Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics (9702) develops understanding of the physical world from the smallest sub-atomic particles to the largest structures in the universe, combining theory with practical investigation skills.
Physical quantities, units, measurement. Kinematics: equations of motion, projectiles. Dynamics: Newton's laws, momentum. Forces: moments, equilibrium, density, pressure. Work, energy, power. Deformation of solids: stress, strain, Young's modulus. Waves: progressive waves, transverse/longitudinal, Doppler effect, electromagnetic spectrum, superposition, interference, diffraction, stationary waves. Electricity: current, voltage, resistance, Kirchhoff's laws, potential dividers. Nuclear physics: atomic structure, nucleons, isotopes, nuclear reactions.
Circular motion: centripetal acceleration, angular velocity. Gravitational fields: Newton's law of gravitation, orbital motion. Temperature & thermal physics: ideal gases, kinetic theory. Oscillations: SHM, damping, resonance. Electric fields: Coulomb's law, field strength, potential. Capacitance: parallel plate, charging/discharging. Magnetic fields: force on current, force on charge, electromagnetic induction. Quantum physics: photons, photoelectric effect, energy levels, wave-particle duality. Nuclear physics: radioactive decay, mass-energy equivalence.
Paper 1 (MCQ, 40Q), Paper 2 (AS structured, 1h 15min), Paper 3 (practical, 2h), Paper 4 (A2 structured, 2h), Paper 5 (planning/analysis, 1h 15min). Practical skills are assessed directly — students must be confident with experimental techniques, error analysis, and graph plotting.
For Paper 3 (Practical), the school provides all equipment. You need a scientific calculator, ruler, sharp pencil, and protractor. Skills tested: using instruments (micrometer, vernier caliper, oscilloscope), recording data in tables, plotting graphs, calculating gradients, estimating uncertainties, and evaluating experimental methods.
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