A Level Physics · AQA (reformed)
Dates Available
Week 1: Monday 26 - Friday 30 April
Week 2: Monday 2 - Friday 6 April
Week 3: Monday 9 - Friday 13 April
Boards
AQA A 7408
Not suitable for students studying AQA Physics B
Length of Course
40 hours
Times
9am to 6pm daily
The course examines key Section areas and extensive use will be made of previous exam questions to illustrate relevant principles. The course will focus on exam technique and relating principles to applications.
The course will cover the following:
Section 1 Measurements and their Errors
Quantities and Units
Vectors and Scalars
Measurements
Implications of scientific knowledge
Section 2 Particles and Radiation
Radiation, atoms, antimatter, the Standard Model, the fundamental forces, E=mc2
Photons, spectra, the photoelectric effect, wave-particle duality, the electronvolt
Section 3 Waves and the Particle Nature of Light
Progressive waves, wave properties, refraction and reflection, superposition and interference
Young’s double slits, diffraction gratings, stationary waves, optical fibres
Section 4 Mechanics and Materials
Motion in a straight line, SUVAT (constant acceleration) equations, projectile motion, freefall
Newton’s laws, Linear Momentum, Impulse, Collisions
Force diagrams, terminal velocity, moments and couples, Conservation of energy, kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, power and efficiency
Springs and Hooke’s law, elastic potential energy, Stress-strain and the Young modulus
Density and pressure, Archimedes’ principle
Section 5 Electricity
Charge, Current, Kirchoff’s laws, energy, power and resistance
Circuit components and symbols, I-V characteristics, resistivity
Resistor combinations, analysing circuits, internal resistance, potential dividers, sensing circuits
Section 6 Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics
Circular motion, centripetal force and acceleration
Temperature, specific heat capacity and specific latent heat, matter, absolute zero
Simple harmonic motion, resonance, damping
Kinetic theory of gases, ideal gases
Section 7 Fields and their Consequences
Gravitational fields, potentials, energy, Newton’s laws and planetary motion.
Electric Fields, potentials, energy, Coulomb’s law, particles in electric fields,
The parallel plate capacitor, energy storage, charging and discharging capacitors
Magnetic fields, currents, particles in magnetic fields, induction
Alternating currents, Root-mean-square values, transformers
Section 8 Nuclear Physics
Types and causes of radiation, hazards and inverse square law
Nuclear decay equations, half-life, E=mc2
Nuclear reactions, binding energy, fission and fusion, safety
The practical endorsement is not explicitly covered on this course, however relevant experiments and techniques will be discussed where appropriate throughout.
Synoptic exam questions will be discussed through the course.
Option topics are not taught in this course. However, for reference they are:
Astrophysics
Medical Physics
Engineering Physics
Turning points in physics
Electronics