Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics (9702) Concepts

1. Physical quantities and units

1.1 Physical quantities 1.2 SI units 1.3 Errors and uncertainties 1.4 Scalars and vectors

2. Kinematics

2.1 Equations of motion

3. Dynamics

3.1 Momentum and Newton’s laws of motion 3.2 Non-uniform motion 3.3 Linear momentum and its conservation

4. Forces, density and pressure

4.1 Turning effects of forces 4.2 Equilibrium of forces 4.3 Density and pressure

5. Work, energy and power

5.1 Energy conservation 5.2 Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy

6. Deformation of solids

6.1 Stress and strain 6.2 Elastic and plastic behaviour

7. Waves

7.1 Progressive waves 7.2 Transverse and longitudinal waves 7.3 Doppler effect for sound waves 7.4 Electromagnetic spectrum 7.5 Polarisation

8. Superposition

8.1 Stationary waves 8.2 Diffraction 8.3 Interference 8.4 The diffraction grating

9. Electricity

9.1 Electric current 9.2 Potential difference and power 9.3 Resistance and resistivity

10. D.C. circuits

10.1 Practical circuits 10.2 Kirchhoff’s laws 10.3 Potential dividers

11. Particle physics

11.1 Atoms, nuclei and radiation 11.2 Fundamental particles

12. Motion in a circle

12.1 Kinematics of uniform circular motion 12.2 Centripetal acceleration

13. Gravitational fields

13.1 Gravitational field 13.2 Gravitational force between point masses 13.3 Gravitational field of a point mass 13.4 Gravitational potential

14. Temperature

14.1 Thermal equilibrium 14.2 Temperature scales 14.3 Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat

15. Ideal gases

15.1 The mole 15.2 Equation of state 15.3 Kinetic theory of gases

16. Thermodynamics

16.1 Internal energy 16.2 The first law of thermodynamics

17. Oscillations

17.1 Simple harmonic oscillations 17.2 Energy in simple harmonic motion 17.3 Damped and forced oscillations, resonance

18. Electric fields

18.1 Electric fields and field lines 18.2 Uniform electric fields 18.3 Electric force between point charges 18.4 Electric field of a point charge 18.5 Electric potential

19. Capacitance

19.1 Capacitors and capacitance 19.2 Energy stored in a capacitor 19.3 Discharging a capacitor

20. Magnetic fields

20.1 Concept of a magnetic field 20.2 Force on a current-carrying conductor 20.3 Force on a moving charge 20.4 Magnetic fields due to currents 20.5 Electromagnetic induction

21. Alternating currents

21.1 Characteristics of alternating currents 21.2 Rectification and smoothing

22. Quantum physics

22.1 Energy and momentum of a photon 22.2 Photoelectric effect 22.3 Wave–particle duality 22.4 Energy levels in atoms and line spectra

23. Nuclear physics

23.1 Mass defect and nuclear binding energy 23.2 Radioactive decay

24. Medical physics

24.1 Production and use of ultrasound 24.2 Production and use of X-rays 24.3 PET scanning

25. Astronomy and cosmology

25.1 Standard candles 25.2 Stellar radii 25.3 Hubble’s law and the Big Bang theory

Practical assessment skills

Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

Mathematical, data, formula and circuit-symbol skills

Mathematical requirements Key quantities, symbols and units Supplied data and formulae Circuit symbols