OCR A-level Physics PAG practicals

Investigating motion

OCR's example: acceleration of free fall.

• 3.1.2(a)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to investigate the motion and collisions of objects

  Learn the method: Measuring impulse and collisions in the laboratory, in Momentum and impulse

• 3.1.2(b)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to determine the acceleration of free fall, to include using a trapdoor and electromagnet arrangement and a light-gates-and-timer arrangement

  Learn the method: Measuring g by free fall, the AQA required practical 3 guide (trapdoor and electromagnet)

• 3.2.2(d)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to determine terminal velocity in fluids

  Learn the method: Measuring viscosity with a falling ball, in Fluids: pressure, upthrust and viscosity

Investigating properties of materials

OCR's example: determining Young modulus for a metal.

• 3.4.1(d)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to investigate force-extension characteristics for arrangements which may include springs, rubber bands and polythene strips

  Learn the method: The Young modulus of a wire, the AQA required practical 4 guide (a loaded wire)

• 3.4.2(d)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to determine the Young modulus for a metal

  Learn the method: The Young modulus of a wire, the AQA required practical 4 guide

Investigating electrical properties

OCR's example: determining the resistivity/conductivity of a metal.

• 4.2.3(c)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to investigate the electrical characteristics for a range of ohmic and non-ohmic components

  Learn the method: Current-voltage characteristics

• 4.2.4(a)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to determine the resistivity of a metal

  Learn the method: Resistivity of a wire, the AQA required practical 5 guide

• 4.3.2(c)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to determine the internal resistance of a chemical cell or other source of e.m.f.

  Learn the method: EMF and internal resistance of a cell, the AQA required practical 6 guide

Investigating electrical circuits

OCR's example: investigation of potential-divider circuits.

• 4.3.3(c)(i) Potential-divider equations, for example Vout = (R2/(R1 + R2))Vin and V1/V2 = R1/R2

  Learn the method: Calibrating a thermistor as a thermostat, in Sensing circuits and the potentiometer

• 4.3.3(c)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to investigate potential-divider circuits which may include a sensor such as a thermistor or an LDR

  Learn the method: Calibrating a thermistor as a thermostat, in Sensing circuits and the potentiometer

Investigating waves

OCR's example: determine the wavelength of light and sound by two-source superposition using a double slit and diffraction grating.

• 4.4.1(b)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to use an oscilloscope to determine frequency

  Learn the method: Reading a wave off an oscilloscope, in Progressive waves

• 4.4.1(f)(iii) Techniques and procedures used to observe polarising effects using microwaves and light

  Learn the method: Polarisation, in Polarisation and electromagnetic waves (light only)

• 4.4.3(a)(ii) Techniques and procedures used for superposition experiments using sound, light and microwaves

  Learn the method: Interference: double slit and diffraction grating, the AQA required practical 2 guide (light only)

• 4.4.3(g)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to determine the wavelength of light using (1) a double-slit, and (2) a diffraction grating

  Learn the method: Interference: double slit and diffraction grating, the AQA required practical 2 guide

• 4.4.4(e)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to determine the speed of sound in air by formation of stationary waves in a resonance tube

  Learn the method: Measuring the speed of sound in a resonance tube, in Stationary waves in air columns

• 5.5.2(g) Transmission diffraction grating used to determine the wavelength of light

  Learn the method: Interference: double slit and diffraction grating, the AQA required practical 2 guide

Investigating quantum effects

OCR's example: determine Planck's constant using LEDs.

• 4.4.2(d)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to investigate refraction and total internal reflection of light using ray boxes, including transparent rectangular and semi-circular blocks

  Learn the method: Measuring the refractive index of a solid, in Refraction and Snell's law

• 4.5.1(e)(ii) Determine the Planck constant using different coloured LEDs

  Learn the method: Measuring h with LEDs, in The photoelectric graph and measuring h

Investigating ionising radiation

OCR's example: absorption of α, β or γ radiation.

• 6.4.3(b)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to investigate the absorption of α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays by appropriate materials

  Learn the method: Measuring the absorption of gamma radiation by lead, in Half-life and nuclear instability (gamma by lead)

• 6.4.3(e)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to determine the half-life of an isotope such as protactinium

  Not covered on this site yet.

Investigating gases

OCR's example: estimate absolute zero from the variation of gas temperature with pressure.

• 5.1.4(d)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to investigate pV = constant (Boyle's law) and p/T = constant

  Learn the method: Boyle's law and Charles's law, the AQA required practical 8 guide (Boyle's law; not the pressure law)

• 5.1.4(d)(iii) An estimation of absolute zero using variation of gas temperature with pressure

  Not covered on this site yet.

Investigating capacitors

OCR's example: determine a time constant using the gradient of an ln V-time or ln I-time graph.

• 6.1.1(e)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to investigate capacitors in both series and parallel combinations using ammeters and voltmeters

  Not covered on this site yet.

• 6.1.3(a)(ii) Techniques and procedures to investigate the charge and the discharge of a capacitor using both meters and data-loggers

  Learn the method: Charging and discharging a capacitor, the AQA required practical 9 guide

• 6.1.3(c) Equations of the form x = x0e^(-t/(CR)) and x = x0(1 - e^(-t/(CR))) for capacitor-resistor circuits

  Learn the method: Charging and discharging a capacitor, the AQA required practical 9 guide

Investigating simple harmonic motion

OCR's example: investigate factors affecting the period of a simple harmonic oscillator.

• 5.3.1(c)(ii) Techniques and procedures used to determine the period/frequency of simple harmonic oscillations

  Learn the method: Simple harmonic motion: mass-spring and pendulum, the AQA required practical 7 guide

Investigation

OCR's example: determine the specific heat capacity of a material.

• 5.1.3(b)(i) An electrical experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal or a liquid

  Learn the method: Measuring specific heat capacity electrically, in Specific heat capacity and latent heat

Research skills

OCR's example: principles behind GPS; use of radioactive tracers in medical imaging.

Not covered on this site yet.