Nelson Thornes/AQA AS Physics A Weblinks
Chapter 1 – Matter and radiation
URL / Descriptive name / Description/ Wolfram Demonstrations Project – Scientific Notation / Scientific notation is a way of writing very large or very small numbers in a compact form. The most important thing about a number is its order of magnitude. (Mathematica Player free download needed to run the demonstration.)
/ Molecular Expressions – Science, Optics and You – Powers of 10 /
‘Secret Worlds: The Universe Within’ moves through space in successive orders of magnitude, ‘Powers of 10’, and into the subatomic universe of electrons and protons.
/ Nikon - Universcale / From the extremities of space down to the femtometre. Jump to the page that you want by clicking on the scale number or use your mouse if it is wheeled./ Teachers’ Domain – Atoms: The Space Between / You wouldn't know it to look at it, but the atoms that make up a solid piece of iron contain more space than stuff. How is it then that the whole world doesn't just crumble around us? This 75 second video segment adapted from A Science Odyssey uses models, vivid descriptions, and analogies to explain the structural integrity of matter at the atomic level.
/ Hydrogen Atom Scale Model / Compare an electron (one pixel) to a proton and the space between. Scroll from the proton to the right a screen at a time!
/ The Size Of Our World / Use these images to appreciate the scale of the universe.
/ Care 2: e-Cards – Just Remember: Eric Idle / ‘Whenever life gets you down Mrs Brown…’ song on e-card about the size of the universe.
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/ Physics 2000 – Isotope table applet from
Science Trek – Isotopes and Radioactivity / This isotope table shows – and + decays resulting in stable nuclei. This is part of the Physics 2000 interactive tutorial on Isotopes and Radioactivity.
Chapter 2 – Quarks and leptons
URL / Descriptive name / Description/ The Particle Adventure / The Particles Adventure – the fundamentals of matter and force – is an interactive tour of quarks, neutrinos, antimatter, extra dimensions, dark matter, accelerators and particle detectors.
/ CERN – Resources for teaching / See the following:
- CERN in general – CERN in 7 questions.
- CERN in general – What is CERN (ppt).
- Lecture material – Particles fields and the Big Bang (ppt/pdf).
- Movies, animations, videoclips, photos and posters– Videoclip (RealPlayer): CERN in 2 minutes.
- Games and interactives – LCH game.
- Games and interactives – Particles leaving a track in a Bubble Chamber (QuickTime).
/ PPARC:
- Evidence for the Big Bang; Dream journey into the atom; Matter and antimatter.
- Big Questions, Big Experiment:The Large Hadron Collider
- The Little Book of the Big Bang / Order or download as pdf documents:
- Cartoon style posters, teachers notes and worksheets, describing the evidence for the expanding universe and the Big Bang model, atoms and what they are made of, including nuclei and quarks, and the differences between matter and antimatter.
- Leaflet/ wallchart describing the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. It describes the ‘big questions’ about our Universe that scientists are trying to answer - and how the amazing LHC will help them do so.
- A cartoon booklet that introduces particle physics, particle accelerators and the Large Hadron Collider.
Also available at link via
/ SEED Short Film – Lords of the Ring / Why so many scientists are pinning their hopes on this experiment's potential to answer some of the biggest questions in science? Travel underground and behind the scenes to probe the cavernous Large Hadron Collider at CERN.
/ UCL – CERN simulation applet / Simulate accelerating electrons and positrons at CERN before seeing the results of their collision.
/ Nova – CERN (July 2007) / 12 min video: Beneath the Alps, the mother of all particle accelerators nears completion.
Chapter 3 – Quantum phenomena
URL / Descriptive name / Description/ PhET – Photoelectric Effect / See how light knocks electrons off a metal target, and recreate the experiment that spawned the field of quantum mechanics such as obtaining a graph of electron energy v light frequency with different metals.
/ St. Mary’s Physics Online – The Photoelectric Effect / This animation allows the user to select the radiation frequency and brightness, and the target metal. The electron current is then measured.
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PhET - Neon Lights and Other Discharge Lamps
/ Produce light by bombarding atoms with electrons. See how the characteristic spectra of different elements are produced, and configure your own element's energy states to produce light of different colors./ PhET – Models of the Hydrogen Atom / How did scientists figure out the structure of atoms without looking at them? Try out different models by shooting photons and alpha particles at the atom. Check how the prediction of the model matches the experimental results.
/ Global View – Elemental Spectra / This applet displays the periodic table of elements. Clicking on an element will show its absorption/emission line spectrum.
/ Global View – Atomic Emission / This applet presents the user with an energy level diagram of an atom. Each time the electron moves from a higher to lower energy level a photon is emitted. The wavelength of the photon is indicated.
/ You Tube – Dr Quantum - Double Slit Experiment / You Tube 5 minute video on the double slit experiment with waves and particles, and introducing quantum weirdness.
/ Physics 2000 – The Atomic Lab and
Science Trek. / In The Atomic Lab see how some surprising 20th Century physics experiments show us that not everything is as it seems, for example wave-particle duality. In Science Trek learn basic principles of waves, quantum mechanics, polarization, and the periodic table.
Chapter 4 – Electric current
URL / Descriptive name / Description/ Molecular Expressions – Electricity and Magnetism – Ohm’s Law / This illustration of a circuit is used to demonstrate how the current in a circuit is directly proportional to the applied voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit.
/ PhET – Ohm’s Law / Adjust the voltage and resistance, and see the current change according to Ohm's law.
/ PhET – Resistance in a Wire / Change the resistivity, length, and area of a wire to see how they affect the resistance.
/ You Tube – Superconductivity / Video of the Meissner effect showing a magnet levitating above a superconductor, cooled by liquid nitrogen – induced supercurrents producing mirror images of the magnet’s poles.
Chapter 5 – Direct current circuits
URL / Descriptive name / Description/ Matter Project – Resistors in series and parallel / Interactive tutorial exploring the effect of resistors in both series and parallel circuits on the current flowing at any point.
/ Electronics 2000 – Series/Parallel Calculator / Perform calculations for series or parallel combinations of resistors.
/ Absorb Physics for A-level – EMF and Internal Resistance / This interactive tutorial explains that power supplies have an internal resistance which reduces the output p.d. as the current supplied increases.
/ Electronics 2000 – Potential Divider Calculator / Perform calculations for potential divider circuits.
Chapter 6 – Alternating currents
URL / Descriptive name / Descriptionor
/ Oscilloscope Simulator / Adjust the time base and y-gain to determine the frequency and amplitude of the alternating voltage display.
/ Virtual Oscilloscope Simulation / Operate the system as you would operate a real oscilloscope. You can attach and detach signal cables.
Turn the oscilloscope on, before starting to measure.
/ Using An Oscilloscope / Interactive tutorial about using an oscilloscope.
Chapter 7 – Forces in equilibrium
URL / Descriptive name / Description/ General Physics Java Applets – Kinematics – Boat and River / The applet, ‘Boat in a River’, shows a boat crossing a river. The river causes the boat to drift. Change the magnitude of the velocity of the river and the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the boat using the scroll bars.
/ Upscale – DM Harrison – Component Addition / A simple demonstration showing the addition of two vectors.
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/ PennState – Changes in Motion from Aerodynamic Forces / This animation shows how the lift on an aircraft affects its motion.
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ExploreScience – See-Saw Torque
/ A seesaw lever gizmo. Place up to four masses on a seesaw at different locations and try to balance the lever. The position of the fulcrum can be shifted.(or via )
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Stable, unstable and neutral equilibrium
/ Video clips showing a block on different curved surfaces./ St. Mary’s Physics Online – Free Body Diagram / This applet shows the weight components of a box on a ramp. Change the angle and use it to discuss equilibrium on an inclined plane.
/ ExploreScience – Physics – Motion and force – Inclined Plane (Simple Machine) / Investigate how an inclined plane redirects and reduces the force pulling a brick downward, with or without friction.
/ C K Ng – Inclined Plane / This applet displays motion, forces acting and real-time energy based graphs.
Chapter 8 – On the move
URL / Descriptive name / Descriptionor via
/ PennState – Kinematics in 1D / Animation with x-t, v-t and a-t graphs of a car accelerating, maintaining a constant velocity, then braking.
/ PhysicsLab – Speed and Acceleration / This program is about distance, speed and acceleration. It shows a brave rocket-powered skater on very smooth ice in a vacuum! You fire the rockets and give the skater a constant acceleration. Obtain readings or graphs and print-outs.
/ Walter Fendt – Motion with constant acceleration / This applet shows a car moving with constant acceleration. You can vary the values of initial position, velocity and acceleration (s-t, v-t and a-t graphs are drawn).
/ Global View – Horizontal Block / This applet draws s-t and v-t graphs. Set the initial values of displacement, velocity and acceleration then click ‘Run’.
/ Upscale – DM Harrison – Motion Animation / Set the acceleration of the car, click the startbutton and display the corresponding v-t graph.
/ General Physics Java Applets – Kinematics – Catch Up / A red dot moves at a constant velocity while a yellow dot accelerates. ‘Stop’ when yellow catches red to observe the s-t and v-t graphs.
/ Global View – Free Fall / This applet allows students to measure free fall times and average velocities and hence determine the acceleration due to gravity.
/ Upscale – DM Harrison – Projectile Motion / Firing a projectile when air resistance is negligible. The initial height and angle may be adjusted. Click ‘Fire’ to display a y-x graph of the motion.
/ St. Mary’s Physics Online – Projectile Fired Horizontally / Animation to show the independence of the horizontal and vertical motion of a projectile.
/ Wolfram Demonstrations Project – Throw off a Cliff / Two-dimensional display of the trajectory of an object thrown from a cliff into the sea. Parameters of the trajectory that you can vary are the cliff height, the initial velocity and the initial angle. (Mathematica Player free download needed to run the demonstration.)
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/ PennState– Aircraft Dropping a Bomb on Target / This animation shows the parabolic path of a bomb dropped by an aircraft.
/ Global View - Cannon / Hit the monkey with the cannon! Control the kinetic energy of the projectile, the angle of the cannon, and choose whether or not to shoot with atmospheric drag turned on.
/ ExploreScience – Physics – Motion and force – Shoot the Monkey!
Or
ExploreScience – Browse Gizmos – Classic Gizmos –
Shoot the Monkey (Classic) / - Fire a banana cannon at a monkey in a tree. The monkey drops from the tree at the moment the banana is fired from the cannon. Determine where to aim the cannon so the monkey catches the banana. The position of the cannon, launch angle and initial velocity of the banana can be varied. Students can observe the velocity vectors and the paths of the monkey and banana.- Learn about projectile motion by firing directly at the monkey. The projectile velocity and position can be manipulated, and the target begins to fall at the same time the projectile is fired.
/ Upscale – DM Harrison – The Monkey and the Hunter / When the hunter fires the gun the monkey drops a coconut. Click to begin the animation.
Chapter 9 – Motion and force
URL / Descriptive name / DescriptionSee also the related ‘Teaching with Gizmos’ movies @ / ExploreScience – Physics – Motion and force – Fan Cart Physics / Gain an understanding of Newton's Laws by experimenting with a cart (on which up to three fans are placed) on a linear track. See also the related ‘Teaching with Gizmos’ movies.
/ PhET – Forces in 1 Dimension / Explore the forces at work when you try to push a filing cabinet. Create an applied force and see the resulting friction force and total force acting on the cabinet. Charts show the forces, position, velocity, and acceleration vs. time. View a Free Body Diagram of all the forces (including gravitational and normal forces).
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/ PennState - Creating Free Body Diagrams: An Example / This animation shows an object on a level table being pulled by a falling weight.
/ Road safety – braking distance game / Download this braking distance game which needs a Flash player. The spacebar stops the car. Try to stop before hitting the pedestrian.
/ CoLoS – Reaction time measurement / This applet displays reaction time and thinking distance + braking distance. Click to start the animation and brake to stop the car.
/ CoLoS – Reaction time and car accident / This applet simulates a multiple car pile-up, drawing a v-t graph for each car. You drive the second car. When the first car brakes, its colour will turning red, left click the mouse button to stop your car.
/ General Physics Java Applets – Kinematics – Apply the Brakes / A dot moves to the right with uniform velocity. Change the initial velocity and acceleration then press the brake button to decelerate the dot observing the s-t and v-t graphs.
/ RoSPA – Stopping Distances / Run the Pedestrian Injury Simulator to see the impact of speed and various driving impairments upon your thinking and braking distances.
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IIHS – Understanding Car Crashes: It's Basic Physics
/ Video and teacher’s guide. Go behind the scenes to explore the basic science behind car crashes. Watch the trailer.for example:
/ The THINK! Road Safety Website / Video, audio and printed media for the various THINK! campaigns can be downloaded by selecting from the 'drop-down' menus.
See link for ‘Its 30 for a reason’ video.
/ Redlake – Vehicle Impact Testing – Barrier crash test / 10 second high speed video of an Audi in a crash test that shows the rapid deployment of the airbag and the effect of the crumple zone.
Chapter 10 – Work, energy and power
URL / Descriptive name / Descriptionor via
/ PennState –Converting Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy on a Frictionless Ramp / This animation shows the forces acting on an object sliding down and off a frictionless ramp. Potential and kinetic energy is monitored.
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/ PennState – Converting Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy Rolling Down Various Ramps / This animation shows the potential and kinetic energy changes of four balls rolling down different ramps.
/ BERR – Renewable Energy / UK government (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)website on renewable energy.
/ Alternative Energy Sources / A US information website discussing the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy, solar energy and gasoline alternatives with movies on wind and solar energies.
/ REA – Renewable Power /
Click on the appropriate picture-links to find information on the different subject areas.
/Defra – Climate change: What we are doing in the UK
/ This government website explains how the UK plans to adapt to the impacts of climate change.Chapter 11 – Materials
URL / Descriptive name / Description/ Matter Project – Hooke’s Law / Interactive tutorial introducing Hooke's Law and explaining the terms extension and elastic limit.
/ Matter Project – The Young Modulus / Interactive tutorial introducing the Young modulus, its units and explaining the terms tensile force, tensile stress, tensile strain, elastic, strong and stiff.
/ You Tube – Ship floating on nothing! / 30 second video clip (from Physikshow Uni Bonn) using sulfur hexafluoride, which is denser than air.
Chapter 12 – Waves
URL / Descriptive name / Description/ CoLoS – Transverse Wave and Longitudinal Wave / This applet lets you visualize the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves, progressing and standing waves.
/ Upscale – DM Harrison – Polarisation of Light / See that the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of motion of the wave.
/ Upscale – DM Harrison –Reflections From Two Barriers / An animation showing a wave reflected back and forth between two barriers, setting up a standing wave.
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/ Penn State – Interference of Harmonic Waves (varying phase) / This animation shows the superposition of two waves, whose phase difference varies.
/ Walter Fendt – Standing wave / This applet explains standing waves by the superposition of the incident and reflected waves.
/ General Physics Java Applets – Waves – Harmonics / This applet shows the first three harmonics of a vibrating string. After selection of variables observe the sum of all the frequencies.
/ ZonaLand– Standing Waves 1 (On a string, both ends fixed). / An animation showing the standing wave patterns produced on a string of a musical instrument. Select the harmonics by clicking the appropriate checkbox.
Chapter 13 – Optics