Collins AQA A-level Science - AQA A-level Physics Year 1 and AS Student Book

by Dave Kelly

Overview

AQA approved. Covering AS and A-level Year 1 for the 2015 AQA specification, this Student Book combines the most comprehensive explanation with features that build skills in practical work, math and evaluation. With a clear path of progress, it prepares students for the demands of A-level and beyond. This Student Book will prepare you for assessment with key ideas summaries and practice questions designed for the linear course; build your confidence in tackling the mathematical requirement with worked examples and targeted assignments; strengthen your practical skills with comprehensive Required Practical sections featuring step-by-step instructions, and advice about how best to avoid common errors; deepen your understanding of Physics and equip you for further study using comprehensive explanations, skills-focused assignments, and inspiring real-life contexts; and extend your knowledge and skills with specially designed Stretch and Challenge questions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780007590223
Publisher:	HarperCollins UK
Publication date:	10/01/2015
Series:	Collins AQA A Level Science
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.75(d)
Age Range:	17 - 18 Years

About the Author

Dave Kelly is the author of several Collins education titles.

Table of Contents

To the student 1

Practical work in physics 1

1 Measuring the Universe 5

1.1 Measurement in physics 6

1.2 The scale of things 6

1.3 Experiments in physics 10

1.4 Combining uncertainties 13

1.5 Using graphs 16

1.6 Making an estimate 20

2 Inside the atom 24

2.1 Atomic structure 25

2.2 The discovery of the nucleus 30

2.3 Inside the nucleus 31

2.4 Radioactivity 34

2.5 Fundamental interactions 38

3 Antimatter and neutrinos 44

3.1 Mass and energy 45

3.2 Antimatter 47

3.3 Annihilation and photons 48

3.4 Pair production 51

3.5 Neutrinos 52

3.6 The lepton family 55

4 The standard model 61

4.1 The particle explosion 62

4.2 Hadron interactions and conservation laws 64

4.3 Lepton conservation 67

4.4 The quark model 68

4.5 Exchange particles 73

5 Waves 82

5.1 Progressive waves 83

5.2 Looking in detail at waves 87

5.3 Wave speed 89

5.4 Polarisation 92

5.5 Superposition of waves 97

5.6 Stationary waves 98

6 Diffraction and Interference 112

6.1 Interference 113

6.2 Diffraction 122

7 Refraction and optical fibres 135

7.1 Reflection of light 136

7.2 Refraction at a plane surface 138

7.3 Refractive index 140

7.4 Light in an optical fibre 144

7.5 Total internal reflection 145

7.6 Dispersion and attenuation in an optical fibre 148

8 Spectra, photons and wave-particle duality 160

8.1 Emission spectra 161

8.2 Bohr's hydrogen atom 163

8.3 The photon 167

8.4 The photoelectric effect 173

8.5 Seeing with particles 179

9 The equation of motion 187

9.1 Scalars and vectors in motion 188

9.2 Velocity and vector arithmetic 191

9.3 Acceleration 195

9.4 Time and motion graphs 196

9.5 Equations of linear motion 202

9.6 Free fall and terminal speed 204

9.7 Projectiles: motion in two dimensions 212

10 Forces in balance 222

10.1 Statics: identifying the forces 223

10.2 Upthrust, lift and drag 227

10.3 Modelling the problem: free-body diagrams 229

10.4 The turning effect of a force 237

10.5 Problems of equilibrium 244

11 Forces and motion 250

11.1 Newton's laws 251

11.2 Conservation of linear momentum in collisions 256

11.3 Impulse 259

11.4 Energy in collisions 261

11.5 Work, energy and power 263

11.6 Efficiency 270

12 The strength of materials 278

12.1 Hanging by a thread: density, stress and strain 279

12.2 Springs 281

12.3 Materials in tension 284

12.4 The energy stored in stretched materials 290

13 Electricity 1 298

13.1 Electrical power and energy 299

13.2 Electric current 300

13.3 Potential difference 304

13.4 Resistance 308

13.5 Current-voltage characteristics 310

13.6 Combining resistors 313

13.7 Power and resistance 315

13.8 Resistance and resistivity 316

14 Electricity 2 323

14.1 Electromotive force and internal resistance 324

14.2 Resistance and temperature 330

14.3 Semiconductors 333

14.4 Superconductors 335

14.5 The potential divider 338

Answers 346

Glossary 373

Data section 380

Index 383

Acknowledgements 391