Physics practicals apparatus set-up guides

Weve worked with experienced teachers and technicians, as well as higher education institutions and
learned societies to produce these apparatus set-up guides for each of the required practical activities.

Practicals are at the heart of our new AS and A-level Physics specifications so its important to get them right first
time in the lab.

Required activities
You need to cover activities 1-6 for AS and 1-12 for A-level.

Practical 1
Investigation into the variation of the frequency of stationary waves on a string with length, tension and mass per
unit length of the string.

Practical 1 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P1.PDF)

Practical 2
Investigation of interference effects to include the Youngs slit experiment and interference by a diffraction grating.

Practical 2 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P2.PDF)

Practical 3
Determination of g by a free-fall method.

Practical 3 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P3.PDF)

Practical 4
Determination of the Young modulus by a simple method.

Practical 4 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P4.PDF)

Practical 5
Determination of resistivity of a wire using a micrometer, ammeter and voltmeter.

Practical 5 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P5.PDF)

Practical 6
Investigation of the emf and internal resistance of electric cells and batteries by measuring the variation of the
terminal pd of the cell with current in it.

Practical 6 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P6.PDF)

Practical 7

1
Investigation into simple harmonic motion using a mass-spring system and a simple pendulum.

Practical 7 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P7.PDF)

Practical 8
Investigation of Boyles (constant temperature) law and Charless (constant pressure) law for a gas.

Practical 8 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P8.PDF)

Practical 9
Investigation of the charge and discharge of capacitors. Analysis techniques should include log-linear plotting
leading to a determination of the time constant RC.

Practical 9 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P9.PDF)

Practical 10
Investigate how the force on a wire varies with flux density, current and length of wire using a top pan balance.

Practical 10 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P10.PDF)

Practical 11
Investigate, using a search coil and oscilloscope, the effect on magnetic flux linkage of varying the angle between a
search coil and magnetic field direction.

Practical 11 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P11.PDF)

Practical 12
Investigation of the inverse-square law for gamma radiation.

Practical 12 set-up guide (http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/AQA-7407-7408-SUG-P12.PDF)

Document URL
http://www.aqa.org.uk/resources/science/as-and-a-level/physics-7407-7408/teach/practicals-apparatus-set-up-guides

Last updated 08 Sep 2016

AQA