wave.Open →
- Amplitude, period, frequency and wavelengthAmplitude of a wave, wavelength of a wave and period of a wave.Open →
- Phase and phase differenceRecall questions on what in phase and in antiphase mean, the phase difference for one whole cycle in radians, the values for separations of a half and a quarter of a wavelength, the equation linking phase difference to path difference, worked conversions, and why phase difference is measured as an angle.Open →
- Reading wave graphsRecall questions on what goes on the axes of a displacement–time and a displacement–distance graph, which one gives the wavelength and which the period, obtaining the frequency and the wave speed from them, what the gradient of a displacement–time graph means for a single particle, and reading amplitude and phase from a snapshot.Open →
- The wave equationWave equation and define each symbol, why the wave speed equals frequency multiplied by wavelength and speed of every electromagnetic wave in a vacuum.Open →
- PolarisationPlane-polarised wave, unpolarised light and how polarising sunglasses cut glare from a wet road.Open →
- The electromagnetic spectrumTypical wavelength for radio waves, typical wavelength for microwaves and typical wavelength for infrared radiation.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Explain how polarising sunglasses cut glare from a wet road.
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Define the amplitude of a wave.
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What phase difference, in radians, corresponds to one whole cycle?
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What quantities go on the axes of a displacement–time graph for a wave?
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State the wave equation and define each symbol.
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Name the seven regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing wavelength.
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What is a transverse wave?
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Define the wavelength of a wave.
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Two points on a wave are half a wavelength apart. State the phase difference between them.
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Which type of wave graph allows the wavelength to be read directly?
Numbers
A note of frequency 256 Hz travels through air at 340 m s⁻¹. Calculate its wavelength.
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What is a plane-polarised wave?
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Which region of the electromagnetic spectrum has the highest frequency?
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What is a longitudinal wave?
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Define the period of a wave.
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Two points on a wave are a quarter of a wavelength apart. State the phase difference between them.
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Which type of wave graph allows the period to be read directly?
Numbers
A radio station broadcasts at 100 MHz. Calculate the wavelength of the transmission.
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Why can only transverse waves be polarised?
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State a typical wavelength for radio waves.
Take Waves further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a transverse wave?
Model answer
A transverse wave is one in which the oscillations are at right angles to the direction in which the wave transfers energy.
- 2
What is a longitudinal wave?
Model answer
A longitudinal wave is one in which the oscillations are parallel to the direction in which the wave transfers energy.
- 3
Name three examples of transverse waves.
Model answer
Light and all other electromagnetic waves, ripples on a water surface and waves on a stretched string are transverse.
- 4
Name two examples of longitudinal waves.
Model answer
Sound travelling through air and the primary (P) waves of an earthquake are longitudinal.
- 5
What are the compressions and rarefactions of a sound wave?
Model answer
Compressions are regions where the air particles are bunched together so the pressure is above normal, and rarefactions are regions where they are spread apart so the pressure is below normal.
- 6
In a longitudinal wave, what corresponds to the crest of a transverse wave?
Model answer
A compression corresponds to a crest, as the region of maximum pressure and density, and a rarefaction corresponds to a trough, as the region of minimum pressure; the particle displacement at both is zero.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Waves revision questions
- Is Waves examined at AS in CCEA Physics?
- Yes. It sits in Unit AS 2, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.
- What does Waves cover in CCEA AS-Level Physics?
- 7 subtopics: transverse and longitudinal waves, amplitude, period, frequency and wavelength, phase and phase difference, reading wave graphs, the wave equation, polarisation and the electromagnetic spectrum. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Waves organised?
- By the CCEA 1210 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Waves, 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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