AQA A-LEVEL SPANISH PAPER 3 SPEAKING
LATEST 2025- 2026 EXAM UPDATE EXAMINER’S
MATERIAL
Describe the required practical on simple harmonic motion. - Answer-
Set up a pendulum over the edge of a table, clamped to the table with a
G clamp. Use a protractor to get a constant angle at which you displace
the pendulum. Release it and start the timer when it passes through the
fiducial marker at equilibrium. Time the time for 10 oscillations three
times, and find a mean value for the time period squared. Vary the
length of the string to see how the length of the string affects the time
period. Plot a graph of T^2 against L, then do 4π^2/gradient to find a
value of g.
Independent, dependent and control variables for the simple harmonic
motion required practical. - Answer-Independent variable: the length of
the pendulum
Dependent variable: the time period of the pendulum
Control variables: initial amplitude of the oscillation, amount of air
resistance, mass on the end of the pendulum etc
Describe some possible improvements for the simple harmonic motion
required practical. - Answer-Use a protractor to ensure that the angle of
release is the same every time, rather than judging by eye. Do more
repeats, and do a wider variety of lengths.
, How can the uniform electric field between two charged plates be
shown practically? - Answer-using seeds in oil; place two plates in the
oil and apply a potential difference between them; the seeds will align
parallel to each other, perpendicular to the plates
Describe the required practical on Boyle's law. - Answer-Set up a clamp
stand and a clamp a syringe. Attach some string to the bottom of the
syringe. Start by filling the syringe with 2 ml (millilitres) of air. Note
that 2 ml = 2 cm^3! Now apply a 0.2 kg mass to the string, and measure
the volume of the gas in the syringe once the plunger is not extending
any further. Now repeat with 0.4 kg of mass. Continue to measure the
volume of the gas for each new mass (increasing by 0.2 kg each time).
Measure the diameter of the syringe using a Vernier calliper. Calculate
the area of the syringe's cross-section using πr^2. Calculate the force by
multiplying each mass by g = 9.81 Nkg^-1. Calculate the pressure
exerted by doing force/area in each case, and then subtracting this from
atmospheric pressure. After repeat readings, plot a graph of 1/V against
P (it actually doesn't matter which way round we do this, as all we want
is to show the proportional relationship). We should get a straight line
through the origin.
How can the effect of electric fields on the path of electrons be shown
practically? - Answer-using thermionic emission of electrons in a
vacuum chamber; when the direction of the potential difference is
changed, the direction in which the electrons deflect is changed
Describe two ways in which the nature of progressive waves can be
shown practically. - Answer-Hold the end of a horizontal spring in a
,fixed position. Move the spring up and down. Observe a longitudinal
wave moving towards the fixed end of the spring. Alternatively, observe
a cork floating in the water; it moves up and down in a wave motion at
90 degrees to the direction of the wave (transverse).
Describe the theory behind the top pan balance practical. - Answer-A
current carrying wire is placed between the poles of a permanent
magnet. If the current and the field are in the required directions, then
the wire can be pushed UPWARDS. By Newton's third law, there is an
equal and opposite force which causes the permanent magnet to be
pushed DOWN into the balance, causing the reading on the balance to
increase. Note the fact that it is the MAGNET which is pushed down
onto the balance, not the wire (which is in fact pushed upwards!); this is
something I didn't realise earlier! If the magnitude of the current
changes, then the magnitude of the force exerted on the balance and
hence the change in the reading on the balance changes. If the direction
of the current changes, the reading on the balance will start to decrease
(as the wire will be pushed down, and so the magnet will be pushed up).
Describe how to carry out the top pan balance required practical. -
Answer-Set up a circuit going from a power supply to a piece of wire
(connected by crocodile clips) to an ammeter and then back to the power
supply. The piece of wire should be placed within the magnetic field of a
permanent magnet, clamped by two clamp stands. The permanent
magnet should be placed on to a mass balance. Be sure to clamp the
insulated wire of the circuit rather than clamping the metal piece of wire
directly, as the metal piece of wire needs to be insulated. Vary the
potential difference in order to change the current in the circuit. Measure
the change in mass of the balance for different currents and plot a graph
of mean change in mass against current. Since F = BIL, m/I = BL/g (be
careful with units), so multiplying by the gradient by g = 9.81 and
, dividing by the length of the part of the wire within the magnetic field
gives you a value of B, the magnetic field strength of the magnet.
Sources of inaccuracy are the measurement of the length, and a source of
even greater inaccuracy is that the wire is unlikely to be perfectly
perpendicular to the magnetic field.
Describe a practical that could be carried out to find the capacitance of a
capacitor. - Answer-Set up a circuit containing a capacitor, a switch, a
voltmeter across the capacitor, an ammeter and a variable resistor.
Change the variable resistor as necessary to keep the current constant.
Measure the potential difference across the capacitor over time. The
charge at a given point can be found using Q = It. The charge can then
be plotted against pd. On a graph of Q against V (which is a straight line
through the origin), the gradient of the graph represents the capacitance
of the capacitor.
How do you break a unit down into its fundamental SI units? - Answer-
consider the equations which link a quantity with one of the SI quantities
List the rules which you need to memorise for compounding
uncertainties. - Answer-If data are to be added or subtracted, add the
absolute uncertainty (be careful with units). If data are to be multiplied
or divided, add the percentage uncertainty. If a quantity is raised to a
power, multiply the percentage uncertainty by the same power.
List all the SI base units you need to know for A level Physics. -
Answer-time - second, s
mass - kilogram, kg
LATEST 2025- 2026 EXAM UPDATE EXAMINER’S
MATERIAL
Describe the required practical on simple harmonic motion. - Answer-
Set up a pendulum over the edge of a table, clamped to the table with a
G clamp. Use a protractor to get a constant angle at which you displace
the pendulum. Release it and start the timer when it passes through the
fiducial marker at equilibrium. Time the time for 10 oscillations three
times, and find a mean value for the time period squared. Vary the
length of the string to see how the length of the string affects the time
period. Plot a graph of T^2 against L, then do 4π^2/gradient to find a
value of g.
Independent, dependent and control variables for the simple harmonic
motion required practical. - Answer-Independent variable: the length of
the pendulum
Dependent variable: the time period of the pendulum
Control variables: initial amplitude of the oscillation, amount of air
resistance, mass on the end of the pendulum etc
Describe some possible improvements for the simple harmonic motion
required practical. - Answer-Use a protractor to ensure that the angle of
release is the same every time, rather than judging by eye. Do more
repeats, and do a wider variety of lengths.
, How can the uniform electric field between two charged plates be
shown practically? - Answer-using seeds in oil; place two plates in the
oil and apply a potential difference between them; the seeds will align
parallel to each other, perpendicular to the plates
Describe the required practical on Boyle's law. - Answer-Set up a clamp
stand and a clamp a syringe. Attach some string to the bottom of the
syringe. Start by filling the syringe with 2 ml (millilitres) of air. Note
that 2 ml = 2 cm^3! Now apply a 0.2 kg mass to the string, and measure
the volume of the gas in the syringe once the plunger is not extending
any further. Now repeat with 0.4 kg of mass. Continue to measure the
volume of the gas for each new mass (increasing by 0.2 kg each time).
Measure the diameter of the syringe using a Vernier calliper. Calculate
the area of the syringe's cross-section using πr^2. Calculate the force by
multiplying each mass by g = 9.81 Nkg^-1. Calculate the pressure
exerted by doing force/area in each case, and then subtracting this from
atmospheric pressure. After repeat readings, plot a graph of 1/V against
P (it actually doesn't matter which way round we do this, as all we want
is to show the proportional relationship). We should get a straight line
through the origin.
How can the effect of electric fields on the path of electrons be shown
practically? - Answer-using thermionic emission of electrons in a
vacuum chamber; when the direction of the potential difference is
changed, the direction in which the electrons deflect is changed
Describe two ways in which the nature of progressive waves can be
shown practically. - Answer-Hold the end of a horizontal spring in a
,fixed position. Move the spring up and down. Observe a longitudinal
wave moving towards the fixed end of the spring. Alternatively, observe
a cork floating in the water; it moves up and down in a wave motion at
90 degrees to the direction of the wave (transverse).
Describe the theory behind the top pan balance practical. - Answer-A
current carrying wire is placed between the poles of a permanent
magnet. If the current and the field are in the required directions, then
the wire can be pushed UPWARDS. By Newton's third law, there is an
equal and opposite force which causes the permanent magnet to be
pushed DOWN into the balance, causing the reading on the balance to
increase. Note the fact that it is the MAGNET which is pushed down
onto the balance, not the wire (which is in fact pushed upwards!); this is
something I didn't realise earlier! If the magnitude of the current
changes, then the magnitude of the force exerted on the balance and
hence the change in the reading on the balance changes. If the direction
of the current changes, the reading on the balance will start to decrease
(as the wire will be pushed down, and so the magnet will be pushed up).
Describe how to carry out the top pan balance required practical. -
Answer-Set up a circuit going from a power supply to a piece of wire
(connected by crocodile clips) to an ammeter and then back to the power
supply. The piece of wire should be placed within the magnetic field of a
permanent magnet, clamped by two clamp stands. The permanent
magnet should be placed on to a mass balance. Be sure to clamp the
insulated wire of the circuit rather than clamping the metal piece of wire
directly, as the metal piece of wire needs to be insulated. Vary the
potential difference in order to change the current in the circuit. Measure
the change in mass of the balance for different currents and plot a graph
of mean change in mass against current. Since F = BIL, m/I = BL/g (be
careful with units), so multiplying by the gradient by g = 9.81 and
, dividing by the length of the part of the wire within the magnetic field
gives you a value of B, the magnetic field strength of the magnet.
Sources of inaccuracy are the measurement of the length, and a source of
even greater inaccuracy is that the wire is unlikely to be perfectly
perpendicular to the magnetic field.
Describe a practical that could be carried out to find the capacitance of a
capacitor. - Answer-Set up a circuit containing a capacitor, a switch, a
voltmeter across the capacitor, an ammeter and a variable resistor.
Change the variable resistor as necessary to keep the current constant.
Measure the potential difference across the capacitor over time. The
charge at a given point can be found using Q = It. The charge can then
be plotted against pd. On a graph of Q against V (which is a straight line
through the origin), the gradient of the graph represents the capacitance
of the capacitor.
How do you break a unit down into its fundamental SI units? - Answer-
consider the equations which link a quantity with one of the SI quantities
List the rules which you need to memorise for compounding
uncertainties. - Answer-If data are to be added or subtracted, add the
absolute uncertainty (be careful with units). If data are to be multiplied
or divided, add the percentage uncertainty. If a quantity is raised to a
power, multiply the percentage uncertainty by the same power.
List all the SI base units you need to know for A level Physics. -
Answer-time - second, s
mass - kilogram, kg
