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RevisionRevision / N11UK · A-Levels
Physics
A-Level Physics is the quantitative study of matter, motion, energy, waves and the fundamental forces and fields that shape the universe, set against the Department for Education GCE AS and A level subject content and delivered here through the AQA 7408 specification. It runs from measurement and uncertainty, particles and radiation, waves and optics, mechanics and materials and electricity in the first year, up to further mechanics and thermal physics, gravitational, electric and magnetic fields, capacitance and electromagnetic induction, and nuclear physics in the second, closing with one optional module (astrophysics, medical physics, engineering physics, turning points in physics or electronics). It is assessed as much on the application of physical models to unfamiliar situations and the analysis of experimental data and uncertainty as on recall, and it carries the highest mathematical demand of the three sciences.
0/66 Texts13 Chapters~193 min total
AQA 7408 3.1.1AQA 7408 3.1.2DfE GCE Physics - measurementsAQA 7408 3.1.3DfE GCE Physics - errors and uncertaintyDfE GCE Physics - propagation of uncertainty+143 moreFoundationStandardAdvanced
Table of contents · 13 ChaptersT·13
- The nuclear atom, specific charge and isotopesText L·053 min
- Stability, radioactive decay and the neutrinoText L·063 min
- Antiparticles, photons, annihilation and pair productionText L·073 min
- Classification, quarks and conservation lawsText L·083 min
- The photoelectric effect and atomic energy levelsText L·093 min
- Wave-particle duality and the de Broglie wavelengthText L·103 min
- Progressive waves and their propertiesText L·113 min
- Longitudinal, transverse waves and polarisationText L·123 min
- Superposition, interference and stationary wavesText L·133 min
- Two-source interference, double slits and diffraction gratingsText L·143 min
- Refraction, total internal reflection and optical fibresText L·153 min
- Vectors, resolution and equilibriumText L·163 min
- Moments, couples and centre of massText L·173 min
- Kinematics: the suvat equations and projectilesText L·183 min
- Newton's laws, momentum and impulseText L·193 min
- Work, energy, power and conservation of energyText L·203 min
- Materials: Hooke's law, the Young modulus and stress-strainText L·213 min
- Circular motion and centripetal forceText L·273 min
- Simple harmonic motion: definition and solutionsText L·283 min
- Energy in SHM, resonance and dampingText L·293 min
- Thermal energy, specific heat capacity and latent heatText L·303 min
- Ideal gases and the gas lawsText L·313 min
- Molecular kinetic theoryText L·323 min
- Rutherford scattering and the nuclear atomText L·383 min
- Properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiationText L·393 min
- Radioactive decay, activity and half-lifeText L·403 min
- Nuclear stability, radius and densityText L·413 min
- Mass-energy equivalence and binding energyText L·423 min
- Nuclear fission and fusionText L·433 min
- Measurements and their errors
- Particles and radiation
- Waves
- Mechanics and materials
- Electricity
- Further mechanics and thermal physics
- Fields and their consequences
- Nuclear physics
- Astrophysics (optional)
- Medical physics (optional)
- Engineering physics (optional)
- Turning points in physics (optional)
- Electronics (optional)
- Paper 1 (AQA 7408/1)
- 2 hours, 85 marks, 34% of the A-Level. Assesses sections 3.1-3.5 (measurements and their errors, particles and radiation, waves, mechanics and materials, electricity) together with periodic motion from section 3.6.1 (circular motion and simple harmonic motion). Structure: 60 marks of short and long answer questions plus 25 marks of multiple-choice questions. A data and formulae booklet is provided and a scientific calculator is allowed.
- Paper 2 (AQA 7408/2)
- 2 hours, 85 marks, 34% of the A-Level. Assesses sections 3.6 (further mechanics and thermal physics), 3.7 (fields and their consequences) and 3.8 (nuclear physics), and assumes knowledge from sections 3.1 to 3.6.1. Structure: 60 marks of short and long answer questions plus 25 marks of multiple-choice questions.
- Paper 3 (AQA 7408/3)
- 2 hours, 80 marks, 32% of the A-Level. Section A (45 marks) tests practical skills and data analysis and may draw on any content; Section B (35 marks) is the chosen optional topic (astrophysics, medical physics, engineering physics, turning points in physics or electronics). Students answer on ONE option only.
- Practical endorsement, assessment objectives and grading
- The separately reported Practical Endorsement (pass / not classified) is based on twelve required practical activities judged against the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC). Across the papers the assessment objectives are weighted towards application and analysis: AO1 (knowledge and understanding) is roughly a third of the marks, AO2 (application) the largest single share, and AO3 (analyse, interpret and evaluate) the remainder; at least 40% of the marks assess mathematical skills at level 2 and at least 15% assess practical knowledge. The full A-Level is linear, sat at the end of the course, and graded A*-E (U below E).