OCR A-Level Physics A sample questions and answers (H556)
Guide overview All 25 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
75 sample questions and answers
Taken from every topic of OCR A-Level Physics A, specification H556. The full guide has 1,862.
Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
Practical Skills in the Written Papers
86 questions in the guide, across 6 subtopics. More from this topic
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Planning an experiment
Why is it necessary to identify variables that must be controlled when planning an experiment?
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Identifying control variables ensures that only the independent variable affects the dependent variable, making the results valid and allowing cause-and-effect relationships to be established. -
Planning an experiment
What does applying investigative approaches to practical work involve?
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Using systematic methods to plan, carry out, and analyse experiments, including identifying problems and devising strategies to solve them in a practical context. -
Implementing and recording
In what format should observations and data be presented?
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Data should be presented in an appropriate format such as tables with clear headings and units, or graphs where relationships need to be shown.
Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
The Practical Endorsement
82 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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Analogue and digital measuring instruments
Name an analogue instrument suitable for measuring angles.
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A protractor. -
Analogue and digital measuring instruments
What analogue apparatus is used to measure volume of a liquid?
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A measuring cylinder, burette or graduated pipette. -
Improving accuracy with repeat timing, fiducial markers and plumb lines
How is a set square used when measuring heights in an experiment?
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It ensures perpendicular alignment between the measuring instrument and the surface, so that the measurement is taken at exactly 90° to the base.
Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
Physical Quantities and Units
38 questions in the guide, across 3 subtopics. More from this topic
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Physical quantities, estimation and unit conversions
In the expression '9.81 m s⁻²', which part is the unit?
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m s⁻² -
Physical quantities, estimation and unit conversions
When converting cm³ to m³, why must the conversion factor be cubed?
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Because each linear dimension is converted (1 cm = 10⁻² m), and volume involves three dimensions, so the factor becomes (10⁻²)³ = 10⁻⁶. -
S.I. base and derived units
What is the S.I. base unit for electric current?
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Ampere (A).
Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
Making Measurements and Analysing Data
26 questions in the guide, across 2 subtopics. More from this topic
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Systematic and random errors
Can systematic errors be reduced by repeating measurements and calculating an average?
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No, systematic errors cannot be reduced by repeating measurements and averaging because they shift all readings by the same amount in the same direction. -
Systematic and random errors
How can random errors be reduced?
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Random errors can be reduced by taking repeated measurements and calculating a mean. -
Precision, accuracy and uncertainties
Calculate the percentage uncertainty when absolute uncertainty = 2.9, measured value = 90.
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Percentage uncertainty = (2.9 ÷ 90) × 100 = 3.22 %.
Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
Nature of Quantities
25 questions in the guide, across 2 subtopics. More from this topic
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Scalars and vectors
Is energy a scalar or vector quantity?
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Energy is a scalar quantity. -
Scalars and vectors
Is acceleration a scalar or vector quantity?
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Acceleration is a vector quantity. -
Adding and resolving vectors
How can a scale drawing be used to determine the resultant of two coplanar vectors?
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Draw the vectors to scale head-to-tail, then measure the length and angle of the resultant vector from the diagram.
Paper 1, Paper 3
Motion
54 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration
How does average speed differ from instantaneous speed?
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Average speed is calculated over an entire journey using total distance and total time, whereas instantaneous speed refers to the speed at one specific moment. -
Displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration
Define velocity.
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Velocity is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time; it is a vector quantity. -
Motion graphs and the equations of motion
What quantity is represented by the area under a velocity–time graph?
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The area under the curve equals the displacement.
Paper 1, Paper 3
Forces in Action
64 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Newton's second law and weight
What is the weight of an object?
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The weight of an object is the gravitational force acting on it. -
Newton's second law and weight
What is friction?
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Friction is the resistive force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of motion between two surfaces in contact. -
Drag and the factors affecting it
How does the cross-sectional area of an object affect the drag force when travelling through air?
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A larger cross-sectional area results in a greater drag force.
Paper 1, Paper 3
Work, Energy and Power
42 questions in the guide, across 3 subtopics. More from this topic
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Work done and conservation of energy
In the equation W = Fx cos θ, what does the angle θ represent?
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θ is the angle between the force vector and the displacement vector. -
Work done and conservation of energy
List four different forms of energy.
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Any four from: kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential, thermal, chemical, electrical, nuclear, and electromagnetic radiation. -
Kinetic and gravitational potential energy
When deriving Eₖ = ½mv², how is the equation v² = u² + 2ax rearranged to express displacement?
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It is rearranged to give x = (v² − u²)/(2a).
Paper 1, Paper 3
Materials
57 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Hooke's law and springs
What is the force constant k of a spring or wire?
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The force per unit extension -
Hooke's law and springs
When investigating force-extension characteristics, how should the sample be oriented?
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The sample should be suspended vertically -
Force-extension graphs and work done
State the formula for work done when stretching a material that obeys Hooke's law.
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E = ½Fx, where E is work done (or energy stored), F is force, and x is extension
Paper 1, Paper 3
Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum
43 questions in the guide, across 4 subtopics. More from this topic
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Newton's three laws and linear momentum
What are the SI units of momentum?
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kg m s⁻¹ (or equivalently N s). -
Newton's three laws and linear momentum
What condition must be met for an object to remain at rest or continue moving at constant velocity?
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There must be no resultant force acting on the object. -
Force as rate of change of momentum
How is resultant force related to the rate of change of momentum?
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The resultant force acting on an object equals the rate of change of its momentum.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Charge and Current
32 questions in the guide, across 3 subtopics. More from this topic
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Electric current and the coulomb
In the equation I = Q/t, what does each symbol represent?
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I represents current, Q represents charge, and t represents time. -
Electric current and the coulomb
State the equation used to calculate charge from current and time.
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Q = It, where Q is charge, I is current, and t is time. -
Elementary charge, charge carriers and Kirchhoff's first law
Why can an object never have a charge of 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁹ C?
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Because charge is quantised and can only exist as integer multiples of e (1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C), and 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁹ C is not an integer multiple of e.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Energy, Power and Resistance
115 questions in the guide, across 8 subtopics. More from this topic
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Circuit symbols and diagrams
Describe the circuit symbol for a light-dependent resistor (LDR).
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A rectangular box enclosed in a circle with arrows pointing inward to represent incident light. -
Potential difference and e.m.f.
Define electromotive force (e.m.f.).
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E.m.f. is the energy transferred per unit charge by a source (such as a cell or power supply) in driving charge around a complete circuit. -
Energy transfer in circuits
When we say a component has a p.d. across it, in which direction is energy being transferred?
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Energy is transferred from the charge carriers to the component.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Electrical Circuits
43 questions in the guide, across 3 subtopics. More from this topic
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Kirchhoff's laws and combining resistances
Explain why the total resistance of resistors in series equals the sum of the individual resistances.
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In series, the same current flows through each resistor, and the total potential difference is the sum of the p.d.s across each. Applying V = IR to each resistor and summing gives R_total = R₁ + R₂ + … -
Kirchhoff's laws and combining resistances
How is the total current distributed in a parallel circuit?
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The total current is shared between the branches. -
E.m.f., internal resistance and lost volts
State the equation relating e.m.f. to current, external resistance and internal resistance.
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ε = I(R + r), where ε is e.m.f., I is current, R is external resistance and r is internal resistance.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Waves
174 questions in the guide, across 16 subtopics. More from this topic
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Progressive waves and their properties
What is meant by the amplitude of a wave?
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Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its equilibrium position. -
Reflection, refraction and diffraction
Under what condition do diffraction effects become significant?
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A wave spreads noticeably only when the opening it passes through is about the same size as its wavelength. -
The electromagnetic spectrum
In the electromagnetic spectrum, which type of radiation lies between microwaves and visible light?
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Infrared radiation.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Quantum Physics
60 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Photons, electronvolts and the Planck constant from LEDs
Define the electronvolt.
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The electronvolt is a unit of energy equal to the energy gained by an electron when accelerated through a potential difference of one volt. -
Photons, electronvolts and the Planck constant from LEDs
Calculate the Planck constant when elementary charge = 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C, threshold voltage = 1.9 V, wavelength = 6.40 × 10⁻⁷ m, speed of light = 3.00 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹.
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Planck constant = (1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ × 1.9 × 6.40 × 10⁻⁷) ÷ (3.00 × 10⁸) = 6.49 × 10⁻³⁴ J s. -
Demonstrating the photoelectric effect
Before shining light on the zinc plate in a photoelectric effect demonstration, how must the electroscope be charged and what is observed?
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The electroscope must be charged negatively, causing the gold leaf to deflect.
Paper 1, Paper 3
Thermal Physics
132 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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Thermal equilibrium and absolute temperature
Why is the thermodynamic temperature scale considered a fundamental scale?
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Because it does not depend on the properties of any specific material or substance. -
The kinetic model of solids, liquids and gases
How do molecules in a liquid move relative to one another?
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They are free to move past each other. -
Brownian motion and internal energy
Define internal energy.
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Internal energy is the sum of the randomly distributed kinetic and potential energies of all the molecules in a system.
Paper 1, Paper 3
Circular Motion
28 questions in the guide, across 2 subtopics. More from this topic
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Radians, angular velocity and period
State the equation that relates period T and frequency f.
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T = 1/f -
Radians, angular velocity and period
State the equation that relates angular velocity ω to frequency f.
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ω = 2πf -
Centripetal force and acceleration
State the equation for centripetal acceleration using angular velocity ω and radius r.
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a = ω²r
Paper 1, Paper 3
Oscillations
71 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Describing simple harmonic motion
What does phase difference describe and how can it be expressed?
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The fraction of a cycle between two oscillating quantities, expressed as an angle in radians or degrees. -
Describing simple harmonic motion
Define frequency in the context of oscillations.
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The number of complete oscillations per unit time. -
The defining equation of simple harmonic motion and timing oscillations
How can the period of a mass-spring system be determined experimentally?
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By timing multiple oscillations and dividing by the number of oscillations.
Paper 1, Paper 3
Gravitational Fields
84 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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Gravitational fields and field strength
Explain why gravitational field lines around an isolated planet are drawn pointing inward rather than outward.
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Because a test mass placed in the field would experience a force directed towards the planet's centre, and field lines show the direction of this force -
Gravitational fields and field strength
Calculate the gravitational field strength when gravitational force = 532 N, mass = 59.5 kg.
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Gravitational field strength = 532 ÷ 59.5 = 8.94 N kg⁻¹. -
Newton's law of gravitation
Write the equation for the gravitational force between two point masses and define each symbol.
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F = −GMm/r², where G is the gravitational constant, M and m are the two masses, and r is the separation between their centres.
Paper 1, Paper 3
Astrophysics and Cosmology
129 questions in the guide, across 12 subtopics. More from this topic
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The solar system and the birth of a star
Why does the collapse of a star-forming cloud accelerate over time?
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As the cloud collapses, its density increases, which strengthens gravitational attraction and accelerates the collapse further. -
The death of a low-mass star
Explain how electron degeneracy pressure arises.
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Electron degeneracy pressure arises from the Pauli exclusion principle: electrons cannot occupy the same quantum state, creating an outward pressure independent of temperature. -
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
In which direction does luminosity increase on an HR diagram?
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Luminosity increases upward along the vertical axis.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Capacitors
93 questions in the guide, across 8 subtopics. More from this topic
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Capacitance and charging a capacitor
In the equation C = Q/V, what does each symbol represent?
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C is capacitance (in farads), Q is charge stored (in coulombs), and V is potential difference across the capacitor (in volts). -
Capacitors in series
What is true about the charge stored on capacitors connected in series?
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All capacitors in series store the same charge. -
Capacitors in parallel and combined circuits
How is charge distributed among capacitors connected in parallel?
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The charge stored is shared between the capacitors.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Electric Fields
56 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Electric fields and field lines
What do electric field lines represent and in which direction do they point?
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Electric field lines map electric fields and show the direction of force that would act on a positive test charge. -
Electric fields and field lines
What mathematical relationship do both gravitational and electric fields from point sources share?
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Both follow an inverse square law for field strength. -
Coulomb's law and electric field strength
Write the equation for Coulomb's law and define each term.
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F = Qq/(4πε₀r²), where F is the electrostatic force, Q and q are the two point charges, ε₀ is the permittivity of free space, and r is the separation between the charges.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Electromagnetism
67 questions in the guide, across 6 subtopics. More from this topic
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Magnetic fields and field patterns
What do magnetic field lines represent in terms of direction and strength?
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Magnetic field lines show the direction of the field (tangent to the line at any point) and their spacing indicates relative strength—closer lines mean a stronger field. -
Magnetic fields and field patterns
Describe the magnetic field inside a long solenoid.
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The field inside is uniform and parallel to the axis of the solenoid. -
Fleming's left-hand rule and the motor effect
In the current-balance experiment to measure magnetic flux density, how is the wire positioned relative to the magnet poles?
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A wire of known length is placed horizontally between the poles of the magnet, perpendicular to the field.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Nuclear and Particle Physics
179 questions in the guide, across 16 subtopics. More from this topic
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Alpha-particle scattering and the nuclear model
What evidence does large-angle scattering of alpha particles provide about atomic structure?
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It provides evidence that the positive charge and most of the mass of an atom is concentrated in a small central nucleus. -
The strong nuclear force and nuclear radius
At what nucleon separation does the strong nuclear force become repulsive, and why is this significant?
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The strong nuclear force becomes repulsive at separations below about 0.5 fm, preventing nucleons from overlapping. -
Leptons and the quark model
Why are electrons classified as leptons rather than hadrons?
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Electrons experience the weak nuclear force but do not experience the strong nuclear force, which is the defining characteristic of leptons.
Paper 2, Paper 3
Medical Imaging
82 questions in the guide, across 8 subtopics. More from this topic
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The X-ray tube
What is the function of the anode in an X-ray tube?
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The anode is a positive electrode that accelerates electrons towards the target metal. -
X-ray attenuation and imaging
What is pair production in the context of X-ray attenuation?
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A high-energy photon converts into an electron-positron pair near a nucleus. -
CAT scanning
What is the role of computer software in a CAT scanner?
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It processes detector signals to reconstruct cross-sectional images.
OCR A-Level Physics A Active Recall Guide
The other 1,787 questions, with the answers printed after each section.