Side A moves into circular motion, oscillations, thermodynamics, nuclear and quantum physics, and medical imaging.
Year 13
Year 13 CIE Physics 9702
A-level 9702 across Side A and Side B advanced topic blocks.
Year 13 extends Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics 9702 through advanced topics in Side A and Side B, with a stronger focus on independent problem solving and linked models.
Overview
Course focus
Year 13 completes A Level Physics 9702 with more abstract models, heavier mathematical reasoning, and a stronger emphasis on linking topics together. Side A covers circular motion, oscillations, thermodynamics, nuclear and quantum physics, and medical physics. Side B covers fields, capacitors, alternating currents, magnetic induction, and astronomy.
The focus in this year is not just covering advanced content but becoming more independent in how you solve problems. You should be comparing models, justifying assumptions, and moving more confidently between equations, graphs, diagrams, and long-form explanations.
Side B develops gravitational and electric fields, capacitors, alternating currents, induction, and astronomy.
Success depends on more independent problem solving, with stronger justification of assumptions, methods, and model choices.
Topics
Topic map for Year 13
Open a topic from Side A or Side B to see that side's lesson sequence, linked lesson materials, and revision support.
Year 13
Side A
29 lessons
Topic
1Side A1: Motion in a Circle & Oscillations
Start Side A with angular motion, centripetal force, and simple harmonic motion.
Topic
2Side A2: Temperature, Ideal Gases & Thermodynamics
Build Side A thermal physics through temperature, gas models, and thermodynamic relationships.
Topic
3Side A3: Nuclear & Quantum
Develop modern physics through radioactivity, binding energy, photons, and wave-particle ideas.
Topic
4Side A4: Medical Physics
Finish Side A with medical imaging applications and revision.
Year 13
Side B
33 lessons
Topic
1Side B1: Gravitational Fields
Start Side B with field strength, gravitation, potentials, and orbital motion.
Topic
2Side B2a: Electric Fields
Extend field ideas into Coulomb's law, electric fields, and electric potential.
Topic
3Side B2b: Capacitors
Introduce capacitance, stored energy, and capacitor discharge behaviour.
Topic
4Side B3: Alternating Currents
Cover alternating current equations and rectification as a short focused topic.
Topic
5Side B4: Magnetic Fields and Induction
Develop magnetic forces, induction, particle accelerators, and transformers.
Topic
6Side B5: Astronomy
Finish Side B with stars, distance measurements, and redshift.