Measurements & Their Errors

Use of SI Units & Their Prefixes

SI Units

Powers of Ten

Estimating Physical Quantities

Limitation of Physical Measurements

Sources of Uncertainty

Calculating Uncertainties

Determining Uncertainties from Graphs

Particles & Radiation

Atomic Structure & Decay Equations

Atomic Structure

Nucleon & Proton Number

Strong Nuclear Force

Alpha & Beta Decay

Particles, Antiparticles & Photons

Classification of Particles

Hadrons

Baryons

Mesons

Leptons

Quarks & Antiquarks

Strange Quarks

Collaborative Efforts in Particle Physics

Conservation Laws & Particle Interactions

The Four Fundamental Interactions

The Electromagnetic & Strong Force

The Weak Interaction

Feynman Diagrams

Application of Conservation Laws

The Photoelectric Effect

The Electronvolt

Threshold Frequency & Work Function

The Photoelectric Equation

Energy Levels & Photon Emission

Collisions of Electrons with Atoms

Energy Levels & Photon Emission

Wave-Particle Duality

The de Broglie Wavelength

Diffraction Effects of Momentum

Analysis of the Nature of Matter

Waves

Longitudinal & Transverse Waves

Progressive Waves

Longitudinal & Transverse Waves

Polarisation

Stationary Waves

Stationary Waves

Formation of Stationary Waves

Harmonics

Required Practical: Investigating Stationary Waves

Interference

Path Difference & Coherence

Demonstrating Interference

Young's Double-Slit Experiment

Developing Theories of EM Radiation

Required Practical: Young's Slit Experiment & Diffraction Gratings

Diffraction

Single Slit Diffraction

The Diffraction Grating

Refraction

Refraction at a Plane Surface

Snell's Law

Fibre Optics

Mechanics & Materials

Scalars & Vectors

Scalars & Vectors

Resolving Vectors

Moments

Moments

Couples

Centre of Mass

Equations of Motion

Motion Along a Straight Line

Motion Graphs

SUVAT Equations

Projectile Motion

Drag Forces

Terminal Velocity

Required Practical: Determination of g

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton’s First Law

Newton's Second Law

Newton's Third Law

Linear Momentum & Conservation

Linear Momentum

Conservation of Momentum

Impulse

Impulse on a Force-Time Graph

Collisions

Work, Energy & Power

Work & Power

Area Under a Force-Displacement Graph

Efficiency

Conservation of Energy

Kinetic & Gravitational Potential Energy

Bulk Properties of Solids

Density

Hooke's Law

Stress & Strain

Elastic Strain Energy

Elastic & Plastic Behaviour

Energy Conservation

The Young Modulus

The Young Modulus

Required Practical: The Young Modulus

Electricity

Current–Voltage Characteristics

Basics of Electricity

Current–Voltage Characteristics

Resistance & Resistivity

Resistivity

Resistance in a Thermistor

Superconductivity

Required Practical: Investigating Resistivity

Circuits & The Potential Divider

Resistors in Series & Parallel

Series & Parallel Circuits

Electrical Energy & Power

Potential Divider Circuits

Electromotive Force & Internal Resistance

Electromotive Force & Internal Resistance

Required Practical: Investigating EMF & Internal Resistance

Further Mechanics & Thermal Physics

Circular Motion

Circular Motion

Radians

Angular Speed

Centripetal Acceleration

Centripetal Force

Simple Harmonic Motion

Conditions for Simple Harmonic Motion

SHM Graphs

Calculating Maximum Speed & Acceleration

Period of Mass-Spring System

Period of Simple Pendulum

Harmonic Oscillators in Context

Energy in SHM

Required Practical: Investigating SHM

Forced Vibrations & Resonance

Damping

Free & Forced Oscillations

Resonance

Thermal Energy Transfer

Internal Energy

The First Law of Thermodynamics

Specific Heat Capacity

Latent Heat Capacity

Ideal Gases

The Kelvin Scale & Absolute Zero

Gas Laws

Ideal Gas Equation

Work Done by a Gas

Avogadro, Molar Gas & Boltzmann Constant

Required Practical: Investigating Gas Laws

Molecular Kinetic Theory Model

Gas Laws v Kinetic Theory

Kinetic Theory of Gases Equation

Average Molecular Kinetic Energy

Brownian Motion

Evolving Models of Gas Behaviour

Fields & Their Consequences

Gravitational Fields

Force Fields

Gravitational Field Strength

Representing Gravitational Fields

Newton's Law of Gravitation

Gravitational Field Strength in a Radial Field

Gravitational Potential

Gravitational Potential

Calculating Gravitational Potential

Graphical Representation of Gravitational Potential

Work Done on a Mass

Orbits of Planets & Satellites

Circular Orbits in Gravitational Fields

Energy of an Orbiting Satellite

Escape Velocity

Geostationary Orbits

Electric Fields

Coulomb's Law

Electric Field Lines

Electric Field Strength

Uniform Electric Field

Motion of Charged Particles

Radial Electric Field

Comparing Gravitational & Electrostatic Forces

Electric Potential

Electric Potential

Graphical Representation of Electric Potential

Work Done on a Charge

Capacitance

Capacitance

Parallel Plate Capacitor

Energy Stored by a Capacitor

Capacitor Charge & Discharge

Charge & Discharge Graphs

The Time Constant

Charge & Discharge Equations

Required Practical: Charging & Discharging Capacitors

Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Flux Density

Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

Fleming's Left Hand Rule

Force on a Moving Charge

Circular Path of Particles

Required Practical: Investigating Magnetic Fields in Wires

Electromagnetic Induction

Magnetic Flux

Magnetic Flux Linkage

Principles of Electromagnetic Induction

Faraday's & Lenz's Laws

Applications of EM Induction

Required Practical: Investigating Flux Linkage on a Search Coil

Alternating Currents & Transformers

Alternating Current & Voltage

The Operation of an Oscilloscope

The Operation of a Transformer

Transformer Efficiency

Transformer Inefficiencies

Nuclear Physics

Alpha, Beta & Gamma Radiation

Rutherford Scattering

Changing Models of the Nucleus

Alpha, Beta & Gamma Radiation

Inverse-Square Law of Gamma Radiation

Background Radiation

Radiation Safety

Required Practical: Inverse Square-Law for Gamma Radiation

Radioactive Decay

Radioactive Decay

Exponential Decay

Half-Life

Applications of Radioactivity

Nuclear Instability & Radius

Nuclear Instability

Decay Equations

Nuclear Excited States

Nuclear Radius

Closest Approach Estimate

Nuclear Radius Equation

Nuclear Density

Nuclear Fusion & Fission

Energy & Mass Equivalence

Mass Difference & Binding Energy

Nuclear Fusion & Fission

Binding Energy

Induced Fission

Operation of a Nuclear Reactor

Safety Aspects of Nuclear Reactors

Astrophysics

Telescopes

Lenses & Ray Diagrams for Telescopes

Refracting Telescopes

Reflecting Telescopes

Reflecting vs Refracting Telescopes

Resolving Power of Telescopes

Collecting Power of Telescopes

Radio, IR, UV & X-Ray Telescopes

Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs) in Astronomy

Classification of Stars

Brightness & Apparent Magnitude

Inverse Square Law of Radiation

Astronomical Distances

Absolute Magnitude

Wien’s Displacement Law

Stefan's Law

Emission & Absorption Spectra in Stars

Stellar Spectral Classes

Star Formation

Life Cycle of a Low Mass Star

Life Cycle of a High Mass Star

Supernovae & Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs)

Supernovae as Standard Candles

Neutron Stars & Black Holes

The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

Cosmology

The Doppler Effect of Light

Binary Star Systems

Galactic Redshift

Hubble's Law

Evidence for the Big Bang

Dark Energy

Quasars

Exoplanets

Medical Physics

Physics of the Eye

Converging & Diverging Lenses

Lens Calculations

Structure of the Eye

Sensitivity of the Eye

Spatial Resolution of the Eye

Defects of Vision

Physics of the Ear

Structure of the Ear

The Decibel Scale

Equal Loudness Curves

Defects of Hearing

Biological Measurement

ECG Machines

Non-Ionising Imaging

The Piezoelectric Transducer

Generation & Detection of Ultrasound

Ultrasound Imaging

Applications of Ultrasound

Fibre Optics & Endoscopy

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

X-ray Imaging

Production of X-rays

Rotating-Anode X-ray Tube

Using X-rays in Medical Imaging

X-ray Detection

Attenuation of X-rays

The CT Scanner

Radionuclide Imaging & Therapy

Radioactive Tracers

The Molybdenum-Technetium Generator

The PET Scanner

Physical, Biological & Effective Half Life

Gamma Camera

Radiotherapy

Comparing Imaging Techniques

Engineering Physics

Rotational Dynamics

Rotational Motion

Angular Acceleration Equations

Torque

Moment of Inertia

Newton’s Second Law for Rotation

Angular Momentum

Angular Impulse

Rotational Work & Power

Rotational Kinetic Energy

Flywheels in Machines

Thermodynamics & Engines

The First Law of Thermodynamics

p–V Diagrams

Thermodynamic Processes

Petrol Engine Cycle

Diesel Engine Cycle

Comparing Petrol & Diesel Engines

Power Output of an Engine

Engine Efficiency

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

Heat Engines

Limitations of Real Heat Engines

Reversed Heat Engines

Coefficients of Performance

Turning Points in Physics

The Discovery of the Electron

Cathode Rays

Thermionic Emission

Specific Charge Experiments

Significance of Thomson's Experiment

Millikan’s Oil Drop Experiment

Stokes' Law

Wave-Particle Duality

Theories of Light

Young's Double Slit Interference

Maxwell's Wave Equation

Hertz's Discovery of Radio Waves

Fizeau's Speed of Light Experiment

UV Catastrophe & Black-Body Radiation

The Discovery of Photoelectricity

De Broglie's Hypothesis

Electron Diffraction

Transmission Electron Microscope

Scanning Tunnelling Microscope

Special Relativity

The Michelson-Morley Interferometer

The Invariance of the Speed of Light

Inertial Frames of Reference

Einstein's Postulates

Time Dilation

Muon Lifetime Experiment

Length Contraction

Relativistic Mass

Relativistic Energy

Bertozzi's Experiment

Exam boards

• Cambridge (CIE) A Level Physics
• Edexcel A Level Physics
• OCR A Level Physics

Study tools

• AQA A Level Physics · Exam Questions
• AQA A Level Physics · Past Papers

Related links

• A Level Physics · Revision Notes
• A Level Physics · Exam Questions
• A Level Physics · Past Papers
• A Level Physics · Glossary