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🇵🇰 Cambridge AS and A Level · subject
Cambridge AS and A Level Physics (9702) Syllabus
Every chapter and topic of Physics (9702) examined in Cambridge AS and A Level — 12 chapters, 48 topics, plus 50 flashcards written against it.
Physics (9702) syllabus — full chapter and topic list
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Physics (9702) in Cambridge AS and A Level, not a summary of it.
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Physical Quantities and Units
3 topics- SI base quantities and units
- Scalars and vectors
- Measurement uncertainties and errors
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Kinematics
3 topics- Equations of motion
- Motion graphs
- Projectile motion
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Dynamics
3 topics- Newton's laws of motion
- Linear momentum and impulse
- Weight, mass and gravitational field
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Forces, Density and Pressure
3 topics- Turning effects of forces
- Equilibrium of forces
- Density and pressure
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Work, Energy and Power
4 topics- Work done and energy transfer
- Kinetic and potential energy
- Conservation of energy and efficiency
- Power
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Deformation of Solids
3 topics- Stress, strain and Young modulus
- Elastic and plastic behaviour
- Elastic potential energy
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Waves and Superposition
6 topics- Progressive waves and properties
- Transverse and longitudinal waves
- Doppler effect for sound
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Superposition and interference
- Stationary waves
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Electricity and D.C. Circuits
5 topics- Current, charge and potential difference
- Resistance and resistivity
- Electrical power and energy
- Kirchhoff's laws
- Potential dividers
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Particle and Quantum Physics
5 topics- Atomic structure and the nucleus
- Fundamental particles
- Photoelectric effect and photons
- Wave-particle duality and electron diffraction
- Energy levels and line spectra
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Gravitational, Electric and Magnetic Fields
5 topics- Gravitational fields
- Electric fields
- Capacitance
- Magnetic fields
- Alternating currents
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Thermal Physics and Oscillations
4 topics- Temperature and thermometry
- Ideal gases
- Thermodynamics and internal energy
- Simple harmonic motion
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Nuclear, Medical and Astrophysics
4 topics- Mass defect and binding energy
- Radioactive decay
- Medical imaging
- Astronomy and cosmology
Physics (9702) flashcards for Cambridge AS and A Level
21 of 50 cards from the Physics (9702) deck — real questions with worked answers.
What are the seven SI base quantities and their base units?
Mass (kilogram, kg), length (metre, m), time (second, s), electric current (ampere, A), thermodynamic temperature (kelvin, K), amount of substance (mole, mol), and luminous intensity (candela, cd).
Define a homogeneous (dimensionally consistent) equation.
An equation is homogeneous when every term on both sides has the same base units. Homogeneity is necessary but not sufficient for an equation to be correct.
Express the SI base units of the newton (N).
1 N = 1 kg m s^-2 (from F = ma, since acceleration is m s^-2).
Express the SI base units of the joule (J).
1 J = 1 kg m^2 s^-2 (from work = force x distance = N m).
Express the SI base units of the pascal (Pa).
1 Pa = 1 kg m^-1 s^-2 (from pressure = force/area = N m^-2).
List the SI prefixes and their powers of ten from pico to tera.
pico (p) 10^-12, nano (n) 10^-9, micro (μ) 10^-6, milli (m) 10^-3, centi (c) 10^-2, deci (d) 10^-1, kilo (k) 10^3, mega (M) 10^6, giga (G) 10^9, tera (T) 10^12.
What is the difference between a scalar and a vector quantity?
A scalar has magnitude only (e.g. mass, time, speed, energy). A vector has both magnitude and direction (e.g. displacement, velocity, force, acceleration).
Give three examples each of scalar and vector quantities.
Scalars: speed, distance, mass, time, energy, temperature. Vectors: velocity, displacement, force, acceleration, momentum, weight.
How do you resolve a vector V at angle θ to the horizontal into components?
Horizontal component = V cos θ; vertical component = V sin θ (where θ is measured from the horizontal).
How do you find the resultant of two perpendicular vectors of magnitude A and B?
Magnitude = sqrt(A^2 + B^2); direction = tan^-1(B/A) from the A direction (Pythagoras and trigonometry).
What is the difference between systematic and random errors?
Systematic errors are consistent (same direction/size each time, e.g. zero error, calibration fault) and shift all readings the same way; they cannot be reduced by averaging. Random errors scatter readings unpredictably and can be reduced by repeating and averaging.
Distinguish between precision and accuracy.
Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value (affected by systematic error). Precision is how close repeated measurements are to each other (affected by random error).
How is absolute uncertainty combined when quantities are added or subtracted?
Add the absolute uncertainties: if R = A + B or R = A - B, then ΔR = ΔA + ΔB.
How are uncertainties combined when quantities are multiplied or divided?
Add the fractional (or percentage) uncertainties: if R = AB or A/B, then ΔR/R = ΔA/A + ΔB/B.
How does uncertainty combine for a quantity raised to a power, R = A^n?
Multiply the fractional uncertainty by the power: ΔR/R = |n| x (ΔA/A).
What is the difference between a systematic zero error and parallax error type?
A zero error is a systematic error where the instrument does not read zero when it should, offsetting every reading. Parallax error is a reading error from viewing a scale at the wrong angle; it can be random or systematic depending on consistency.
How do you calculate percentage uncertainty from a reading and its absolute uncertainty?
Percentage uncertainty = (absolute uncertainty / measured value) x 100%.
State the four equations of motion (suvat) for uniform acceleration.
v = u + at; s = ut + (1/2)at^2; v^2 = u^2 + 2as; s = ((u + v)/2)t.
What is the defining condition for the suvat equations to be valid?
The acceleration must be constant (uniform) and motion must be in a straight line.
Define acceleration.
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time: a = Δv/Δt. It is a vector quantity measured in m s^-2.
Distinguish between displacement and distance.
Distance is the total path length travelled (scalar). Displacement is the straight-line distance from start to finish in a specified direction (vector).
Planning Physics (9702) for Cambridge AS and A Level
Physics (9702) is about 24% of the Cambridge AS and A Level syllabus by topic count — 48 of 201 topics, spread over 12 chapters. At roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, a first pass runs to about 35 hours.
The heaviest chapters are Waves and Superposition (6 topics), Electricity and D.C. Circuits (5 topics), Particle and Quantum Physics (5 topics) . Front-load those while your energy is high; the short chapters are better revision filler later.
Work top-down: read the chapter, then tick topics off individually rather than marking the whole chapter done. Sub-topics are where silent gaps hide.
Physics (9702) (Cambridge AS and A Level) FAQ
What is in the Cambridge AS and A Level Physics (9702) syllabus?
Physics (9702) is split into 12 chapters — Physical Quantities and Units, Kinematics, Dynamics, Forces, Density and Pressure, Work, Energy and Power and Deformation of Solids, and 6 more, containing 48 topics and 0 sub-topics in total.
How many chapters are there in Physics (9702) for Cambridge AS and A Level?
12 chapters. Physics (9702) accounts for about 24% of the topics in the whole Cambridge AS and A Level syllabus (48 of 201).
How long should I spend on Physics (9702) for Cambridge AS and A Level?
Budget around 35 hours for a first pass through Physics (9702) — about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic across its 48 topics. Add revision cycles on top.
Are there flashcards for Cambridge AS and A Level Physics (9702)?
Yes — a 50-card Physics (9702) deck. Sample cards are printed on this page, and the full deck is free in the Examius app with spaced repetition scheduling.