AQA A-level physics (7408)
Paper 1
Revision Notes
Clear explanations, the equations that matter, worked examples, the required
practicals, and quick checks at the end of every topic - everything Paper 1 can ask, in
one place.
1 Measurements & their errors
2 Particles & radiation
3 Waves
4 Mechanics & materials
5 Electricity
6 Further mechanics - periodic motion
✦ Equation sheet & exam technique checklist
written to the AQA 7408 specification
,find it fast
What’s inside
Measurements & their errors
1
3
1.1 base units & prefixes · 1.2 random & systematic errors · 1.3 uncertainty in a reading · 1.4 combining
uncertainties · 1.5 uncertainty from a graph · 1.6 orders of magnitude
Particles & radiation
2
5
2.1 inside the atom · 2.2 stable & unstable nuclei · 2.3 photons · 2.4 particles & antiparticles · 2.5
exchange particles · 2.6 the particle zoo · 2.7 beta decay · 2.8 photoelectric effect · 2.9 energy levels &
spectra · 2.10 wave-particle duality
Waves
3
8
3.1 progressive waves · 3.2 refraction · 3.3 superposition & interference · 3.4 diffraction · 3.5 stationary
waves
Mechanics & materials
4
10
4.1 scalars & vectors · 4.2 moments · 4.3 motion graphs · 4.4 constant acceleration · 4.5 projectiles · 4.6
Newton’s laws · 4.7 momentum · 4.8 work, energy & power · 4.9 density & pressure · 4.10 Hooke’s law
· 4.11 Young modulus
Electricity
5
12
5.1 current & charge · 5.2 potential difference & resistance · 5.3 resistivity · 5.4 circuits & power · 5.5
potential dividers
Further mechanics - periodic motion
6
14
6.1 circular motion · 6.2 simple harmonic motion · 6.3 the two classic SHM systems · 6.4 damping,
forced vibrations & resonance
Equation sheet & exam checklist
✦
16
every equation you need, topic by topic · 12 exam habits that pick up marks
2
, topic one
Measurements & their errors
The marks everyone throws away - get these basics automatic and the rest of physics gets easier.
1.1 Base units and prefixes
Every quantity you measure is built from seven SI base units. Learn these cold:
The seven SI base units
metre (m) length · kilogram (kg) mass · second (s) time · ampere (A) current · kelvin (K) temperature · mole (mol) amount of substance ·
candela (cd) luminous intensity
All other units are combinations of these. You can derive any unit from an equation: for example, from W = Fs, one joule is one newton metre, and
a newton is kg m s−2 (from F = ma), so 1 J = kg m2 s−2. Doing this for a weird unit is a favourite one-marker.
Prefixes you must know
tera T 1012 · giga G 109 · mega M 106 · kilo k 103 · centi c 10−2 · milli m 10−3 · micro μ 10−6 · nano n 10−9 · pico p 10−12 · femto f 10−15
Watch out! Convert everything to SI before substituting: mm → m, g → kg, cm2 → m2 (careful: 1 cm2 = 10−4 m2, not 10−2). Two conversions
worth remembering: 1 eV = 1.60 × 10−19 J and 1 kWh = 3.60 × 106 J.
1.2 Random and systematic errors
Random errors scatter your readings above and below the true value - reaction time at a stopwatch, a fluctuating current, judging a meniscus.
You shrink their effect by repeating and averaging (or using automatic timing).
Systematic errors push every reading the same way - a balance that reads 0.02 g with nothing on it (a zero error), a stretched tape measure.
Averaging repeats does nothing for these; you fix the instrument or the method.
The four words exams love
Accuracy - how close you are to the true value.
Precision - how fine the scale is / how tightly repeats cluster.
Repeatability - same person, same kit, same method gets the same result.
Reproducibility - someone else, different kit, still gets the same result.
Resolution - the smallest change the instrument can show.
Watch out! Precise does not mean accurate. A metre rule with a zero error gives precise, wrong answers every time.
1.3 Uncertainty in a reading
Every measurement carries an absolute uncertainty, written as value ± uncertainty, in the same units. For an analogue scale, take ± half the
smallest division; for a digital readout, take ±1 in the last digit. If readings fluctuate, quote half the range of your repeats.
percentage uncertainty = (absolute uncertainty ÷ measured value) × 100%
Percentage uncertainties let you compare: 12.4 ± 0.1 cm is 0.8%, while 2.1 ± 0.1 cm is 4.8% - the second reading is far shakier.
1.4 Combining uncertainties
Three rules
Adding or subtracting quantities → add the absolute uncertainties.
Multiplying or dividing → add the percentage uncertainties.
Raising to a power n → multiply the percentage uncertainty by n.
3
Paper 1
Revision Notes
Clear explanations, the equations that matter, worked examples, the required
practicals, and quick checks at the end of every topic - everything Paper 1 can ask, in
one place.
1 Measurements & their errors
2 Particles & radiation
3 Waves
4 Mechanics & materials
5 Electricity
6 Further mechanics - periodic motion
✦ Equation sheet & exam technique checklist
written to the AQA 7408 specification
,find it fast
What’s inside
Measurements & their errors
1
3
1.1 base units & prefixes · 1.2 random & systematic errors · 1.3 uncertainty in a reading · 1.4 combining
uncertainties · 1.5 uncertainty from a graph · 1.6 orders of magnitude
Particles & radiation
2
5
2.1 inside the atom · 2.2 stable & unstable nuclei · 2.3 photons · 2.4 particles & antiparticles · 2.5
exchange particles · 2.6 the particle zoo · 2.7 beta decay · 2.8 photoelectric effect · 2.9 energy levels &
spectra · 2.10 wave-particle duality
Waves
3
8
3.1 progressive waves · 3.2 refraction · 3.3 superposition & interference · 3.4 diffraction · 3.5 stationary
waves
Mechanics & materials
4
10
4.1 scalars & vectors · 4.2 moments · 4.3 motion graphs · 4.4 constant acceleration · 4.5 projectiles · 4.6
Newton’s laws · 4.7 momentum · 4.8 work, energy & power · 4.9 density & pressure · 4.10 Hooke’s law
· 4.11 Young modulus
Electricity
5
12
5.1 current & charge · 5.2 potential difference & resistance · 5.3 resistivity · 5.4 circuits & power · 5.5
potential dividers
Further mechanics - periodic motion
6
14
6.1 circular motion · 6.2 simple harmonic motion · 6.3 the two classic SHM systems · 6.4 damping,
forced vibrations & resonance
Equation sheet & exam checklist
✦
16
every equation you need, topic by topic · 12 exam habits that pick up marks
2
, topic one
Measurements & their errors
The marks everyone throws away - get these basics automatic and the rest of physics gets easier.
1.1 Base units and prefixes
Every quantity you measure is built from seven SI base units. Learn these cold:
The seven SI base units
metre (m) length · kilogram (kg) mass · second (s) time · ampere (A) current · kelvin (K) temperature · mole (mol) amount of substance ·
candela (cd) luminous intensity
All other units are combinations of these. You can derive any unit from an equation: for example, from W = Fs, one joule is one newton metre, and
a newton is kg m s−2 (from F = ma), so 1 J = kg m2 s−2. Doing this for a weird unit is a favourite one-marker.
Prefixes you must know
tera T 1012 · giga G 109 · mega M 106 · kilo k 103 · centi c 10−2 · milli m 10−3 · micro μ 10−6 · nano n 10−9 · pico p 10−12 · femto f 10−15
Watch out! Convert everything to SI before substituting: mm → m, g → kg, cm2 → m2 (careful: 1 cm2 = 10−4 m2, not 10−2). Two conversions
worth remembering: 1 eV = 1.60 × 10−19 J and 1 kWh = 3.60 × 106 J.
1.2 Random and systematic errors
Random errors scatter your readings above and below the true value - reaction time at a stopwatch, a fluctuating current, judging a meniscus.
You shrink their effect by repeating and averaging (or using automatic timing).
Systematic errors push every reading the same way - a balance that reads 0.02 g with nothing on it (a zero error), a stretched tape measure.
Averaging repeats does nothing for these; you fix the instrument or the method.
The four words exams love
Accuracy - how close you are to the true value.
Precision - how fine the scale is / how tightly repeats cluster.
Repeatability - same person, same kit, same method gets the same result.
Reproducibility - someone else, different kit, still gets the same result.
Resolution - the smallest change the instrument can show.
Watch out! Precise does not mean accurate. A metre rule with a zero error gives precise, wrong answers every time.
1.3 Uncertainty in a reading
Every measurement carries an absolute uncertainty, written as value ± uncertainty, in the same units. For an analogue scale, take ± half the
smallest division; for a digital readout, take ±1 in the last digit. If readings fluctuate, quote half the range of your repeats.
percentage uncertainty = (absolute uncertainty ÷ measured value) × 100%
Percentage uncertainties let you compare: 12.4 ± 0.1 cm is 0.8%, while 2.1 ± 0.1 cm is 4.8% - the second reading is far shakier.
1.4 Combining uncertainties
Three rules
Adding or subtracting quantities → add the absolute uncertainties.
Multiplying or dividing → add the percentage uncertainties.
Raising to a power n → multiply the percentage uncertainty by n.
3
