Summary of changes First published: 23 June 2014, Revised: 23 June 2014 AQA have blended the best of the existing specification with some new ideas, concepts and approaches to learning. Teachers should find the new specification an ideal vehicle to make A-level Physics enjoyable and provide the right level of challenge. It allows a freedom to teach physics in a variety of ways and incorporates key themes and concepts throughout the specification. It has clearly been put together following consultation with teachers and universities who will see how the minor improvements to the specification have made the AQA specification the ideal choice for students who want to study and excel in physics post-16. Some of the key improvements are the clear signposting of required practical exercises, the removal of the sections on the eye and the heart from the medical option and the inclusion of knowledge of changes to scientific knowledge over time. The teaching of practical skills is integrated with the theoretical topics. The clear specification structure builds up from GCSE and has much of the same structure as the existing specification. The specification is sufficiently flexible to allow creative teaching. It is the perfect stepping stone to study at undergraduate level as it develops the key skills required to study at degree level and beyond. The AQA specification is divided into topics, each containing different key concepts of physics. Once the key features of a topic have been developed, applications are considered. While the teaching of practical skills may be integrated with the theoretical topics, they are assessed separately. This allows skills to be developed in a way suited to each individual centre. The AQA specification has integrated a number of essential practicals to carry out which will be assessed in the written exams. The AQA specification has retained the popular options, with Applied physics now renamed as Engineering physics. An additional option, Electronics, has been introduced and should be familiar to those who currently teach A-level Electronics (2430). Learning 1. Measurement and their errors What's changed This topic did not exist as a topic in the previous specification. However some of the new specification's content comes from 'How Science Works' with other features around units being covered in the previous specification's 'Mathematics Requirements' section. 2. Particles and radiation (formerly 3.1.1) What's new Section 2.1.2 (Stable and unstable nuclei)- the role of the neutrino now has greater emphasis. Copyright 2015 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. 1 of 6
Section 2.1.3 (Particles, antiparticles and photons) and Section 2.1.5 (Classification of particles)- the content of particles, antiparticles, hadron and lepton has been reworded for clarification. The focus on the conventions of Feynman diagrams are no longer a requirement, simple diagrams to represent reactions will suffice. 3. Waves (formerly 3.2.3) Section 3.1.2 (Longitudinal and transverse waves)- waves on a string are now included. Section 3.1.3 (Principle of superposition of waves and formation of stationary waves) Amplification has been added to include string, microwaves and sound waves. The formula for 1st harmonic is now included. Section 3.2.3 (Refraction at a plane surface)- material and modal dispersion are both on the new specification. What's changed There are no major changes to this topic, only some clarifications. 4. Mechanics and materials (formerly 3.2.1) Section 4.1.4 (Projectile motion)- friction has been expanded, and lift and drag forces have been introduced. Section 4.1.6 (Momentum) has been moved here from the old specification's section 3.4.1. Section 4.1.2 (Moments) -the word torque has been deleted. Section 4.1.8 (Conservation of energy) formulae no longer recall and use. Section 4.2.1 (Bulk properties of solids) "derivation of energy stored" is no longer required. 5. Electricity (formerly 3.1.3) Section 5.1.6 (Electromotive force and internal resistance) a reference to terminal pd, emf has been inserted. From Circuits: the reference to high current requirement for a starter motor in a car the reference to simultaneous equations NOT being required alternating currents and oscilloscope moved to 7.4 (Magnetic fields). 2 of 6 Non-confidential
6. Further mechanics and thermal physics (formerly 3.4.1 and 3.5.3) What's new Section 6.1.2 (Simple harmonic motion)- the condition for SHM described as a α x Section 6.1.6 (Simple harmonic systems)- the effects of damping on oscillators. Section 6.2.1 (Thermal energy transfer)- calculations involving continuous flow. Section 6.2.2 (Ideal gases)- the equation work done = p Δ V (this was previously in the Applied Physics option) Section 6.2.3 (Molecular kinetic theory model)- Brownian motion being evidence for the existence of atoms. Gas laws being empirical in nature. Appreciation of how knowledge and understanding of the behaviour of a gas has changed over time. What's gone Forced vibrations and resonance- phase difference between driver and driven displacements. 7. Fields and their consequences (formerly 3.4.2 to 3.4.5, some of 3.1.3) Section 7.1 (Gravitational fields) Derivation of Kepler s law is included. Escape velocity has been added. Students should recognise that the force is a vector the direction of which must be determined by inspection. Δ V from area under graph of g against r is included. Derivation of T2 r3. Section 7.2 (Electric fields) Equipotential surfaces. Relationship between V and E. Δ V from area under graph of E against r. Dielectric action in a capacitor. Quantitative treatment of capacitor charging. For a charged sphere the charge may be considered to be at the centre. The section 7.3.2 comparison of Electric and Gravitational fields. Section 7.4 (Magnetic fields) Production of eddy currents. Power loss in transmission lines. 8. Nuclear physics (formerly 3.5) Non-confidential 3 of 6
What's new Section 8.1.1 (Rutherford scattering)- appreciation of how knowledge and understanding of the structure of the nucleus has changed over time. Section 8.1.2 (α, β and γ radiation)- appreciation of balance between risk and benefits in the uses of radiation in medicine. Section 8.1.5 (Nuclear radius)- graph of intensity against angle for electron diffraction by a nucleus. Section 8.1.6 (Mass and energy)- appreciation that knowledge of the physics of nuclear energy allows society to use science to inform decision making. Section 8.1.8 (Safety aspects)- appreciation of balance between risk and benefits in the development of nuclear power. 9. Astrophysics (About 95% of the Option is unchanged.) Section 9.2.1 (Classification by luminosity) Luminosity reference to Hipparcos scale, magnitude 6 and intensity ratio 2.56 Section 9.2.6 (Supernovae, neutron stars and black holes) Gamma Ray bursts, supergiant stars. Light curve of typical type 1a supernovae. Comparison of energy output with total energy output of the sun. Section 9.3.3 (Quasars) Expanded section on Quasars (formation). Details of exoplanets (section 9.3.4 is entirely new). From previous section A1.1 (Lenses and Optical Telescopes) Some basic lens work including the lens formula. Diffraction pattern circular aperture. Charge Coupled Device (CCD) knowledge of structure removed. Focal point of concave mirror. From previous section A1.3 (Classification of Stars) Apparent magnitude section reworded. Resolving power replaced by minimum angular resolution. 10. Medical physics Section 10.4 (Non-ionising imaging) Ultrasound Imaging extended including new formulae and MR Scanner extended with alignment of protons and 'gradient' field coils. Section 10.5 (X-ray imaging) 4 of 6 Non-confidential
Physical principles/x rays extended with maximum photon energy, energy spectrum; continuous spectrum and characteristic spectrum. Section 10.6 (Radionuclide imaging and therapy)- Radionuclide imaging and therapy totally new substantial section (10.6.1). From previous section B2.1 (Physics of the Eye) Simple structure of the eye. Persistence of vision. From previous section B2.3 (Biological Measurement) Basic structure of the heart. Electrical signals and action potentials. 11. Engineering physics (Name changed from Applied physics) Section 11.1 (Rotational dynamics) Statement about qualitative knowledge about moment of inertia. Rotational motion new equations and comment about graphical methods. Angular momentum angular impulse statement. Rotational kinetic energy - further statement regarding use of flywheels. Section 11.2 (Thermodynamics and engines) First law - applications of First law are included. Second law and engines comment on the impossibility of and engine working by the First law only. Reversed heat engines temperature equations added. No content has been removed from this option. 12. Turning points in physics Section 12.1 (The discovery of the electron) Millikan s experiment reference to determination of droplet mass and charge, and the quantisation of the electric charge. Section 12.2 (Wave-particle duality) Fizeau s determination of the speed of light and its implications. Discovery of photoelectricity slight reword for clarification, reference to Planck is included and reference to stopping potential measurement has been removed. Reference to qualitative low-energy diffraction experiments. Section 12.3 (Special relativity) Mass and energy reference to Bertozzi s experiment is now included. Non-confidential 5 of 6
Reference to graphs of mass and KE against speed. No content, other than the change in wording in the section mentioned previously regarding stopping potential measurement. 13. Electronics New option-however much of the content overlaps with content in the existing Electronics A-level (2430). 6 of 6 Non-confidential