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Physics Revision Guides
A-Level Revise Aid: This resource is designed to support your revision and may contain errors. If you find a discrepancy with your class teaching, your teacher is correct -- please let us know at alevelrevise@scott.scottrix.co.uk.

Particles and Quantum Physics

Year 1 / ASYear 2 / A-Level All Boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, CCEA) AQA

A-Level Physics revision: Particles and Quantum Physics. Learning objectives, key points, worked examples and practice questions across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA.

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šŸ“Œ Key Points

Key Fact: Quarks (u,d,s,c,b,t) in baryons (3) and mesons (q qĢ„); Leptons (e,Ī¼,Ļ„,Ī½ā‚‘,Ī½_Ī¼,Ī½_Ļ„)
Key Fact: Interactions: strong (gluons, q-q), weak (W+/-, Zā°, Ī² decay), EM (Ī³, charged), gravity (negligible)
Key Fact: Conservation: charge, B, L, S in strong/EM; only charge, B-L in weak
Key Fact: Photoelectric: hf = Ļ† + KE_max; threshold fā‚€ = Ļ†/h; no time lag; intensity āˆ number of photons
Key Fact: de Broglie: Ī» = h/p = h/sqrt(2meV) for electrons; diffraction proves wave nature
Key Fact: Line spectra: electrons move between discrete levels; emission (excited->ground), absorption (ground->excited)
Key Fact: Energy levels: E_n = -13.6/n^2 eV (hydrogen); transitions give DeltaE = hf
Key Fact: Detectors: ionisation trails in cloud/bubble chambers; Si detectors measure energy

šŸŽÆ Learning Objectives

  • Describe the standard model: quarks, leptons, gauge bosons
  • Understand particle interactions: strong, weak, electromagnetic, gravitational
  • Apply conservation laws: charge, baryon number, lepton number, strangeness
  • Use the photon model: E = hf = hc/Ī», momentum p = h/Ī»
  • Explain the photoelectric effect and Einstein's equation
  • Understand wave-particle duality: de Broglie wavelength Ī» = h/p
  • Describe atomic line spectra and energy levels
  • Understand particle detectors: cloud chamber, bubble chamber, semiconductor detectors

šŸ’” Worked Example

Exam-Style Question

Question: Electrons accelerated through 150 V. Find de Broglie wavelength and explain if diffraction observable

Model Answer:

Ī» = h/sqrt(2meV) = 6.63x10ā»^3ā“ / sqrt(2x9.11x10ā»^3Ā¹x1.6x10ā»Ā¹ā¹x150) ā‰ˆ 1.0x10ā»Ā¹ā° m = 0.1 nm. Comparable to atomic spacing -> diffraction observable (e.g. Davisson-Germer)

ā“ Practice Questions

Model answers are being added progressively - questions marked ✗ don't have one yet. Cross-check with your teacher or the official mark scheme.

Questions:

  • Energy of photon with Ī» = 400 nm✗ answer coming soon
  • In Ī²ā» decay: n -> p + eā» + Ī½Ģ„ā‚‘. Check conservation laws✗ answer coming soon
  • Find de Broglie Ī» for electron at 100 eV✗ answer coming soon
  • Explain why photoelectric effect supports photon model over wave model✗ answer coming soon
  • Hydrogen transition n=3->2. Find Ī» and colour✗ answer coming soon

šŸŽ¬ Video Resources

šŸ“„ Past Papers & Exam Resources

šŸ”— Further Reading & Resources

šŸ§  Flashcards (Spaced Repetition)

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šŸŽÆ Target Tests (Auto-Graded)

šŸŽ“ Smart Lesson (Guided)