Endorsed Practical Activities
Listed below are the suggested practical activities identified within the three English examination boards (AQA, OCR, Edexcel) for the students to achieve the practical endorsement to their
A-Level Physics award.
To successfully achieve endorsement, candidates will be expected to have completed and recorded 12 activities within which they will have encountered and demonstrated mastery of 12
practical techniques.
The activities outlined by the exam boards have been mapped to these techniques and so completing them will provide the minimum necessary coverage to achieve endorsement.
Schools are permitted to choose alternative activities but in that case they will need to undertake mapping of techniques to their chosen activity and ensure that these alternatives provide
the same coverage of the techniques.
In addition there will be a significant element of the written papers which will examine practical skills and may make reference to these activities but may be set in the context of other
activities.
Many of the activities are common to all boards but with slightly different wording. There are separate entries and slightly different references where appropriate.
Suggested activities
apparatus
Reference to TAP (tap.iop.org)
Reference to Practical Physics (practicalphysics.org)
1
Determine the acceleration of a freely-falling
object. (all boards)
g-ball;or ticker timer or
accn sensor
electromagnet, trap-door
& timer
Episode 206 intro to uniform and non-uniform acceleration
http://tap.iop.org/mechanics/kinematics/206/page_46322.html
Section 206-3 has practical. There are supporting questions
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/forcesand-motion
gives five/six related practical activities including rolling a
ball down a plank, using light gates and using a timer
2
Determine the electrical resistivity of a
material.
(all boards)
Standard simple & cheap
apparatus is all that is
required.
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/index.html
this is a whole collection of materials on electricity
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/resistance/112/page_45984.html
episode 112 is specifically on resistivity
3
Determine the e.m.f. and internal resistance
of an electrical cell. (all boards)
Shoe box or potato & Cu/Zn
+ res sub box
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/emf/index.html
there are a collection of episodes on emf & internal resistance
(episodes 119-121)
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/ohmslaw-and-resistance
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/measuring-resistance-voltmeter-and-ammeter
there is no specific expt on ‘resistivity’ but theses are
relevant
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/internal-resistance-potato-cell
fun with a potato & zinc & copper electrodes
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/internal-resistance-shoe-box-cell
make up a cell with internal resistance in a shoe-box
Investigation of potential divider circuits(OCR)
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/circuits/118/page_46038.html
again within the section on electric circuits and series & parallel
circuits episode 118 is specifically about potential dividers
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/potential-difference
there is nothing specific on potential dividers but this section
on potential difference with associated practical activities is
relevant and helpful
Suggested activities
apparatus
Reference to TAP (tap.iop.org)
Reference to Practical Physics (practicalphysics.org)
4
Use a falling-ball method to determine the
viscosity of a liquid.(Edexcel)
Styrocells beads through
water or more
sophisticated kits.
Episode on drag (terminal velocity)
http://tap.iop.org/mechanics/drag/209/page_46353.html
then 209-1 ‘falling cupcakes’, and
209-2 ‘ball-bearings falling through a viscous medium are relevant
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalchemistry/experiments-hydrogels-hair-gel-and-disposablenappies
this ref goes to RSC as directed by the physics site and may
be helpful. smart materials(mindsetsonline) which may help
5
Determine the Young modulus of a material
(all boards)
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/stretching-and-force
6
Determine the speed of sound in air using a 2beam oscilloscope, signal generator, speaker
and microphone.(Edexcel)
fast timer + 2 detectors (djb
microtech)
or sig gen etc
7
Investigate the effects of length, tension and
mass per unit length on the frequency of a
vibrating string or wire.(edexcel)
Vib gen, sig gen pulley
masses elastic cord
http://tap.iop.org/mechanics/materials/index.html
this section on materials has helpful work on Hookes Law leading
to YM.
http://tap.iop.org/mechanics/materials/228/page_46520.html
Two good simple experiments;
The standard stretching wire;
Bending a beam
http://tap.iop.org/vibration/progressive/311/page_46661.html
whole section on freq, wavelength & speed including approach to
sound measurement using CRO, speaker(s) & microphone
episode 311-3
http://tap.iop.org/vibration/superpostion/324/page_46786.html
specifically episode 324-1 & 2 also
Investigation into the variation of the
frequency of stationary waves on a string with
length, tension and mass per unit length of the
string (AQA)
Vib gen, sig gen pulley
masses elastic cord
As above
As above
Determine the wavelength of light from a
laser or other light source using a diffraction
grating.(Edexcel)
Optic bench laser, slits
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/youngs-slits
series of relevant expts but for two-slits
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/diffraction-light
above for gratings
Determination of the wavelength of light and
sound by two source superposition with a
double-slit and diffraction grating (OCR)
Optic bench laser, slits
Also sig gen speakers &
microphone
Optic bench laser, slits
http://tap.iop.org/vibration/superpostion/index.html
this section on ‘superposition and specifically;
http://tap.iop.org/vibration/superpostion/321/page_46750.html
episode 321
321-5 for measuring wavelength of a laser. Difficult with ’two-slit’
because faint or with grating easier to see pattern
For light as above
For sound Episode 321-1 has an expt for ‘hearing superpositipon’
http://tap.iop.org/vibration/superpostion/index.html
this section on ‘superposition and specifically;
http://tap.iop.org/vibration/superpostion/321/page_46750.html
episode 321
321-5 for measuring wavelength of a laser. Difficult with ’two-slit’
because faint or with grating easier to see pattern
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/youngs-slits
series of relevant expts but for two-slits
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/diffraction-light
above for gratings
8
Investigation of interference effects to include
the Young’s slit experiment and interference
by a diffraction grating (AQA)
Nothing specifically on sound but some related expts on
waves and some guidance
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/waves
Melde’s expt for standing waves on a string;
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/meldes-experiment
9
Suggested activities
apparatus
Reference to TAP (tap.iop.org)
Reference to Practical Physics (practicalphysics.org)
Investigate the relationship between the force
exerted on an object and its change of
momentum (Edexcel)
A number of options but
basic set up with trolleys,
runways and falling loads
would work. Measure
acceleration using light
gates etc, or falling load to
hit ground then measure
final velocity (single light
gate or ticker tape). For this
need also to know time to
fall
This is essentially newton’s 2nd law but time for force might be
measured and then change of velocity.
One light gate and speed measured after the falling load hits the
floor
http://tap.iop.org/mechanics/newton/211/page_46369.html
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/forcemass-and-acceleration-newtons-second-law
for N2
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/forceused-kick-football
nice old Nuffield expt about kicking a football
there is a whole section on momentum;
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/momentum
Possibly video from above
& use tracker or other
software to analyse
Capacitor simple circuit,
stopwatch or pd sensor
Modern digital scopes are
now cheaper and more
flexible than a traditional
CRO. Picoscope also
http://tap.iop.org/mechanics/momentum/220/page_46435.html
this has ideas of collisions & momentum conservation
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/momentum
Section on capacitors;
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/capacitors/index.html
decay of charge from a capacitors (episode 129);
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/capacitors/129/page_46197.html
also energy stored (episode 128);
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/capacitors/128/page_46177.html
This just helps with use of a CRO
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/usingoscilloscope
there is nothing specific on capacitors
Determining time constant using the gradient
of ln V or ln I–time graph (OCR)
Simple circuit but could use
data-logging to record pd
against time then plot &
analyse
Investigation of charge and discharge of
capacitors. Analysis techniques should include
log-linear plotting leading to a determination
of the time constant RC (AQA)
As above
Section on capacitors;
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/capacitors/index.html
decay of charge from a capacitors (episode 129);
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/capacitors/129/page_46197.html
also energy stored (episode 128);
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/capacitors/128/page_46177.html
As above
Calibrate a thermistor in a potential divider
circuit as a thermostat. (Edexcel)
Simple apparatus with
thermistor + fixed resistor
(resistance sub box to
adjust to most suitable
value)
10
Use ICT to analyse collisions between small
spheres, e.g. ball bearings on a table
top.(Edexcel)
11
Use an oscilloscope or data logger to display
and analyse the potential difference (p.d.)
across a capacitor as it charges and discharges
through a resistor.
12
momentum section;
http://tap.iop.org/mechanics/momentum/index.html
episode 222 has relevant activities on impulse of a force
http://tap.iop.org/mechanics/momentum/222/page_46460.html
episode 222-3 has kicking football
Episode 110 on resistance and temperature;
http://tap.iop.org/electricity/resistance/110/page_45969.html
episode 110-2 is specifically on calibrating a themistor
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/effecttemperature-thermistor
simple expt. There are other similar investigations for other
components and obviously an LDR could be explored
illuminated by a lamp at different heights, or
solar cell whose emf and internal resistance could also be
explored under different light/heat and with different loads
13
Suggested activities
apparatus
Reference to TAP (tap.iop.org)
Reference to Practical Physics (practicalphysics.org)
Determine the specific latent heat of a phase
change. (Edexcel)
Heating water measure
weight loss record energy
supplied using
SEPenergymeter
Can use SEP energymeter
(SEP044)to do this
electrically and new version
allows data to be loaded to
a laptop for analysis
Episode 608 within the section on energy which has sections on
Kinetic Theory (episodes 601-603) and thermal physics (604-608)
http://tap.iop.org/energy/thermal/608/page_47512.html
The section on energy has a number of exptl investigations
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/thermal-energy
there is nothing specifically on latent heat
This section has a number of relevant expts for shc mby
different methods + guidance and ways of discussing
‘energy’ (stores & pathways’ which is helpful
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/thermal-energy
Investigate the relationship between pressure
and volume of a gas at fixed temperature.
(Edexcel)
Standard Boyles Law
apparatus
Boyles Law. The kinetic theory section of the energy episodes
includes both Boyles law & the other ideal gas laws.
Specifically episode 601-4 describes relationship between
pressure and volume. It looks at it both macroscopically and
microscopically with reference to density of the gas (number of
particles) which is not traditional
http://tap.iop.org/energy/kinetic/601/page_47422.html
the other laws (Charles (601-6) & pressure (601-5) are also
explored.
Boyles Law
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/boyles-law-0
Charles Law & Law of pressures;
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/gaslaws-and-absolute-zero
Determining an estimate of absolute zero
using variation of gas temperature with
pressure (OCR)
Joly apparatus (glass bulb
attached to pressure
measuring device (there
are digital versions now)
Law of pressures and
Charles law apparatus;
there is a simple cheap
capilliary tube (graduated)
for Charles Law
Episodes 601-5 & 601-6 drawn together to find absolute zero
http://tap.iop.org/energy/kinetic/601/page_47422.html
Charles Law & Law of pressures;
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/gaslaws-and-absolute-zero
Boyles Law. The kinetic theory section of the energy episodes
includes both Boyles law & the other ideal gas laws.
Specifically episode 601-4 describes relationship between
pressure and volume. It looks at it both macroscopically and
microscopically with reference to density of the gas (number of
particles) which is not traditional
http://tap.iop.org/energy/kinetic/601/page_47422.html
the other laws (Charles (601-6) & pressure (601-5) are also
explored.
Boyles Law
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/boyles-law-0
Determination of the specific heat capacity of
a material (OCR)
14
Investigation of Boyles Law (constant
temperature) and Charles’s (constant
pressure) law for a gas ( AQA)
Episode 607 has a straightforward approach to shc
http://tap.iop.org/energy/thermal/607/page_47500.html
an interesting extension would be to do this by a method of
mixtures
Charles Law & Law of pressures;
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/gaslaws-and-absolute-zero
15
16
Suggested activities
apparatus
Reference to TAP (tap.iop.org)
Investigate the absorption of gamma radiation
by lead.(Edexcel)
There is an expt from
Nuffield A-level phys which
measures ‘half-thickness
for lead for gamma
radiation; it provides a
calibration curve
http://tap.iop.org/atoms/radioactivity/511/page_47096.html
this episode 511 describes a range of absorption investigation but
not the specific absorption of gamma by lead.
Reference to Practical Physics (practicalphysics.org)
This is helpful but not directly
Absorption of α or β or γ radiation (OCR)
Sources, detector & set of
absorbers.
Standard school kit but
expensive to buy if not
already in school
Section on Radioactivity for general support;
http://tap.iop.org/atoms/radioactivity/index.html
then specifically
http://tap.iop.org/atoms/radioactivity/510/page_47087.html
for properties of radiations, and then
http://tap.iop.org/atoms/radioactivity/511/page_47096.html
for some specific expts though nothing specifically on ‘halfthickness’ for gamma in lead
Section on Ionising Radiation and their properties
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/ionising-radiations-and-their-properties
Investigation of the inverse square law for
gamma radiation (AQA)
Source + detector
As above
As above
Determine the value of an unknown mass
using the resonant frequencies of the
oscillation of known masses.(Edexcel)
Simple mass on springs
arrangements + timing of
no of oscillations
The section of TAP on vibrations & waves
http://tap.iop.org/vibration/index.html
then more specifically the episode 303 on mass-spring systems
http://tap.iop.org/vibration/shm/303/page_46578.html
it is interesting to discuss arrangements of springs in series and
parallel (or combinations) to have an appropriate ‘stiffness’ to
have a sensitive enough system to measure the unknown mass as
precisely as possible
There is a section within ‘forces & motion on SHM
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/simple-harmonic-motion
within that there is a further section;
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/investigating-mass-spring-oscillator
on the mass & spring oscillator & opportunities for datalogging with a distance sensor
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/datalogging-shm-mass-spring
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/gamma-radiation-inverse-square-law
Suggested activities
Reference to TAP (tap.iop.org)
Reference to Practical Physics (practicalphysics.org)
Investigating the factors affecting the period
of a simple harmonic oscillator (OCR)
apparatus
As above but also possible to look at the simple pendulum;
http://tap.iop.org/vibration/shm/304/page_46587.html
As above but also possible to look at the simple pendulum;
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practicalphysics/examples-simple-harmonic-motion
or a cantilever;
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/shmcantilever
Investigation into simple harmonic motion
using a mass-spring system and a simple
pendulum (AQA)
As above
As above
17
Determination of Planck's constant using LEDs
(OCR)
LED arrays (timstar for
example) are now
inexpensive enough
(approx. £25) to have
enough for a class expt
18
Research skills (two examples quoted);
The principles behind the operation of the
Global Positioning System
The use of radioactive materials as tracers in
medical imaging (OCR)
This is relevant only to those
who use OCR ‘B’ Advancing
physics and will be well
understood by them, though
the task would need to be
shorter than the traditional
two-week research report
19
Investigate using a search coil and
oscilloscope, the effect on magnetic flux
linkage of varying the angle between the
search coli and the magnetic field AQA)
Search coils (axial & lateral)
Helmholtz coils work well
but any transformer coils
20
Investigate how the force on a wire varies with
flux density, current and length of wire using a
top-pan balance. (AQA).
There is a section on quantum physics
http://tap.iop.org/atoms/quantum/index.html
within which there is a section on Plancks constant determination
using an LED array;
http://tap.iop.org/atoms/quantum/501/page_47004.html
section 501-4
http://tap.iop.org/atoms/quantum/502/page_47014.html
describes the Photoelectric effect fro determining Planck Constant
but the apparatus is v expensive but GREAT if you can get hold of
it! (Episode 502-3)
Section on Electromagnetism,
http://tap.iop.org/fields/electromagnetism/index.html
then
http://tap.iop.org/fields/electromagnetism/414/page_46948.html
electromagnetic induction and specifically
episode 414-5 ‘magnet falling through a coil’
Nothing relevant in practical physics
http://tap.iop.org/fields/electromagnetism/412/page_46925.html
then episode 412-3
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-physics/forcewire-carrying-current-magnetic-field