Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics

Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-18308-6 - Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Coursebook David Sang, Graham Jones, Richard Woodside and Gurinder Chadha Frontmatter More information

David Sang, Graham Jones, Richard Woodside and Gurinder Chadha

Cambridge International AS and A Level

Physics

Coursebook

? in this web service Cambridge University Press



Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-18308-6 - Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Coursebook David Sang, Graham Jones, Richard Woodside and Gurinder Chadha Frontmatter More information

cambridge university press Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, S?o Paulo, Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK Information on this title: 9780521183086

? Cambridge University Press 2010

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 2010

Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

ISBN 978-0-521-18308-6 Paperback with CD-ROM for Windows and Mac

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notice to teachers The photocopy masters in this publication may be photocopied or distributed electronically free of charge for classroom use within the school or institute which purchases the publication. Worksheets and copies of them remain in the copyright of Cambridge University Press and such copies may not be distributed or used in any way outside the purchasing institution.

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Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-18308-6 - Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Coursebook David Sang, Graham Jones, Richard Woodside and Gurinder Chadha Frontmatter More information

Contents

Introduction

vii

Acknowledgements

viii

1 Kinematics ? describing motion 1

Speed

1

Distance and displacement, scalar and vector

4

Speed and velocity

5

Displacement?time graphs

7

Combining displacements

9

Combining velocities

10

2 Accelerated motion

15

The meaning of acceleration

15

Calculating acceleration

15

Units of acceleration

16

Deducing acceleration

17

Deducing displacement

18

Measuring velocity and acceleration

19

Determining velocity and

acceleration in the laboratory

19

The equations of motion

21

Deriving the equations of motion

24

Uniform and non-uniform acceleration

25

Acceleration caused by gravity

26

Determining g

27

Motion in two dimensions ? projectiles

30

Understanding projectiles

32

3 Dynamics ? explaining motion 40

Calculating the acceleration

40

Understanding SI units

42

The pull of gravity

44

Mass and inertia

46

Top speed

47

Moving through fluids

49

Identifying forces

50

Newton's third law of motion

53

4 Forces ? vectors and moments 57

Combining forces

57

Components of vectors

59

Centre of gravity

62

The turning effect of a force

63

The torque of a couple

67

5 Work, energy and power

73

Doing work, transferring energy

74

Gravitational potential energy

78

Kinetic energy

79

g.p.e.?k.e. transformations

80

Down, up, down ? energy changes

81

Energy transfers

82

Power

85

6 Momentum

92

The idea of momentum

92

Modelling collisions

93

Understanding collisions

95

Explosions and crash-landings

98

Momentum and Newton's laws

100

Understanding motion

100

7 Matter

Macroscopic properties of matter The kinetic model Explaining pressure Changes of state

107

107 110 112 113

8 Deforming solids

119

Compressive and tensile forces

119

Stretching materials

121

Describing deformation

124

Strength of a material

125

Elastic potential energy

126

9 Electric fields

Attraction and repulsion Investigating electric fields Electric field strength Force on a charge

132

132 134 136 138

Contents

iii

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Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-18308-6 - Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Coursebook David Sang, Graham Jones, Richard Woodside and Gurinder Chadha Frontmatter More information

10 Electric current, potential difference and resistance

Circuit symbols and diagrams Electric current The meaning of voltage Electrical resistance Electrical power

11 Kirchhoff's laws

Kirchhoff's first law Kirchhoff 's second law Applying Kirchhoff 's laws Resistor combinations Ammeters and voltmeters

12 Resistance and resistivity

The I?V characteristic for a metallic conductor Ohm's law Resistance and temperature Resistivity

13 Practical circuits

Internal resistance Potential dividers Potentiometer circuits

14 Waves

Describing waves Longitudinal and transverse waves Wave energy Intensity Wave speed Electromagnetic waves Electromagnetic radiation Orders of magnitude The nature of electromagnetic waves Polarisation

144

144 145 148 149 151

157

157 159 160 162 165

171

172 173 174 177

183

184 186 189

195

195 198 199 199 200 202 203 203 204 204

15 Superposition of waves

212

The principle of superposition of waves

212

Diffraction of waves

213

Interference

216

The Young double-slit experiment

220

Diffraction gratings

223

16 Stationary waves

From moving to stationary Nodes and antinodes Formation of stationary waves Observing stationary waves Determining the wavelength and speed of sound Eliminating errors

231

231 232 232 233

237 238

17 Radioactivity

Looking inside the atom Alpha-particle scattering and the nucleus A simple model of the atom Nucleons and electrons Discovering radioactivity Radiation from radioactive substances Properties of ionising radiation Randomness and decay

242

242

242 245 246 249 249 251 254

18 Circular motion

Describing circular motion Angles in radians Steady speed, changing velocity Angular velocity Centripetal forces Calculating acceleration and force The origins of centripetal forces

258

258 259 260 261 262 264 266

iv

Contents

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Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-18308-6 - Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Coursebook David Sang, Graham Jones, Richard Woodside and Gurinder Chadha Frontmatter More information

19 Gravitational fields

Representing a gravitational field Gravitational field strength g Energy in a gravitational field Gravitational potential Orbiting under gravity The orbital period Orbiting the Earth

20 Oscillations

Free and forced oscillations Observing oscillations Describing oscillations Simple harmonic motion Graphical representations of s.h.m. Frequency and angular frequency Equations of s.h.m. Energy changes in s.h.m. Damped oscillations Resonance

21 Thermal physics

Changes of state Energy changes Internal energy The meaning of temperature Thermometers Calculating energy changes

22 Ideal gases

Molecules in a gas Measuring gases Boyle's law Changing temperature Ideal gas equation Modelling gases ? the kinetic model Temperature and molecular kinetic energy

272

273 275 277 277 278 279 280

287

287 288 289 291 292 294 295 299 300 302

312

312 313 315 317 318 320

330

330 331 332 333 334 336

338

23 Coulomb's law

Electric fields Coulomb's law Electric field strength for a radial field Electric potential Comparing gravitational and electric fields

343

343 343 345 346

350

24 Capacitance

Capacitors in use Energy stored in a capacitor Capacitors in parallel Capacitors in series Comparing capacitors and resistors Capacitor networks

356

356 358 361 362 363 364

25 Magnetic fields and

electromagnetism

371

Producing and representing

magnetic fields

371

Magnetic force

374

Magnetic flux density

375

Measuring magnetic flux density

376

Currents crossing fields

378

Forces between currents

380

Relating SI units

381

26 Charged particles

Observing the force Orbiting charges Electric and magnetic fields Discovering the electron

387

387 389 391 393

27 Electromagnetic induction

Observing induction Explaining electromagnetic induction Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction

399

399 400

405

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Contents

v



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