Maths
Biology
Chemistry
English Lang.
History
Energy transfers (a2 only)
Infection and response
Homeostasis and response
Responding to change (a2 only)
Cell biology
Biological molecules
Organisation
Substance exchange
The control of gene expression (a2 only)
Bioenergetics
Genetic information & variation
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Genetics & ecosystems (a2 only)
Ecology
Cells
Show all topics
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
1f industrialisation and the people: britain, c1783-1885
Inter-war germany
1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
The cold war
Medieval period: 1066 -1509
Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957
2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
World war two & the holocaust
2j america: a nation divided, c1845-1877
2n revolution and dictatorship: russia, 1917-1953
The fight for female suffrage
World war one
Britain: 1509 -1745
Show all topics
Neev Bakshi
@n33vbakshi
·
38 Followers
Follow
This comprehensive A level physics AQA complete notes PDF covers key topics in particle physics, electromagnetic radiation, quantum phenomena, and waves. It provides detailed explanations of fundamental concepts, equations, and examples to help students master AQA A level Physics. The notes are organized by topic and include callouts for important definitions, highlights, and examples.
10/06/2023
2538
This section covers the classification of particles, unstable nuclei, and various types of particle decay and interactions.
Particles are classified into two main categories:
Hadrons: These particles experience the strong nuclear force (SNF) and are formed by quarks. Hadrons are further divided into:
Leptons: These are fundamental particles that do not experience the strong nuclear force.
Definition: Hadrons are particles that experience the strong nuclear force and are composed of quarks, while leptons are fundamental particles that do not experience the strong nuclear force.
Unstable nuclei have an imbalance of protons and neutrons, causing them to undergo decay processes.
Highlight: Unstable nuclei occur when there are too many protons, neutrons, or both, causing the strong nuclear force to be insufficient in keeping them stable.
Alpha decay occurs in large nuclei with an excess of both protons and neutrons. The equation for alpha decay is:
A[Z]X → A-4[Z-2]Y + 4[2]α
Example: In alpha decay, a helium nucleus (alpha particle) is emitted from the parent nucleus, reducing its mass number by 4 and atomic number by 2.
Beta-minus decay occurs in neutron-rich nuclei. The equation for beta-minus decay is:
A[Z]X → A[Z+1]Y + -1[0]β + v̄
Vocabulary: Beta-minus decay involves the conversion of a neutron into a proton, which is a weak interaction due to the change in quark structure.
Annihilation occurs when a particle collides with its corresponding anti-particle, resulting in the conversion of their masses into energy.
Highlight: In annihilation, the energy is released in the form of two gamma-ray photons moving in opposite directions to conserve momentum.
Pair production is the process where a high-energy photon is converted into a particle-antiparticle pair.
Definition: Pair production occurs when a high-energy photon is converted into a particle and its corresponding antiparticle, with excess energy converted to kinetic energy of the particles.
Different forces are mediated by specific exchange particles:
In all particle interactions, certain properties must be conserved:
Highlight: Conservation laws are fundamental principles that govern particle interactions and must always be satisfied.
This section covers key concepts in electromagnetic radiation and quantum phenomena, including the photoelectric effect and wave-particle duality.
The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon where photoelectrons are emitted from the surface of a metal when light above a certain frequency (threshold frequency) is shone on it.
Definition: The photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light, as electrons are ejected from a metal surface when exposed to light of sufficient energy.
Key points about the photoelectric effect:
Highlight: The photoelectric effect cannot be explained by classical wave theory, as it involves the absorption of discrete photons by individual electrons.
The stopping potential is the potential difference required to stop the photons with maximum kinetic energy.
Example: The equation for the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons is: Ek(max) = eVs, where e is the electron charge and Vs is the stopping potential.
Fluorescent tubes operate based on the principles of atomic excitation and de-excitation:
Highlight: Fluorescent tubes demonstrate the practical application of atomic energy transitions in producing visible light.
An emission spectrum is produced when photons from a de-excited (hot) gas pass through a diffraction grating, resulting in a line spectrum.
Definition: An emission spectrum consists of bright lines at specific wavelengths, representing the discrete energy levels of electrons in atoms.
An absorption spectrum is produced when white light passes through a cool gas, resulting in black lines at certain wavelengths.
Highlight: Both emission and absorption spectra provide evidence for the discrete energy levels of electrons in atoms.
Wave-particle duality is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics that describes the dual nature of matter and energy.
Definition: Wave-particle duality states that all matter and energy exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, depending on the experimental conditions.
The de Broglie wavelength equation relates the wavelength of a particle to its momentum:
λ = h / mv
Where: λ = wavelength h = Planck's constant m = mass of the particle v = velocity of the particle
Particles can exhibit wave-like properties, such as diffraction and interference.
Example: Electron diffraction in fluorescent tubes produces interference rings, demonstrating the wave nature of electrons.
Waves can exhibit particle-like properties in certain interactions.
Example: The photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light, as photons interact with electrons in one-to-one interactions.
This section covers various types of waves and their properties, including progressive waves, longitudinal and transverse waves, and stationary waves.
A progressive wave transfers energy without transferring material.
Definition: A progressive wave is a disturbance that propagates through a medium, transferring energy from one point to another without the transfer of matter.
In longitudinal waves, the oscillations of particles are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
Highlight: Longitudinal waves consist of compressions and rarefactions, with sound waves being a common example.
In transverse waves, the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
Example: All electromagnetic waves are transverse waves.
Highlight: Only transverse waves can be polarized, which is the process of reducing oscillations to a single plane.
Polarization is a property of transverse waves where the oscillations are confined to a single plane.
Example: Polarization is used in sunglasses and TV antennas to filter or receive waves with specific orientations.
Highlight: If a wave is polarized by one filter and then passes through another filter oriented at 90 degrees to the first, no light will be transmitted.
Stationary waves are formed from the superposition of two progressive waves traveling in opposite directions with the same frequency, wavelength, and amplitude.
Definition: A stationary wave is a wave that appears to stand still, with fixed points of zero amplitude (nodes) and maximum amplitude (antinodes).
Key points about stationary waves:
Coherence is a property of waves that describes their ability to interfere constructively.
Definition: Coherent waves have the same frequency and wavelength, and maintain a constant phase difference.
Young's double slit experiment demonstrates the wave nature of light through interference.
Example: In Young's double slit experiment, a coherent light source is shone through two narrow slits, producing an interference pattern on a screen.
Key points about Young's double slit experiment:
Highlight: Young's double slit experiment was crucial in establishing the wave theory of light and later played a significant role in demonstrating wave-particle duality.
This comprehensive summary covers the key topics in AQA A level Physics related to particle physics, electromagnetic radiation, quantum phenomena, and waves. These Physics A level notes provide a solid foundation for students preparing for their exams and seeking to understand fundamental concepts in modern physics.
22
312
12/12
AQA A Level Physics 6.2 Thermal Physics
Revision notes covering Thermal Physics and completed exam practise questions.
3
116
12/13
november 2020 physics paper 2 worked solutions
ocr a completed paper
10
268
12/12
AQA A Level Physics 2 Particle Physics
Revision notes covering particle physics and completed exam practise questions.
14
245
12/13
ALEVEL PHYSICS Particles and Nuclear structure
- Quarks and Leptons - Hadrons - Fundamental interactions - Lepton & baryon number
7
193
12/13
Nuclear Radiation Notes
notes I took for revision. sums up all content in the chapter
3
41
12/13
nuclear physics pmt topic questions
pmt worked solutions
Average app rating
Pupils love Knowunity
In education app charts in 12 countries
Students have uploaded notes
iOS User
Philip, iOS User
Lena, iOS user
Neev Bakshi
@n33vbakshi
·
38 Followers
Follow
This comprehensive A level physics AQA complete notes PDF covers key topics in particle physics, electromagnetic radiation, quantum phenomena, and waves. It provides detailed explanations of fundamental concepts, equations, and examples to help students master AQA A level Physics. The notes are organized by topic and include callouts for important definitions, highlights, and examples.
This section covers the classification of particles, unstable nuclei, and various types of particle decay and interactions.
Particles are classified into two main categories:
Hadrons: These particles experience the strong nuclear force (SNF) and are formed by quarks. Hadrons are further divided into:
Leptons: These are fundamental particles that do not experience the strong nuclear force.
Definition: Hadrons are particles that experience the strong nuclear force and are composed of quarks, while leptons are fundamental particles that do not experience the strong nuclear force.
Unstable nuclei have an imbalance of protons and neutrons, causing them to undergo decay processes.
Highlight: Unstable nuclei occur when there are too many protons, neutrons, or both, causing the strong nuclear force to be insufficient in keeping them stable.
Alpha decay occurs in large nuclei with an excess of both protons and neutrons. The equation for alpha decay is:
A[Z]X → A-4[Z-2]Y + 4[2]α
Example: In alpha decay, a helium nucleus (alpha particle) is emitted from the parent nucleus, reducing its mass number by 4 and atomic number by 2.
Beta-minus decay occurs in neutron-rich nuclei. The equation for beta-minus decay is:
A[Z]X → A[Z+1]Y + -1[0]β + v̄
Vocabulary: Beta-minus decay involves the conversion of a neutron into a proton, which is a weak interaction due to the change in quark structure.
Annihilation occurs when a particle collides with its corresponding anti-particle, resulting in the conversion of their masses into energy.
Highlight: In annihilation, the energy is released in the form of two gamma-ray photons moving in opposite directions to conserve momentum.
Pair production is the process where a high-energy photon is converted into a particle-antiparticle pair.
Definition: Pair production occurs when a high-energy photon is converted into a particle and its corresponding antiparticle, with excess energy converted to kinetic energy of the particles.
Different forces are mediated by specific exchange particles:
In all particle interactions, certain properties must be conserved:
Highlight: Conservation laws are fundamental principles that govern particle interactions and must always be satisfied.
This section covers key concepts in electromagnetic radiation and quantum phenomena, including the photoelectric effect and wave-particle duality.
The photoelectric effect is a phenomenon where photoelectrons are emitted from the surface of a metal when light above a certain frequency (threshold frequency) is shone on it.
Definition: The photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light, as electrons are ejected from a metal surface when exposed to light of sufficient energy.
Key points about the photoelectric effect:
Highlight: The photoelectric effect cannot be explained by classical wave theory, as it involves the absorption of discrete photons by individual electrons.
The stopping potential is the potential difference required to stop the photons with maximum kinetic energy.
Example: The equation for the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons is: Ek(max) = eVs, where e is the electron charge and Vs is the stopping potential.
Fluorescent tubes operate based on the principles of atomic excitation and de-excitation:
Highlight: Fluorescent tubes demonstrate the practical application of atomic energy transitions in producing visible light.
An emission spectrum is produced when photons from a de-excited (hot) gas pass through a diffraction grating, resulting in a line spectrum.
Definition: An emission spectrum consists of bright lines at specific wavelengths, representing the discrete energy levels of electrons in atoms.
An absorption spectrum is produced when white light passes through a cool gas, resulting in black lines at certain wavelengths.
Highlight: Both emission and absorption spectra provide evidence for the discrete energy levels of electrons in atoms.
Wave-particle duality is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics that describes the dual nature of matter and energy.
Definition: Wave-particle duality states that all matter and energy exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, depending on the experimental conditions.
The de Broglie wavelength equation relates the wavelength of a particle to its momentum:
λ = h / mv
Where: λ = wavelength h = Planck's constant m = mass of the particle v = velocity of the particle
Particles can exhibit wave-like properties, such as diffraction and interference.
Example: Electron diffraction in fluorescent tubes produces interference rings, demonstrating the wave nature of electrons.
Waves can exhibit particle-like properties in certain interactions.
Example: The photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light, as photons interact with electrons in one-to-one interactions.
This section covers various types of waves and their properties, including progressive waves, longitudinal and transverse waves, and stationary waves.
A progressive wave transfers energy without transferring material.
Definition: A progressive wave is a disturbance that propagates through a medium, transferring energy from one point to another without the transfer of matter.
In longitudinal waves, the oscillations of particles are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
Highlight: Longitudinal waves consist of compressions and rarefactions, with sound waves being a common example.
In transverse waves, the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
Example: All electromagnetic waves are transverse waves.
Highlight: Only transverse waves can be polarized, which is the process of reducing oscillations to a single plane.
Polarization is a property of transverse waves where the oscillations are confined to a single plane.
Example: Polarization is used in sunglasses and TV antennas to filter or receive waves with specific orientations.
Highlight: If a wave is polarized by one filter and then passes through another filter oriented at 90 degrees to the first, no light will be transmitted.
Stationary waves are formed from the superposition of two progressive waves traveling in opposite directions with the same frequency, wavelength, and amplitude.
Definition: A stationary wave is a wave that appears to stand still, with fixed points of zero amplitude (nodes) and maximum amplitude (antinodes).
Key points about stationary waves:
Coherence is a property of waves that describes their ability to interfere constructively.
Definition: Coherent waves have the same frequency and wavelength, and maintain a constant phase difference.
Young's double slit experiment demonstrates the wave nature of light through interference.
Example: In Young's double slit experiment, a coherent light source is shone through two narrow slits, producing an interference pattern on a screen.
Key points about Young's double slit experiment:
Highlight: Young's double slit experiment was crucial in establishing the wave theory of light and later played a significant role in demonstrating wave-particle duality.
This comprehensive summary covers the key topics in AQA A level Physics related to particle physics, electromagnetic radiation, quantum phenomena, and waves. These Physics A level notes provide a solid foundation for students preparing for their exams and seeking to understand fundamental concepts in modern physics.
Physics - AQA A Level Physics 6.2 Thermal Physics
Revision notes covering Thermal Physics and completed exam practise questions.
22
312
0
Physics - november 2020 physics paper 2 worked solutions
ocr a completed paper
3
116
0
Physics - AQA A Level Physics 2 Particle Physics
Revision notes covering particle physics and completed exam practise questions.
10
268
1
Physics - ALEVEL PHYSICS Particles and Nuclear structure
- Quarks and Leptons - Hadrons - Fundamental interactions - Lepton & baryon number
14
245
0
Physics - Nuclear Radiation Notes
notes I took for revision. sums up all content in the chapter
7
193
0
Physics - nuclear physics pmt topic questions
pmt worked solutions
3
41
0
Average app rating
Pupils love Knowunity
In education app charts in 12 countries
Students have uploaded notes
iOS User
Philip, iOS User
Lena, iOS user
