Transition Pack

A-Level

Physics

Name:

Contents

1. A level AQA Physics course outline.

2. Becoming a better physicist - Some successful strategies….and unsuccessful ones!

3. Knowledge to be consolidated.

4. Summer Tasks.

Welcome

A-Level Physics is a challenging subject, but if you want to be different from the other thousands of students it will help you stand out in the crowd.

People are always impressed by A-Level Physics. They know that you have studied everything from the atom to the universe and the bits in-between. Some students take it because they have a genuine interest in explaining how things work. Some students take it because they know that universities regard a person with Physics as being excellent at problem solving and logical thought.

Whilst many A-Level Physicists go on to study related degrees others apply to medical school and veterinary school where A-level Physics is now a requirement. From accountancy to zoology, A-Level Physics will help you get into University.

The A level Physics course will test both your theory knowledge, math’s ability and practical skills. Physics is a very practical subject, but the course covers both theoretical and experiment physics.

There are also numerous and varied ways to improve you CV and UCAS personal statements during the 2 year course, from attending Cambridge University Lectures, visiting the Large Hadron Collider and exciting physics related internships at companies and Universities.

Whatever reason, you will find A-Level Physics exciting and stimulating.

Course outline

This information is readily available on the AQA website at http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/physics-7407-7408 The course of study will be as follows:

Subject content

Section Content Core / optional

1 Measurements and their errors Core

2 Particles and radiation Core

3 Waves Core

4 Mechanics and materials Core

5 Electricity Core

6 Further mechanics and thermal physics Core

7 Fields and their consequences Core

8 Nuclear physics Core

9 Astrophysics Optional

10 Medical physics Optional

11 Engineering physics Optional

12 Turning points in physics Optional

13 Electronics Optional

N.b. The optional modules are done on a class vote, with the most popular topic being taught.

Assessments AS level (not externally assessed at Sawtry Village Academy)

Paper 1 Paper 2 What’s assessed Section 1-5

What’s assessed Section 1-5

Assessed Written exam: 90 minutes

70 marks

50% of AS

Assessed Written exam: 90 minutes

70 marks

50% of AS

Questions 70 marks of short and long answer questions split by topic

Questions Section A: 20 marks of short and long answer questions on practical skills and data analysis Section B: 20 marks of short and long answer questions from across all areas of AS content Section C: 30 multiple choice questions

A-Level

Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3 What’s assessed Section 1-5 and 6.1 (periodic motion)

What’s assessed Section 6.2 (Thermal Physics), 7 and 8 Assumed knowledge of 1 to 6.1

What’s assessed Section A: Compulsory section: Practical skills and data analysis Section B: Students enter for one of sections 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13

Assessed Written exam: 2 hours

85 marks marks

34% of A-Level

Assessed Written exam: 2 hours

85 marks

34% of A-Level

Assessed Written exam: 2 hours

80 marks

32% of A-Level

Questions 60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content

Questions 60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content

Questions 45 marks of short and long answer questions on practical experiments and data analysis. 35 marks of short and long answer questions on optional topic.

Careers Using your Physics A level can lead you to many careers, in the past 2 years the following students have gone onto the following career pathways: Eleanor Venn – Astrophysics at Keele University Oscar Thistleton – Foundation year in Aerospace engineering at University of the West of England Hannah Williams – Psychology at St Mary’s University Tommy Walters – Financial Mathematics at Nottingham University Jonny Currien – Engineering Apprenticeship with Rolls Royce Chris Mayo – Physics at Surrey University Jake Muff – Physics at Lincoln University Rhys Jones – Biology at Swansea University Jack Starkey – Mechanical Engineering at De Montfort University As well as these you can use A level Physics to go into practically any industry or career pathway, including Medicine, Construction, Finance and IT.

Extra – Curricular and Opportunities at A level Physics Extra Curricular activities include:

1. 6 Cambridge University Lectures per year on Physics and Engineering related topics e.g. a. Physics of animal life b. Refreezing the Arctic c. Our Sun – friend or foe

2. 3 Astronomy lectures and stargazing evenings at the Cambridge Observatory per year. 3. Switzerland trip to Geneva and the Large Hadron Collider 4. CAS lessons to help out years 7 – 11.

Opportunities include: 1. ISAAC Physics Internships 2. British Physics Olympiad 3. Royal Society related opportunities 4. Membership to the Institute of Physics 5. Possible University Internships 6. Distance learning courses through edx.org

Summer Tasks

1. Write a short essay on why you have chosen A level physics and what career path you are

currently looking to go into. It is ok if you are not definitely sure what you want to do, ideally

it would be something related to physics, otherwise is Physics the correct subject for you?

In your research of the chosen career area, you must find out how to get into that career,

I.e. University and what grades, apprenticeships etc.

Word limit 250 words ± 10%.

2. This famous picture is from the 1927 Solvay

Physics Conference, As you can see the

conference had some of the most famous scientists in history.

Research a Physicist – word limit 500 words ± 10%. (see requirement below)

o Choose a Physicist, who were they and what did they discover

o How it applies to everyday life today

o Why did you choose this Physicist and how have they inspired you to take A level

Physics.

3. On the Induction day you will be introduced to a practical. You will be expected to do this

practical at home again if needs be. From this you will be expected to:

Draw a table of results

Draw a graph of results, including a line of best fit.

Follow the other instruction on the sheet to get your final result.

o What are the limitations of doing the practical in a school laboratory?

o How would you make the results more: precise, accurate and reliable?

4. Complete the “Year 12 Transition Questions” at

the end of this booklet. These are AS questions

that are effectively extension questions of (what should be) your existing GCSE knowledge

as well as practical questions that you will need to know by heart by the end of AS Physics.

Your maths skills will be tested the first week back in year 12, you must be proficient in the

following:

Prefixes

Ratios

Significant figures and rounding

Drawing graphs and lines of best fit

Work out gradients

Rearranging equations

Using Standard form

If you would like to know more or have any questions please talk to Mr Villar. I hope you have a good break, stay safe and see you in September, Mr. J. Villar Head of Physics jvillar@sawtryva.org

Transition questions

Q1. (a) An ion of plutonium Pu has an overall charge of +1.6 × 10–19C.

For this ion state the number of

(i) protons ____________________

(ii) neutrons ____________________

(iii) electrons ____________________

(3)

(b) Plutonium has several isotopes.

Explain the meaning of the word isotopes.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

(2)

(Total 5 marks)

Q2. (a) (i) State the difference between a longitudinal wave and a transverse wave.

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

(2)

(ii) State an example of a transverse wave.

_____________________________________________________________

(1)

(iii) State an example of a longitudinal wave.

_____________________________________________________________

(1)

(b) Sound with a frequency of 560 Hz travels through steel with a speed of 4800 m s–

1. Calculate the wavelength of the sound wave.

(2)

(Total 6 marks)

Q3. (a) For a sound wave travelling through air, explain what is meant by particle displacement, amplitude and wavelength.

Particle displacement _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

amplitude __________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

wavelength _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

(4)

(b)

Graph A shows the variation of particle displacement with time at a point on the path of a progressive wave of constant amplitude.

Graph B shows the variation of particle displacement with distance along the same wave at a particular instant.

(i) Show on graph A

(1) the wave amplitude, a,

(2) the period, T, of the vibrations

providing the wave.

(ii) Show on graph B

(1) the wavelength of the wave, λ,

(3)

(Total 7 marks)

Q4. The Soyuz Spacecraft is used to transport astronauts to and from an orbiting space station.

The spacecraft is made up of three sections as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

(a) On leaving the space station the spacecraft is given an initial horizontal thrust of 1400 N. Calculate the initial acceleration of the spacecraft during the firing of the thruster engines.

acceleration = ____________________ m s–2

(2)

(b) Newton’s Third Law refers to pairs of forces.

(i) State one way in which a pair of forces referred to in Newton’s Third Law are the same.

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

(1)

(ii) State one way in which a pair of forces are different.

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

(1)

(c) When the spacecraft returns to the Earth’s atmosphere the orbital module and the service module are separated from the descent module. This descent module has its speed greatly reduced by drag from the atmosphere.

Figure 2 shows two of the forces acting on the descent module as it travels down through the atmosphere.

Figure 2

State one reason why the two forces shown in Figure 2 are not a pair of forces as referred to in Newton’s Third Law.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

(1)

(d) In one particular descent, the descent module has its speed reduced to 5.5 m s–1 by parachutes. The descent module also releases its empty tanks and shield to reduce its mass to 890 kg.

A final speed reduction can be carried out by using engines which operate for a maximum time of 3.5 s. When the engines are in use, the resultant upward force on the descent module is 670 N. The safe landing speed of the descent module is 3.0 m s–1.

Determine whether these engines are able to reduce the speed of the descent module to its safe value.

At these landing speeds atmospheric drag is negligible.

(3)

(Total 8 marks)

Q5. The figure below shows two resistors, R1 and R2, connected in series with a battery of emf

12 V and negligible internal resistance.

(a) The reading on the voltmeter is 8.0 V and the resistance of R2 is 60 Ω.

(i) Calculate the current in the circuit.

answer = ____________________ A

(2)

(ii) Calculate the resistance of R1.

answer = ____________________ Ω

(1)

(iii) Calculate the charge passing through the battery in 2.0 minutes. Give an appropriate unit for your answer.

answer = ____________________ unit = ___________

(2)

(b) In the circuit shown in the figure above R2 is replaced with a thermistor. State and explain what will happen to the reading on the voltmeter as the temperature of the thermistor increases.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

(3)

(Total 8 marks)