Scheme of Work   Subject:      A2 Physics           Year:          2

Sixth Form Centre

Week number

Date

Topic 1

Topic2

Supplementary Work

0

2/09/2001

·        Introduction to A2

·        Measurement of g using mass-spring system

·        Use of spreadsheet for analysis of data

1

·        Circular Motion

·        Radian measure

·        Angular speed/velocity

·        v = ω r , a = ω²r = v²/r

·        direction of s, v and a

·        Centripetal Force and resultant force

·        Using spreadsheets

·        Drawing graphs

·        Writing practicals and essays

2

·        Electrical capacitance

·        Energy stored by a capacitor

·        Discharge of a capacitor

·        Gradient of curve at a point

·        Spreadsheet: modelling exponential changes

3

·        Exponential Processes 1

o       Charging and discharging a capacitor

o       Time constant, half-life

o       Q = Q₀ e^-t/RC , I = I₀ e^-t/RC

o       I = -λQ

·        Factors affecting discharge of capacitor.

·        Log graphs

·        Essay: How a CR circuit could be used to measure short period of time.

4

·        Inverse square laws:

o       Newton’s law of gravitation

o       Coulomb’s law

·        Geo-synchronous orbits

·        Bohr model of the atom

·        Factors affecting motion of a spring

·        Use of log graphs for T-m

·         

5

·        Gravitational field strength

·        Principle of superposition of fields

·        Gravitational potential energy

·        Gravitational potential

·        Motion in gravitational fields

·        Factors affecting motion of a spring

·        Use of log graphs for T-k

·        Essay on Satellites and planets

6

·        Electric Field Strength

o       Uniform field and radial field

·        Electric Potential Energy

·        Electric Potential

·        Motion in electric fields

·        Measurement of g by free fall using a CR – circuit.

7

·        Magnetic Fields

·        F= BIL  (Fleming’s LH Rule)

·        F = qvB

·        Motion of charges in a magnetic field

·        Practical Test 1

·        Spreadsheet: Electric field strength and potential for two charges

8

·        Flux linkage

·        Electromagnetic induction

·        Investigation of motion of magnet on a spring using a coil and CRO/datalogger

9

·        Review

·        Use of travelling microscope, spectrometer,

·        Recap on uncertainties

10

·        Sinusoidal motion / SHM

·        Graphical and rotating vector descriptions

·        x = A sin(ωt)

·        a = - ω²x

·        a_max = ω²A, v_max = ωA,
v = ±ω√(A² – x²)

·        T = 2π/ ω

·        Practical Test 2

11

·        SHM: phase s, v and a

·        Mass-spring system

o       T = 2π/√(m/k)

·        Simple Pendulum

o       Measurement of g using
T = 2π/√(l/g)

·        Oscillations in a lattice

Circus of 10 experiments: week 1

·        Resonance

o       Strings (ac & sonometer,)

o       Mass-spring system

o       Electric circuit (RLC)

o       Pipes (speed of sound)

·        Young Double Slit

·        spectrum of Na⁺ light source (diffraction grating)

·        inverse square law for gamma radiation

·        data analysis: height of ceiling

·        investigation of capacitor discharge with datalogger

·        Verification of F=BIL

·        Spreadsheet on energy changes for simple oscillator moving under gravity.

12

·        Free and forced vibrations

o       Strings and pipes

·        Time and frequency domains

·        damping

·        Kinetic and potential energy

·        Circus of 10 experiments: week 2

14

·        Progressive waves

·        Graphical descriptions

·        Longitudinal and transverse

·        Polarisation of transverse waves

·        Circus of 10 experiments: week 3

·        Essay: Practical applications of the polarisation of light

15

·        Principle of superposition

·        Stationary waves

o       Strings and pipes

·        Interference

·        Coherent sources

·        Double slit expt

·        Circus of 10 experiments: week 4

16

·        Multiple Beam Interference

·        Single slit diffraction pattern

·        Practical Test 3

·        Essay: Astronomy and the analysis of spectra

17

·        Review

·        Circus of 10 experiments: week 5

18

·        Mass and Energy

·        Nuclear transformations

·        Binding energy

·        Fission and fusion processes

·        Circus of 10 experiments: week 6

Analysis of nuclear properties 1

19

·        Induced fission

·        Safety aspects

·        Artificial transmutation

·        Practical Test 4

20

·        Review

·        Circus of 10 experiments: week 7

Analysis of nuclear properties 2

21

·        Radioactivity

·        α, β⁺, β^-, γ, EC, nucleon emission

·        inverse square law

·        instability of nuclei

·        Circus of 10 experiments: week 8

22

·        Exponential Processes 2

o       Radioactive decay

o       Time constant, half-life

o       N = N₀ e^-λt , A = A₀ e^-λt

o       A = -λN

·        Radioactive dating

·        Circus of 10 experiments: week 9

Analysis of nuclear properties 3

23

·        Nature of gamma emission

o       Practical applications

·        Probing matter

o       Nuclear radius

·        Circus of 10 experiments: week 10

24

Turning Points in Physics

Discovery of the electron

·        Cathode Rays

·        Thermionic emission

·        Specific charge

·        Practical Test 5

25

·        Principle of Millikan’s oil drop experiment

·        Significance of Oil drop expt

·        Essay: The discovery of the electron

26

Wave-Particle Duality

·        Newton’s corpuscular theory

·        Huyghen’s wave theory

·        Young’s double slit expt

27

·        Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism

o       Light and Radio Waves

·        Two sticking points:

o       Photoelectricity

o       Non agreement with Newtonian Mechanics

Einstein’s description of photelectricity

Practical Test 6

·        Essay: The relevance of the photoelectric effect.

28

·        Wave-particle duality: de Broglie

·        Electron diffraction

·        Electron microscopy

29

Special Relativity

·        Michelson-Morley Experiment

·        Einstein’s theory of special relativity

·        Practical Test 7