Physics › Required practicals
AQA A-level Physics required practicals
AQA specifies twelve required practical activities: 1–6 for AS and all twelve for the full A-level. At least 15% of marks in the written papers assess practical skills.
Stationary waves on a string
How the frequency of a stationary wave on a stretched string depends on its length, the tension in it and its mass per unit length.
Theory: Stationary waves on strings · Progressive waves
Interference: double slit and diffraction grating
Measuring interference effects, both with Young's two-slit arrangement and with a diffraction grating.
Theory: Interference and Young's double slit · Diffraction gratings
Measuring g by free fall
Determining the acceleration due to gravity by timing a freely falling object.
Theory: Motion graphs and the SUVAT equations · Mass and weight
The Young modulus of a wire
Loading a long thin wire, measuring its extension and diameter, and finding the Young modulus, E = gradient × L/A, from a force-extension graph.
Resistivity of a wire
Finding the resistivity of a wire from its resistance and dimensions, using a micrometer, an ammeter and a voltmeter.
Theory: Resistivity and temperature
EMF and internal resistance of a cell
Measuring how the terminal potential difference of a cell falls as the current drawn from it rises, and extracting the emf and internal resistance.
Theory: EMF and internal resistance
Simple harmonic motion: mass-spring and pendulum
Timing a simple pendulum and a mass on a spring, and finding g and k from graphs of T² against length and against mass.
Boyle's law and Charles's law
Investigating how the pressure of a fixed mass of gas varies with volume at constant temperature, and how volume varies with temperature at constant pressure.
Theory: Ideal gases and the gas laws
Charging and discharging a capacitor
Following the charge and discharge of a capacitor, and using a log-linear plot to determine the time constant RC.
Theory: Charging and discharging · The time constant and exponential decay
Force on a current-carrying wire
Using a top-pan balance to measure how the force on a wire depends on the magnetic flux density, the current and the length in the field.
Flux linkage and a search coil
Using a search coil and an oscilloscope to see how magnetic flux linkage varies with the angle between the coil and the field.
Theory: Magnetic flux and flux linkage
The inverse-square law for gamma radiation
Testing how the intensity of gamma radiation falls off with distance from a source, correcting for background.
Theory: Alpha, beta and gamma radiation · Radioactive decay and the decay constant
Titles here are our own summaries of the AQA activities; always check the current specification for the definitive wording. See also the revision checklist and the equation index.