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Unit 3 Oscillations and Nuclei

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

Why is an object moving in a circle at constant speed accelerating, and what provides the force?

Angular velocity, the link between speed and angular velocity, centripetal acceleration and centripetal force.
A focused answer to WJEC A-Level Physics Unit 3 circular motion, covering angular velocity, the link v = r omega between speed and angular velocity, centripetal acceleration, and the centripetal force needed to keep a body moving in a circle.
11 min answer →

How do the gas laws and kinetic theory connect the pressure of a gas to the motion of its molecules?

The gas laws and the ideal gas equation, the kinetic theory derivation, and the link between molecular kinetic energy and temperature.
A focused answer to WJEC A-Level Physics Unit 3 ideal gases, covering the gas laws and the ideal gas equation, the kinetic theory derivation of pV, and the link between the mean kinetic energy of a molecule and absolute temperature.
11 min answer →

How do we describe random radioactive decay with the decay law and half-life?

Random and spontaneous decay, the decay law, activity, the decay constant and half-life, and the properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
A focused answer to WJEC A-Level Physics Unit 3 nuclear decay, covering radioactive decay as random and spontaneous, the exponential decay law, activity, the decay constant and half-life, and the properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
11 min answer →

Where does nuclear energy come from, and why do both fission and fusion release it?

Mass-energy equivalence, the mass defect and binding energy, binding energy per nucleon, and nuclear fission and fusion.
A focused answer to WJEC A-Level Physics Unit 3 nuclear energy, covering mass-energy equivalence, the mass defect and binding energy, the binding energy per nucleon curve, and why both nuclear fission and fusion release energy.
11 min answer →

What is internal energy, and how do specific heat capacity and latent heat describe heating and changes of state?

Internal energy and temperature, specific heat capacity, specific latent heat, and thermal equilibrium.
A focused answer to WJEC A-Level Physics Unit 3 thermal physics, covering internal energy and its link to temperature, specific heat capacity, specific latent heat for changes of state, and thermal equilibrium.
11 min answer →

What defines simple harmonic motion, and how do energy, damping and resonance behave?

The defining equation of SHM, sinusoidal solutions, energy in SHM, the mass-spring and pendulum periods, damping and resonance.
A focused answer to WJEC A-Level Physics Unit 3 vibrations and simple harmonic motion, covering the defining equation of SHM, sinusoidal solutions, energy exchange in SHM, the mass-spring and pendulum periods, damping and resonance.
11 min answer →