Physics — AS

Physics 9702 — specification explorer

All 145 specification statements from the official Cambridge International specification, as printed.

Paper/unit applicability has not been derived for this course yet — the statements below are the parsed specification, as printed.

1. Physical quantities and units

1. Physical quantities

1.1.1understand that all physical quantities consist of a numerical magnitude and a unit
1.1.2make reasonable estimates of physical quantities included within the syllabus

2. SI units

1.2.1recall the following SI base quantities and their units: mass (kg), length (m), time (s), current (A), temperature (K)
1.2.2express derived units as products or quotients of the SI base units and use the derived units for quantities listed in this syllabus as appropriate
1.2.3use SI base units to check the homogeneity of physical equations
1.2.4recall and use the following prefixes and their symbols to indicate decimal submultiples or multiples of both base and derived units: pico (p), nano (n), micro ( μ ), milli (m), centi (c), deci (d), kilo (k), mega (M), giga (G), tera (T)

3. Errors and uncertainties

1.3.1understand and explain the effects of systematic errors (including zero errors) and random errors in measurements
1.3.2understand the distinction between precision and accuracy
1.3.3assess the uncertainty in a derived quantity by simple addition of absolute or percentage uncertainties

4. Scalars and vectors

1.4.1understand the difference between scalar and vector quantities and give examples of scalar and vector quantities included in the syllabus
1.4.2add and subtract coplanar vectors
1.4.3represent a vector as two perpendicular components

2. Kinematics

1. Equations of motion

2.1.1define and use distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration
2.1.2use graphical methods to represent distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration
2.1.3determine displacement from the area under a velocity–time graph
2.1.4determine velocity using the gradient of a displacement–time graph
2.1.5determine acceleration using the gradient of a velocity–time graph
2.1.6derive, from the definitions of velocity and acceleration, equations that represent uniformly accelerated motion in a straight line
2.1.7solve problems using equations that represent uniformly accelerated motion in a straight line, including the motion of bodies falling in a uniform gravitational field without air resistance
2.1.8describe an experiment to determine the acceleration of free fall using a falling object
2.1.9describe and explain motion due to a uniform velocity in one direction and a uniform acceleration in a perpendicular direction

3. Dynamics

1. Momentum and Newton’s laws of motion

3.1.1understand that mass is the property of an object that resists change in motion
3.1.2recall F = ma and solve problems using it, understanding that acceleration and resultant force are always in the same direction
3.1.3define and use linear momentum as the product of mass and velocity
3.1.4define and use force as rate of change of momentum
3.1.5state and apply each of Newton’s laws of motion
3.1.6describe and use the concept of weight as the effect of a gravitational field on a mass and recall that the weight of an object is equal to the product of its mass and the acceleration of free fall

2. Non-uniform motion

3.2.1show a qualitative understanding of frictional forces and viscous/drag forces including air resistance (no treatment of the coefficients of friction and viscosity is required, and a simple model of drag force increasing as speed increases is sufficient)
3.2.2describe and explain qualitatively the motion of objects in a uniform gravitational field with air resistance
3.2.3understand that objects moving against a resistive force may reach a terminal (constant) velocity

3. Linear momentum and its conservation

3.3.1state the principle of conservation of momentum
3.3.2apply the principle of conservation of momentum to solve simple problems, including elastic and inelastic interactions between objects in both one and two dimensions (knowledge of the concept of coefficient of restitution is not required)
3.3.3recall that, for an elastic collision, total kinetic energy is conserved and the relative speed of approach is equal to the relative speed of separation
3.3.4understand that, while momentum of a system is always conserved in interactions between objects, some change in kinetic energy may take place

4. Forces, density and pressure

1. Turning effects of forces

4.1.1understand that the weight of an object may be taken as acting at a single point known as its centre of gravity
4.1.2define and apply the moment of a force
4.1.3understand that a couple is a pair of forces that acts to produce rotation only
4.1.4define and apply the torque of a couple

2. Equilibrium of forces

4.2.1state and apply the principle of moments
4.2.2understand that, when there is no resultant force and no resultant torque, a system is in equilibrium
4.2.3use a vector triangle to represent coplanar forces in equilibrium

3. Density and pressure

4.3.1define and use density
4.3.2define and use pressure
4.3.3derive, from the definitions of pressure and density, the equation for hydrostatic pressure ∆ p = ρ g ∆ h
4.3.4use the equation ∆ p = ρ g ∆ h
4.3.5understand that the upthrust acting on an object in a fluid is due to a difference in hydrostatic pressure
4.3.6calculate the upthrust acting on an object in a fluid using the equation F = ρ gV (Archimedes’ principle)

5. Work, energy and power

1. Energy conservation

5.1.1understand the concept of work, and recall and use work done = force × displacement in the direction of the force
5.1.2recall and apply the principle of conservation of energy
5.1.3recall and understand that the efficiency of a system is the ratio of useful energy output from the system to the total energy input
5.1.4use the concept of efficiency to solve problems
5.1.5define power as work done per unit time
5.1.6solve problems using P = W / t
5.1.7derive P = Fv and use it to solve problems

2. Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy

5.2.1derive, using W = Fs , the formula ∆ E = mg ∆ h for gravitational potential energy changes in a uniform gravitational field
5.2.1amv 2 3 derive, using the equations of motion, the formula for kinetic energy E = 2
5.2.1bmv 2 4 recall and use E = 2
5.2.2recall and use the formula ∆ E = mg ∆ h for gravitational potential energy changes in a uniform gravitational field

6. Deformation of solids

1. Stress and strain

6.1.1understand that deformation is caused by tensile or compressive forces (forces and deformations will be assumed to be in one dimension only)
6.1.2understand and use the terms load, extension, compression and limit of proportionality
6.1.3recall and use Hooke’s law
6.1.4recall and use the formula for the spring constant k = F / x
6.1.5define and use the terms stress, strain and the Young modulus
6.1.6describe an experiment to determine the Young modulus of a metal in the form of a wire

2. Elastic and plastic behaviour

6.2.1understand and use the terms elastic deformation, plastic deformation and elastic limit
6.2.1a1 2 4 recall and use E = 2 Fx = 2 kx for a material deformed within its limit of proportionality
6.2.2understand that the area under the force–extension graph represents the work done
6.2.3determine the elastic potential energy of a material deformed within its limit of proportionality from the area under the force–extension graph

7. Waves

1. Progressive waves

7.1.1describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibration in ropes, springs and ripple tanks
7.1.2understand and use the terms displacement, amplitude, phase difference, period, frequency, wavelength and speed
7.1.3understand the use of the time-base and y -gain of a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) to determine frequency and amplitude
7.1.4derive, using the definitions of speed, frequency and wavelength, the wave equation v = f λ
7.1.5recall and use v = f λ
7.1.6understand that energy is transferred by a progressive wave
7.1.7recall and use intensity = power/area and intensity ∝ ( amplitude ) for a progressive wave

2. Transverse and longitudinal waves

7.2.1compare transverse and longitudinal waves
7.2.2analyse and interpret graphical representations of transverse and longitudinal waves

3. Doppler effect for sound waves

7.3.1understand that when a source of sound waves moves relative to a stationary observer, the observed frequency is different from the source frequency (understanding of the Doppler effect for a stationary source and a moving observer is not required)
7.3.2use the expression f = f v / ( v ± v ) for the observed frequency when a source of sound waves moves relative to a stationary observer

4. Electromagnetic spectrum

7.4.1state that all electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that travel with the same speed c in free space
7.4.2recall the approximate range of wavelengths in free space of the principal regions of the electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to γ -rays
7.4.3recall that wavelengths in the range 400–700 nm in free space are visible to the human eye

5. Polarisation

7.5.1understand that polarisation is a phenomenon associated with transverse waves
7.5.2recall and use Malus’s law ( I = I cos θ ) to calculate the intensity of a plane-polarised electromagnetic wave after transmission through a polarising filter or a series of polarising filters (calculation of the effect of a polarising filter on the intensity of an unpolarised wave is not required)

8. Superposition

1. Stationary waves

8.1.1explain and use the principle of superposition
8.1.2show an understanding of experiments that demonstrate stationary waves using microwaves, stretched strings and air columns (it will be assumed that end corrections are negligible; knowledge of the concept of end corrections is not required)
8.1.3explain the formation of a stationary wave using a graphical method, and identify nodes and antinodes
8.1.4understand how wavelength may be determined from the positions of nodes or antinodes of a stationary wave

2. Diffraction

8.2.1explain the meaning of the term diffraction
8.2.2show an understanding of experiments that demonstrate diffraction including the qualitative effect of the gap width relative to the wavelength of the wave; for example diffraction of water waves in a ripple tank

3. Interference

8.3.1understand the terms interference and coherence
8.3.2show an understanding of experiments that demonstrate two-source interference using water waves in a ripple tank, sound, light and microwaves
8.3.3understand the conditions required if two-source interference fringes are to be observed
8.3.4recall and use λ = ax / D for double-slit interference using light

4. The diffraction grating

8.4.1recall and use d sin θ = n λ
8.4.2describe the use of a diffraction grating to determine the wavelength of light (the structure and use of the spectrometer are not included)

9. Electricity

1. Electric current

9.1.1understand that an electric current is a flow of charge carriers
9.1.2understand that the charge on charge carriers is quantised
9.1.3recall and use Q = I t
9.1.4use, for a current-carrying conductor, the expression I = Anvq , where n is the number density of charge carriers

2. Potential difference and power

9.2.1define the potential difference across a component as the energy transferred per unit charge
9.2.2recall and use V = W / Q
9.2.3recall and use P = V I , P = I R and P = V / R

3. Resistance and resistivity

9.3.1define resistance
9.3.2recall and use V = I R
9.3.3sketch the I – V characteristics of a metallic conductor at constant temperature, a semiconductor diode and a filament lamp
9.3.4explain that the resistance of a filament lamp increases as current increases because its temperature increases
9.3.5state Ohm’s law
9.3.6recall and use R = ρ L / A
9.3.7understand that the resistance of a light-dependent resistor (LDR) decreases as the light intensity increases
9.3.8understand that the resistance of a thermistor decreases as the temperature increases (it will be assumed that thermistors have a negative temperature coefficient)

10. D.C. circuits

1. Practical circuits

10.1.1recall and use the circuit symbols shown in section 6 of this syllabus
10.1.2draw and interpret circuit diagrams containing the circuit symbols shown in section 6 of this syllabus
10.1.3define and use the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a source as energy transferred per unit charge in driving charge around a complete circuit
10.1.4distinguish between e.m.f. and potential difference (p.d.) in terms of energy considerations
10.1.5understand the effects of the internal resistance of a source of e.m.f. on the terminal potential difference

2. Kirchhoff’s laws

10.2.1recall Kirchhoff’s first law and understand that it is a consequence of conservation of charge
10.2.2recall Kirchhoff’s second law and understand that it is a consequence of conservation of energy
10.2.3derive, using Kirchhoff’s laws, a formula for the combined resistance of two or more resistors in series
10.2.4use the formula for the combined resistance of two or more resistors in series
10.2.5derive, using Kirchhoff’s laws, a formula for the combined resistance of two or more resistors in parallel
10.2.6use the formula for the combined resistance of two or more resistors in parallel
10.2.7use Kirchhoff’s laws to solve simple circuit problems

3. Potential dividers

10.3.1understand the principle of a potential divider circuit
10.3.2recall and use the principle of the potentiometer as a means of comparing potential differences
10.3.3understand the use of a galvanometer in null methods
10.3.4explain the use of thermistors and light-dependent resistors in potential dividers to provide a potential difference that is dependent on temperature and light intensity

11. Particle physics

1. Atoms, nuclei and radiation

11.1.1infer from the results of the α -particle scattering experiment the existence and small size of the nucleus
11.1.2describe a simple model for the nuclear atom to include protons, neutrons and orbital electrons
11.1.3distinguish between nucleon number and proton number
11.1.4understand that isotopes are forms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei
11.1.5understand and use the notation X for the representation of nuclides
11.1.6
understand that nucleon number and charge are conserved in nuclear processes:
- +
11.1.7describe the composition, mass and charge of α -, β - and γ -radiations (both β (electrons) and β (positrons) are included)
11.1.8understand that an antiparticle has the same mass but opposite charge to the corresponding particle, and that a positron is the antiparticle of an electron
11.1.9state that (electron) antineutrinos are produced during β decay and (electron) neutrinos are produced during β decay
11.1.10understand that α -particles have discrete energies but that β -particles have a continuous range of energies because (anti)neutrinos are emitted in β -decay
11.1.11represent α - and β -decay by a radioactive decay equation of the form U " Th + α
11.1.12use the unified atomic mass unit (u) as a unit of mass

2. Fundamental particles

11.2.1understand that a quark is a fundamental particle and that there are six flavours (types) of quark: up, down, strange, charm, top and bottom
11.2.2recall and use the charge of each flavour of quark and understand that its respective antiquark has the opposite charge (no knowledge of any other properties of quarks is required)
11.2.3recall that protons and neutrons are not fundamental particles and describe protons and neutrons in terms of their quark composition
11.2.4
understand that a hadron may be either a baryon (consisting of three quarks) or a meson (consisting of one quark and one antiquark):
- +
11.2.5describe the changes to quark composition that take place during β and β decay
11.2.6recall that electrons and neutrinos are fundamental particles called leptons