AQA A LEVEL PHYSICS PAPER 1 EXAM SCRIPT
2026 TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ When electrons transition to lower energy levels, what do they
emit? Answer: Photons
◉ WHen electrons transition to lower energy levels, what type of
spectrum is produced? Answer: Emission
◉ When electrons transition to higher energy levels, what type of
spectrum is produced? Answer: Absorption
◉ Which phenomena support the wave model of light? Answer:
Diffraction, refraction, reflection, polarisation.
◉ Which phenomena support the particle model of light? Answer:
Photoelectric effect
◉ Which phenomena support the wave model of electrons? Answer:
Diffraction
,◉ Which phenomena support the particle model of electrons?
Answer: Ionisation
◉ How are electrons able to study the fine detail of crystal structure
but light isn't? Answer: Electrons have shorter wavelength (de
Broglie)
◉ What is meant by a progressive wave? Answer: A wave which
transfers energy.
◉ What is meant by a standing wave? Answer: A wave which does
not transfer energy, it only oscillates.
◉ What happens to a wave when it refracts? Answer: Wavelength
changes so wavespeed changes (as frequency is constant), this can
cause a change in direction if one part of the wave strikes the
boundary first.
◉ What is the distance from the peak on one wave to the peak on the
next wave called? Answer: Wavelength
◉ What is the maximum displacement of a wave called? Answer:
Amplitude
,◉ What is the time taken for one complete oscillation called?
Answer: Period
◉ What is the number of oscillations per second called? Answer:
Frequency
◉ What is the measurement of the position of a certain point along a
wave cycle called? Answer: Phase
◉ What equation links frequency and period? Answer: f = 1/T
◉ What is the wave speed of all light? Answer: 3x108m/s
◉ Which waves have oscillations that are perpendicular to the
direction of energy transfer? Answer: Transverse
◉ WHich waves have oscillations that are parallel to the direction of
energy transfer? Answer: Longitudinal
◉ How do we describe a wave which oscillates in all planes?
Answer: Unpolarised
◉ How do we describe a wave which oscillates in only one plane?
Answer: Polarised
, ◉ Which type of waves cannot be polarised? Answer: Longitudinal
◉ When does superposition of waves occur? Answer: When two
waves meet and interfere.
◉ What type of interference is associated with two crests of a wave
meeting? Answer: Constructive
◉ WHat type of interference is associated with a crest of one wave
and the trough of another wave meeting? Answer: Destructive
◉ For two waves to meet in phase, what must their phase difference
be? Answer: 0, 360 etc 0, 2pi etc
◉ For two waves to meet in anti-phase, what must their phase
difference be? Answer: 180, 540etc, pi, 3pi etc
◉ What are the points of maximum displacement on a stationary
wave called? Answer: Antinodes
◉ What are the points of zero displacement on a stationary wave
called? Answer: Nodes
2026 TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ When electrons transition to lower energy levels, what do they
emit? Answer: Photons
◉ WHen electrons transition to lower energy levels, what type of
spectrum is produced? Answer: Emission
◉ When electrons transition to higher energy levels, what type of
spectrum is produced? Answer: Absorption
◉ Which phenomena support the wave model of light? Answer:
Diffraction, refraction, reflection, polarisation.
◉ Which phenomena support the particle model of light? Answer:
Photoelectric effect
◉ Which phenomena support the wave model of electrons? Answer:
Diffraction
,◉ Which phenomena support the particle model of electrons?
Answer: Ionisation
◉ How are electrons able to study the fine detail of crystal structure
but light isn't? Answer: Electrons have shorter wavelength (de
Broglie)
◉ What is meant by a progressive wave? Answer: A wave which
transfers energy.
◉ What is meant by a standing wave? Answer: A wave which does
not transfer energy, it only oscillates.
◉ What happens to a wave when it refracts? Answer: Wavelength
changes so wavespeed changes (as frequency is constant), this can
cause a change in direction if one part of the wave strikes the
boundary first.
◉ What is the distance from the peak on one wave to the peak on the
next wave called? Answer: Wavelength
◉ What is the maximum displacement of a wave called? Answer:
Amplitude
,◉ What is the time taken for one complete oscillation called?
Answer: Period
◉ What is the number of oscillations per second called? Answer:
Frequency
◉ What is the measurement of the position of a certain point along a
wave cycle called? Answer: Phase
◉ What equation links frequency and period? Answer: f = 1/T
◉ What is the wave speed of all light? Answer: 3x108m/s
◉ Which waves have oscillations that are perpendicular to the
direction of energy transfer? Answer: Transverse
◉ WHich waves have oscillations that are parallel to the direction of
energy transfer? Answer: Longitudinal
◉ How do we describe a wave which oscillates in all planes?
Answer: Unpolarised
◉ How do we describe a wave which oscillates in only one plane?
Answer: Polarised
, ◉ Which type of waves cannot be polarised? Answer: Longitudinal
◉ When does superposition of waves occur? Answer: When two
waves meet and interfere.
◉ What type of interference is associated with two crests of a wave
meeting? Answer: Constructive
◉ WHat type of interference is associated with a crest of one wave
and the trough of another wave meeting? Answer: Destructive
◉ For two waves to meet in phase, what must their phase difference
be? Answer: 0, 360 etc 0, 2pi etc
◉ For two waves to meet in anti-phase, what must their phase
difference be? Answer: 180, 540etc, pi, 3pi etc
◉ What are the points of maximum displacement on a stationary
wave called? Answer: Antinodes
◉ What are the points of zero displacement on a stationary wave
called? Answer: Nodes
