CIE AS Physics Paper 2 Notes

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CIE AS Physics Paper 2 Notes

Updated on 15/2/2019

Patapee Lohprasert (pete.lohh@gmail.com)

Mechanical Engineering Department, Imperial College London

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Contents
1 Physical quantities and units ................................................................................................................. 1

2 Measurement techniques ....................................................................................................................... 1

3 Kinematics .................................................................................................................................................... 1

4 Dynamics ...................................................................................................................................................... 2

5 Forces, density and pressure ................................................................................................................. 2

6 Work, Energy and Power ........................................................................................................................ 3

9 Deformation of Solid................................................................................................................................ 3

14 Waves ............................................................................................................................................................. 3

16 Superposition .............................................................................................................................................. 4

17 Electric Fields ............................................................................................................................................... 5

19 Current of electricity ................................................................................................................................. 5

20 D.C. circuits................................................................................................................................................... 6

26 Particle and nuclear physics .................................................................................................................. 7

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Key Points and Definitions

[AN] Author’s Notes

** Key Points that are not “definitions” eg. ‘define...’ ‘what is meant by…’
(**The topic numbers below are according to the 2019-2021 Syllabus and the definition and key
points are all from the mark scheme up to June 2018)
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/329533-2019-2021-syllabus.pdf

1 Physical quantities and units

Scalar Quantity: has magnitude only

Vector Quantity: has magnitude and direction

2 Measurement techniques
Systematic errors: constant error (in all readings) // cannot be eliminated by averaging

// error in measuring instrument

Random errors: readings scattered (equally) about the true value // error due to

observer // can be eliminated by averaging

Precision: smallest scale division of instrument

Accuracy: how close are the readings to the true value

3 Kinematics
Velocity: rate of change in displacement
**Velocity is the gradient of the displacement time graph

Acceleration: rate of change in velocity

**Acceleration is the gradient of the velocity time graph

Difference between distance and displacement: distance is scalar, and displacement is

vector. Displacement is the shortest distance between two points, distance is the sum of

the lengths moved.

**Displacement is the area under graph of velocity time graph

[AN] You should also know the all the SUVAT equations for this part (Remember all of them,
don’t waste time to derive them).

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4 Dynamics
Newton’s first law: a body remains at rest or at constant velocity unless acted on by a

resultant external force

Newton’s second law: Force =rate of change in momentum (Also the definition of force)
𝑚𝑣−𝑚𝑢 𝑣−𝑢
**𝐹 = = 𝑚( ) = 𝑚𝑎 !! (F = ma)
𝑡 𝑡

Newton’s third law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

Weight: weight is the force due to the gravitational field // force due to gravity or
gravitational force

**𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔

Principle of conservation of momentum: Total momentum before the collision is equal

to the total momentum after the collision when there is no resultant external force acting
/ in an isolated system

**Although momentum is always conserved, Kinetic energy my change to other form

of energy, hence energy lost from the system

Elastic collision: Total kinetic energy before collision is equal to the total kinetic energy
after the collision // relative speed of approach = relative speed of separation

5 Forces, density and pressure

Centre of gravity: the point where all the weight of the body is considered to act
Center of mass: the point on an object where all its mass is considered to act
Principle of moments: the sum of the clockwise moments about a point is equal to the

sum of anticlockwise moments about the same point

Moment of a force: product of force and the perpendicular distance from a pivot

Torque of a couple: one of the forces times by the perpendicular distance between the

forces.

Equilibrium: no resultant force and moment (torque)

Density: mass / volume

Mass: Quantity of matter in a body // property in a body resisting changes in motion

Pressure: Force per unit area (normal to the force)

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6 Work, Energy and Power

Work done: Force times by distance moved in the direction as the force
𝑾 = 𝑭𝒅
Power: work done per unit time
𝑷 = 𝑭𝒗
𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚
𝑷=
𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆

Kinetic energy: energy a mass has due to its motion

𝟏
𝑬𝒌 = 𝒎𝒗𝟐
𝟐

Gravitational potential energy: energy a mass has due to its position in the

gravitational field
𝑬𝒑 = 𝒎𝒈∆𝒉

Elastic potential energy: energy stored in an object due to its change in shape

Electric potential energy: energy stored in a charge due to its position in electric field

9 Deformation of Solid
Hooke’s law: Force is proportional to extension

𝑭 = 𝒌𝒙 , k is a constant.
Elastic deformation: wire return to its original length when the load is removed

Plastic deformation: wire does not return to its original length when the load is

removed

Elastic limit: the point beyond which the spring doesn't return to its original length when
load is removed

Limit of proportionality: the point beyond which the spring doesn't obey Hooke’s Law

Stress: Force per unit cross-sectional area

Strain: extension divide by original length

Young Modulus: stress divide by strain

**Young Modulus is the gradient of Stress-Strain graph. The area under graph
1
represents the work done. 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥 2
2

14 Waves
Wave front: imaginary lines with same phase difference on wave

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Wavelength: Distance move by a wave front in one oscillation / one period OR minimum

distance between two points moving in phase

Amplitude: maximum displacement from equilibrium

Period: Time for one complete oscillation

Phase difference: the fraction of a cycle between the oscillations at the two points

Frequency: Number of oscillations at a point per unit time OR number of wavefronts

passing a point per unit time

Intensity: rate of energy transmitted per unit area normal to the wave velocity ( power

per unit area perpendicular to direction of travel of wave )

** 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 ∝ (𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒)2
Progressive wave: Energy is transferred by the waves from one place to another
Transverse wave: particles oscillate perpendicularly to the direction of travel of wave/

direction of propagation of energy

Doppler effect: observed frequency is different to emitted frequency if there is relative

motion between source and observer
𝑓𝑠 𝑣
**For Observed Frequency, 𝑓0 =
(𝑣±𝑣𝑠 )

+𝑣𝑠 when object is moving away as frequency observed will be less then
source frequency if it is moving away. (and vice versa.)

[AN] You will also have to remember the electromagnetic spectrum. Remembering the
magnitude of wavelength for each radiation. **All the electromagnetic waves move at the same
speed (speed of light).

16 Superposition
Diffraction: Wave passing through a gap and spread out into a geometrical shadow
Coherence: constant phase difference between two waves

Principle of superposition: when waves overlap the resultant displacement = sum of the

displacements of each wave.

Formation of stationary wave: two waves with same speed and frequency travelling in
opposite direction overlap, the resultant displacement is equal to the sum of the

displacements of each wave, producing nodes and antinodes.

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Experiments:

1. Young’s Double Slit Experiment (two-source):

Conditions for interference:

• Coherent waves

• Same magnitude of amplitude.

𝑎𝑥
** 𝜆 =
𝐷

2. Diffraction gratings:

**dsinθ = nλ

[AN] If you are unfamiliar with these two equations you need to go back and review on these two
experiments. You will often have to answer applied questions about the experiment. For
example: what will happen to the distance between light fringe if the wavelength was
decreased? (hint: use the equation)

17 Electric Fields
Electric field: A region where a stationary charge experiences an electric force

**Electric Field flows from Positive to Negative charge

Electric field strength: (electric) force per unit positive charge (acting on a stationary

charge)
𝑭
𝑬= (according to definition)
𝒒
𝑉
𝐸= **for field strength in uniform fields. 𝑑= distance between plates
𝑑

19 Current of electricity
Electric current: flow of charge carriers

Quantised: quantity that exists in discrete amount

Charge: Current multiplied by time

𝑸 = 𝑰𝒕
Coulomb: ampere second

Potential difference: Work done per unit charge OR energy transfer from electrical

energy to other forms per unit charge

𝑾
𝑽=
𝒒

Ohms Law: 𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅

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Ohm: volt per ampere

Volt: joule per coulomb

Resistivity:
𝝆𝒍
𝑹=
𝑨

[AN] The derivation of 𝐼 = 𝑛𝐴𝑣𝑞 is required (You also have to know how to use it). The equation
is for current-carrying conductor and 𝑛 is the number of charge carrier.

20 D.C. circuits
Kirchhoff’s first law: the sum of current into a junction = sum of current out of junction

(conservation of CHARGE)
Kirchhoff’s second law: sum of EMF is equal to sum of p.d around a closed loop

(conservation of ENERGY)

**Using the two laws to prove sum of resistance in series and parallel:

1. Resistors in Parallel:

According to Kirchhoff’s first law: 𝑖𝑎 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 + 𝑖3 + ⋯ + 𝑖𝑛

𝑣𝑎𝑏 𝑣𝑎𝑏 𝑣𝑎𝑏 𝑣𝑎𝑏
Applying Ohms Law: 𝑖𝑎 = + + +⋯+
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅𝑛

If there was a single resistor 𝑹𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 connected between a and b:

𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝑖𝑎 =
𝑣𝑎𝑏
𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑏 𝑣𝑎𝑏 𝑣𝑎𝑏 𝑣𝑎𝑏
Hence, = + + + ⋯+ ;divide all by 𝒗𝒂𝒃 to get:
𝑣𝑎𝑏 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅𝑛

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + + + ⋯+
𝑹𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑 𝑹𝒏

2. Resistors in Series:

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According to Kirchhoff’s second law: 𝐸 = 𝑣𝑎𝑏 = 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 + 𝑣3 + ⋯ + 𝑣𝑛

Applying Ohms Law: 𝑣𝑎𝑏 = 𝑖𝑎 𝑅1 + 𝑖𝑎 𝑅2 + 𝑖𝑎 𝑅3 + ⋯ + 𝑖𝑎 𝑅𝑛

If there was a single resistor 𝑹𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 connected between a and b:

𝑣𝑎𝑏 = 𝑖𝑎 𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
Hence, 𝑖𝑎 𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑖𝑎 𝑅1 + 𝑖𝑎 𝑅2 + 𝑖𝑎 𝑅3 + ⋯ + 𝑖𝑎 𝑅𝑛 ;divide all by 𝒊𝒂 to get:
𝑹𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 + 𝑹𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑹𝒏

Potential divider:

If the 𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 is the potential difference across 𝑅2 as shown in the figure above. The requation

for the 𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 is:

𝑅2
𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐸
𝑅1 +𝑅2

[AN] You should be able to apply this equation to a potentiometer or a rheostat.

26 Particle and nuclear physics

α-particle: helium nucleus
β-particle: electron

γ-radiation: electromagnetic radiation

Nuclear reaction: nucleon number/ proton number/ mass-energy/ momentum

conserved

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Spontaneous: the reaction isn’t affected by external factors such as temperature and

pressure
Isotopes: Atoms of an element with same number of protons but different number of

neutrons.

**[AN] If you have any other questions feel free to email me.

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