Cambridge (CIE) A Level Physics Revision Notes 2023

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

1. Physical Quantities & Units

Physical Quantities

SI Units

Homogeneity of Physical Equations & Powers of Ten

Errors & Uncertainties

Calculating Uncertainties

Scalars & Vectors

2. Kinematics

Displacement, Velocity & Acceleration

Motion Graphs

Area under a Velocity-Time Graph

Gradient of a Displacement-Time Graph

Gradient of a Velocity-Time Graph

Deriving Kinematic Equations

Solving Problems with Kinematic Equations

Acceleration of Free Fall Experiment

Projectile Motion

3. Dynamics

Newton's Laws of Motion

Drag Force & Air Resistance

Terminal Velocity

Conservation of Momentum

Elastic & Inelastic Collisions

4. Forces, Density & Pressure

Centre of Gravity

Moments

Turning Effects of Forces

Principle of Moments

Conditions for Equilibrium

Density

Pressure

Derivation of ∆p = ρg∆h

Upthrust

Archimedes' Principle

5. Work, Energy & Power

Work & Energy

The Principle of Conservation of Energy

Efficiency

Power

Derivation of P = Fv

Gravitational Potential Energy

Kinetic Energy

6. Deformation of Solids

Extension & Compression

Hooke's Law

The Young Modulus

Elastic & Plastic Behaviour

Elastic Potential Energy

7. Waves

Progressive Waves

Cathode-Ray Oscilloscope

The Wave Equation

Wave Intensity

Transverse & Longitudinal Waves

Doppler Effect for Sound Waves

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Polarisation

8. Superposition

The Principle of Superposition

Stationary Waves

Wavelength of Stationary Waves

Diffraction

Interference & Coherence

Two Source Interference

Young's Double Slit Experiment

The Diffraction Grating

9. Electricity

Electric Current

Calculating Electric Current & Charge

Resistance in Sensory Resistors

10. D.C. Circuits

Circuit Symbols

Electromotive Force

Internal Resistance

Kirchhoff's First Law

Kirchhoff's Second Law

Resistors in Series

Resistors in Parallel

Solving Problems with Kirchhoff's Laws

Potential Dividers

Potentiometer

Galvanometer

Potential Divider Components

11. Particle Physics

Alpha-particle Scattering Experiment

Atomic Structure

Nucleon & Proton Number

Alpha, Beta & Gamma Particles

Decay Equations

Fundamental Particles

Properties of Quarks

Quark Composition

The Quark Model of Beta Decay

12. Motion in a Circle

Radians & Angular Displacement

Angular Speed

Centripetal Acceleration

Calculating Centripetal Acceleration

Calculating Centripetal Force

13. Gravitational Fields

Gravitational Fields

Point Mass Approximation

Gravitational Force Between Point Masses

Circular Orbits in Gravitational Fields

Geostationary Orbits

Gravitational Field Strength

The Value of g on Earth

Gravitational Potential

14. Temperature

Thermal Energy Transfer

Thermal Equilibrium

Measurement of Temperature

The Kelvin Scale

Specific Heat Capacity

Specific Latent Heat Capacity

15. Ideal Gases

The Mole

Ideal Gases

Ideal Gas Equation

Kinetic Theory of Gases

Derivation of the Kinetic Theory of Gases Equation

Average Kinetic Energy of a Molecule

16. Thermodynamics

Internal energy

Work Done by a Gas

The First Law of Thermodynamics

17. Oscillations

Describing Oscillations

Simple Harmonic Motion

Calculating Acceleration & Displacement in SHM

Calculating Speed in SHM

18. Electric Fields

Electric Fields & Forces on Charges

Electric Field Lines

Electric Field Between Parallel Plates

Motion of Charged Particles

Electric Force Between Two Point Charges

Electric Field Strength of a Point Charge

Electric Potential

Electric Potential Gradient

Electric Potential Energy

19. Capacitance

Capacitance

Capacitors in Series & Parallel

Calculating Capacitance in Series & Parallel

Area Under a Potential–Charge Graph

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

Capacitor Discharge Graphs

Capacitor Discharge Equations

20. Magnetic Fields

Representing Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Flux Density

Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

Fleming's Left-Hand Rule

Force on a Moving Charge

Hall Voltage

Using a Hall Probe

Motion of a Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field

Velocity Selection

Magnetic Fields in Wires, Coils & Solenoids

Forces Between Current-Carrying Conductors

Magnetic Flux

Magnetic Flux Linkage

Principles of Electromagnetic Induction

Faraday's & Lenz's Laws

21. Alternating Currents

Alternating Current & Voltage

Root-Mean-Square Current & Voltage

Mean Power

Rectification

Smoothing

22. Quantum Physics

The Photon

Energy & Momentum of a Photon

The Electronvolt

The Photoelectric Effect: Basics

Threshold Frequency

The Work Function

Wave-Particle Duality

The de Broglie Wavelength

Atomic Energy Levels

Line Spectra

Calculating Discrete Energies

23. Nuclear Physics

Energy & Mass Equivalence

Nuclear Equations

Mass Defect & Binding Energy

Nuclear Fusion & Fission

Calculating Energy Released in Nuclear Reactions

The Random Nature of Radioactive Decay

Activity & The Decay Constant

Half-Life

24. Medical Physics

The Piezoelectric Transducer

Generating & Using Ultrasound

Specific Acoustic Impedance

Intensity Reflection Coefficient

Attenuation of Ultrasound in Matter

Production & Use of X-rays

Attenuation of X-rays in Matter

Computed Tomography Scanning

Radioactive Tracers

Annihilation in PET Scanning

Detecting Gamma-Rays from PET Scanning

25. Astronomy & Cosmology

Luminosity & Radiant Flux

Standard Candles & Stellar Distances

Wien's Displacement Law

Stefan-Boltzmann Law & Stellar Radii

Emission Spectra

Doppler Redshift

Hubble's Law & the Big Bang Theory

Exam boards

Study tools