AQA AS Physics 2009
This section of the website contains suggestions for
material that could be used with the AQA Physics A AS and A2 Specification (2009 and
2010).
AQA is not affiliated with the author of the site and has had no involvement with the content
of this website.
The website does not necessarily cover all topics or to the correct depth required for this
specification although some sections may cover topics in more detail than is needed. It is the
responsibility of the individual teacher to select the appropriate material.
References to work from the GCSE section of the site that would be useful at AS/A2 level are
shown as (14-16)
I am grateful to AQA for permission to reproduce adapted versions of text from their Physics
A Specification on this site.
For the full version of the DRAFT specification please
see:
AQA
AS and A2 Physics AUnit 2 Mechanics, Materials and
Waves
2.1 Mechanics
Scalars and vectorsVectors and scalarsVector additionComponents of
vectorsEquilibriumVectors in
equilibrium16-19/Mechanics/Statics/Problems/Vectors
16-
19/Mechanics/Statics/Problems/Vectors 2
16-19/Mechanics/Statics/Problems/Vectors
and forces
16-19/Mechanics/Statics/Experimenst/Adding
forces
MomentsMoments 1Moments 2Moments
3Centre of mass and centre of
gravity16-19/Mechanics/Statics/Problems/Moments couples and
stability
16-19/Mechanics/Statics/Problems/Moments and couples
Motion
along a straight lineKinematicsAccelerationEquations of
motionNon uniform
accelerationTerminal speed (14-16)Distance time graphs (14-16)Gravitational intensity (g) Mass and weight (11-14)16-19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Problems/Kinematics
16-
19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Problems/Equations of motion
16-19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Experiments/g linear air track
16-
19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Experiments/g spring
16-19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Experiments/g pendulum
16-19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Experiments/g water path in gravity
14-
16/Mechanics/Motion/Experiments/Galileo diluted gravity
Projectile
motionProjectiles vertical
projectionProjectiles
horizontal projectionProjectiles
projection at an angle16-19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Problems/Projectile
problems
16-19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Problems/Projectiles 1
16-
19/Mechanics/Kinematics/Problems/Projectiles 2
Newton's laws of
motionNewton's first law
and inertiaNewton's second
lawNewton's third lawNewton's laws
applicationsNewton's laws
rocket16-19/Mechanics/Dynamics/Problems/Newton's Laws
14-
16Mechanics/Forces in motion/Experiments/Newton's second law
Work,
energy and powerWorkWork 2PowerEnergyEnergy sources16-
19/Mechanics/Dynamics/Problems/Force work energy and power
Conservation
of energyGravitational
potential energyKinetic energyEnergy
2.2
Materials
Bulk properties of solidsDensityHooke's
lawElastic
energyStress and
strainDuctil
e and brittle materialsElasticity of
rubberElasticity (14-16)Rubber band (14-16)16-19/Properties
of matter/Elasticity/Problems/Elasticity 1
16-19/Properties of
matter/Elasticity/Problems/Elasticity 2
16-19/Properties of
matter/Elasticity/Problems/Elasticity 3
16-19/Properties of
matter/Elasticity/Experiments/Fishing line extension
The Young
modulusElastic moduli and Young modulusYo
ung modulus measurement16-19/Properties of
matter/Elasticity/Problems/Elasticity 1
16-19/Properties of
matter/Elasticity/Problems/Elasticity 2
16-19/Properties of
matter/Elasticity/Problems/Elasticity 3
16-19/Properties of
matter/Elasticity/Experiments/Young modulus
2.3
Waves
Progressive WavesWaves (11-14)
Wave
motionWave speed (14-16)
Longitudinal and transverse wavesWave
motion PolarisationMalus lawWaves (11-14)16-19/Wave
properties/Wave properties/Problems/Wave properties
16-19/Wave
properties/Polarisation/Problems/Polarisation
16-19/Wave properties/Wave
properties/Experiments/Slinky
16-19/Wave properties/Wave
properties/Experiments/Melde's experiment
Refraction at a plane surface
RefractionRefraction and
change of speedComposite blockTotal internal
reflectionFibre opticsRefraction and fishermen (14-16)Refraction and soldiers (11-14)16-19/Optics/Refraction/Problems/Refraction
16-
19/Optics/Refraction/Problems/Refraction 2
16-19/Optics/Refraction/Problems/Fibre
optics
16-19/Optics/Refraction/Problems/Geometrical optics – refraction
16-
19/Optics/Refraction/Experiments/Absorption of light by glass
16-
19/Light/Experiments/Refraction
Superposition of waves, stationary
wavesThe formation of stationary waves by two waves of the same frequency
travelling in
opposite directions; no mathematical treatment required.
Simple
graphical representation of stationary waves, nodes and antinodes on
strings.
Standing
wavesSuper
position of wavesWave
superpositionPhase
changeVibrating strings16-19/Wave
properties/Wave properties/Experiments/Melde's experiment
16-
19/Sound/Experiments/Sonometer
InterferenceInterferenceYoung's double
slits
Diffraction
double slits16-19/Wave properties/Interference/Problems/Interference
1
16-19/Wave properties/Interference/Problems/Interference 2
16-19/Wave
properties/Interference/Experiments/Young's slits
16-19/Wave
properties/Interference/Experiments/Newton's rings
16-19/Wave
properties/Interference/Experiments/Fresnel bi-prism
DiffractionDiffraction (14-16)
DiffractionDiffraction single
slitDiffraction
gratingSpectra of stars16-19/Wave
properties/Diffraction/Problems/Diffraction 1
16-19/Wave
properties/Diffraction/Problems/Diffraction 2
16-19/Wave
properties/Diffraction/Experiments/Spectrum of a gas
N.B References to further
practical work and problems may be added later. Before that you should already be able to
find suitable material on the site by searching through the appropriate folders.
Many
more interesting and useful experiments can be found in the Creative Teaching Ideas section
of the schoolphysics CD.
