AQA A LEVEL PHYSICS PAPER 1 FINAL
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉Formation of a stationary wave. Answer: Two waves superpose (1)
same wavelength and/or frequency (1)
Travelling with equal and opposite velocity (direction of movement)
(1)
◉stationary vs progressive waves (3 for each). Answer: stationary:
have nodes/antinodes (1) points between nodes all in phase (1)
cannot transfer energy
progressive: no nodes/antinodes (1) within one wavelength all
points are out of phase (1) can transfer energy
◉How does TIR transmit information in an optical fibre? (2+
diagram). Answer: Core has higher refractive index than cladding (1)
when incident light at a greater angle than critical angle of cladding
TIR occurs (2)
◉Observations of a polarisation filter rotation? ("What observations
could be made when the filter in rotated through 360˚?"). Answer:
, Variation in intensity between maxima and minima (light and dark)
(1)
Two maxima and Two minima within 360 (1)
◉define moment of a force (2). Answer: force x perpendicular
distance around a pivot (1) between force and pivot (2)
◉define center of gravity. Answer: the point in a body (1) where the
weight of an object appears to act (1)
◉state principle of moments. Answer: for a body in equilibrium (1)
the sum of clockwise moments about a point (1) is equal to the sum
of anticlockwise moments
◉state the principle of conservation of momentum. Answer: total
momentum before = total momentum after (1) in an isolated system
(no external force)
◉state the relationship between the force acting on a body and the
momentum of the body. Answer: force proportional to rate of change
of momentum
◉define center of mass. Answer: the point in the body through
which the mass appears to act
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉Formation of a stationary wave. Answer: Two waves superpose (1)
same wavelength and/or frequency (1)
Travelling with equal and opposite velocity (direction of movement)
(1)
◉stationary vs progressive waves (3 for each). Answer: stationary:
have nodes/antinodes (1) points between nodes all in phase (1)
cannot transfer energy
progressive: no nodes/antinodes (1) within one wavelength all
points are out of phase (1) can transfer energy
◉How does TIR transmit information in an optical fibre? (2+
diagram). Answer: Core has higher refractive index than cladding (1)
when incident light at a greater angle than critical angle of cladding
TIR occurs (2)
◉Observations of a polarisation filter rotation? ("What observations
could be made when the filter in rotated through 360˚?"). Answer:
, Variation in intensity between maxima and minima (light and dark)
(1)
Two maxima and Two minima within 360 (1)
◉define moment of a force (2). Answer: force x perpendicular
distance around a pivot (1) between force and pivot (2)
◉define center of gravity. Answer: the point in a body (1) where the
weight of an object appears to act (1)
◉state principle of moments. Answer: for a body in equilibrium (1)
the sum of clockwise moments about a point (1) is equal to the sum
of anticlockwise moments
◉state the principle of conservation of momentum. Answer: total
momentum before = total momentum after (1) in an isolated system
(no external force)
◉state the relationship between the force acting on a body and the
momentum of the body. Answer: force proportional to rate of change
of momentum
◉define center of mass. Answer: the point in the body through
which the mass appears to act
