Physics

3.4 Mechanics and Materials

• To be able to use scale diagrams and trigonometry to combine and split vectors to solve static and dynamic problems. 
• To be able to solve equilibrium problems by considering moment and forces. 
• To calculate and discuss dynamics problems in a straight line and in two dimensions, considering the independence of vertical and horizontal motion. 

3.6.2 Thermal Physics

• To calculate and describe the internal energy changes when heating a substance, resulting in temperature change and/or state change. 
• To understand the experimental gas laws and the ideal gas equation and the assumptions that are made. 
• To understand how the behaviour of particles is explained by kinetic theory, and the equations that are derived from this theory. 

3.4 Mechanics and Materials

• Apply Newton’s laws of motion, and conservations of momentum and energy to real-world scenarios 
• To know how materials are affected by tensile forces both qualitatively and quantitatively. 

3.5 Electricity

• To know how resistance affects the current and potential difference in a circuit with a range of components and series and parallel parts. 
• To investigate the resistivity of materials, component characteristics and the emf and internal resistances of power supplies. 

3.5 Electricity

• To create circuits that can be used to investigate components or create desired output voltages.

3.3 Waves

• To be able to describe waves using key terminology and numerically with regards to phase and path difference.  
• To differentiate between different types of waves and their behaviours. 
• To explain how waves behave when they meet and superpose. 
• To explain the behaviour of waves during reflection, refraction, diffraction, polarisation and superposition. 

3.3 Waves

• To know how light behaves differently when travelling through a single slit, double slit and diffraction grating. 

3.2 Particles and Radiation 

• To understand the constituents of the atom and how unstable nuclei act to become more stable. 
• To know the four fundamental forces that govern all interactions in the universe (strong, weak, EM and gravitational). 
• To be able to describe the categories of particles that exist and the rules that govern which category particles belong. 
• To be able to use baryon, lepton, charge and strangeness rules to determine the decay, annihilation and production of particles. 

3.2 Particles and Radiation

• To explain the outcomes of Einstein’s discovery of the photoelectric effect. 
• To understand how electron energy levels leads to the quantum physics ideas of photon absorption and emission 

Revision

• To prepare for mocks that cover all content so far (the whole of the AS course). 
• To identify gaps in knowledge to ensure that students are strong in AS content before moving on to more challenging A2 content. 

3.6.1 Further Mechanics

• To develop on the mechanics unit, applying new equations to circular motion. 
• To be able to define simple harmonic motion and to investigate it in the examples of a pendulum and mass-spring system. 
• To apply equations of SHM to harmonic oscillator and compare links to circular motion. 
• To understand how knowledge of damping to avoid destructive resonance or to utilise resonance in mechanical systems. 

3.6.2 Thermal Physics

• To calculate and describe the internal energy changes when heating a substance, resulting in temperature change and/or state change. 
• To understand the experimental gas laws and the ideal gas equation and the assumptions that are made. 
• To understand how the behaviour of particles is explained by kinetic theory, and the equations that are derived from this theory. 

3.7 Fields

• To understand features of field diagrams such as equipotentials, potential gradient, field strength and potential. 
• Calculate force and changes in potential energy in electric, gravitational fields. 
• Differentiate between radial, uniform and irregular fields. 
• Understand how capacitors work, their uses and how to optimise capacitance. 
• Explain the effects of magnetic fields on current carrying wires and free charges. 
• Understand how transformers, motors and generators work. 

3.8 Nuclear Physics

• Describe experiments to determine the type and the properties of α, β and γ (including inverse square properties). 
• Calculate the activity/number of undecayed nuclei at a time, t, using half life or decay constant. 
• To use logarithms in calculations and on graph axis. 
• Explain how radioactivity leads to greater stability on the N-Z stability curve.  
• Describe how the nuclear radius equation was derived from experiment. 
• Explain the effect of mass defect on energy release using E=mc2 
• Describe the features of a fission reactor, including safety precautions needed for nuclear waste. 

3.9 Option Module - Astrophysics

• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of refracting and reflecting telescopes.  
• Discuss aberration, resolution and quantum efficiency of various telescopes. 
• Classify stars by luminosity, temperature and black body radiation, using the Hipparcos scale, Stefan’s law and Wien’s law. 
• Use the Hertzsprung Russell diagram to explain the stages of the life cycle of a star. 
• Describe the features of supernovae, neutron starts, quasars and black holes. 
• Calculate the red shift of stellar objects from their observed light and using the Hubble law. 

Revision

• Revision of content and skills from throughout the A-level Physics course, with a focus on exam questions and application of knowledge to common and unusual scenarios. 
• Lab books to be finalised and submitted to ensure a pass for the practical competencies of the course.