CCEA GCE Specification in Physics...3.1 Unit AS 1: Forces, Energy and Electricity This unit teaches...

GCE

For first teaching from September 2016For first award of AS level in Summer 2017For first award of A level in Summer 2018Subject Code: 1210

CCEA GCE Specification in

Physics

Version 2: 13 October 2017

Version2:13Oct2017

Contents 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Aims 41.2 Keyfeatures 41.3 Priorattainment 41.4 Classificationcodesandsubjectcombinations 5

2 Specification at a Glance

6

3 Subject Content 8 3.1 UnitAS1:Forces,EnergyandElectricity 83.2 UnitAS2:Waves,PhotonsandAstronomy 133.3 UnitAS3:PracticalTechniquesandDataAnalysis 183.4 UnitA21:DeformationofSolids,ThermalPhysics,CircularMotion,

OscillationsandAtomicandNuclearPhysics20

3.5 UnitA22:Fields,CapacitorsandParticlePhysics 243.6 UnitA23:PracticalTechniquesandDataAnalysis

29

4 Scheme of Assessment 31 4.1 Assessmentopportunities 314.2 Assessmentobjectives 314.3 Assessmentobjectiveweightings 314.4 Qualityofwrittencommunication 324.5 SynopticassessmentatA2 324.6 Higherorderthinkingskills 324.7 Reportingandgrading

32

5 Grade Descriptions

33

6 Guidance on Practical Assessment 37 6.1 Settingthetasks 376.2 Supervisingthestudents 376.3 Assessmentconditions 386.4 Confidentiality

38

7 Links and Support 39 7.1 Support 397.2 Curriculumobjectives 397.3 Examinationentries 407.4 Equalityandinclusion 407.5 Contactdetails 41

Version2:13Oct2017

Appendix 1 MathematicalContent

42

Appendix 2 DataandformulaeSheetforUnitsAS1andAS2

44

Appendix 3 DataandformulaeSheetforUnitsA21andA22

46

Appendix 4 ExperimentsthatthetasksforAS3Aarebasedon

49

Summary of Changes since First Issue 50

SubjectCodeQANASLevelQANALevel

1210601/8520/X601/8519/3

ACCEAPublication©2016

Thisspecificationisavailableonlineatwww.ccea.org.uk

CCEAGCEPhysicsfromSeptember2016

Version2:13Oct2017 3

1 Introduction ThisspecificationsetsoutthecontentandassessmentdetailsforourAdvancedSubsidiary(AS)andAdvancedGCEcoursesinPhysics.FirstteachingisfromSeptember2016.Studentscantake:

• theAScourseasafinalqualification;or• theASunitsplustheA2unitsforafullGCEAlevelqualification.WeassesstheASunitsatastandardappropriateforstudentswhohavecompletedthefirstpartofthefullcourse.A2unitshaveanelementofsynopticassessment(toassessstudents’understandingofthesubjectasawhole),aswellasmoreemphasisonassessmentobjectivesthatreflecthigherorderthinkingskills.ThefullAdvancedGCEawardisbasedonstudents’marksfromtheAS(40percent)andtheA2(60percent).Theguidedlearninghoursforthisspecification,asforallGCEs,are:

• 180hoursfortheAdvancedSubsidiarylevelaward;and• 360hoursfortheAdvancedlevelaward.WewillmakethefirstASawardsforthespecificationin2017andthefirstAlevelawardsin2018.ThespecificationbuildsonthebroadobjectivesoftheNorthernIrelandCurriculum.Ifthereareanymajorchangestothisspecification,wewillnotifycentresinwriting.Theonlineversionofthespecificationwillalwaysbethemostuptodate;toviewanddownloadthispleasegotowww.ccea.org.uk



1.1 Aims Thisspecificationaimstoencouragestudentsto:

• developtheirinterestinandenthusiasmforphysics,includingdevelopinganinterestinfurtherstudyandcareersinthesubject;

• appreciatehowsocietymakesdecisionsaboutscientificissuesandhowthesciencescontributetothesuccessoftheeconomyandsociety;

• developcompetenceinarangeofpractical,mathematicalandproblem-solvingskills;

• developanddemonstrateadeeperappreciationofscientificskills,andknowledgeandunderstandingofhowscienceworks;

• developessentialknowledgeandunderstandingofdifferentareasofthesubjectandhowtheyrelatetoeachother;and

• developadvancedstudyskillsthathelpthemprepareforthirdleveleducation.1.2 Key features Thefollowingareimportantfeaturesofthisspecification.

• Itincludessixassessmentunitsthatareallexternallyassessed.• Itallowsstudentstodeveloptheirsubjectknowledge,understandingandskills.• Itprovidesafirmgroundingforstudentswishingtoprogresstohighereducationinphysicsorrelatedsubjectssuchasengineeringorelectronics,ashighereducationcoursesinthesesubjectsusuallyrequireanAlevelqualificationinphysicsforentry.

• AssessmentatA2includessynopticassessmentthatencouragesstudentstodeveloptheirunderstandingofthesubjectasawhole.AssessmentatA2islessstructuredandconsequentlystretchesandchallengesthestudents.

• Arangeofsupportisavailable,includingspecimenassessmentmaterials,exemplarschemesofworkandteacherguidance.

1.3 Prior attainment Studentsdonotneedtohavereachedaparticularlevelofattainmentbeforebeginningtostudythisspecification.Thespecificationbuildsonknowledge,understandingandskillsdevelopedinbothGCSEDoubleAwardScienceandGCSEPhysics.TheknowledgeandunderstandingfromGCSEMathematicsisalsoveryrelevant.



1.4 Classification codes and subject combinations Everyspecificationhasanationalclassificationcodethatindicatesitssubjectarea.Theclassificationcodeforthisqualificationis1210.Pleasenotethatifastudenttakestwoqualificationswiththesameclassificationcode,universitiesandcollegesthattheyapplytomaytaketheviewthattheyhaveachievedonlyoneofthetwoGCEs.ThesamemayoccurwithanytwoGCEqualificationsthathaveasignificantoverlapincontent,eveniftheclassificationcodesaredifferent.Becauseofthis,studentswhohaveanydoubtsabouttheirsubjectcombinationsshouldcheckwiththeuniversitiesandcollegesthattheywouldliketoattendbeforebeginningtheirstudies.



2 Specification at a Glance ThetablebelowsummarisesthestructureoftheASandAlevelcourses:

Content

Assessment

Weightings

AS1:Forces,EnergyandElectricity

1hour45minsStudentscompleteawrittenexaminationconsistingofcompulsoryshortanswerquestionsandsomethatrequireextendedwriting.Externallyassessedwrittenpaper

40%ofAS16%ofAlevel

AS2:Waves,PhotonsandAstronomy

1hour45minsStudentscompleteawrittenexaminationconsistingofcompulsoryshortanswerquestionsandsomethatrequireextendedwriting.Externallyassessedwrittenpaper

40%ofAS16%ofAlevel

AS3:PracticalTechniquesandDataAnalysis

2(1hour)componentsStudentscompleteanexternallyassessedtestofpracticalskillsconsistingofshorttasks,andaseparatepaperrequiringtheanalysisofexperimentalresults.Externallyassessed

20%ofAS8%ofAlevel

A21:DeformationofSolids,ThermalPhysics,CircularMotion,OscillationsandAtomicandNuclearPhysics

2hoursStudentscompleteawrittenexaminationconsistingofcompulsoryshortanswerquestionsandsomethatrequireextendedwriting.Thequestionshaveelementsofsynopticassessment,drawingtogetherdifferentstrandsofthespecification.Externallyassessedwrittenpaper

24%ofAlevel

A22:Fields,CapacitorsandParticlePhysics

2hoursStudentscompleteawrittenexaminationconsistingofcompulsoryshortanswerquestionsandsomethatrequireextendedwriting.Thequestionshaveelementsofsynopticassessment,drawingtogetherdifferentstrandsofthespecification.Externallyassessedwrittenpaper

24%ofAlevel



Content

Assessment

Weightings

A23:PracticalTechniquesandDataAnalysis

2(1hour)componentsStudentstakeanexternallyassessedtestofpracticalskills,consistingoftwoexperimentaltests,andaseparatepaperrequiringtheanalysisofexperimentalresults.Externallyassessed

12%ofAlevel

Mathematical content StudentsmustbecompetentintheareasofmathematicslistedinAppendix1todeveloptheirskills,knowledgeandunderstandingofphysics.Data and formulae sheets ThedataandformulaeinAppendices2and3willbeavailableintheASandA2examinationsrespectively. Experiment list Appendix4isalistofexperimentsthattheshorttasksforAS3Aarebasedon.Genericexperimentsmayalsobesettotestthedirectuseofapparatuslistedinthisspecification.



3 Subject Content Wehavedividedthiscourseintosixunits:threeunitsatASlevelandthreeunitsatA2.Thissectionsetsoutthecontentandlearningoutcomesforeachunit.3.1 Unit AS 1: Forces, Energy and Electricity Thisunitteachesstudentstodealwithphysicalquantitiesandscalarsandvectors,whicharerequiredinallbranchesofthesubject.StudentsbuildontheirknowledgeandunderstandingofNewtonianmechanicsandelectricitytoexplainmanyeconomicandsocialapplicationsofphysics.

Content LearningOutcomes

1.1 Physicalquantities

Studentsshouldbeableto:

1.1.1 describeallphysicalquantitiesasconsistingofanumericalmagnitudeandunit;

1.1.2 statethebaseunitsofmass,length,time,current,

temperature,andamountofsubstanceandbeabletoexpressotherquantitiesintermsoftheseunits;

1.1.3 recallandusetheprefixesT,G,M,k,c,m,µ,n,pand

f,andpresenttheseinstandardform;

1.2 Scalarsandvectors

1.2.1 distinguishbetweenandgiveexamplesofscalarandvectorquantity;

1.2.2 resolveavectorintotwoperpendicularcomponents;1.2.3 calculatetheresultantoftwocoplanarvectorsby

calculationorscaledrawing,withcalculationslimitedtotwoperpendicularvectors;

1.2.4 solveproblemsthatincludetwoorthreecoplanar

forcesactingatapoint,inthecontextofequilibrium;

1.3 Principleofmoments

1.3.1 definethemomentofaforceaboutapoint;1.3.2 usetheconceptofcentreofgravity;and1.3.3 recallandusetheprincipleofmoments.




1.4 Linearmotion Studentsshouldbeableto:

1.4.1 definedisplacement,velocity,averagevelocityandacceleration;

1.4.2 recallandusetheequationsofmotionforuniformacceleration;

1.4.3 describeanexperimentusinglightgatesandcomputersoftwaretomeasureaccelerationoffreefall,g;

1.4.4 interpret,qualitativelyandquantitatively,velocity-timeanddisplacement-timegraphsformotionwithuniformandnon-uniformacceleration;

1.5 Dynamics 1.5.1 describeprojectilemotion;1.5.2 explainprojectilemotionasbeingcausedbya

uniformvelocityinonedirectionandauniformaccelerationinaperpendiculardirection;

1.5.3 applytheequationsofmotiontoprojectilemotion,

excludingairresistance;

1.6 Newton’slawsofmotion

1.6.1 stateNewton’slawsofmotion;1.6.2 applythelawstosimplesituations;1.6.3 recallandusetheequationF=ma,wheremassis

constant;and1.6.4 demonstrateanunderstandingthatfrictionisaforce

thatopposesmotion.




1.7 Linearmomentumandimpulse


1.7.1 definemomentum;1.7.2 calculatemomentum;1.7.3 applytheprincipleoftheconservationoflinear

momentum;1.7.4 performcalculationsinvolvingcollisionsinone

dimension;1.7.5 describeandconfirmcollisionsaselasticorinelastic

bycalculation;1.7.6 defineimpulseastheproductF×t;1.7.7 recallandusetheequationFt=mv-mu;1.7.8 applytheimpulse-momentumrelationshiptoimpact

situations;1.7.9 defineNewton’ssecondlawintermsofmomentum;

1.8 Workdone,potentialenergyandkineticenergy

1.8.1 defineworkdone,potentialenergyandkineticenergy;

1.8.2 showthatwhenworkisdone,energyistransferred

fromoneformtoanother;1.8.3 calculatetheworkdoneforconstantforces,

includingforcesnotalongthelineofmotion;

1.8.4 recallandusetheequationsΔp.e.=mgΔhandk.e.=½mv²;and

1.8.5 statetheprincipleofconservationofenergyanduse

ittocalculateexchangesbetweengravitationalpotentialenergyandkineticenergy.




1.8Workdone,potentialenergyandkineticenergy(cont.)


1.8.6 usetheequation½mv²‒½mu²=Fsforaconstantforce;

1.8.7 recallanduseP=Workdonetimetaken

,P=Fvand

efficiency=usefulenergy power outputenergy power input

;

1.8.8 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheimportancetosocietyofenergyconservationandenergyefficiency;

1.9 Electriccurrent,charge,potentialdifferenceandelectromotiveforce

1.9.1 recallandusetheequationI=Qt ;

1.9.2 recallandusetheequationsV=Wq ,V=PI ;

1.9.3 definethevolt;1.9.4 defineelectromotiveforce,E;1.9.5 distinguishbetweenelectromotiveforceand

potentialdifference;

1.10 Resistanceandresistivity

1.10.1 performexperimentstoconfirmtherelationshipsbetweencurrent,voltageandresistanceinseriesandparallelcircuits;

1.10.2 recallandusetheequationsforresistorsinseriesand

inparallel;

1.10.3 recallandusetheequationsR= VI andP=I²R;

1.10.4 defineresistivity;

1.10.5 recallandusetheequationR = ρlA

1.10.6 performanddescribeanexperimenttomeasure

resistivity;1.10.7 demonstrateknowledgeandsimpleunderstandingof

superconductivity;and 1.10.8 stateOhm’slaw.




1.10 Resistanceandresistivity(cont.)


1.10.9 distinguishbetweenohmicandnon-ohmicbehaviour;

1.10.10 performexperimentstodeterminethe

current-voltagecharacteristicsformetallicconductors,includingwireataconstanttemperatureandthefilamentofabulb;

1.10.11 sketchanddescribethecurrent-voltage

characteristicsforametallicconductor,adiodeandanegativetemperaturecoefficient(ntc)thermistor;

1.10.12 sketchandexplainthevariationwithtemperatureof

theresistanceofametallicconductorandanegativetemperaturecoefficient(ntc)thermistor;

1.10.13 performanexperimenttoshowthevariationwith

temperatureoftheresistanceofanegativetemperaturecoefficient(ntc)thermistor;

1.11 Internalresistanceandelectromotiveforce

1.11.1 demonstrateanunderstandingofthesimpleconsequencesofinternalresistanceofasourceforexternalcircuits;

1.11.2 usetheequationV=E-Ir;1.11.3 performanddescribeanexperimenttomeasure

internalresistanceandtheelectromotiveforce;

1.12 Potentialdividercircuits

1.12.1 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheuseofapotentialdividertosupplyvariablepotentialdifferencefromafixedpowersupply;

1.12.2 demonstrateknowledgeandunderstandingofthe

useofthepotentialdividerinlightingandheatingcontrolcircuits;and

1.12.3 calculatetheoutputvoltagesinloadedcircuitsusing

theequation.



3.2 Unit AS 2: Waves, Photons and Astronomy Theideasaboutwavesinthistopicprovidevitallinkstothestudyoflightandsound.Thesectiononphotonsintroducesthequantumtheoryandtheconceptofwave-particleduality.

Content

LearningOutcomes

2.1Waves


2.1.1 demonstrateknowledgeandunderstandingofthetermstransversewaveandlongitudinalwave;

2.1.2 categorisewavesastransverseorlongitudinal;2.1.3 analysegraphstoobtaindataonamplitude,period,

frequency,wavelengthandphase;2.1.4 demonstrateanunderstandingthatpolarisationisa

phenomenonassociatedwithtransversewaves;

2.1.5 recallandusetheequationsf=1Tandv=fλ;

2.1.6 recallradiowaves,microwaves,infrared,visible,ultraviolet,X-raysandgammaraysasregionsoftheelectromagneticspectrum;

2.1.7 statetypicalwavelengthsforeachoftheseregions;2.1.8 recallthatthewavelengthofvioletlightis400nm

andredlightis700nm;

2.2Refraction 2.2.1 performanddescribeanexperimenttoverifySnell’slawandmeasuretherefractiveindex;

2.2.2 recallandusetheequations;2.2.3 demonstrateknowledgeandunderstandingoftotal

internalreflection;and

2.2.4 recallandusetheequationsin c= 1n.



Content

LearningOutcomes

2.2Refraction(cont.)


2.2.5 demonstrateanunderstandingofthephysicalprincipleofthestepindexopticalfibre,includingtotalinternalreflectionatthecore/claddingboundaryandthespeedinthecore;

2.2.6 describethestructureofaflexibleendoscopeand

discussexamplesofitsapplicationinmedicineandindustry;

2.3Lenses 2.3.1 drawraydiagramsforconverginganddiverginglenses;

2.3.2 usetheequationforconvergingand

diverginglenses;2.3.3 verifyexperimentallythelensequationandthe

evaluationoff,thefocallengthofaconverginglens,forrealimagesonly;

2.3.4 definemastheratiooftheimageheighttothe

objectheight,or;

2.3.5 recallandusetheequationm=vu;

2.3.6 describetheuseoflensestocorrectmyopiaand

hypermetropia;2.3.7 performcalculationsonthecorrectionoflongand

shortsight,includingacalculationofthenewrangeofvision;and

2.3.8 performcalculationsinvolvingthepoweroflenses.



Content

LearningOutcomes

2.4Superposition,interferenceanddiffraction


2.4.1 illustratetheconceptofsuperpositionbythegraphicaladditionoftwosinusoidalwaves;

2.4.2 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconditions

requiredtoproducestandingwaves;2.4.3 demonstrateknowledgeandunderstandingofthe

graphicalrepresentationofstandingwavesinstretchedstrings,andairinpipesclosedatoneend;

2.4.4 identify,graphically,themodesofvibrationof

stretchedstringsandairinapipeclosedatoneend,withoutreferencetoovertoneandharmonicterminology;

2.4.5 identifynodeandantinodepositions;2.4.6 performanddescribeanexperimenttomeasurethe

speedofsoundinairusingaresonancetube(endcorrectionisnotrequired);

2.4.7 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconditionsfor

observableinterference;

2.4.8 demonstrateanunderstandingofthesignificanceofpathdifferenceandphasedifferenceinexplaininginterferenceeffects;

2.4.9 describeYoung’sslitsinterferenceexperimentto

measurethewavelengthofmonochromaticlight;2.4.10 usetheequationλ=ayd ;

2.4.11 describeandexplaindiffractionphenomenaata

singleslit;

2.4.12 statequalitativelyanddrawdiagramstoillustratetheeffectofaperturesizeondiffraction;and

2.4.13 usetheequationdsinӨ=nλforadiffractiongrating.



Content

LearningOutcomes

2.4Superposition,interferenceanddiffraction(cont.)


2.4.14 describetheuseofadiffractiongratingandalasertomeasurewavelength;

2.5Quantumphysics

2.5.1 recallandusetheequationEphoton=hf;

2.5.2 usethephotonmodeltoexplainthephotoelectriceffectqualitativelyusingthetermsphotonenergyandworkfunction;

2.5.3 usetheequation½mvmax

2=hf-hf0;

2.5.4 demonstrateanunderstandingthatelectronsexistinenergylevelsinatoms;

2.5.5 recallandusetheequationhf=ΔE;

2.5.6 provideasimpleexplanationoflaseraction,using

thetermspopulationinversion,stimulatedemissionandmetastablestate;

2.5.7 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheproductionofX-raysbytheprocessofelectronmovementbetweenenergylevels;

2.5.8 describethephysicalprinciplesofCTscanningandconventionalX-rays;

2.6Wave-particleduality

2.6.1 categoriseelectromagneticwavephenomenaasbeingexplainedbythewavemodel,thephotonmodelorboth;

2.6.2 describeelectrondiffraction;and

2.6.3 usethedeBroglieequation.



Content

LearningOutcomes

2.7Astronomy


2.7.1 recall,demonstrateanunderstandingofandapplytheclassicalequationsforDopplershifttofindthewavelengthofthewavesreceivedbyastationaryobserverfromamovingsource;

2.7.2 demonstrateanunderstandingofthedifference

betweencosmologicalredshiftandDopplerredshift;2.7.3 calculatetheredshiftparameter,z,ofareceding

galaxyusingtheequationz=#$$andusethe

equationz=VCtofindtherecessionspeedv,where

v<<c;

2.7.4 useHubble’sLawv=Hodtoestimatethedistance,d,toadistantgalaxy,giventhevalueofitsspeedofrecession,v,andtheHubbleconstant,H0»2.4×10-

18s-1;and

2.7.5 recallandusetoestimatetheageofthe

universe.



3.3 Unit AS 3: Practical Techniques and Data Analysis Inthisunit,studentsacquireessentialpracticaltechniques,includingimplementing,analysis,evaluation,designandcommunication.Notethatthelearningoutcomesinthissectionrelatetopracticaltechniquesandskillsratherthantodetailsofcontenttopics,asintherestofthisspecification.Inpracticalclasses,studentsshouldconsiderthehealthandsafetyaspectsoftheirwork.Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,theprocedures,techniques,apparatusandmaterialsemployedineveryactivity.

Content

LearningOutcomes

3.1Implementing Studentsshouldbeableto:

3.1.1 assembleandusemeasuringapparatuscorrectly,skilfullyandeffectivelywithfullregardforsafety,including:- springandtop-panbalances(mass);- rule,micrometerandcalipers(length);- graduatedcylinder(liquidvolume);- clockandstopwatch(time);- thermometerandsensor(temperature);- ammeter(electriccurrent);- voltmeter(potentialdifference);- multimeter(resistance,p.d.,current);and- protractor(angle);

(Note:digitalversionsoftheapparatusareacceptable)

3.1.2 makeandrecordsufficientrelevant,reliableand

validobservationsandmeasurementstotheappropriatedegreeofprecisionandaccuracy,usingdataloggerswheresuitable;

3.1.3 showfamiliaritywithbothanalogueanddigital

displays;

3.2Analysis 3.2.1 presentworkappropriatelyinwritten,tabular,graphicalorotherforms;and

3.2.2 analyse,interpretandexplaintheirownandothers’

experimentalandinvestigativeactivities,usingICTandothermethods.



Content

LearningOutcomes

3.2Analysis(cont.)


3.2.3 showawarenessofthelimitationsofexperimentalmeasurementswhencommentingontrendsandpatternsinthedata;

3.2.4 drawvalidconclusionsbyapplyingknowledgeand

understandingofphysics;

3.3Evaluation 3.3.1 assessthereliabilityofdata,resultsandconclusionsdrawnfromthedata;

3.3.2 evaluatethemethodologyusedinandtheimpactof

theexperimentalactivity,anddemonstrateanappreciationoftheirlimitations;

3.3.3 calculatetheabsoluteandpercentageuncertaintyinaquantity;

3.4Refinement 3.4.1 suggestimprovedeffectiveandsafeprocedures,afterconsideringquantitativeandqualitativemethods;

3.4.2 modifyproceduresinresponsetoserioussourcesofsystematicandrandomerrorinordertogenerateresultsthatareasaccurateandreliableastheapparatusallows;and

3.5Communication

3.5.1 communicateobservations,measurements,resultsandconclusionsinanappropriateandeffectivemanner.



3.4 Unit A2 1: Deformation of Solids, Thermal Physics, Circular Motion, Oscillations and Atomic and Nuclear Physics

Thisunit’scontentoncircularmotionandoscillationsextendsthemechanicsfoundationincludedinUnitAS1. Thermalphysicsconnectsthepropertiesofgasestothebasicprinciplesofkinetictheory.Thesectiononatomicandnuclearphysicshasimportantsocialandeconomicapplicationsandleadstoanintroductiontoparticlephysics.


4.1Deformationofsolids


4.1.1 stateHooke’slawanduseF=kxtosolvesimpleproblems;

4.1.2 demonstrateanunderstandingofthetermselastic

andplasticdeformationandelasticlimit;4.1.3 distinguishbetweenlimitofproportionalityand

elasticlimit;4.1.4 definestress,strainandtheYoungmodulus;

4.1.5 performanddescribeanexperimenttodetermine

theYoungmodulus;

4.1.6 usetheequationforstrainenergy,E=½Fx=½kx2;

4.1.7 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheimportanceofthestress,strainandYoungmodulusofamaterialwhenmakingdesignandeconomicdecisionsaboutmaterialsuse;

4.2Thermalphysics

4.2.1 describesimpleexperimentsonthebehaviourofgasestoshowthatpV=constantforafixedmassofgasatconstanttemperature,pTconstantforafixedmassofgasatconstantvolume,andVT=constantforafixedmassofgasatconstant

pressure,leadingtotheequationpVT=constant;

4.2.2 recallandusetheidealgasequationpV=nRT;and

4.2.3 recallandusetheidealgasequationintheformpV=NkT.




4.2Thermalphysics(cont.)

Studentsshouldbeableto:4.2.4 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconceptof

internalenergyandtherandomdistributionofpotentialandkineticenergyamongmolecules;

4.2.5 usetheequationpV=

13 Nm<c2>;

4.2.6 usetheequationforaveragemolecularkinetic

energy,%&m<c2>='

&kT;

4.2.7 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconceptofabsolutezerooftemperature;

4.2.8 performanddescribeanelectricalmethodfor

determiningspecificheatcapacity;

4.2.9 usetheequationQ=mc∆Ө;

4.3Uniformcircularmotion

4.3.1 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconceptofangularvelocity;

4.3.2 recallandusetheequationv=rω;

4.3.3 applytherelationshipF=ma=mv2r tomotionina

circleatconstantspeed;

4.4Simpleharmonicmotion

4.4.1 definesimpleharmonicmotion(SHM)recallingtheequationsa=-ω2x, whereω=2πf;

4.4.2 performcalculationsusingtheequationx=Acosωt;4.4.3 investigateexperimentallyandgraphicallythe

motionofthesimplependulumandtheloadedspiralspring;

4.4.4 usetheequationsand;and

4.4.5 demonstrateanunderstandingofSHMgraphs,

includingmeasuringvelocityfromthegradientofadisplacement-timegraph.




4.4Simpleharmonicmotion(cont.)


4.4.6 usethetermsfreevibrations,forcedvibrations,resonanceanddampinginthiscontext;

4.4.7 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconceptsoflightdamping,over-dampingandcriticaldamping;

4.4.8 describemechanicalexamplesofresonanceand

damping;

4.5Thenucleus 4.5.1 describealpha-particlescatteringasevidenceoftheexistenceofatomicnuclei;

4.5.2 interpretthevariationofnuclearradiuswithnucleonnumber;

4.5.3 usetheequation toestimatethedensityof

nuclearmatter;

4.6Nucleardecay 4.6.1 demonstrateanunderstandingofhowthenatureofalphaparticles,betaparticlesandgammaradiationdeterminestheirpenetrationandrange;

4.6.2 calculatechangestonucleonnumberandproton

numberasaresultofemissions;4.6.3 demonstrateanunderstandingoftherandomand

exponentialnatureofradioactivedecay;4.6.4 usetheequationA=-λN,whereλisdefinedasthe

fractionpersecondofthedecayingatoms;4.6.5 usetheequation A = A0e-λt, whereAistheactivity;4.6.6 definehalf-life;

4.6.7 usetheequation;and

4.6.8 describeanexperimenttomeasurehalf-lifeofa

radioactivesource.




4.7Nuclearenergy


4.7.1 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheequivalenceofmassandenergy;

4.7.2 recallandusetheequation E=Δmc2anddemonstrateanunderstandingthatitappliestoallenergychanges;

4.7.3 describehowthebindingenergypernucleonvarieswithmassnumber;

4.7.4 describetheprinciplesoffissionandfusionwithreferencetothebindingenergypernucleoncurve;

4.8Nuclearfissionandfusion

4.8.1 demonstrateanunderstandingofthetermschainreaction,criticalsize,moderators,controlrods,coolingsystemandreactorshielding,asusedindescribingafissionreactor;

4.8.2 demonstrateanunderstandingofthesocial,environmental,securityandeconomicissuessurroundingtheuseofnuclearpowerasasolutiontoafutureenergycrisis;

4.8.3 describetheITER(tokamakconcept)fusionreactorintermsoffuel,D-Treaction,temperaturerequired,plasma,threemethodsofplasmaheating,vacuumvessel,blanket,magneticconfinementofplasma,difficultiesofachievingfusiononapracticalterrestrialscale,andadvantagesanddisadvantagesoffusion;and

4.8.4 describethefollowingmethodsofplasmaconfinement:gravitational,inertialandmagnetic.



3.5 Unit A2 2: Fields, Capacitors and Particle Physics Fieldisafundamentalareaofphysicsthathasnumerousapplicationsineverydaylife.Studentslearnaboutaction-at-a-distanceforcesthatarisebetweenbodiesthatareseparatedfromoneanother.


5.1 Forcefields Studentsshouldbeableto:

5.1.1 explaintheconceptofafieldofforce,usingfieldlinestodescribethefield,indicateitsdirectionandshowthefieldstrength;

5.2 Gravitationalfields

5.2.1 definegravitationalfieldstrength;5.2.2 recallandusetheequation;5.2.3 stateNewton’slawofuniversalgravitation;5.2.4 recallandusetheequationforthegravitationalforce

betweenpointmasses,F=GMmr² ;

5.2.5 recallandapplytheequationforgravitationalfield

strength,g=GMr²,andusethisequationtocalculate

themass,m;5.2.6 applyknowledgeofcircularmotiontoplanetaryand

satellitemotion;5.2.7 showthatthemathematicalformofKepler’sthirdlaw

(T2proportionalto r 3 )isconsistentwithNewton’slawofuniversalgravitation;

5.2.8 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheuniqueconditions

ofperiod,positionanddirectionofrotationrequiredofageostationarysatellite;

5.3 Electricfields

5.3.1 defineelectricfieldstrength;and

5.3.2 recallandusetheequationE=Fq.




5.3 Electricfields(cont.)


5.3.3 stateCoulomb’slawfortheforcebetweenpointcharges;

5.3.4 recallandusetheequationfortheforcebetweentwopointcharges,

F= q1q2

4πƐ0r²= kq1q2

r² ,wherek=1

4πƐ0;

andε0 isthepermittivityofavacuum;

5.3.5 recallandusetheequationfortheelectricfield

strengthduetoapointcharge,

E= q4πƐ0r²

= kqr² ;

5.3.6 recallthatforauniformelectricfield,thefieldstrength

isconstant,andrecallandusetheequationE=Vd;

5.3.7 statethesimilaritiesanddifferencesingravitational

andelectricfields;

5.4 Capacitors 5.4.1 definecapacitance;

5.4.2 recallandusetheequationC=QV;

5.4.3 definetheunitofcapacitance,thefarad;

5.4.4 recallandusetheequation1

2QVoritsequivalentfor

calculatingtheenergyofachargedcapacitor;

5.4.5 recallandusetheequationsforcapacitorsinseriesandinparallel;

5.4.6 performanddescribeexperimentstodemonstratethe

chargeanddischargeofacapacitor;and

5.4.7 confirmtheexponentialnatureofcapacitordischargeusingVorIdischargecurves.




5.4 Capacitors(cont.)


5.4.8 usetheequationsQ=Q0e-t/CR,V=V0e

-t/CRand I=I0e

-t/CR;

5.4.9 definetimeconstantandusetheequation τ= CR; 5.4.10 performanddescribeanexperimenttodeterminethe

timeconstantforR-Ccircuits;5.4.11 applyknowledgeandunderstandingoftimeconstants

andstoredenergytoelectronicflashgunsanddefibrillators;

5.5 Magneticfields

5.5.1 describetheshapeanddirectionofthemagneticfieldproducedbythecurrentinacoilofwireandalongstraightwire;

5.5.2 demonstrateanunderstandingthatthereisaforceon

acurrent-carryingconductorinaperpendicularmagneticfieldandbeabletopredictthedirectionoftheforce;

5.5.3 demonstrateanunderstandingthattheforces

producedonacurrent-carryingcoilinamagneticfieldistheprinciplebehindtheelectricmotor;

5.5.4 recallandusetheequationF=BIl;5.5.5 definemagneticfluxdensity;5.5.6 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconceptsof

magneticfluxandmagneticfluxlinkage;5.5.7 recallandusetheequationsformagneticflux,

f=BA, andmagneticfluxlinkage,Nf =NBA; 5.5.8 state,useanddemonstrateexperimentallyFaraday’s

andLenz’slawsofelectromagneticinduction;

5.5.9 recallandcalculateaverageinducede.m.f.asrateofchangeoffluxlinkagewithtime;and

5.5.10 demonstrateanunderstandingofthesimplea.c.

generatorandusetheequationE=BANωsinωt.




5.5 Magneticfields(cont.)


5.5.11 describehowatransformerworks;5.5.12 recallandusetheequation

fortransformers;

5.5.13 explainpowerlossesintransformersandtheadvantagesofhigh-voltagetransmissionofelectricity;

5.6 Deflectionofchargedparticlesinelectricandmagneticfields

5.6.1 demonstrateanunderstandingthatachargeinauniformelectricfieldexperiencesaforce;

5.6.2 recallandusetheequationF=qEtocalculatethe

magnitudeoftheforceanddeterminethedirectionoftheforce;

5.6.3 demonstrateanunderstandingthatamovingchargein

auniform,perpendicularmagneticfieldexperiencesaforce;

5.6.4 recallandusetheequationF=Bqvtocalculatethemagnitudeoftheforce,anddeterminethedirectionoftheforce;

5.7 Particleaccelerators

5.7.1 describethebasicprinciplesofoperationofasynchrotron;

5.7.2 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconceptofa

relativisticmassincreaseasparticlesareacceleratedtowardsthespeedoflight;

5.7.3 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconceptof

antimatterandthatitcanbeproducedusingthecollisionsofhigh-energyparticlesfromtheaccelerators;and

5.7.4 describetheprocessofannihilationintermsofphoton

emission,andconservationofcharge,energyandmomentum.




5.8 Fundamentalparticles


5.8.1 explaintheconceptofafundamentalparticle;

5.8.2 identifythefourfundamentalforcesandtheirassociatedexchangeparticles;

5.8.3 classifyparticlesasgaugebosons,leptonsand

hadrons(mesonsandbaryons);

5.8.4 stateexamplesofeachclassofparticle;

5.8.5 describethestructureofhadronsintermsofquarks;

5.8.6 demonstrateanunderstandingoftheconceptofconservationof:- charge;- leptonnumber;and- baryonnumber;and

5.8.7 describeβ-decayintermsofthebasicquarkmodel.



3.6 Unit A2 3: Practical Techniques and Data Analysis Inthisunit,studentsbuildontheessentialpracticaltechniques,includingimplementing,analysis,evaluation,designandcommunication.Notethatthelearningoutcomesinthissectionrelatetopracticaltechniquesandskillsratherthantodetailsofcontenttopics,asintherestofthisspecification.Inpracticalclasses,studentsshouldconsiderthehealthandsafetyaspectsoftheirwork.Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,theprocedures,techniques,apparatusandmaterialsemployedineveryactivity.


6.1 Implementing Studentsshouldbeableto:

6.1.1 assembleanduseapparatuscorrectly,skilfullyandeffectivelywithfullregardforsafety;including:- springandtop-panbalances(mass);- rule,micrometerandcalipers(length);- graduatedcylinder(liquidvolume);- clockandstopwatch(time);- thermometerandsensor(temperature);- ammeter(electriccurrent);- voltmeter(potentialdifference);- multimeter(resistance,p.d.,current);and- protractor(angle);

(Note:digitalversionsoftheapparatusareacceptable)

6.1.2 useanddescribehowthecathoderayoscilloscope

(CRO)canbeusedtodeterminethevoltageandfrequency;

6.1.3 makeandrecordsufficientrelevant,reliableandvalid

observationsandmeasurementstotheappropriatedegreeofprecisionandaccuracy,usingdataloggerswheresuitable;

6.1.4 showfamiliaritywithbothanalogueanddigital

displays;

6.2 Analysis

6.2.1 presentworkappropriatelyinwritten,tabular,graphicalorotherforms;and

6.2.2 analyse,interpretandexplaintheirownandothers’

experimentalandinvestigativeactivities,usingICTandothermethods.




6.2Analysis (cont.)


6.2.3 showawarenessofthelimitationsofexperimentalmeasurementswhencommentingontrendsandpatternsinthedata;

6.2.4 drawvalidconclusionsbyapplyingknowledgeandunderstandingofphysics;

6.3Evaluation

6.3.1 assessthereliabilityofdata,resultsandconclusionsdrawnfromthedata;

6.3.2 evaluateanddemonstrateanappreciationofthelimitationsofthemethodologyusedinandtheimpactoftheexperimentalactivity;

6.3.3 calculatetheabsoluteandpercentageuncertaintyinaquantity;

6.4Refinement 6.4.1 suggestimprovedeffectiveandsafeprocedures,afterconsideringquantitativeandqualitativemethods;

6.4.2 modifyproceduresinresponsetoserioussourcesofsystematicandrandomerrorinordertogenerateresultsthatareasaccurateandreliableastheapparatusallows;and

6.5Communication

6.5.1 communicateobservations,measurements,resultsandconclusionsinanappropriateandeffectivemanner.



4 Scheme of Assessment 4.1 Assessment opportunities Eachunitisavailableforassessmentinsummereachyear.ItispossibletoresitindividualASandA2assessmentunitsonceandcountthebetterresultforeachunittowardsanASorAlevelqualification.Candidates’resultsforindividualassessmentunitscancounttowardsaqualificationuntilwewithdrawthespecification.4.2 Assessment objectives Therearethreeassessmentobjectives(AOs)forthisspecification.Candidatesmust:

AO1 • demonstrateknowledgeandunderstandingofphysicsideas,processes,techniquesandprocedures;

AO2 • applyknowledgeandunderstandingofphysicsideas,processes,techniquesandprocedures:- inarangeoftheoreticalandpracticalcontexts;- whenhandlingqualitativeandquantitativedata;and- tosolvescientificproblems;and

AO3 • analyse,interpretandevaluatearangeofphysicsinformation,ideasandevidenceto:- makejudgementsandreachconclusions(includinginrelationtoissues);

- refinepracticaldesignandprocedures;and- make,recordandcommunicatereliableandvalidobservationsandmeasurementswithappropriateprecisionandaccuracy.

4.3 Assessment objective weightings ThetablebelowsetsouttheassessmentobjectiveweightingsforeachassessmentunitandtheoverallAlevelqualification:

PercentageAssessmentObjectiveWeightings

AO1 AO2 AO3 AS Alevel

AS1 6.8 6.8 2.4 16 16

AS2 6.8 6.8 2.4 16 16

AS3 1.6 2.4 4.0 8 8

A21 7.9 12.0 4.1 24

A22 7.9 12.0 4.1 24

A23 1.4 2.9 7.7 12

Total 32.4 42.9 24.7 40 100



4.4 Quality of written communication InAlevelPhysics,candidatesmustdemonstratetheirqualityofwrittencommunication.Theyneedto:

• ensurethattextislegibleandthatspelling,punctuationandgrammarareaccuratesothatmeaningisclear;

• selectanduseaformandstyleofwritingthatsuittheirpurposeandcomplexsubjectmatter;and

• organiseinformationclearlyandcoherently,usingspecialistvocabularywhereappropriate.

QualityofwrittencommunicationisassessedinresponsestoquestionsandtasksthatrequireextendedwritinginanyoneormoreoftheA2units.4.5 Synoptic assessment at A2 TheA2assessmentunitsincludesomesynopticassessment,whichencouragescandidatestodeveloptheirunderstandingofthesubjectasawhole.InourGCEPhysics,synopticassessmentinvolves:

• buildingonmaterialfromtheASunits;• bringingtogetherandmakingconnectionsbetweenareasofknowledgeandskillsthattheyhaveexploredthroughoutthecourse;and

• applyingknowledgeandunderstandingofmorethanoneareatoaparticularsituationorcontext.

4.6 Higher order thinking skills TheA2assessmentunitsprovideopportunitiestodemonstratehigherorderthinkingskillsbyincorporating:

• lessstructuredquestions;• moredemandingevaluativetasks;and• questionsthatrequirecandidatestomakemoreconnectionsbetweensectionsofthespecification.

4.7 Reporting and grading Wereporttheresultsofindividualassessmentunitsonauniformmarkscalethatreflectstheassessmentweightingofeachunit.WeawardASqualificationsonafivegradescalefromAtoE,withAbeingthehighest.WeawardAlevelqualificationsonasixgradescalefromA*toE,withA*beingthehighest.Todeterminecandidates’grades,weaddtheuniformmarksobtainedinindividualassessmentunits.TobeawardedanA*,candidatesneedtoachieveagradeAontheirfullAlevelqualificationandatleast90percentofthemaximumuniformmarksavailablefortheA2units.IfcandidatesfailtoattainagradeE,wereporttheirresultsasunclassified(U).ThegradesweawardmatchthegradedescriptionsinSection5ofthisspecification.



5 Grade Descriptions Gradedescriptionsareprovidedtogiveageneralindicationofthestandardsofachievementlikelytohavebeenshownbycandidatesawardedparticulargrades.Thedescriptionsmustbeinterpretedinrelationtothecontentinthespecification;theyarenotdesignedtodefinethatcontent.Thegradeawardeddependsinpracticeupontheextenttowhichthecandidatehasmettheassessmentobjectivesoverall.Shortcomingsinsomeaspectsofcandidates’performanceintheassessmentmaybebalancedbybetterperformancesinothers.TherequirementforallAlevelspecificationstoassesscandidates’qualityofwrittencommunicationwillbemetthroughallthreeassessmentobjectives.ASGradeDescriptions

Grade

Description

AS

GradeA

ForAO1,candidatescharacteristically:

• demonstrateknowledgeofmostprinciples,conceptsandfactsfromtheASunits;

• showunderstandingofmostprinciples,conceptsandfactsfromtheASunits;

• selectrelevantinformationfromtheASunits;and• organiseandpresentinformationclearlyinappropriateformsusingscientificterminology.


• applyprinciplesandconceptsinfamiliarandnewcontextsinvolvingonlyafewstepsintheargument;

• describesignificanttrendsandpatternsshownbydatapresentedintabularorgraphicalform;

• explainandinterpretphenomenawithfewerrorsandpresentargumentsandevaluationsclearly;and

• carryoutstructuredcalculationswithfewerrorsanddemonstrategoodunderstandingoftheunderlyingrelationshipsbetweenphysicalquantities.


• deviseandrefineexperimentalandinvestigativeactivities,selectingappropriatetechniques;

• demonstratesafeandskilfulpracticaltechniques;• makeobservationsandmeasurementswithappropriateprecisionandrecordthesemethodically;and

• interpret,explain,evaluateandcommunicatetheresultsoftheirownandothers’experimentalandinvestigativeactivities,inappropriatecontexts.



Grade

Description

AS

GradeE


• demonstrateknowledgeofsomeprinciplesandfactsfromtheASunits;

• showunderstandingofsomeprinciplesandfactsfromtheASunits;

• selectsomerelevantinformationfromtheASunits;and• presentinformationusingbasicterminologyfromtheASunits.


• applyagivenprincipletomaterialpresentedinfamiliarorcloselyrelatedcontexts,involvingonlyafewstepsintheargument;

• describesometrendsorpatternsshownbydatapresentedintabularorgraphicalform;

• providebasicexplanationsandinterpretationsofsomephenomena,presentingverylimitedevaluations;and

• carryoutsomestepsincalculations.


• deviseandrefinesomeaspectsofexperimentalandinvestigativeactivities;

• demonstratesafepracticaltechniques;• makeobservationsandmeasurements,andrecordthem;and

• interpret,explainandcommunicatesomeaspectsoftheresultsoftheirownandothers’experimentalandinvestigativeactivities,inappropriatecontexts.



A2GradeDescriptions

Grade

Description

A2

GradeA


• demonstratedetailedknowledgeofmostprinciples,conceptsandfactsfromthisspecification;

• showunderstandingofmostprinciples,conceptsandfactsfromthisspecification;

• selectrelevantinformationfromthisspecification;and• organiseandpresentinformationclearlyinappropriateformsusingscientificterminology.


• applyprinciplesandconceptsinfamiliarandnewcontexts,involvingseveralstepsintheargument;

• describesignificanttrendsandpatternsshownbycomplexdatapresentedintabularorgraphicalform;

• interpretphenomenawithfewerrors,andpresentargumentsandevaluationsclearlyandlogically;

• carryoutextendedcalculations,withlittleornoguidance,anddemonstrategoodunderstandingoftheunderlyingrelationshipsbetweenphysicalquantities;

• selectawiderangeoffacts,principlesandconceptsfromthisspecification;and

• linktogetherappropriatefacts,principlesandconceptsfromdifferentareasofthisspecification.


• deviseandplanexperimentalandinvestigativeactivities,selectingappropriatetechniques;

• demonstratesafeandskilfulpracticaltechniques;• makeobservationsandmeasurementswithappropriateprecisionandrecordthesemethodically;and

• interpret,explain,evaluateandcommunicatetheresultsoftheirownandothers’experimentalandinvestigativeactivities,inappropriatecontexts.



Grade

Description

A2

GradeE


• demonstrateknowledgeofsomeprinciplesandfactsfromthisspecification;

• showunderstandingofsomeprinciplesandfactsfromthisspecification;

• selectsomerelevantinformationfromthisspecification;and• presentinformationusingbasicterminologyfromthisspecification.


• applygivenprinciplesorconceptsinfamiliarandnewcontexts,involvingafewstepsintheargument;

• describe,andprovidealimitedexplanationof,trendsorpatternsshownbycomplexdatapresentedintabularorgraphicalform;

• providebasicexplanationsandinterpretationsofsomephenomena,presentingverylimitedargumentsandevaluations;

• carryoutroutinecalculations,whereguidanceisgiven;• selectsomefacts,principlesandconceptsfromthisspecification;and

• linktogethersomefacts,principlesandconceptsfromdifferentareasofthisspecification.


• deviseandplansomeaspectsofexperimentalandinvestigativeactivities;

• demonstratesafepracticaltechniques;• makeobservationsandmeasurementsandrecordthem;and• interpret,explainandcommunicatesomeaspectsoftheresultsoftheirownandothers’experimentalandinvestigativeactivities,inappropriatecontexts.



6 Guidance on Practical Assessment 6.1 Setting the tasks Wesettheassessmenttasks.AS3AandA23Aeachinvolveapracticaltestthatwesendtocentresbeforethetestdate.ForbothAS3AandA23A,centreshavetheflexibilitytoregistertheircandidatesfordifferentsessionsonaprescribeddate.TheassessmentforUnitAS3involvestwopapers:AS3AandAS3B.AS3AAS3Ahasshorttasksthattestcandidates’abilitytocarryouttheexperimentscontainedinthespecification.Wetestcandidates’skillinmanipulatingtheapparatuslistedinthespecification. Wealsotesttheirabilitytotakeandrecordsufficientrelevantreadingspreciselyenoughtogivesufficientlyaccurateandreliableresults. Topreparefortheseshorttasks,teachersshouldensurethatcandidateshaveexperienceinmeasuringthebasicphysicalquantitiesofmass,length,time(includingthetimingofoscillations),potentialdifferenceandcurrentinawidevarietyofsituations. Notealsothatthelearningoutcomesrequirecandidatestohaveperformedcertainexperiments.AS3BAS3Bhasaseriesofquestionsthatrequirecandidatestoanalyseasetofresults,usegraphicalandothermethods,calculateuncertaintiesandevaluateandrefineexperimentalactivities.TheassessmentforUnitA23involvestwopapers:A23AandA23B.A23AA23AhastwopracticalexercisesthatarelongerandmorecomplexthanthoseinAS3A. Theytestskillsofimplementing,graphworkandanalysis.AsinUnitAS3,teacherscanpreparecandidatesforthetwopracticalexercisesbygivingthemexperienceinmeasuringphysicalquantitiesinanumberofexperiments.A23BThequestionsinA23BaresimilartothoseinAS3B,butwithlessemphasisongraphicalwork.ThispapermaytesttheuseofaCROasaninstrumenttomeasurevoltageanddeterminefrequency.Ifquestionsaresetinanunfamiliarcontext,therewillbesufficientguidanceonthenecessarytheory.6.2 Supervising the students DuringthepracticaltestsAS3AandA23A,thesupervisororinvigilatormust:

• supervisethegeneralprogressofthetesttoensureallapparatusperformsasrequired;and

• ensurethatcandidatesmoveonfromonetasktothenextatthecorrecttimes,asidentifiedintheApparatusandMaterialsList.



6.3 Assessment conditions AS3AandA23Atakeplaceintheschoollaboratory.AS3BandA23Btakeplaceintheexaminationhall.6.4 Confidentiality Teachersandtechniciansmustensurethatinstructions,apparatusandmaterialslistsarekeptconfidential.ApparatusandMaterialsListandConfidentialInstructionsInAprilofeachyear,wewillsendcentresacopyoftheApparatusandMaterialsListandConfidentialInstructionsforbothAS3AandA23A.TheConfidentialInstructionsgivedetailedguidanceonsettingupandtestingtheapparatusandmaterialsforuseintheassessments.TeachersandtechniciansmustensurethatcandidateshavenoadvanceknowledgeoftheConfidentialInstructionsoroftheapparatusandmaterialsrequiredfortheassessments.Ifcandidatesundergoassessmentinmorethanonesession,teachersmustensurethatthosewhohavetakentheassessmentdonotmeetwiththosewhohaveyettotakeit.FinalapparatustestingAS3AandA23Apaperswillbemadeavailabletotheheadofdepartmenttwoworkingdaysbeforethetimetabledstartingtime.ThisgivesteachersandtechnicianstimetocarryoutafinaltesttoensurethattheresultsfromexperimentsfallwithintherangestatedintheConfidentialInstructions.AfterthepracticalassessmentsWhentheindividualexamsessionshavefinished,pleasereturntheAS3AandA23Apracticalscriptstogetherwiththecorrespondingadvicenotestotheexaminationsofficer(EO).Wewillcollectthesebythedayaftertheexamination.Ifwedon’t,pleasecontactusimmediatelytoarrangeanothertimeforcollection.Wherethecentrefindsthatacandidatemayhavebeendisadvantagedbecausetheapparatusdidnotfunctionasintended,thesupervisingteachersmustmakeareporttotheEO.TheEOwillforwardtheconfidentialreportontheissuetothecentresupportsectionatCCEAforspecialconsideration.Thesupervisingteachersmustidentifycandidatesbytheirexaminationnumber.



7 Links and Support 7.1 Support Thefollowingresourcesareavailabletosupportthisspecification:

• ourPhysicsmicrositeatwww.ccea.org.uk• specimenassessmentmaterials.Wealsointendtoprovide:

• pastpapersandmarkschemes;• ChiefExaminer’sreports;• factfiles;• schemesofwork;• centresupportvisits;• supportdaysforteachers;• bridgingresourceformathematics;• aresourcelist;and• exemplificationofstandards.7.2 Curriculum objectives ThisspecificationsupportscentrestobuildonthebroaderNorthernIrelandCurriculumobjectivestodeveloptheyoungperson:

• asanindividual;• asacontributortosociety;and• asacontributortotheeconomyandenvironment.ItcancontributetomeetingtherequirementsoftheNorthernIrelandEntitlementFrameworkatpost-16andtheprovisionofabroadandbalancedcurriculum.Curriculum Progression from Key Stage 4 ThisspecificationbuildsonlearningfromKeyStage4andgivesstudentsopportunitiestodeveloptheirsubjectknowledgeandunderstandingfurther.StudentswillalsohaveopportunitiestocontinuetodeveloptheCross-CurricularSkillsandtheThinkingSkillsandPersonalCapabilitiesshownbelow.Theextentofthisdevelopmentdependsontheteachingandlearningmethodologytheteacheruses. Cross-CurricularSkills• Communication:- TalkingandListening- Reading- Writing

• UsingMathematics• UsingICT



ThinkingSkillsandPersonalCapabilities• ProblemSolving• WorkingwithOthers• Self-Management Forfurtherguidanceontheskillsandcapabilitiesinthissubject,pleaserefertothesupportingschemesofwork.7.3 Examination entries EntrycodesforthissubjectanddetailsonhowtomakeentriesareavailableonourQualificationsAdministrationHandbookmicrosite,whichyoucanaccessatwww.ccea.org.ukAlternatively,youcantelephoneourExaminationEntries,ResultsandCertificationteamusingthecontactdetailsprovided.7.4 Equality and inclusion Wehaveconsideredtherequirementsofequalitylegislationindevelopingthisspecificationanddesignedittobeasfreeaspossiblefromethnic,gender,religious,politicalandotherformsofbias.GCEqualificationsoftenrequiretheassessmentofabroadrangeofcompetences.Thisisbecausetheyaregeneralqualificationsthatpreparestudentsforawiderangeofoccupationsandhigherlevelcourses.Duringthedevelopmentprocess,anexternalequalitypanelreviewedthespecificationtoidentifyanypotentialbarrierstoequalityandinclusion.Whereappropriate,wehaveconsideredmeasurestosupportaccessandmitigatebarriers.Wecanmakereasonableadjustmentsforstudentswithdisabilitiestoreducebarrierstoaccessingassessments.Forthisreason,veryfewstudentswillhaveacompletebarriertoanypartoftheassessment.Itisimportanttonotethatwhereaccessarrangementsarepermitted,theymustnotbeusedinanywaythatunderminestheintegrityoftheassessment.YoucanfindinformationonreasonableadjustmentsintheJointCouncilforQualificationsdocumentAccessArrangementsandReasonableAdjustments:GeneralandVocationalQualifications,availableatwww.jcq.org.ukInpracticalclasses,studentsshouldconsiderthehealthandsafetyaspectsoftheirwork.Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,theprocedures,techniques,apparatusandmaterialsemployedineveryactivity.



7.5 Contact details Ifyouhaveanyqueriesaboutthisspecification,pleasecontacttherelevantCCEAstaffmemberordepartment:

• SpecificationSupportOfficer:NualaTierney(telephone:(028)90261200extension2292,email:[email protected])

• SubjectOfficer:GavinGray(telephone:(028)90261200,extension2270,email:[email protected])

• ExaminationEntries,ResultsandCertification(telephone:(028)90261262,email:[email protected])

• ExaminerRecruitment(telephone:(028)90261243,email:[email protected])

• Distribution(telephone:(028)90261242,email:[email protected])

• SupportEventsAdministration(telephone:(028)90261401,email:[email protected])

• InformationSection(includingFreedomofInformationrequests)(telephone:(028)90261200,email:[email protected])

• Moderation(telephone:(028)90261200,extension2236,email:[email protected])

• BusinessAssurance(ComplaintsandAppealsManager:HeatherClarke)(telephone:(028)90261244,email:[email protected]).



Appendix 1 Mathematical content MaterialinboldtypeisforA2modulesonly.MC1 Arithmeticandnumericalcomputation

Studentsshouldbeableto:(a) recogniseanduseexpressionsindecimalandstandardform;(b) useratios,fractionsandpercentages;(c) usecalculatorstofindandusepower,exponentialandlogarithmic

functions;and(d) usecalculatorstohandlesinx,cosxandtanx,whenxisexpressedin

degreesorradians.

MC2 HandlingdataStudentsshouldbeableto:(a) showanawarenessoftheorderofmagnitudeofphysical

quantitiesandmakeorderofmagnitudecalculations;(b) useanappropriatenumberofsignificantfigures;and(c) findarithmeticmeans.

MC3 Algebra

Studentsshouldbeableto:(a) understandandusethesymbols=,<,<<,>>,>,α,and≈;(b) changethesubjectofanequation;(c) substitutenumericalvaluesintoalgebraicequationsusingappropriate

unitsforphysicalquantities;and(d) solvesimplealgebraicequations.

MC4 Graphs

Studentsshouldbeableto:(a) translateinformationbetweengraphical,numericalandalgebraic

forms;(b) plottwovariablesfromexperimentalorotherdata;(c) understandthaty= mx+crepresentsalinearrelationship;(d) determinetheslopeandinterceptofalineargraph;(e) drawandusetheslopeofatangenttoacurveasameasureofrateof

change;(f) understandthepossiblephysicalsignificanceoftheareabetweena

curveandthex-axis,andbeabletocalculateitormeasureitbycountingsquares,asappropriate;

(g) uselogarithmicplotstotestexponentialandpowerlawvariations;and(h) sketchsimplefunctionsincluding

y= kx,y =kx2,y=

kx2

,y= sinx,y = cosx and y = e-x .



MC5 GeometryandtrigonometryStudentsshouldbeableto:(a) calculateareasoftriangles;circumferencesandareasofcircles;and

surfaceareasandvolumesofrectangularblocks,cylindersandspheres;(b) usePythagoras’theoremandtheanglesumofatriangle;(c) usesin,cosandtaninphysicalproblems;and(d) understandtherelationshipbetweendegreesandradiansand

translatefromonetotheother.



Appendix 2 Data and formulae sheet for Units AS 1 and AS 2 Values of constants speedoflightinavacuum c=3.00 × 108 ms-1

elementarycharge e= 1.60× 10-19C thePlanckconstant h= 6.63 × 10-34Jsmassofelectron me = 9.11 × 10-31kgmassofproton mp = 1.67 × 10-27kg accelerationoffreefallontheEarth’ssurface g= 9.81ms-2 electronvolt 1eV = 1.60 × 10-19JtheHubbleconstant H0»2.4×10-

18s-1



Useful formulae Thefollowingequationsmaybeusefulinansweringsomeofthequestionsintheexamination.Mechanics

conservationofenergy ,foraconstantforceWaves two-sourceinterference λ=ay/ddiffractiongrating dsinӨ=nλLight

lensequation Electricity

terminalpotentialdifferenceV=E-Ir(e.m.f.,E;InternalResistance,r)potentialdivider Particlesandphotons

Einstein’sequation½mvmax2=hf-hf0

deBroglieequation Astronomy

redshift z= ∆λλ recessionspeed z= v

c Hubble’sLawv=H0d



Appendix 3 Data and formulae sheet for Units A2 1 and A2 2 Values of constants speedoflightinavacuum c=3.00 × 108ms-1 permittivityofavacuum elementarycharge e=1.60×10-19CthePlanckconstant h=6.63×10-34Js(unified)atomicmassunit 1u=1.66×10-27kgmassofelectron me=9.11×10-31kgmassofproton mp=1.67×10-27kgmolargasconstant R=8.31JK-1mol-1

theAvogadroconstant NA=6.02×1023mol-1theBoltzmannconstant k=1.38×10-23JK-1gravitationalconstant G=6.67×10-11Nm2kg-2accelerationoffreefallontheEarth’ssurface g=9.81ms-2

electronvolt 1eV=1.60×10-19JtheHubbleconstant H0»2.4 × 10-18s-1



Useful formulae Thefollowingequationsmaybeusefulinansweringsomeofthequestionsintheexamination.Mechanics

conservationofenergy ,foraconstantforceHooke’sLaw F=kx(springconstant)strainenergy E=½Fx=½kx2

Uniformcircularmotion

centripetalforce F=ma = mv²r

Simpleharmonicmotion

displacement x=Acosωt simplependulum loadedspiralspring Waves

two-sourceinterference λ=ay/ddiffractiongrating dsinӨ=nλThermalphysics

averagekineticenergyofamolecule%&m<c2>='

&kT

kinetictheorypV= 1

3Nm<c2>

thermalenergy Q= mcΔӨ

Capacitors

capacitorsinseries capacitorsinparallel

timeconstant τ=CR capacitordischargeQ=Q0e

-t/CRorV=V0e-t/CRorI=I0e

-t/CR



Light

lensequation

Electricity

terminalpotentialdifference V=E-Ir(e.m.f.,E;InternalResistance,r)potentialdivider

a.c.generatorE=BANωsinωt Nuclearphysics

nuclearradius

radioactivedecay half-life Particlesandphotons

Einstein’sequation ½mvmax2 = hf- hf0

deBroglieequation Astronomy

redshift z= ∆$$

recessionspeed z= v

c Hubble’sLaw v=H0d



Appendix 4 Experiments that the tasks for AS 3A are based on 1. Determinethedensityofasolidorliquid.2. Determinethevalueofanunknownmassusingtheprincipleofmoments.3. Determinethemassofauniformruleusingtheprincipleofmoments.4. Determinetheaccelerationoffreefallbymeansofafallingobjectandlight

gates.5. VerifythataαF.6. Verifythataα1/m.7. Verifytheconservationofmomentuminacollision.8. Investigatetheenergyexchangebetweenpotentialandkineticforafallingbody.9. Determinetheresistancebytheammeter–voltmetermethodandusinga

multimeterorohmmeter.10. Verifytherelationshipsforresistorsinseriesandinparallel.11. Determinetheresistivityofametal.12. DeterminetheI-Vcharacteristicofametallicconductoratconstanttemperature.13. DeterminetheI-Vcharacteristicofafilamentlamp.14. Determinetheresistance–temperaturecharacteristicofanegativetemperature

coefficient(ntc)thermistor.15. Determinethee.m.f.andinternalresistanceofabattery.16. VerifySnell’slaw.17. Determinetherefractiveindexofamaterial.18. Determinethecriticalangleofglassorperspexusingasemicircularblock.19. Determinethefocallengthofaconverginglens.20. Verifythatthemagnificationofarealimageisequaltotheratiooftheimage

distancetotheobjectdistance.21. Determinethespeedofsoundinairusingaresonancetube.22. Determinethewavelengthoflightusingadoubleslitandagrating.

Genericexperimentsmaybesettotestthedirectuseoftheapparatuslistedinthespecification.



Summary of Changes since First Issue (Mostrecentchangesareindicatedinredonthelatestversion)RevisionHistoryNumber

DateofChange PageNumber ChangeMade

Version1 N/A N/A FirstissueVersion2 13October2017 11

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