A-Level Physics – Topic list

Unit 1 – Measurements and their errors Unit 2 – Particles and radiation

1.1 Use of SI units and their prefixes 2.1 Particles
1.2 Limitation of physical measurements 2.1.1 Constituents of the atom
1.3 Estimation of physical quantities 2.1.2 Stable and unstable nuclei
Unit 3 – Waves 2.1.3 Particles, antiparticles, and photons
3.1 Progressive and stationary waves 2.1.4 Particle interactions
3.1.1 Progressive waves 2.1.5 Classification of particles
3.1.2 Longitudinal and transverse waves 2.1.6 Quarks and antiquarks
3.1.3 Principle of superposition of waves and formation of 2.1.7 Application of conservation laws
stationary waves
2.2 Electromagnetic radiation and quantum phenomena
3.2 Refraction, diffraction, and interference 2.2.1 The photoelectric effect
3.2.1 Interference 2.2.2 Collisions of electrons with atoms
3.2.2 Diffraction 2.2.3 Energy levels and photon emission
3.2.3 Refraction at a plane surface 2.2.4 Wave-particle duality
Unit 4 – Mechanics and materials Unit 5 – Electricity
4.1 Force, energy, and momentum 5.1 Current electricity
4.1.1 Scalars and vectors 5.1.1 Basics of electricity
4.1.2 Moments 5.1.2 Current-voltage characteristics
4.1.3 Motion along a straight line 5.1.3 Resistivity
4.1.4 Projectile motion 5.1.4 Circuits
4.1.5 Newtons laws of motion 5.1.5 Potential dividers
4.1.6 Momentum 5.1.6 Electromotive force and internal resistance
4.1.7 Work, energy, and power Unit 7 – Fields and their consequences
4.1.8 Conservation of energy 7.1 Fields

4.2 Materials 7.2 Gravitational fields

4.2.1 Bulk properties of solids 7.2.1 Newton’s law
4.2.2 The Young modulus 7.2.2 Gravitational field strength
Unit 6 – Further mechanics and thermal physics 7.2.3 Gravitational potential
6.1 Periodic motion 7.2.4 Orbits of planets and satellites
6.1.1 Circular motion
6.1.2 Simple harmonic motion (SHM) 7.3 Electric fields
6.1.3 Simple harmonic systems 7.3.1 Coulomb’s law
6.1.4 Forced vibrations and resonance 7.3.2 Electric field strength
7.3.3 Electric potential
6.2 Thermal physics
6.2.1 Thermal energy transfer 7.4 Capacitance
6.2.2 Ideal gases 7.4.1 Capacitance
6.2.3 Molecular kinetic energy model 7.4.2 Parallel plate capacitor
Unit 8 – Nuclear physics 7.4.3 Energy stored by a capacitor
8.1 Radioactivity 7.4.4 Capacitor change and discharge
8.1.1 Rutherford scattering
8.1.2 Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation 7.5 Magnetic fields
8.1.3 Radioactive decay 7.5.1 Magnetic flux density
8.1.4 Nuclear instability 7.5.2 Moving charges in a magnetic field
8.1.5 Nuclear radius 7.5.3 Magnetic flux and flux linkage
8.1.6 Mass and energy 7.5.4 Electromagnetic induction
8.1.7 Induces fission 7.5.5 Alternating currents
8.1.8 Safety aspects 7.5.6 The operation of a transformer
Unit 12 – Turning points in physics
12.1 The discovery of the electron 12.2 Wave-particle duality 12.3 Special relativity
12.1.1 Cathode rays 12.2.1 Newton’s corpuscular theory of light 12.3.1 The Michelson-Morley
12.1.2 Thermionic emission of electrons 12.2.2 Significance of Young’s double slit experiment
12.1.3 Specific charge of an electron experiment 12.3.2 Einstein’s theory of special
12.1.4 Principle of Millikan’s determination 12.2.3 Electromagnetic waves relativity
of the electronic charge, e 12.2.4 The discovery of photoelectricity 12.3.3 Time dilation
12.2.5 Wave-particle duality 12.3.4 Length contraction
12.2.6 Electron microscopes 12.3.5 Mass and energy