A-Level Physics Practical Endorsement

The A-level Physics CPAC Practical Endorsement course at BioGrad Exams comprises 15 experiments in total, each carefully selected to allow students to demonstrate their competencies in the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPACs). The oscillations of springs and pendula, and the dropping of objects from height are the classic approaches towards confirming Newtonian mechanics, whilst the use of magnetic fields to induce standing waves for the measurement of density might be considered somewhat less conventional. Investigating electrical circuits enables the student to study capacitance and resistivity, and links neatly into the topic of electromagnetism. The gas laws of Charles and Boyle can be demonstrated with elegance, using surprisingly simple equipment. Students will have access to specialist kit and will be taught how to use a micrometre barrel scale and the Vernier scale on a travelling microscope. They will be encouraged to evaluate their results by analysing errors and uncertainties in their measurements, hence allowing them to be critical about what constitutes a ‘true’ value.

The course is as much a learning experience as an assessment. The aim is for the student to improve their general approach towards practical work over the course of the week and provide a tangible framework upon which preparations for A-level can be firmly secured.

Required Practical 1 – Standing waves on a wire under tension.

Required Practical 2a – Measuring the separation of Young’s slits.

Required Practical 2b – Measuring the wavelength of light with a diffraction grating.

Required Practical 3 – Measuring g by freefall.

Required Practical 4 – Young’s modulus of a metal wire.

Required Practical 5 – Measuring the resistivity of a metal wire.

Required Practical 6 – Measuring the EMF and internal resistance of a power supply.

Required Practical 7a – Oscillations of a mass on a spring.

Required Practical 7b – Investigating the oscillations of a simple pendulum.

Required Practical 8a – Boyle’s law.

Required Practical 8b – Charles’ law.

Required Practical 9 – Slow discharge and charging of a capacitor.

Required Practical 10 – Force on a current-carrying wire.

Required Practical 11 – Magnetic flux.

Required Practical 12 – The iodometric determination of copper.

• Students must be studying A-level Physics with AQA, Edexcel or OCR by distance learning or at a further education centre.
• This is an intensive practical course designed for students to ‘fast track’ the A-Level practical assessment. This basic course contains a limited number of opportunities to attempt each of the assessed practical techniques, therefore BioGrad recommends that students without any prior practical laboratory experience consider the 1 day ‘Introduction to Laboratory Skills’ which offers the chance to gain vital skills required to be successful in their assessment.