A level physics equations and key knowledge
Essential equations and key information for A level aqa. so far year 1 and some of year two completed
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| 🇬🇧 | 🇬🇧 |
| Wave speed | Freq x wave length |
| Time period | 1 / Freq |
| Definition of a period | Time taken for one complete oscillation |
| Definition of frequency | Number of complete oscillations per second (passing a point (If its progressive)) |
| 2 Frequency equations | Wave speed / wave length 1 / time period |
| De Broglie's wavelength | Wavelength = h / mv |
| What is phase difference | Phase difference is the difference between two points on a wave. measured in degrees or radians |
| How can a wave be out of phase | When the trough of a wave meets the peak of another wave. if the exact peak and exact trough meet then the resulting amplitude will be zero and they'll be totally out of phase |
| What is polarization | The production of waves oscillating in one direction from a source that produces random oscillating waves |
| What is a progressive wave | A wave that travels continuously in a medium and doesn't change amplitude. E.g wave on a string experiment |
| Photoelectric equation | Hf = work function +Ek (max) particle energy = work function + maximum kinetic energy |
| Photon energy | H x Frequency h = planck's constant |
| Photoelectric equation | Hf = work function +Ek (max) particle energy = work function + maximum kinetic energy |
| Particle wavelength | H / momentum h = planck's constant |
| Photoelectric equation | Hf = work function +Ek (max) particle energy = work function + maximum kinetic energy |
| Wavelength, double slits | Wavelength = distance from screen x fringe spacing / distance between two slits |
| Photoelectric equation | Hf = work function +Ek (max) particle energy = work function + maximum kinetic energy |
| Diffraction grating | D x sin (theta) = n x (lambda) Slit separation x sin(angle to maximum point) = Which diffraction number it is (e.g 1,2,3) x wavelength |
| Refractive index of a substance | N = c/cs Refractive index = speed of light in a vacuum / speed of light in new medium |
| Law of refraction | N1 x sin1 (theta) = n2 x sin2 (theta) refractive index of first material x sin1 (theta) (to the normal which is perpendicular to the glass) = refractive index of second material x sin2 (theta) |
| Definition of critical angle | The greatest angle at which a ray of light, travelling in one medium, can strike the boundary between that medium and a second of lower refractive index without being totally reflected within the first medium. |
| Critical angle | Sin (theta (crit angle)) = (n2/n1) n1>n2 sin( angle to normal) = refractive index of second material/refractive index of first material as long as the first is larger then the second |
| Work function definition | The energy required to make an electron leave a metal |
| Threshold frequency | The minimum frequency of light needed to eject an electron |
| Work function equation | Work function = hf |
| Photoelectric definition | When a light of a certain frequency is shone onto a metal surface making electrons emit |
| Maximum kinetic energy for an electron in photoelectric effect | Max kinetic energy = hf - work function 1/2 m x v^2 |
| Maximum velocity of an electron | Ek (max) = 1/2 m x v^2 |
| Particle momentum | H / wavelength |
| Velocity of a particle | H / (wavelength x mass) or momentum / mass |
| Photoelectric equation | Hf = work function +Ek (max) particle energy = work function + maximum kinetic energy |
| Definition of stopping potential | Stopping potential is the potential difference needed to stop the fastest moving electron in a photo cell experiment |
| Photon energy with planck's constant, wavelength and speed of light | E = h x c / wavelength |
| What is a monochromatic light source | A light that has one wavelength (and a narrow window of frequencies) |
| E (Energy) | QV (Charge x Voltage) |
| Q (Charge) | IT (Currant x Time) |
| V (Voltage) With EMF and currant and resistance | EMF - IR (Electro motive force - (Currant x Resistance)) For the output of a battery with internal resistance |
| 1 J (Joule) | 6.2x10^18 eV (Electron volts) |
| V (Voltage) With currant and Resistance | IR (Currant x Resistance) |
| P (Power) (Using curant, voltage and resistance) | IV = I^2R = V^2/R (Currant x Voltage = Currant^2 x Resistance = Voltage^2 / Resistance |
| R (Resistance) (In a wire) | Resistivity x (L/A) (length of conductor / cross sectional area) |
| Force with power and velocity | F = p / v Force = power / velocity |
| Efficiency | Useful power output / total power input |
| Energy with voltage currant and resistance | E = V +Ir Energy = voltage + currant x resistance |
| P.d with work done and charge | V = W / Q voltage = work done / charge |
| Definition of a volt | 1 joule per coulomb |
| Resistivity | R x A / L resistance x cross sectional area / length |
| Total resistance in series | Rt = R1 + R2 + R3 |
| Total resistance in parallel | 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 |
| Energy transferred by a component | E = I x t x V Energy transferred = Current x time x voltage |
| Definition of emf | Amount of energy supplied per coulomb by a power source |
| Emf equation | Emf = I x (R+r) Emf = currant x (resistance in circuit + internal resistance) |
| Emf with voltage, currant and internal resistance | Emf = V + Ir Emf = voltage + current x internal resistance |
| What happens to currant in series | Same through every component |
| What happens to currant in parallel | The currant changes per branch depending how much resistance there is |
| What happens to voltage in series | The voltage is split between all components and the total is equal to the amount of voltage produced by the source |
| What happens to voltage in parallel | It is the same as the voltage produced by the source |
| What does a capacitor do | A device that stores electrical charge, it has two plates a positive and a negative plate |
| Energy stored on a capacitor | E = 1/2 x QV |
| V^2 (Final velocity^2) Without the T | U^2 + 2AS (Initial velocity^2 + 2 x Acceleration x Displacement) |
| Force with power and velocity | F = p / v |
| V (Final velocity) Without the S | U +AT (Initial velocity + Acceleration x Total time) |
| S (Displacment) Without the A | (U + V / 2)T ((Initial velocity + Final velocity/2) x Total time |
| S (Displacement) Without the V | (UT) + (1/2 AT^2) (Initial velocity x Total time) + (1/2 Acceleration x Total time^2) |
| S (Displacement) Without the U | (VT) - (1/2AT^2) (FInal velocity x Total time) - (1/2 Acceleration x Total time^2) |
| Force | Mass x Acceleration |
| Definition of velocity | Rate of change of acceleration |
| Definition of velocity (symbol) | V = change in s / change in t |
| Definition of acceleration | Rate of change of velocity |
| Definition of acceleration (symbol) | A = change in v / change in t |
| Momentum | Mass x Velocity p = mv |
| Impulse definition | Change in momentum in a time interval |
| Impulse equation | F x change in t = change in (m x v) |
| Equation relating force momentum and time | F = change in (m x v) / t |
| Work done with force and distance | W = fs w = f x s x cos(theta) |
| Kinetic energy | 1/2 x m x v^2 |
| Force with power and velocity | F = p / v |
| Definition of elastic limit | The point beyond which the material changes irreversibly |
| Density | Mass / volume |
| Youngs modulus | Tensile stress / Tensile strain |
| Tensile stress | Force / cross sectional area |
| Tensile strain | Change in L / L (original length) |
| Linear density (μ) | Density x area |
| Tension | Mass x gravity +- mass x aceleration |
| What happens in electron capture | An electron is drawn into the nucleus of its atom and combines with a proton to create a neutron. an a neutrino is emitted |
| What happens in electron capture | An electron is drawn into the nucleus of its atom and combines with a proton to create a neutron. an a neutrino is emitted |
| What are the fundamental forces | Gravitational, electromagnetic, weak nuclear, strong nuclear |
| What types of particles does the weak nuclear force interact with | Hadrons and leptons ( All particles) protons, neutron, electrons, muons and neutrinos |
| What types of particles does the strong nuclear force interact with | Hadrons protons and neutron |
| What force holds together quarks | Strong nuclear force |
| What types of particles does the electromagnetic force interact with | Any charged particle |
| What is the exchange particle for the electromagnetic force | Virtual photons |
| What is the strength of the four forces in order from strong to weak | Strong nuclear, electromagnetic, weak nuclear, gravitational (There are limits to how far each force reaches) |
| Leptons interact with what fundamental forces | All except strong nuclear |