A-level Physics₇₄₀₈

MS 0.1

Recognise and make use of appropriate units in calculations

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• identify the correct units for physical properties such as ${\mathrm{m}\mathsf{ }\mathrm{s}}^{\mathsf{-1}}$ , the unit for velocity
• convert between units with different prefixes eg ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathsf{3}}$ to ${\mathrm{m}}^{\mathsf{3}}$

MS 0.2

Recognise and use expressions in decimal and standard form

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• use physical constants expressed in standard form such as $\mathit{c}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }{\mathsf{3.00}\mathrm{ }\mathrm{x}\mathrm{ }\mathsf{10}}^{\mathsf{8}}$ ${\mathrm{m}\mathsf{ }\mathrm{s}}^{\mathsf{-1}}$

MS 0.3

Use ratios, fractions and percentages

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• calculate efficiency of devices
• calculate percentage uncertainties in measurements

MS 0.4

Estimate results

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• estimate the effect of changing experimental parameters on measurable values

MS 0.5

Use calculators to find and use power, exponential and logarithmic functions

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• solve for unknowns in decay problems such as $\mathit{N}\mathit{ }\mathsf{=}{\mathit{ }{\mathit{N}}_{\mathsf{0}}\mathrm{e}}^{\mathsf{-}\mathit{\lambda }\mathit{t}}$

MS 0.6

Use calculators to handle $\mathsf{s}\mathsf{i}\mathsf{n}\mathsf{ }\mathit{x}$ , $\mathsf{c}\mathsf{o}\mathsf{s}\mathsf{ }\mathit{x}$ , $\mathsf{t}\mathsf{a}\mathsf{n}\mathsf{ }\mathit{x}$ when $\mathit{x}$ is expressed in degrees or radians

• calculate the direction of resultant vectors

MS 1.1

Use an appropriate number of significant figures

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• report calculations to an appropriate number of significant figures given raw data quoted to varying numbers of significant figures
• understand that calculated results can only be reported to the limits of the least accurate measurement

MS 1.2

Find arithmetic means

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• calculate a mean value for repeated experimental readings

MS 1.3

Understand simple probability

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• understand probability in the context of radioactive decay

MS 1.4

Make order of magnitude calculations

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• evaluate equations with variables expressed in different orders of magnitude

MS 1.5

Identify uncertainties in measurements and use simple techniques to determine uncertainty when data are combined by addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and raising to powers

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• determine the uncertainty where two readings for length need to be added together

MS 2.1

Understand and use the symbols: =, <, <<, >>, >, $\mathsf{\propto }$ , $\mathsf{\approx }$ , $\mathsf{∆}$

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• recognise the significance of the symbols in the expression $\mathit{F}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{\propto }\mathsf{ }\frac{\mathsf{∆}\mathit{p}}{\mathsf{∆}\mathit{t}}$

MS 2.2

Change the subject of an equation, including non-linear equations

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• rearrange $\mathit{E}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }{\mathit{m}\mathit{c}}^{\mathsf{2}}$ to make $\mathit{m}$ the subject

MS 2.3

Substitute numerical values into algebraic equations using appropriate units for physical quantities

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• calculate the momentum $\mathit{p}$ of an object by substituting the values for mass $\mathit{m}$ and velocity $\mathit{v}$ into the equation $\mathit{p}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }\mathit{m}\mathit{v}$

MS 2.4

Solve algebraic equations, including quadratic equations

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• solve kinematic equations for constant acceleration such as $\mathit{v}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }\mathit{u}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{+}\mathsf{ }\mathit{a}\mathit{t}$ and $\mathit{s}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }\mathit{u}\mathit{t}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{+}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{½}\mathsf{ }\mathit{a}{\mathit{t}}^{\mathsf{2}}$

MS 2.5

Use logarithms in relation to quantities that range over several orders of magnitude

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• recognise and interpret real world examples of logarithmic scales

MS 3.1

Translate information between graphical, numerical and algebraic forms

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• calculate Young modulus for materials using stress–strain graphs

MS 3.2

Plot two variables from experimental or other data

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• plot graphs of extension of a wire against force applied

MS 3.3

Understand that $\mathit{y}\mathit{ }\mathsf{=}\mathit{ }\mathit{m}\mathit{x}\mathit{ }\mathsf{+}\mathit{ }\mathit{c}$ represents a linear relationship

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• rearrange and compare $\mathit{v}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }\mathit{u}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{+}\mathsf{ }\mathit{a}\mathit{t}$ with $\mathit{y}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }\mathit{m}\mathit{x}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{+}\mathsf{ }\mathit{c}$ for velocity–time graph in constant acceleration problems

MS 3.4

Determine the slope and intercept of a linear graph

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• read off and interpret intercept point from a graph eg the initial velocity in a velocity–time graph

MS 3.5

Calculate rate of change from a graph showing a linear relationship

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• calculate acceleration from a linear velocity–time graph

MS 3.6

Draw and use the slope of a tangent to a curve as a measure of rate of change

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• draw a tangent to the curve of a displacement–time graph and use the gradient to approximate the velocity at a specific time

MS 3.7

Distinguish between instantaneous rate of change and average rate of change

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• understand that the gradient of the tangent of a displacement–time graph gives the velocity at a point in time which is a different measure to the average velocity

MS 3.8

Understand the possible physical significance of the area between a curve and the x axis and be able to calculate it or estimate it by graphical methods as appropriate

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• recognise that for a capacitor the area under a voltage–charge graph is equivalent to the energy stored

MS 3.9

Apply the concepts underlying calculus (but without requiring the explicit use of derivatives or integrals) by solving equations involving rates of change, eg $\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }\mathit{x}}{\mathrm{\Delta }\mathit{t}}\mathsf{=}\mathsf{–}\mathit{\lambda }\mathit{x}$ using a graphical method or spreadsheet modelling

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• determine $\mathit{g}$ from distance-time plot for projectile motion

MS 3.10

Interpret logarithmic plots

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• obtain time constant for capacitor discharge by interpreting plot of log <math><mi mathvariant="italic">V</mi></math> against time

MS 3.11

Use logarithmic plots to test exponential and power law variations

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• use logarithmic plots with decay law of radioactivity / charging and discharging of a capacitor

MS 3.12

Sketch relationships which are modelled by $\mathit{y}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }\mathit{k}\mathsf{/}\mathit{x}$ , $\mathit{y}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }{\mathit{k}\mathit{x}}^{\mathsf{2}}$ , $\mathit{y}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }\mathit{k}\mathsf{/}{\mathit{x}}^{\mathsf{2}}$ , $\mathit{y}\mathsf{=}\mathsf{ }\mathit{k}\mathit{x}$ , $\mathit{y}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\sin \mathsf{ }\mathit{x}$ , $\mathit{y}\mathsf{ }\mathsf{=}\cos \mathsf{ }\mathit{x}$ , $\mathit{y}\mathit{ }\mathsf{=}\mathit{ }{\mathit{e}}^{\mathsf{\pm }\mathit{x}}$ , and $\mathit{y}\mathit{ }\mathsf{=}\mathit{ }{\sin }^{\mathsf{2}}\mathit{x}$ , $\mathit{y}\mathit{ }\mathsf{=}\mathit{ }{\cos }^{\mathsf{2}}\mathit{x}\mathit{ }$ as applied to physical relationships

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• sketch relationships between pressure and volume for an ideal gas

MS 4.1

Use angles in regular 2D and 3D structures

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• interpret force diagrams to solve problems

MS 4.2

Visualise and represent 2D and 3D forms including two-dimensional representations of 3D objects

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• draw force diagrams to solve mechanics problems

MS 4.3

Calculate areas of triangles, circumferences and areas of circles, surface areas and volumes of rectangular blocks, cylinders and spheres

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• calculate the area of the cross–section to work out the resistance of a conductor given its length and resistivity

MS 4.4

Use Pythagoras’ theorem, and the angle sum of a triangle

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• calculate the magnitude of a resultant vector, resolving forces into components to solve problems

MS 4.5

Use sin, cos and tan in physical problems

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• resolve forces into components

MS 4.6

Use of small angle approximations including $\sin \mathit{\theta }\mathsf{\approx }\mathit{\theta }$ , $\tan \mathit{\theta }\mathsf{\approx }\mathit{\theta }$ , $\cos \mathit{\theta }\mathsf{\approx }\mathsf{1}$ for small $\mathit{\theta }$ where appropriate

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• calculate fringe separations in interference patterns

MS 4.7

Understand the relationship between degrees and radians and translate from one to the other

Students may be tested on their ability to:

• convert angle in degrees to angle in radians