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Component 3 Light, Nuclei and Options

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does a laser produce an intense, coherent beam through stimulated emission and population inversion?

Lasers: discrete energy levels and photon emission, spontaneous and stimulated emission, population inversion and the metastable state, and the properties of laser light.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 3 lasers content, covering discrete atomic energy levels and photon emission, the difference between spontaneous and stimulated emission, population inversion and the role of a metastable state, and the properties of laser light.
12 min answer →

What is a photon, and how does the photoelectric effect show that light is quantised?

Photons: the photon as a quantum of electromagnetic energy E = hf, the photoelectric effect and Einstein's equation, the work function and threshold frequency, and the electronvolt.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 3 photons content, covering the photon as a quantum of electromagnetic energy E = hf, the photoelectric effect and Einstein's photoelectric equation, the work function and threshold frequency, and the electronvolt as an energy unit.
13 min answer →

Why does light bend when it changes medium, and when is it totally internally reflected?

Refraction of light: the refractive index and Snell's law, the change of speed and wavelength, total internal reflection and the critical angle, and optical fibres.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 3 refraction content, covering the refractive index and Snell's law, the change of speed and wavelength on refraction, total internal reflection and the critical angle, and the operation of optical fibres.
12 min answer →

What are the defining features of a wave, and how do we describe and represent progressive waves?

The nature of waves: transverse and longitudinal progressive waves, the wave quantities and the wave equation, the relationship between phase and path difference, and polarisation.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 3 nature of waves content, covering transverse and longitudinal progressive waves, the wave quantities and the wave equation v = f lambda, the link between phase and path difference, and the polarisation of transverse waves.
12 min answer →

How can light and matter behave as both waves and particles, and what is the de Broglie wavelength?

Wave-particle duality: the dual nature of light, the de Broglie wavelength of moving particles, electron diffraction as evidence, and the conditions under which wave or particle behaviour dominates.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 3 wave-particle duality content, covering the dual wave and particle nature of light, the de Broglie wavelength of moving particles, electron diffraction as experimental evidence, and when wave or particle behaviour dominates.
12 min answer →

How do superposition, interference, diffraction and stationary waves arise, and what do they reveal about light?

Wave properties: the principle of superposition, two-source interference and the Young double-slit experiment, the diffraction grating, and stationary waves with nodes and antinodes.
A focused answer to the Eduqas A-Level Physics Component 3 wave properties content, covering the principle of superposition, two-source interference and the Young double-slit experiment, the diffraction grating equation, and stationary waves with their nodes and antinodes.
13 min answer →