Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
Created for the new 2015 OCR AS and A level specifications, our new Student Books cover the topics comprehensively, developing scientific thinking in your students, providing them with a deep understanding of the subject and creating confident, independent scientists.
Table of Contents
Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Cover | Cover | ||
Contents | 4 | ||
How to use this book | 6 | ||
Module 1: Development of practical skills in physics | 8 | ||
Chapter 1.1: Practical skills assessed in a written examination | 8 | ||
1.1.1 Planning and experimental design | 10 | ||
The importance of good design | 10 | ||
Use of appropriate apparatus and techniques | 10 | ||
Range of measurements | 12 | ||
Identifying the variables that must be controlled | 12 | ||
Evaluating the experimental method | 12 | ||
1.1.2 Implementation | 13 | ||
Using a wide range of practical apparatus correctly | 13 | ||
Selecting suitable equipment | 14 | ||
Careful measurement | 14 | ||
Presenting observations and data | 14 | ||
1.1.3 Analysing data | 16 | ||
Dealing with anomalies or unexpected results | 16 | ||
Using mathematical skills to analyse quantitative data | 16 | ||
1.1.4 Significant figures | 18 | ||
Introduction | 18 | ||
Significant figures and decimal places | 18 | ||
Choosing how to best write numbers to show the number of significant figures | 19 | ||
1.1.5 Plotting and interpreting graphs | 20 | ||
Introduction | 20 | ||
1.1.6 Evaluating experiments | 23 | ||
What is evaluation? | 23 | ||
Limitations and improvements | 24 | ||
Putting it all together to draw a conclusion | 25 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Assessing a practical write-up | 26 | ||
Practice questions | 28 | ||
Module 2: Foundations of physics | 30 | ||
Chapter 2.1: Physical quantities, units and measurements | 30 | ||
2.1.1 Physical quantities and units | 32 | ||
Physical quantities | 32 | ||
Units | 32 | ||
2.1.2 Estimating physical quantities | 34 | ||
What is estimation? | 34 | ||
Estimates and orders of magnitude | 34 | ||
2.1.3 Systematic errors and random errors | 36 | ||
What is an error? | 36 | ||
Random errors | 36 | ||
Systematic errors | 37 | ||
2.1.4 Precision and accuracy | 38 | ||
Introduction | 38 | ||
Accuracy and precision defined | 38 | ||
2.1.5 Absolute and percentage uncertainties | 40 | ||
Introduction | 40 | ||
Absolute uncertainty | 40 | ||
2.1.6 Graphical treatment of errors and uncertainties | 42 | ||
Using graphs | 42 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Standardisation | 44 | ||
Practice questions | 46 | ||
Chapter 2.2: Nature of quantities | 48 | ||
2.2.1 Scalar and vector quantities | 50 | ||
Scalar and vector quantities | 50 | ||
2.2.2 Scalar and vector calculations | 52 | ||
Scalar arithmetic | 52 | ||
Vector arithmetic | 52 | ||
2.2.3 Resolving vectors | 54 | ||
Resolving vectors | 54 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Scalars and vectors | 56 | ||
Practice questions | 58 | ||
Module 3: Forces and motion | 60 | ||
Chapter 3.1: Motion | 60 | ||
3.1.1 Definitions in kinematics | 62 | ||
Introduction | 62 | ||
3.1.2 Graphs of motion | 64 | ||
Displacement-time graphs | 64 | ||
Velocity-time graphs | 64 | ||
3.1.3 Constant acceleration equations | 66 | ||
3.1.4 Free fall and projectile motion | 68 | ||
3.1.5 Measurement of g | 71 | ||
Investigating motion | 71 | ||
3.1.6 Car stopping distances | 73 | ||
Introduction | 73 | ||
Thinking distance and braking distance | 73 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Falling from the sky | 76 | ||
Practice questions | 78 | ||
Chapter 3.2: Forces in action | 80 | ||
3.2.1 Force and the newton | 82 | ||
Introduction | 82 | ||
Force, mass and acceleration | 82 | ||
The four fundamental forces of nature | 83 | ||
3.2.2 Dynamics | 84 | ||
Introduction | 84 | ||
3.2.3 Drag and terminal velocity | 86 | ||
Introduction | 86 | ||
Terminal velocity and drag | 87 | ||
3.2.4 Equilibrium | 88 | ||
Introduction | 88 | ||
3.2.5 Turning forces | 90 | ||
The moment of a force | 90 | ||
The principle of moments | 90 | ||
3.2.6 Centre of mass | 93 | ||
Introduction | 93 | ||
Centre of gravity | 93 | ||
3.2.7 Density | 95 | ||
Introduction | 95 | ||
Archimedes’ principle | 97 | ||
3.2.8 Pressure | 98 | ||
Introduction | 98 | ||
Thinking Bigger: The physics of football | 100 | ||
Practice questions | 102 | ||
Chapter 3.3: Work, energy and power | 104 | ||
3.3.1 Work and the joule | 106 | ||
Work | 106 | ||
3.3.2 The conservation of energy | 108 | ||
Energy | 108 | ||
The principle of conservation of energy | 108 | ||
Accounting for all the input energy | 109 | ||
3.3.3 Potential and kinetic energy | 110 | ||
Gravitational potential energy | 110 | ||
Kinetic energy | 110 | ||
Exchange between Ep and Ek | 111 | ||
3.3.4 Power and the watt | 112 | ||
Power | 112 | ||
3.3.5 Efficiency | 114 | ||
Introduction | 114 | ||
Sankey diagrams | 115 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Energy solutions | 116 | ||
Practice questions | 118 | ||
Chapter 3.4: Materials | 120 | ||
3.4.1 Deformation of materials | 122 | ||
Elastic and plastic deformation | 122 | ||
Tensile and compressive forces | 122 | ||
3.4.2 Hooke’s law | 125 | ||
Hooke’s law and the force constant | 125 | ||
The work done to stretch a wire | 125 | ||
Energy stored in a plastic deformation | 126 | ||
3.4.3 The Young modulus | 127 | ||
Introduction | 127 | ||
Stress and strain | 127 | ||
3.4.4 Categorisation of materials | 130 | ||
Material variety | 130 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Building for the future | 132 | ||
Practice questions | 134 | ||
Chapter 3.5: Newton’s laws of motion | 136 | ||
3.5.1 Newton’s three laws of motion | 138 | ||
Introduction | 138 | ||
Newton’s first law | 138 | ||
Newton’s second law | 138 | ||
Newton’s third law of motion | 139 | ||
3.5.2 Momentum | 140 | ||
Introduction | 140 | ||
3.5.3 Momentum, force and impulse | 142 | ||
Impulse | 142 | ||
3.5.4 Elastic and inelastic collisions | 144 | ||
Elastic and inelastic collisions | 144 | ||
Collisions in two dimensions | 144 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Crash bang wallop! | 146 | ||
Practice questions | 148 | ||
Module 4: Electrons, waves and photons | 150 | ||
Chapter 4.1: Electricity: charge and current | 150 | ||
4.1.1 Electric circuit components | 152 | ||
Introduction | 152 | ||
Electrical circuit components | 152 | ||
Conventional current and electron flow | 153 | ||
4.1.2 Electric current and charge | 155 | ||
Introduction | 155 | ||
Kirchhoff’s first law | 156 | ||
4.1.3 Electron drift velocity | 157 | ||
The crystalline structure of metals | 157 | ||
Comparing conductors, semiconductors and insulators | 159 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Shocking stuff | 160 | ||
Practice questions | 162 | ||
Chapter 4.2: Electricity: energy, power and resistance | 164 | ||
4.2.1 Potential difference and e.m.f. | 166 | ||
Introduction | 166 | ||
Measurement of potential difference | 166 | ||
4.2.2 Resistance and Ohm’s law | 168 | ||
Ohm’s law | 168 | ||
The factors that affect electrical resistance | 168 | ||
4.2.3 Resistance of circuit components | 171 | ||
Introduction | 171 | ||
4.2.4 Resistivity | 173 | ||
Introduction | 173 | ||
Using resistivity in the real world | 173 | ||
4.2.5 The effect of temperature on resistivity | 175 | ||
Introduction | 175 | ||
4.2.6 Electrical power | 177 | ||
Introduction | 177 | ||
4.2.7 Cost of electrical energy | 180 | ||
Introduction | 180 | ||
The kilowatt-hour | 180 | ||
Calculating the cost of electrical energy | 181 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Electrical resistivity | 182 | ||
Practice questions | 184 | ||
Chapter 4.3: Electricity: electrical circuits | 186 | ||
4.3.1 Kirchhoff's first and second laws | 188 | ||
Kirchhoff's first law | 188 | ||
Kirchhoff’s second law | 188 | ||
Kirchhoff’s first and second laws involving circuits with two sources of e.m.f. | 188 | ||
4.3.2 Series circuits | 190 | ||
Introduction | 190 | ||
Deriving the equation for the total effective resistance of resistors arranged in series | 190 | ||
4.3.3 Parallel circuits | 192 | ||
Introduction | 192 | ||
4.3.4 The potential divider | 194 | ||
Introduction | 194 | ||
Variations on the potential divider circuit | 195 | ||
4.3.5 Internal resistance | 197 | ||
Introduction | 197 | ||
4.3.6 Circuit analysis 1 | 200 | ||
Circuit overview | 200 | ||
4.3.7 Circuit analysis 2 | 202 | ||
Introduction | 202 | ||
Series circuits involving two sources of e.m.f. | 202 | ||
Parallel circuits involving two sources of e.m.f. | 202 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Tree-mendous electricity | 204 | ||
Practice questions | 206 | ||
Chapter 4.4: Waves | 208 | ||
4.4.1 Wave motion | 210 | ||
Introduction | 210 | ||
4.4.2 Wave terminology | 211 | ||
Introduction | 211 | ||
Terms and symbols used to describe waves | 212 | ||
Representing longitudinal waves graphically | 213 | ||
4.4.3 Wave speed and the wave equation | 216 | ||
The wave equation | 216 | ||
Energy transfer by waves | 216 | ||
Intensity and amplitude | 217 | ||
4.4.4 Common properties of waves | 218 | ||
Reflection | 218 | ||
Refraction | 218 | ||
Diffraction | 219 | ||
Interference | 220 | ||
4.4.5 Electromagnetic waves | 221 | ||
4.4.6 Polarisation | 224 | ||
Plane-polarised waves | 224 | ||
Uses of polarisation | 225 | ||
4.4.7 Refraction of light | 227 | ||
Introduction | 227 | ||
Refractive indices | 227 | ||
Snell’s law | 227 | ||
4.4.8 Total internal reflection | 230 | ||
Introduction | 230 | ||
Total internal reflection | 230 | ||
4.4.9 Interference | 232 | ||
The principle of superposition | 232 | ||
Interference | 233 | ||
Coherence | 233 | ||
Path difference and phase difference | 233 | ||
Interference using sound waves | 234 | ||
4.4.10 The Young double-slit experiment | 235 | ||
Introduction | 235 | ||
The Young double-slit experiment | 235 | ||
4.4.11 The diffraction grating | 238 | ||
Introduction | 238 | ||
4.4.12 Stationary waves | 241 | ||
Introduction | 241 | ||
4.4.13 Stationary wave experiments | 244 | ||
Introduction | 244 | ||
4.4.14 Stationary longitudinal waves | 246 | ||
Introduction | 246 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Ground-shaking discoveries | 250 | ||
Practice questions | 252 | ||
Chapter 4.5: Quantum physics | 254 | ||
4.5.1 The photon | 256 | ||
A brief history of ideas about light | 256 | ||
The photon model | 256 | ||
4.5.2 The electronvolt | 259 | ||
Introduction | 259 | ||
4.5.3 The photoelectric effect 1 | 261 | ||
Introduction | 261 | ||
Explaining the photoelectric effect | 262 | ||
4.5.4 The photoelectric effect 2 | 264 | ||
Introduction | 264 | ||
4.5.5 Wave-particle duality | 267 | ||
Introduction | 267 | ||
Wave-particle duality for matter | 269 | ||
Thinking Bigger: Sailing by the sun | 270 | ||
Practice questions | 272 | ||
Maths skills | 274 | ||
Arithmetic and numerical computation | 274 | ||
Algebra | 274 | ||
Handling data | 274 | ||
Graphs | 274 | ||
Geometry and trigonometry | 275 | ||
Applying your skills | 276 | ||
Preparing for your exams | 278 | ||
Glossary | 288 | ||
Index | 292 |