Scribd
Upload
24 views

Module 1 - Development of Practical Skills in Physics

This document outlines the practical skills that students should demonstrate an understanding of for the OCR Physics A Level course. It covers skills assessed in the written exam such as experimental design and analysis, as well as skills assessed through the practical endorsement like following instructions, making observations, constructing circuits, and using a range of equipment including oscilloscopes, lasers, and radiation detectors. The skills are grouped into those involving design and analysis, apparatus and techniques, processing data, and health and safety considerations.

Uploaded by

Chris O
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
24 views

Module 1 - Development of Practical Skills in Physics

This document outlines the practical skills that students should demonstrate an understanding of for the OCR Physics A Level course. It covers skills assessed in the written exam such as experimental design and analysis, as well as skills assessed through the practical endorsement like following instructions, making observations, constructing circuits, and using a range of equipment including oscilloscopes, lasers, and radiation detectors. The skills are grouped into those involving design and analysis, apparatus and techniques, processing data, and health and safety considerations.

Uploaded by

Chris O
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

OCR Physics Specification A - H156/H556

Module 1: Development of Practical Skills in Physics

Progress and
You should be able to demonstrate and show your understanding of: understanding:
1 2 3 4
1.1 Practical skills assessed in the written exam
Experimental design, including solving problems set in a practical context
and including the selection of suitable apparatus, equipment and techniques
for the proposed experiment.

Identification of variables that must be controlled, where appropriate.

Evaluation that an experimental method is appropriate to meet the


expected outcomes.

How to use a wide range of practical apparatus and techniques correctly as


outlined in this specification.

Appropriate units for measurements.

Presenting observations and data in an appropriate format.

Processing, analysing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative


experimental results, including reaching valid conclusions where
appropriate.

Use of appropriate mathematical skills for analysis of quantitative data.

Appropriate use of significant figures.

Plotting and interpreting suitable graphs from experimental results,


including:

(i) selection and labelling of axes with appropriate scales,


quantities and units.

(ii) measurement of gradients and intercepts.

How to evaluate results and draw conclusions.

The identification of anomalies in experimental measurements.

For more resources and video tutorials please visit: www.alevelphysicsonline.com


Progress and
You should be able to demonstrate and show your understanding of: understanding:
1 2 3 4
The limitations in experimental procedures.

Precision and accuracy of measurements and data, including margins of


error, calculating percentage errors and uncertainties in apparatus.

The refining of experimental design by suggestion of improvements to the


procedures and apparatus.

1.2 Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement [A Level only]


Apply investigative approaches and methods to practical work including how
to solve problems in a practical context.

Safely and correctly use a range of practical equipment and materials


including identification of potential hazards and how to minimise the risks
involved.

Follow written instructions.

Make and record observations/measurements.

Keep appropriate records of experimental activities.

Present information and data in a scientific way.

Use appropriate software and tools to process data, carry out research and
report findings.

Use online and offline research skills including websites, textbooks and
other printed scientific sources of information.

Correctly cite sources of information using either the Vancouver or Harvard


referencing system.

Use a wide range of experimental and practical instruments, equipment and


techniques appropriate to the knowledge and understanding included in the
specification.

Use of appropriate analogue apparatus to record a range of measurements


(to include length/distance, temperature, pressure, force, angles and
volume) and to interpolate between scale markings .

Use of appropriate digital instruments, including electrical multimeters, to


obtain a range of measurements (to include time, current, voltage,
resistance and mass).

Use of methods to increase accuracy of measurements, such as timing over


multiple oscillations, or use of fiduciary marker, set square or plumb line.

For more resources and video tutorials please visit: www.alevelphysicsonline.com


Progress and
You should be able to demonstrate and show your understanding of: understanding:
1 2 3 4
Use of a stopwatch or light gates for timing.

Use of calipers and micrometers for small distances, using digital or vernier
scales.

Correctly constructing circuits from circuit diagrams using DC power


supplies, cells, and a range of circuit components, including those where
polarity is important (e.g diodes).

Designing, constructing and checking circuits using DC power supplies, cells,


and a range of circuit components.

Use of a signal generator and oscilloscope, including volts/division and time-


base.

Generating and measuring waves, using microphone and loudspeaker, or


ripple tank, or vibration transducer, or microwave/radio wave source.

Use of a laser or light source to investigate characteristics of light, including


interference and diffraction.

Use of ICT such as computer modelling, or data logger with a variety of


sensors to collect data, or use of software to process data.

Use of ionising radiation, including detectors.

The material in this checklist is based on the OCR Physics A Specification published at ocr.org.uk/alevelphysicsa by
Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations.

For more resources and video tutorials please visit: www.alevelphysicsonline.com

You might also like