Specification points

OCR AS Level Physics A H156

312 points in 6 topics, with OCR's codes and titles.

Codes and titles are read by a script from OCR's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: OCR’s specification.

1 Development of practical skills in physics

1.1 Practical skills assessed in a written examination
1.1.1 Planning
1.1.1(a) Designing experiments to solve practical problems
1.1.1(b) Identifying variables to control
1.1.1(c) Judging whether a method suits the aims
1.1.2 Implementing
1.1.2(a) Using practical apparatus and techniques correctly
1.1.2(b) Units for measurements
1.1.2(c) Presenting observations and data
1.1.3 Analysis
1.1.3(a) Processing and interpreting experimental results
1.1.3(b) Maths skills for analysing quantitative data
1.1.3(c) Significant figures
1.1.3(d) Plotting and interpreting graphs of results
1.1.3(d)(i) Choosing and labelling graph axes
1.1.3(d)(ii) Gradients and intercepts from graphs
1.1.4 Evaluation
1.1.4(a) Evaluating results and drawing conclusions
1.1.4(b) Spotting anomalies in measurements
1.1.4(c) Limitations of experimental procedures
1.1.4(d) Precision, accuracy, errors and uncertainties
1.1.4(e) Improving experimental procedures and apparatus

3 Forces and motion

3.1 Motion
3.1.1 Kinematics
3.1.1(a) Displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration
3.1.1(b) Graphs of motion
3.1.1(c) Displacement–time graphs
3.1.1(d) Velocity–time graphs
3.1.2 Linear motion
3.1.2(a) Equations of motion, with practical work
3.1.2(a)(i) Equations of motion for constant acceleration
3.1.2(a)(ii) Investigating motion and collisions
3.1.2(b) Acceleration of free fall, with practical work
3.1.2(b)(i) Acceleration of free fall
3.1.2(b)(ii) Measuring the acceleration of free fall
3.1.2(c) Stopping distances
3.1.3 Projectile motion
3.1.3(a) Independent horizontal and vertical motion
3.1.3(b) Two-dimensional projectile motion
3.2 Forces in action
3.2.1 Dynamics
3.2.1(a) Newton's second law: F = ma
3.2.1(b) The newton
3.2.1(c) Weight: W = mg
3.2.1(d) Tension, normal contact force, upthrust and friction
3.2.1(e) Free-body diagrams
3.2.1(f) Motion under a constant force
3.2.2 Motion with non-uniform acceleration
3.2.2(a) Drag in fluids
3.2.2(b) Factors affecting drag in air
3.2.2(c) Falling with drag
3.2.2(d) Terminal velocity, with practical work
3.2.2(d)(i) Terminal velocity
3.2.2(d)(ii) Measuring terminal velocity in fluids
3.2.3 Equilibrium
3.2.3(a) Moment of a force
3.2.3(b) Couples and torque
3.2.3(c) The principle of moments
3.2.3(d) Centre of mass and centre of gravity
3.2.3(e) Equilibrium under forces and torques
3.2.3(f) Three coplanar forces and the triangle of forces
3.2.4 Density and pressure
3.2.4(a) Density
3.2.4(b) Pressure in solids, liquids and gases
3.2.4(c) Fluid pressure, upthrust and Archimedes' principle
3.3 Work, energy and power
3.3.1 Work and conservation of energy
3.3.1(a) Work done and the joule
3.3.1(b) Work done by a force at an angle
3.3.1(c) Conservation of energy
3.3.1(d) Forms of energy and energy transfer
3.3.1(e) Energy transferred equals work done
3.3.2 Kinetic and potential energies
3.3.2(a) Kinetic energy
3.3.2(b) Gravitational potential energy
3.3.2(c) Exchange of potential and kinetic energy
3.3.3 Power
3.3.3(a) Power and the watt
3.3.3(b) Power: P = Fv
3.3.3(c) Efficiency of mechanical systems
3.4 Materials
3.4.1 Springs
3.4.1(a) Tensile and compressive deformation
3.4.1(b) Hooke’s law
3.4.1(c) Force constant and Hooke's law
3.4.1(d) Force–extension graphs, with practical work
3.4.1(d)(i) Force–extension graphs for springs and wires
3.4.1(d)(ii) Investigating force–extension characteristics
3.4.2 Mechanical properties of matter
3.4.2(a) Work done from force–extension graphs
3.4.2(b) Elastic potential energy
3.4.2(c) Tensile stress, strain and ultimate tensile strength
3.4.2(d) The Young modulus, with practical work
3.4.2(d)(i) The Young modulus
3.4.2(d)(ii) Measuring the Young modulus of a metal
3.4.2(e) Stress–strain graphs for different materials
3.4.2(f) Elastic and plastic deformation
3.5 Newton’s laws of motion and momentum
3.5.1 Newton’s laws of motion
3.5.1(a) Newton’s three laws of motion
3.5.1(b) Linear momentum
3.5.1(c) Force as rate of change of momentum
3.5.1(d) Impulse
3.5.1(e) Impulse from force–time graphs
3.5.2 Collisions
3.5.2(a) Conservation of momentum
3.5.2(b) Collisions in one and two dimensions
3.5.2(c) Elastic and inelastic collisions

4 Electrons, waves and photons

4.1 Charge and current
4.1.1 Charge
4.1.1(a) Current as rate of flow of charge
4.1.1(b) The coulomb
4.1.1(c) The elementary charge
4.1.1(d) Quantisation of charge
4.1.1(e) Charge carriers in metals and electrolytes
4.1.1(f) Conventional current and electron flow
4.1.1(g) Kirchhoff's first law
4.1.2 Mean drift velocity
4.1.2(a) Mean drift velocity
4.1.2(b) Current and number density: I = Anev
4.1.2(c) Conductors, semiconductors and insulators
4.2 Energy, power and resistance
4.2.1 Circuit symbols
4.2.1(a) Circuit symbols
4.2.1(b) Circuit diagrams
4.2.2 E.m.f. and p.d.
4.2.2(a) Potential difference and the volt
4.2.2(b) E.m.f. of a cell or power supply
4.2.2(c) E.m.f. and p.d. compared
4.2.2(d) Energy transfer: W = VQ and W = EQ
4.2.2(e) Energy of accelerated charged particles
4.2.3 Resistance
4.2.3(a) Resistance and the ohm
4.2.3(b) Ohm’s law
4.2.3(c) I–V characteristics, with practical work
4.2.3(c)(i) I–V characteristics of components
4.2.3(c)(ii) Investigating ohmic and non-ohmic components
4.2.3(d) Light-dependent resistors
4.2.4 Resistivity
4.2.4(a) Resistivity, with practical work
4.2.4(a)(i) Resistivity of a material
4.2.4(a)(ii) Measuring the resistivity of a metal
4.2.4(b) Resistivity and temperature
4.2.4(c) NTC thermistors
4.2.5 Power
4.2.5(a) Electrical power equations
4.2.5(b) Energy transfer: W = VIt
4.2.5(c) The kilowatt-hour and energy cost
4.3 Electrical circuits
4.3.1 Series and parallel circuits
4.3.1(a) Kirchhoff's second law
4.3.1(b) Applying Kirchhoff's laws to circuits
4.3.1(c) Resistors in series
4.3.1(d) Resistors in parallel
4.3.1(e) Analysing series and parallel circuits
4.3.1(f) Circuits with more than one e.m.f. source
4.3.2 Internal resistance
4.3.2(a) Internal resistance
4.3.2(b) Terminal p.d. and lost volts
4.3.2(c) Internal resistance equations, with practical work
4.3.2(c)(i) E.m.f. and internal resistance equations
4.3.2(c)(ii) Measuring internal resistance
4.3.3 Potential dividers
4.3.3(a) Potential divider circuits
4.3.3(b) Potential dividers with sensors
4.3.3(c) Potential divider equations, with practical work
4.3.3(c)(i) Potential divider equations
4.3.3(c)(ii) Investigating potential divider circuits
4.4 Waves
4.4.1 Wave motion
4.4.1(a) Progressive, longitudinal and transverse waves
4.4.1(b) Wave properties and oscilloscope measurements
4.4.1(b)(i) Displacement, amplitude, wavelength, period, frequency, speed
4.4.1(b)(ii) Measuring frequency with an oscilloscope
4.4.1(c) Frequency and period
4.4.1(d) The wave equation
4.4.1(e) Graphs of transverse and longitudinal waves
4.4.1(f) Wave effects, with practical work
4.4.1(f)(i) Wave behaviours: reflection, refraction, polarisation, diffraction
4.4.1(f)(ii) Demonstrating wave effects in a ripple tank
4.4.1(f)(iii) Observing polarisation with microwaves and light
4.4.1(g) Wave intensity and amplitude
4.4.2 Electromagnetic waves
4.4.2(a) The electromagnetic spectrum
4.4.2(b) Wavelengths from radio to gamma rays
4.4.2(c) Polarisation of electromagnetic waves
4.4.2(d) Refraction, with practical work
4.4.2(d)(i) Refractive index and Snell's law
4.4.2(d)(ii) Investigating refraction and total internal reflection
4.4.2(e) Critical angle and total internal reflection
4.4.3 Superposition
4.4.3(a) Superposition, with practical work
4.4.3(a)(i) The principle of superposition
4.4.3(a)(ii) Superposition experiments with sound, light and microwaves
4.4.3(b) Graphs illustrating superposition
4.4.3(c) Interference, coherence and path difference
4.4.3(d) Constructive and destructive interference
4.4.3(e) Two-source interference with sound and microwaves
4.4.3(f) Young double-slit experiment
4.4.3(g) Double-slit equation, with practical work
4.4.3(g)(i) The double-slit equation
4.4.3(g)(ii) Measuring the wavelength of light
4.4.4 Stationary waves
4.4.4(a) Stationary waves
4.4.4(b) Graphs of stationary waves
4.4.4(c) Stationary and progressive waves compared
4.4.4(d) Nodes and antinodes
4.4.4(e) Stationary wave patterns, with practical work
4.4.4(e)(i) Stationary waves on strings and in air columns
4.4.4(e)(ii) Speed of sound from a resonance tube
4.4.4(f) Node separation and wavelength
4.4.4(g) Fundamental mode and harmonics
4.5 Quantum physics
4.5.1 Photons
4.5.1(a) The photon model
4.5.1(b) The photon as a quantum
4.5.1(c) Energy of a photon
4.5.1(d) The electronvolt
4.5.1(e) Planck constant from LEDs
4.5.1(e)(i) Estimating the Planck constant with LEDs
4.5.1(e)(ii) Planck constant from coloured LEDs
4.5.2 The photoelectric effect
4.5.2(a) The photoelectric effect, with demonstrations
4.5.2(a)(i) The photoelectric effect
4.5.2(a)(ii) Demonstrating the photoelectric effect
4.5.2(b) Photon–electron one-to-one interaction
4.5.2(c) Einstein's photoelectric equation
4.5.2(d) Work function and threshold frequency
4.5.2(e) Photoelectron energy and intensity
4.5.2(f) Photoelectron emission rate and intensity
4.5.3 Wave–particle duality
4.5.3(a) Electron diffraction and its evidence
4.5.3(b) Electrons diffracted by graphite
4.5.3(c) The de Broglie equation

5d How Science Works (HSW)

HSW1 Theories and models to explain science
HSW2 Posing questions and presenting scientific arguments
HSW3 Methods, including ICT, to answer scientific questions
HSW4 Experimental work and risk management
HSW5 Analysing data, correlation and causation
HSW6 Evaluating methods, evidence and data
HSW7 How scientific knowledge develops over time
HSW8 Communicating science with correct terminology
HSW9 Applications, benefits and risks of science
HSW10 Ethical issues in science
HSW11 Scientific community and validating knowledge
HSW12 Science in society's decision making

5e Mathematical requirements

M0 Arithmetic and numerical computation
M0.1 Units in calculations
M0.2 Decimal and standard form
M0.3 Ratios, fractions and percentages
M0.4 Estimating results
M0.5 Power functions on calculators
M0.6 Trigonometric functions on calculators
M1 Handling data
M1.1 Significant figures
M1.2 Arithmetic means
M1.3 Simple probability
M1.4 Order of magnitude calculations
M1.5 Combining uncertainties in data
M2 Algebra
M2.1 Mathematical symbols
M2.2 Rearranging equations, including non-linear ones
M2.3 Substituting values into equations
M2.4 Solving equations, including quadratics
M3 Graphs
M3.1 Graphical, numerical and algebraic forms
M3.2 Plotting two variables from data
M3.3 Linear relationships: y = mx + c
M3.4 Slope and intercept of a linear graph
M3.5 Rate of change from a linear graph
M3.6 Tangents to curves as rates of change
M3.7 Instantaneous and average rates of change
M3.8 Area between a curve and the x-axis
M3.9 Calculus ideas by graphs or spreadsheets
M3.12 Sketching modelled relationships
M4 Geometry and trigonometry
M4.1 Angles in 2-D and 3-D structures
M4.2 Representing 2-D and 3-D forms
M4.3 Areas, surface areas and volumes
M4.4 Pythagoras' theorem and triangle angles
M4.5 Sine, cosine and tangent in physics
M4.6 Small angle approximations
M4.7 Degrees and radians