CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: PRACTICAL TEACHER’S GUIDE

Contents
Introduction
Safety
AS & A Level Practical Skills
1 Using apparatus 1.1 Determining the density of water
1.2 Determining the spring constant of a spring
1.3 Determining the resistance of a metal wire
1.4 Determining the average speed of a cylinder rolling down
a ramp

2 Limitations and improvements 2.1 Thermal energy loss from water in a polystyrene cup
2.2 Loaded rubber band
2.3 Balanced metre rule

3 Kinematics and dynamics 3.1 Acceleration of connected masses

3.2 Energy and amplitude of a pendulum
3.3 Range of a projectile
3.4 Terminal velocity of a ball falling through water in a tube

4 Forces, work and energy 4.1 Effect of load position on beam supports
4.2 Determining the density of a metal sample
4.3 Equilibrium of a pivoted wooden strip
4.4 Using kinetic energy to do work against friction

5 Matter and materials 5.1 Finding the Young modulus for nylon
5.2 Using a spring to find the Young modulus for steel
5.3 Water pressure and flow rate

6 E
 lectric current, potential 6.1 Power and resistance of a lamp
difference and resistance 6.2 Resistors in series
6.3 Resistors in parallel

7 Resistance and resistivity 7.1 Resistivity of the metal of a wire

7.2 Internal resistance of a dry cell
7.3 Potential divider

8 Waves 8.1 Stationary waves on a wire carrying a current

8.2 Inverse square law for waves from a point source
8.3 Refraction of light waves by a lens

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Jones, Field, Hewlett & Styles
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: PRACTICAL TEACHER’S GUIDE

9 Planning and data analysis 9.1 Planning data analysis

9.2 Treatment of uncertainties
9.3 Planning investigation into how the acceleration of a
vehicle rolling down an inclined plane varies with the
angle of the plane
9.4 The acceleration of a vehicle rolling down an inclined plane
9.5 Planning investigation into how the current in an LDR
varies with the distance from a light source
9.6 Data analysis investigation into the resistance of an LDR
9.7 Planning investigation into how the electromotive force
(e.m.f.) of a photovoltaic cell varies with the thickness of
an absorber

10 C
 ircular motion and 10.1 Circular motion
gravitational fields 10.2 Planning investigation into the conical pendulum
10.3 Data analysis investigation into the conical pendulum
10.4 Data analysis investigation into planetary motion
10.5 Data analysis investigation into gravitational potential

11 Oscillations 11.1 Oscillation of a metre rule as a pendulum

11.2 The period of oscillation of a steel blade
11.3 Planning investigation into damped oscillations
11.4 Simple harmonic oscillation of a mass on a spring

12 Thermal physics and ideal gases 12.1 Data analysis investigation into the thermocouple
12.2 Boyle’s law
12.3 Planning investigation into specific latent heat of
vaporisation of water
12.4 Data analysis investigation into specific latent heat of
vaporisation of water

13 C
 oulomb’s law and 13.1 Planning investigation into how the time for the potential
capacitance difference across a capacitor to halve varies with the
resistance
13.2 Determination of the capacitance of a capacitor in a d.c.
circuit
13.3 Planning investigation into how the peak current in a
capacitor circuit varies with the frequency of the a.c.
supply
13.4 Determination of the capacitance of a capacitor in an
a.c. circuit
13.5 Planning investigation into how the resistance of a
thermistor varies with temperature

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Jones, Field, Hewlett & Styles
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: PRACTICAL TEACHER’S GUIDE
14 M
 agnetic fields,
electromagnetism and charged
particles
15 E
 lectromagnetic induction and
alternating currents
16 Q
 uantum physics, nuclear
physics and medical imaging
17 Astronomy and cosmology
3 © Cambridge University Press 2020
14.1 The variation of the force on a conductor in a magnetic
field
14.2 Planning investigation into how the separation of two
foils carrying a current varies with the current
14.3 Planning investigation into the magnetic field of a coil
using a Hall probe
14.4 How the strength of a magnetic field in a coil varies
14.5 Observing charged particles
15.1 Planning investigation into the height of a metal ring
above a current-carrying coil
15.2 A bar magnet moving through a coil
15.3 Planning investigation into eddy currents
15.4 Planning investigation into the effect of the iron core of a
transformer
15.5 Ripple voltages in a rectification circuit
16.1 Determining Planck’s constant
16.2 Data analysis investigation into measuring a radioactive
decay constant
16.3 Planning investigation into X-ray attenuation
17.1 Data analysis investigation into the Stefan-Boltzmann law
17.2 Planning investigation into Wien’s displacement law
17.3 Data analysis investigation into Hubble’s law
Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Jones, Field, Hewlett & Styles