Modern Physics

Modern physics (AS91525) is a 4-credit internal built from three pillars that all challenge classical, everyday intuition: special relativity (space and time are not absolute), quantum physics (light and matter both behave as particles and waves), and mass–energy physics (mass itself is a store of energy). Unlike mechanics, these ideas were not part of Newton's world — they only became necessary once experiments (the constancy of the speed of light, the photoelectric effect, electron diffraction, nuclear mass differences) refused to fit the old picture.

Every relationship you need — the Lorentz factor, Einstein's photoelectric equation, the de Broglie wavelength, $hf = E_i - E_f$, and $E = mc^2$ — is supplied on the exam resource sheet, along with constants such as $c$, $h$ and the electron charge $e$. A calculator is required throughout. As with all Level 3 Physics, carry unrounded values through multi-step calculations and only round the final answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.