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LEARNING MATERIALS
Subject: Physics
Unit: Introduction to Physics
Topic 1: Introduction to Physics
Level: 3
Essential reading
There is no essential textbook for this topic, but you should find that
any A-Level Physics textbook will provide a useful guide.
Recommended reading:
Recommended reading for this topic is listed in the back pages of
these learning materials.
Further resources:
Further resources to deepen your learning on specific aspects of this
topic are listed throughout these learning materials.
If you see this icon you will be able to listen to how the word is
pronounced
Read and make notes:
Making notes turns reading into studying. Notes should be brief, clear and
helpful.
To help your understanding:
• rewrite or summarise what you have learned (avoid copying what
you have read);
• note down any questions your studying has raised, either to ask
your tutor, or to develop into further research.
To help you to remember:
• sum things up to improve long term memory;
• write things down to aid motor memory;
• use colour, images or patterns to help visual memory.
To help you in your assessments:
• record where you will find information (e.g. page numbers);
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, • keep your notes organised and easy to navigate;
• highlight where further reading and research are needed,
including any recommended or further reading;
• use your notes to help you get started on your TAQs.
Read the Specification:
So that you will know the criteria you will be assessed on please read
the unit specification in my courses on the Materials page.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Physics
Unit: Introduction to Physics
Topic: Introduction to Physics
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
Contents
Press CTRL/⌘ + Click in the contents list to go to the relevant page
Introduction .................................................................................................... 1
1. Basic mechanics ................................................................................... 2
1.1 Scalars .................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Vectors .................................................................................................... 3
1.2.1 Simple vector additions .............................................................. 3
2. Forces, and Newton’s First, Second and Third Laws....................... 11
2.1 Forces ................................................................................................... 11
2.2 Mass ...................................................................................................... 12
2.3 Velocity .................................................................................................. 14
2.4 Acceleration ........................................................................................... 14
2.5 Momentum............................................................................................. 15
2.6 Impulse .................................................................................................. 15
2.7 Newton’s Laws ...................................................................................... 16
2.7.1 Newton’s First Law ................................................................... 16
2.7.2 Newton’s Second Law .............................................................. 17
2.7.3 Newton’s Third Law.................................................................. 17
3. Waves ................................................................................................... 19
4. Bending Light: Refraction .................................................................. 23
4.1 Huygens’ Principle ................................................................................. 23
4.2 Relative Refractive Index ....................................................................... 25
4.3 Snell’s Law: A Mathematical Solution .................................................... 26
4.4 Total Internal Reflection ......................................................................... 27
5. Particles ............................................................................................... 31
5.1 Basic Structure of the atom .................................................................... 31
5.1.1 Bohr model............................................................................... 31
5.1.2 Electron cloud model................................................................ 33
5.1.3 Nucleon number and proton number ........................................ 33
5.2 Fundamental Particles ........................................................................... 35
5.2.1 Matter and matter particles ....................................................... 35
5.2.2 Quarks and antiquarks ............................................................. 36
Properties of quarks: ....................................................................................... 37
5.2.3 Leptons .................................................................................... 38
Antiparticles: ................................................................................................... 38
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Physics
Unit: Introduction to Physics
Topic: Introduction to Physics
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
5.2.4 Neutrinos ................................................................................. 38
5.3 Fundamental Forces (Interactions) ........................................................ 38
6. Electrical principles ............................................................................ 41
6.1 Current Electricity .................................................................................. 41
6.1.1 Potential difference .................................................................. 42
6.1.2 Resistance ............................................................................... 44
6.1.3 Combining Electrical Resistance .............................................. 46
6.2 DC Electricity ......................................................................................... 47
6.2.1 Resistivity ................................................................................. 47
6.2.2 Electromotive force (EMF) and Internal resistance ................... 49
Recommended reading ............................................................................... 53
Resources .................................................................................................... 53
Websites ........................................................................................................ 53
Sources and credits..................................................................................... 55
Sources for these learning materials .......................................................... 55
Image credits................................................................................................. 55
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
LEARNING MATERIALS
Subject: Physics
Unit: Introduction to Physics
Topic 1: Introduction to Physics
Level: 3
Essential reading
There is no essential textbook for this topic, but you should find that
any A-Level Physics textbook will provide a useful guide.
Recommended reading:
Recommended reading for this topic is listed in the back pages of
these learning materials.
Further resources:
Further resources to deepen your learning on specific aspects of this
topic are listed throughout these learning materials.
If you see this icon you will be able to listen to how the word is
pronounced
Read and make notes:
Making notes turns reading into studying. Notes should be brief, clear and
helpful.
To help your understanding:
• rewrite or summarise what you have learned (avoid copying what
you have read);
• note down any questions your studying has raised, either to ask
your tutor, or to develop into further research.
To help you to remember:
• sum things up to improve long term memory;
• write things down to aid motor memory;
• use colour, images or patterns to help visual memory.
To help you in your assessments:
• record where you will find information (e.g. page numbers);
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, • keep your notes organised and easy to navigate;
• highlight where further reading and research are needed,
including any recommended or further reading;
• use your notes to help you get started on your TAQs.
Read the Specification:
So that you will know the criteria you will be assessed on please read
the unit specification in my courses on the Materials page.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Physics
Unit: Introduction to Physics
Topic: Introduction to Physics
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
Contents
Press CTRL/⌘ + Click in the contents list to go to the relevant page
Introduction .................................................................................................... 1
1. Basic mechanics ................................................................................... 2
1.1 Scalars .................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Vectors .................................................................................................... 3
1.2.1 Simple vector additions .............................................................. 3
2. Forces, and Newton’s First, Second and Third Laws....................... 11
2.1 Forces ................................................................................................... 11
2.2 Mass ...................................................................................................... 12
2.3 Velocity .................................................................................................. 14
2.4 Acceleration ........................................................................................... 14
2.5 Momentum............................................................................................. 15
2.6 Impulse .................................................................................................. 15
2.7 Newton’s Laws ...................................................................................... 16
2.7.1 Newton’s First Law ................................................................... 16
2.7.2 Newton’s Second Law .............................................................. 17
2.7.3 Newton’s Third Law.................................................................. 17
3. Waves ................................................................................................... 19
4. Bending Light: Refraction .................................................................. 23
4.1 Huygens’ Principle ................................................................................. 23
4.2 Relative Refractive Index ....................................................................... 25
4.3 Snell’s Law: A Mathematical Solution .................................................... 26
4.4 Total Internal Reflection ......................................................................... 27
5. Particles ............................................................................................... 31
5.1 Basic Structure of the atom .................................................................... 31
5.1.1 Bohr model............................................................................... 31
5.1.2 Electron cloud model................................................................ 33
5.1.3 Nucleon number and proton number ........................................ 33
5.2 Fundamental Particles ........................................................................... 35
5.2.1 Matter and matter particles ....................................................... 35
5.2.2 Quarks and antiquarks ............................................................. 36
Properties of quarks: ....................................................................................... 37
5.2.3 Leptons .................................................................................... 38
Antiparticles: ................................................................................................... 38
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Physics
Unit: Introduction to Physics
Topic: Introduction to Physics
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
5.2.4 Neutrinos ................................................................................. 38
5.3 Fundamental Forces (Interactions) ........................................................ 38
6. Electrical principles ............................................................................ 41
6.1 Current Electricity .................................................................................. 41
6.1.1 Potential difference .................................................................. 42
6.1.2 Resistance ............................................................................... 44
6.1.3 Combining Electrical Resistance .............................................. 46
6.2 DC Electricity ......................................................................................... 47
6.2.1 Resistivity ................................................................................. 47
6.2.2 Electromotive force (EMF) and Internal resistance ................... 49
Recommended reading ............................................................................... 53
Resources .................................................................................................... 53
Websites ........................................................................................................ 53
Sources and credits..................................................................................... 55
Sources for these learning materials .......................................................... 55
Image credits................................................................................................. 55
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
