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Component 2 Electricity and the Universe

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does a capacitor store charge and energy, and how do charge and current decay when it discharges?

Capacitance: the definition of capacitance, energy stored on a capacitor, capacitors in series and parallel, and the exponential charge and discharge through a resistor with time constant RC.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 2 capacitance content, covering the definition of capacitance, the energy stored on a capacitor, combining capacitors in series and parallel, and the exponential charge and discharge through a resistor with the time constant RC.
13 min answer →

What is an electric current at the level of charge carriers, and how does the drift of electrons carry it through a conductor?

Conduction of electricity: electric current as the rate of flow of charge, the equation I = nAvq for charge carriers, drift velocity, and the distinction between conductors, semiconductors and insulators.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 2 conduction content, covering electric current as the rate of flow of charge, the charge-carrier equation I = nAvq, drift velocity, and how the number density of free carriers distinguishes conductors, semiconductors and insulators.
12 min answer →

How do Kirchhoff's laws, internal resistance and the potential divider let us analyse any DC circuit?

DC circuits: Kirchhoff's two laws, resistors in series and parallel, electromotive force and internal resistance, the potential divider, and electrical power and energy.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 2 DC circuits content, covering Kirchhoff's two laws as conservation of charge and energy, combining resistors in series and parallel, electromotive force and internal resistance, the potential divider, and electrical power and energy.
13 min answer →

What determines a component's resistance, and how do resistivity and temperature affect it?

Resistance: Ohm's law and resistance, the I-V characteristics of an ohmic conductor, a filament lamp and a diode, resistivity and its temperature dependence, and the behaviour of thermistors.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 2 resistance content, covering Ohm's law and the definition of resistance, the I-V characteristics of an ohmic conductor, a filament lamp and a diode, resistivity and its temperature dependence, and the behaviour of thermistors.
12 min answer →

How do solids deform under load, and what do stress, strain and the Young modulus tell us about a material?

Solids under stress: Hooke's law and the force constant, stress, strain and the Young modulus, elastic strain energy, and the contrast between ductile, brittle and polymeric behaviour.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 2 solids under stress content, covering Hooke's law and the force constant, the definitions of stress, strain and the Young modulus, elastic strain energy as an area, and the contrast between ductile, brittle and polymeric materials.
12 min answer →