Edexcel A-level Physics Year 13 revision

Topic 6: Further mechanics

It builds on what you learned at AS in Mechanics, and takes it further.

There are 6 parts: we start with linear momentum and conservation of momentum, and finish with applications of circular motion.

1. 6.1Linear momentum and conservation of momentumFree 62 questions
2. 6.2Force as rate of change of momentum and impulse (F–t graphs, safety features)60 questions
3. 6.3Elastic and inelastic collisions and explosions in one and two dimensions59 questions
4. 6.4Practical: analysing collisions using ICT65 questions
5. 6.5Circular motionFree 62 questions
6. 6.6Applications of circular motion: vertical circles, conical pendulums and banked tracks61 questions

Topic 7: Electric and magnetic fields

It builds on what you learned at AS in Electric circuits, and takes it further.

There are 23 parts: we start with electric fields, and finish with the practical on investigating electromagnetic induction with coils and magnets.

1. 7.1Electric fields48 questions
2. 7.2Coulomb's law and radial electric field strengthFree 58 questions
3. 7.3Uniform electric fields between parallel plates and field patterns62 questions
4. 7.4Electric potential and electric potential energy55 questions
5. 7.5Potential gradient; comparing gravitational and electric fields61 questions
6. 7.6Motion of charged particles in uniform electric fields57 questions
7. 7.7Capacitance51 questions
8. 7.8Energy stored in a capacitor and the Q–V graphFree 64 questions
9. 7.9Charging and discharging a capacitor: exponential equations57 questions
10. 7.10Time constant, discharge graphs and logarithmic plots58 questions
11. 7.11Practical: charging and discharging a capacitor, determining the time constant60 questions
12. 7.12Applications of capacitors55 questions
13. 7.13Magnetic fields and induction8 questions
14. 7.14Magnetic field patterns: wires, coils, solenoids; Fleming's left-hand ruleFree 73 questions
15. 7.15Magnetic flux density and force on a current-carrying conductor (F = BIl)62 questions
16. 7.16Force on a moving charge (F = Bqv) and circular paths in magnetic fields67 questions
17. 7.17Practical: measuring magnetic flux density with a current balance57 questions
18. 7.18Magnetic flux and flux linkageFree 17 questions
19. 7.19Faraday's law and Lenz's law22 questions
20. 7.20Generators and alternating voltages16 questions
21. 7.21Peak, mean and r.m.s. values of alternating current and voltage63 questions
22. 7.22Transformers and power transmission61 questions
23. 7.23Practical: investigating electromagnetic induction with coils and magnets61 questions

Topic 8: Nuclear and particle physics

It builds on what you learned at AS in Waves and the particle nature of light, and takes it further.

There are 11 parts: we start with rutherford scattering and the distance of closest approach, and finish with millikan's oil-drop experiment and quantisation of charge.

1. 8.1Rutherford scattering and the distance of closest approach22 questions
2. 8.2Nuclear radius, nuclear density and electron diffraction46 questions
3. 8.3Particle accelerators and detectors: linac, cyclotron and synchrotronFree 69 questions
4. 8.4Antiparticles, pair production and annihilation22 questions
5. 8.5Hadrons: baryons, mesons and the quark model24 questions
6. 8.6Leptons, neutrinos and the Standard Model27 questions
7. 8.7Conservation laws in particle interactions (charge, baryon number, lepton number, strangeness)55 questions
8. 8.8Fundamental interactions, exchange particles and Feynman diagrams29 questions
9. 8.9Beta decay and the weak interaction in the quark model56 questions
10. 8.10Evidence for quarks: deep inelastic scattering62 questions
11. 8.11Millikan's oil-drop experiment and quantisation of charge60 questions

Topic 9: Thermodynamics

It builds on what you learned at AS in Materials, and takes it further.

There are 10 parts: we start with temperature scales, absolute zero and thermal equilibrium, and finish with thermal physics and gases.

1. 9.1Temperature scales, absolute zero and thermal equilibriumFree 65 questions
2. 9.2Internal energy and specific heat capacity61 questions
3. 9.3Specific latent heat and changes of state55 questions
4. 9.4Practical: determining specific heat capacity and specific latent heat71 questions
5. 9.5Boyle's law, Charles's law and the pressure lawFree 58 questions
6. 9.6Practical: Boyle's law and pressure law, estimating absolute zero61 questions
7. 9.7The ideal gas equation: moles, Avogadro constant and Boltzmann constant51 questions
8. 9.8Kinetic theory of gases: assumptions, pV = ⅓Nm⟨c²⟩ and r.m.s. speed57 questions
9. 9.9Molecular kinetic energy and temperature; Brownian motion61 questions
10. 9.10Thermal physics and gases61 questions

Topic 10: Space

It builds on what you learned at AS in Waves and the particle nature of light, and takes it further.

There are 14 parts: we start with astronomical distances, and finish with dark matter, dark energy, critical density and the fate of the Universe.

1. 10.1Astronomical distances: AU, light-year, parsec and stellar parallaxFree 42 questions
2. 10.2Luminosity, intensity and the inverse-square law for starlight43 questions
3. 10.3Black-body radiation: Wien's displacement law and the Stefan–Boltzmann law18 questions
4. 10.4Stellar spectra and spectral classes14 questions
5. 10.5Standard candles: Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae23 questions
6. 10.6The Hertzsprung–Russell diagramFree 25 questions
7. 10.7Star formation, fusion and equilibrium on the main sequence62 questions
8. 10.8Red giants, planetary nebulae and white dwarfs18 questions
9. 10.9Supernovae, neutron stars and the Chandrasekhar limit28 questions
10. 10.10Black holes, event horizon and Schwarzschild radius18 questions
11. 10.11The Doppler effect and red shiftFree 26 questions
12. 10.12Hubble's law and the age of the Universe18 questions
13. 10.13The Big Bang, cosmic microwave background and evolution of the Universe62 questions
14. 10.14Dark matter, dark energy, critical density and the fate of the Universe60 questions

Topic 11: Nuclear radiation

It builds on what you learned at AS in Waves and the particle nature of light, and takes it further.

There are 10 parts: we start with radioactivity and nuclear decay, and finish with nuclear waste, safety and risk assessment.

1. 11.1Radioactivity and nuclear decayFree 59 questions
2. 11.2Nuclear instability: N–Z graph and decay modes (alpha, beta-minus, beta-plus, electron capture, gamma, neutrino)68 questions
3. 11.3Properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiation, background radiation and safe handling20 questions
4. 11.4Practical: modelling radioactive decay, and absorption and inverse-square law for gamma radiation59 questions
5. 11.5Radioactive dating and other uses of radioisotopes56 questions
6. 11.6Nuclear energy65 questions
7. 11.7Induced fission, chain reactions and critical massFree 28 questions
8. 11.8Fission reactors: moderator, control rods, coolant and shielding30 questions
9. 11.9Nuclear fusion: conditions, confinement and comparison with fission42 questions
10. 11.10Nuclear waste, safety and risk assessment61 questions

Topic 12: Gravitational fields

It builds on what you learned at AS in Mechanics, and takes it further.

There are 6 parts: we start with gravitational fields, and finish with escape velocity and orbital energy.

1. 12.1Gravitational fieldsFree 43 questions
2. 12.2Gravitational potential and gravitational potential energyFree 60 questions
3. 12.3Potential gradient and gravitational field strength57 questions
4. 12.4Orbital motion and Kepler's laws62 questions
5. 12.5Satellites and geostationary orbits53 questions
6. 12.6Escape velocity and orbital energy58 questions

Topic 13: Oscillations

It builds on what you learned at AS in Mechanics, and takes it further.

There are 7 parts: we start with simple harmonic motion, and finish with resonance in everyday applications and its effects.

1. 13.1Simple harmonic motion62 questions
2. 13.2Energy changes in SHM and energy–displacement graphs55 questions
3. 13.3Mass–spring systems and the simple pendulum: periods and graphs60 questions
4. 13.4Practical: investigating simple harmonic motion (mass–spring and pendulum)64 questions
5. 13.5Free and forced oscillations and resonanceFree 64 questions
6. 13.6Damping: light, critical and heavy damping45 questions
7. 13.7Resonance in everyday applications and its effects25 questions

Topic PS: Maths skills

It builds on what you learned at AS in Working as a physicist, and takes it further.

There are 5 parts: we start with exponential and logarithmic functions (e^x, ln, decay and discharge), and finish with introductory calculus in physics.

1. PS.1Exponential and logarithmic functions (e^x, ln, decay and discharge)Free 57 questions
2. PS.2Logarithmic graphs: linearising exponential and power laws59 questions
3. PS.3Radians, trigonometric functions and the small-angle approximation14 questions
4. PS.4Gradients, tangents and areas under graphs as rates of change and totals26 questions
5. PS.5Introductory calculus in physics: SHM, induction and field–potential relations15 questions

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