WJEC Physics for A2: Student Bk

9 Practical work Practical work is integral to any physics course. Unit 3 provides a wealth of opportunities for students to hone their practical skills as well as to develop their understanding of the contents. Content 3.1 Circular motion 3.2 Vibrations 3.3 Kinetic theory 3.4 Thermal physics 3.5 Nuclear decay 3.6 Nuclear energy This A2 unit has three basic themes: Circular motion and vibrations might initially appear disparate topics but the mathematics of the two is very similar. This is because the projection of a circular motion is a vibration. Many terms are common: period, frequency, angular velocity. They both require the high level use of trigonometry, with angles expressed in radians, and of vectors. The understanding of these topics is key to tackling the later topic of orbits. Kinetic theory and thermal physics both deal with the energy of systems. The understanding of these areas of physics was the key to the development of machines for transferring energy. The former concentrates on molecular behaviour and the latter on the bulk behaviour of systems but there is a great deal of overlap of the concepts. Nuclear decay and nuclear energy complete this unit. These topics are first encountered in pre-A level courses but the mathematical development of them, especially in the description of decays in terms of exponentials, makes this one of the more demanding A level areas. The quantities such as the mole and molar mass introduced in the kinetic theory topic are once again required – emphasising the unity of description developed in the A level Physics course. Oscillations and nuclei Unit 3