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Physics A level > Year 1 - A level > Flashcards

Year 1 - A level Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 7 base units?

A 
Mass - kg
Time - s
Length - m
Current - A
Amount of a substance - mol
Luminosity intensity - Cd
Temperature - K
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2
Q

Pick one of these and turn into base units:

  • Force (N)
  • Energy (J)
  • Power (W)
  • Frequency (Hz)
  • Change (Q)
  • Voltage (V)
  • Resistance (Ω)
A 
N - Kg m s-2
J - Kg m2 s-2
W - Kg m2 s-3
Hz - s-1
C - A s
V - Kg m2 s-3 A-1
Ω - Kg m2 s-3 A-2
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3
Q

What is the difference between vector and scalar?

A

Vectors have size and direction, scalars only have size

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4
Q

Formula for velocity?

A

V = change in displacement/time

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5
Q

Formula for average speed?

A

S = Total distance/Total time

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6
Q

What are the six SUVAT equations?

A
  1. s = ((V+u)/2)t
  2. V = u + at
  3. s = ut + 1/2at^2
  4. s = vt + 1/2vt^2
  5. V^2 = u^2 + 2as
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7
Q

How do you add vectors?

A

Place them head to tail.

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8
Q

Pnuemonic for sin, cos and tan?

A

SOHCAHTOA

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9
Q

What is Newton’s first law?

A

A body remains at rest or travels at constant speed at a constant velocity in a straight line, unless a resultant force acts upon it.

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10
Q

What is Newton’s second law?

A

In the presence of a resultant force a body experiences an acceleration.
F = ma.
-A change in direction is a change in V therefore acceleration.
-Stationary or constant speed means no resultant force
-De/acceleration must have an overall force acting.

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11
Q

What is Newton’s third law?

A

For every force that acts there is an equal force of the same type that acts in the opposite direction.

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12
Q

What are the 10 types of energy?

A
  • Chemical
  • Elastic
  • Electric(static)
  • Electric(current)
  • Gravitational
  • Nuclear
  • Light
  • Kinetic
  • Sound
  • Thermal
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13
Q

What equation links power, force and velocity?

A

P = Fv

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14
Q

What equation links force, time, mass and velocity?

A

Ft = mv

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15
Q

What equation links work done (not from rest), mass and velocity?

A

Work done = 1/2mv^2 - 1/2mu^2

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16
Q

What equation links E.P.E, the spring constant(k) and extension of the material?

A

E.P.E = 1/2 kx^2

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17
Q

What equation links power, work done and time?

A

P = WD/t

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18
Q

What equation links momentum, mass and velocity?

A

P = mv or ΔP = mv - mu(momentum is vector so can have an arrow above it to show direction)

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19
Q

What links force, momentum and time?

A

F = ΔP/t

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20
Q

What links impulse(Ft), mass and velocity?

What is impulse?

A

Ft = mΔv

Impulse is a force acting for a given time

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21
Q

What is the centre of gravity?

A

Centre of gravity of a body is the point at which it’s weight can be considered to act.

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22
Q

What three types of equilibrium are there?

A
  • Stable - returns when slightly displaced
  • Unstable - Doesn’t return if slightly displaced
  • Neutral - Remains in displaced poistion when displaced slightly
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23
Q

What equation links moments, force and perpendicular distance from pivot?

A

Moment = Force x Perpendicular distance from pivot

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24
Q

What is a couple?

A
  • Fs + Fs = 2Fs
  • Magnitude of each force x separation of their lines of action
  • Called torque in engineering
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25
Q

What equation links density, mass and volume?

A

Density(ρ) = m/v measured in kgm-3

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26
Q

What equation links weight of fluid displays, area, height, density and gravity

A

W = Ahρg

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27
Q

What equation links pressure, depth, density and g?

A

P = h ρ g

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28
Q

What are the nine prefixes you need to know?

A 
Terra(T) - x10^12
Giga(G) - x10^9
Mega(M) - x10^6
Kilo(k) - x10^3
Centi(c) - x10^-2
milli(m) - x10^-3
micro(μ) - x10^-6
nano(n) - x10^-9
pico(p) - x10^-12
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29
Q

What is charging by friction?

A

When you rub two insulators to gain energy as a charge to overcome friction.

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30
Q

What is charging by induction?

A

When you bring a charged rod, close(not touching) to an object.
(Gold leaf test)

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31
Q

What equation links current, charge and time?

A

Current(I) = charge flow(Q) / time(t)

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32
Q

What equation links voltage, energy and charge?

A

Voltage(V) = energy(E) / charge(Q)

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33
Q

What equation links, current, charge carrier density, area, velocity of electron and charge on an electron?

A

I = nAve

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34
Q

What equation links resistance, voltage and current

A

R = V/I

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35
Q

What is resistance?

A

The opposition to the flow of charge

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36
Q

Which way does current flow?

A

From high to low potential

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37
Q

What is ohm’s law/

A

Current is directly proportional to voltage(with constant temp.)
-A straight line graph

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38
Q

What is resistance like in metals and how does it change?

A
  • Resistance caused by electrons colliding with each other and lattice
  • As temp. increases, ions vibrate faster so more collisions.
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39
Q

What is resistance like in semi-conductors and how does it change? Give 3 examples

A
  • Do not conduct at absolute zero, as temp. increases resistance drops.
  • Thermistor - Temp. up = res. down
  • LDR - Light up = res. down
  • Diode - pd > 0.6v = res. down
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40
Q

What is resistance like in superconductors and how does it change?

A
  • At very low temp. (near 0K) resistance drops rapidly, therefore, current seems to flow forever once started.
  • Large currents can pass with minimal energy lost to heat.
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41
Q

What equation links electrical WD, Current, time and voltage?

A

Electrical WD = current x time x voltage

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42
Q

What is power? What equation links power, energy, time?

A

Power is rate of doing work

- Power = Energy(WD) / time

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43
Q

What equation links, resistivity, resistance, length of conductor and area?

A

R = (ρ x L) / A

-Reisistivity measured in ohm-meters (Ωm)

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44
Q

What is Kirchoff’s first law?

A

The conservation of charge.

-ΣI in junction = 0

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45
Q

What is Kirchoff’s second law?

A

The conservation of energy(voltage)

-ΣEMF’s = ΣVs

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46
Q

What is the ratio of: -Voltage in series

  • Current in series
  • Resistance in series
A

V total = V1 + V2 + V3
I total = I1 = I2 = I3
R total = R1 + R2 + R3

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47
Q

What is the ratio of: -Voltage in parallel

  • Current in parallel
  • Resistance in parallel
A

V total = V1 = V2 = V3
I total = I1 + I2 + I3
1/R total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

48
Q

What should you not do when R = V/I

A

Do not mix total V’s, R’s and I’s with component ones

49
Q

What is the difference between potential against P.d.?

A

Potential is the voltage at one point.

Potential difference is the voltage change between two points.

50
Q

What links V1, Vt, R1 and Rt?

A 
V1 = Vt x (R1/Rt)
V2 = Vt x (R1/Rt)
V/Vt = R/Rt
51
Q

What is EMF?

A

Electromotive force is the volts converted by the power source into electrical energy.

52
Q

What is potential difference?

A

P.d. = between two points is WD or electrical energy per unit charge converted to other forms of energy.

53
Q

What links EMF, Current, Resistance and internal resistance?

A

EMF = IR + Ir

54
Q

Benefits of combining cells in parallel or series?

A

Series: Bigger EMF
Parallel: Lower internal r, Higher I, longer life

55
Q

What is frequency?

A

The number of complete oscillations(cycle) per second - f(Hz)

56
Q

What is period?

A

Time for one complete oscillation - T(s)

57
Q

What is amplitude?

A

Maximum displacement of an oscillation from the equilibrium (midpoint) position - A(m)

58
Q

What is wavelength?

A

Distance between consecutive points in an oscillation which are in a phase - λ(m)

59
Q

What is wave speed?

A

V = frequency x wavelength (V = f x λ)

60
Q

What are the three categories of waves?

A
  • Progressive vs stationary
  • Longitudinal vs transverse
  • Mechanical vs electromagnetic
61
Q

What is the difference between progressive and stationary waves?

A

Progressive transfer energy or information without transferring matter.
Stationary don’t transfer waves

62
Q

What is the difference between longitudinal and transverse?

A

Longitudinal have particle oscillations are parallel to the direction of travel(propagation) of the wave.
Transverse have particle oscillations are perpendicular to the propagation of the wave.

63
Q

What is the difference between mechanical and EM?

A

Mechanical need a medium to travel.

Electromagnetic do not need a medium to travel.

64
Q

What does a full cycle represent in a) displacement - distance graph
b) displacement - time graph

A

a) λ - wavelength

b) T - time period

65
Q

What is it called when the particles of waves are:

a) closer together
b) further apart

A

a) Compression

b) Rarefaction

66
Q

What is stoke’s law?

A

F = 6 π η r v

  • Only works for small spherical objects at slow speeds
  • As temp increases viscous drag(F) decreases in a liquid but increases in a gas
67
Q

What is laminar flow?

A

A flow pattern, where all parts of the fluid, flow in the same direction

68
Q

What is turbulent flow?

A

A flow pattern, where layers in the fluid get mixed up. It increases drag.

69
Q

What action does viscous drag act in? And when is it present?

A

The opposite to motion. It is greater than turbulent or laminar flow and is present when a solid moves through a liquid.

70
Q

What is the equation for a ball falling through a liquid.

A
  • Upthrust + stoke’s F = weight
  • U + F = W
  • 4/3 π r^3 p_f g + 6 π η r v = 4/3 π r^3 p_s g
  • η = 2/9 x (r^2 g (p_s - p_f)) / v
71
Q

What is breaking stress(or ultimate tensile stress)?

A

The maximum tensile stress that produces fracture

72
Q

What is density equation?

A

Mass / volume

73
Q

What is elastic limit?

A

The maximum force a body can endure and still regain its original shape and size, when a force is removed.

74
Q

What is elasticity?

A

The property a material has whereby it regains its original shape and size when a deforming force is removed.

75
Q

What is Hooke’s law?

A

The extension of a stretched spring(or wire) is directly proportional to the extending force, provided the limit of proportionality is not exceeded.
F = kx with k as spring constant

76
Q

What is stiffness?

A

The stiffness of a body is the measure of its resistance to changes in size/shape.

77
Q

What is strain equation using extension and original length ?

A

Ɛ = x / original length

78
Q

What is equation for stress using force and area?

A

σ = F / A.

Units of stress are Nm-1(Pa)

79
Q

What is toughness?

A

Ability to absorb energy from impacts and shocks without breaking.

80
Q

What is yield point?

A

For a body being extended by an applied force, the yield point is when a large extension is produced for a very small increase in force. The material of the body is said to show ‘plastic’ behaviour.

81
Q

What is creep?

A

Creep occurs when a material is under constant stress over time. Strain gradually increases, causing eventual fracture.

82
Q

What is the formula for speed of wave on a string?

A

V = √T/u

T: Tension(N)
U: Mass per unit length

83
Q

What is the phase difference for a waves in phase and a waves out of phase

A

In phase: 360° or 2 π

Out of phase: 180° or π

84
Q

What is the path difference for centre bright and 1st dark fringes?

A

Centre Bright fringe: 0, in phase
First bright fringe: 1 wavelength
Dark fringe: 1/2 wavelength , phase difference 180°

85
Q

What is diffraction?

A

The spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap or around an obstacle. Best diffraction when gap smaller than or equal to wavelength

86
Q

What is necessary for interference?

A
  • Coherence - constant phase difference
  • Vibrations/ overlapping
  • Same type of wave/ similar amplitude
87
Q

What is the formula linking fringe separation, wavelength, distance from slit and slit width?

A

Fringe sep. = (wavelength x D) / d

88
Q

What equation links order, wavelength, slit separation and angle from centre point?

A

n λ = d sin(angle)

89
Q

What angle is the max number of fringes at?

A

When sin(angle) = 1

89
Q

What is Young’s modulus?

A

E = σ / Ɛ measured in Pa

89
Q

Equation for elastic strain energy with spring constant and extension?

A

E(el) = 1/2 Kx^2

Can be found as area under force-extension graph.

90
Q

Equation for force using spring constant and extension?

A

F = k x

92
Q

Equation linking intensity of radiation, power and area?

A

Intensity of radiation = Power/Area

93
Q

What is critical angle formula?

A

Sin C = 1/n

95
Q

What is the interface between two mediums equation?

A

n1sinθ1 = n2sinθ2

96
Q

What is plane polarisation?

A

Only transverse waves can be polarised. It is to create waves in one plane by sending them through grating

97
Q

What is refractive index in terms of velocity in substance

A

N = V vacuum/ V substance

98
Q

What is true about an elastic collision?

A

Both energy and momentum are conserved

99
Q

What is true for an inelastic collision?

A

Only momentum is conserved. Lost energy goes to heat. Perfectly inelastic = object sticks

100
Q

What is resolution?

A

When two points are seen as separate - must be at least one unstimulated pixel between them

101
Q

How can you increase resolution?

A

Higher frequency and shorter wavelength pulses. Means more resolution but shorter depth

102
Q

When is sufficient resolution?

A

Wavelength less than half the size of object scanned

103
Q

What is the equation linking power of lens and focal point?

A

Power of lens = 1/f

Units: m-1

104
Q

Equation for power of combined lenses?

A

Power of a combination of lenses = P1 + P2 + P3

105
Q

What equation links distance between object to lens(u), distance between image to lens(v) and focal length?

A

1/u + 1/v = 1/f

106
Q

What is the equation for magnification?

A

Magnification = image height/ object height

107
Q

What is different about u, v and f in convex and concave lenses?

A

Convex: u and f are +: but v is only + if u > f
Concave: f and v are -

108
Q

What are the two types of fibres?

A
  1. Multimode

2. Monomode

109
Q

What is the speed of light used in calculations?

A

3x10^8 ms-1

110
Q

What links momentum, planks constant and wavelength

A

Momentum = planks/ wavelength

111
Q

What links energy, mass, specific heat capacity and temp.

A

E = mc x change in T

112
Q

What links energy, mass and specific latent heat

A

Energy = mL

113
Q

What’s the link between energy of a photon, planks and frequency

A

E = hf

114
Q

What’s threshold frequency?

A

The minimum energy required by an election to leave the metal’s surface

115
Q

What is true about Ke at threshold?

A

Ke = 0 and f = work function / h

Physics A level (3 decks)

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