1. General Physics – UNITS & MOTION
Write the correct units for the
measurements of these quantities
What is a micrometre? Why and how is
it used?
Define acceleration
Time
Length
Volume
What is the difference between speed and velocity?
Speed
Acceleration
Mass
What is the meniscus?
Weight
Force
Give the equation for speed.
Include the symbols and units.
Describe the changing motion of a skydiver. Include the term
terminal velocity.
Why are most measures of speed an
average?
KEY WORDS:
Quantity
Unit
Symbol
Speed
Velocity
Force
Acceleration
ASSESSMENT:
2. General Physics – MOTION GRAPHS
Describe what is happening in the graph between points:
A-B:
Match the graph to the description of motion:
B-C:
C-D:
D-E:
Using the formula speed =
points A and B:
distance
work out the speed of the cyclist between
time
Work out the deceleration of the car
and the distance it has travelled:
change in velocity
Acceleration=
time taken
KEY WORDS:
Distance = area under the line
Distance-time graphs
Gradient
Speed
Velocity
Acceleration
Velocity-time graphs
ASSESSMENT:
3. General Physics – MASS, WEIGHT & DENSITY
Describe the difference between
mass and weight.
What is gravity? Describe its effect.
Describe how to find the weight of something.
Define density. Give also the equation for calculating density and
units of measure.
How does the strength of gravity on
earth compare to the moon? Why?
Describe how to measure the
density of a liquid
Describe how to measure the
density of an irregular object
W = m x g
What does this equation
represent. Use a real world
example to describe the effect.
Describe how to find the mass of an
object.
KEY WORDS:
Quantity
Unit
Symbol
Speed
Velocity
Force
Acceleration
ASSESSMENT:
4. General Physics – FORCES 1
What is the definition of a force?
Describe what an electrostatic force is and what its effects may be.
What three changes can result from a force?
What is the limit of proportionality? You could sketch a graph to help.
How is a resultant force calculated from multiple forces
acting on an object?
Write the equation
for Hooke’s law.
Include the meaning
and unit for each
symbol.
Draw a labelled diagram of an experiment used to measure
the effect of Hooke’s law.
Calculate the resultant force:
KEY WORDS:
Force
Resultant
Hooke’s law
Spring
Proportional
Electrostatic
Motion
ASSESSMENT:
5. General Physics – FORCES 2 - MOTION
Describe what balanced forces are.
What does it mean for an object’s motion if forces
acting on it are balanced?
State Newton’s second law of motion
Using the formula F=ma, fill in the table
a
Describe what unbalanced forces are.
What does it mean for an object’s motion if forces
acting on it are unbalanced?
Force (Newtons, N)
Mass (kilograms, kg)
20
Acceleration
(meters/second squared, m/s2)
0.80
b
c
200
840
7.0
5.0
d
e
5000
0.40
6.0
0.20
Explain what Newton’s third law of motion describes about forces
Define friction.
Describe the forces
acting on an ascending
plane.
Describe the forces acting on a book, resting on a table
Give an example of when friction is useful
KEY WORDS:
Give an example of when friction is not useful.
Motion
Friction
Force
Balanced
Unbalance
Acceleration
Mass
ASSESSMENT:
6. General Physics – FORCES 3 - TURNING
Describe what a centripetal force is.
What is the moment of a force?
Describe the ‘principle of moments’
Give three examples.
What two things effect the moment?
Write the formula for the calculation of moment of a force. Include symbols and units.
Label the diagram to show the force acting on A and the
direction of motion of A if orbiting B.
If A is a stone swung by a string around point B, when
the string breaks show in which direction A will move
Calculate the sum of the two moments
KEY WORDS:
Motion
Force
Moment
Turning
Centripetal
Clockwise
Anticlockwise
ASSESSMENT:
7. General Physics – FORCES 4 - STABILITY
Describe why physicists use a single point as the centre
of mass – what is the advantage?
What is a vector quantity. Give five examples.
What is a scalar quantity. Give five examples.
Describe the procedure used to find the centre of mass of a
simple object
Draw the centre of mass on these
shapes:
How can centre of mass help you predict whether or not an object will topple easily?
KEY WORDS:
Show how you can use a diagram to
calculate the resultant/final vector.
Centre of mass
Topple
Scalar
Vector
Resultant
ASSESSMENT:
8. General Physics – MOMENTUM
Define Momentum
Describe how Newton’s second law of motion and momentum are interrelated. Use this
idea to explain how the time a force is applied affects momentum.
Give the equation for calculation of momentum
What is the unit of measure for momentum?
Give the changes that will lead to a change in the
momentum of an object:
Calculate the velocity after collision
Describe how seatbelts work
KEY WORDS:
Motion
Force
Momentum
Mass
Conservation
Velocity
Vector
ASSESSMENT:
9. General Physics – ENERGY
What is potential energy?
Describe four different forms of kinetic energy and give real world examples of each
Describe four different forms of potential energy and
give real world examples of each
If a 500kg mass is moving
at 12m/s how much kinetic
energy does it have?
If a 2kg mass is lifted 0.4 meters how much potential
energy does it gain?
KEY WORDS:
What is the ‘conservation of energy’?
Kinetic
Gravitational
Energy
Light
Sound
Heat
Potential
ASSESSMENT:
10. General Physics – ENERGY RESOURCES
Briefly describe 6 other energy resources used to generate
electricity
Label the fossil fuel power station
•
•
•
•
Calculate the amount of energy wasted as heat:
What is the equation for energy
efficiency?
•
•
What is a renewable resource?
Calculate the amount of energy wasted as heat:
KEY WORDS:
Energy
Waste
Useful
Generator
Solar
Wind
Coal
ASSESSMENT:
11. General Physics – WORK & POWER
What is work done and what are the conditions for it to
occur?
Write the equation for calculating work include the
symbols and units
What does power
measure?
A child (40kg) and a dog (30kg) run up some stairs in the
same amount of time. Explain which is the most
powerful.
Write the equation for
calculating power include
the symbols and units
How much work is done lifting a 23kg suitcase 1.25m?
How much work is done by a 82kW motor in 18s?
What are simple machines and why are they useful’?
A child with weight of
350N runs up the stairs
of 6m in 8s. Calculate the
child’s power.
KEY WORDS:
Energy
Work
Power
Useful
Machine
Watts
ASSESSMENT:
12. General Physics – PRESSURE
Pressure is the ratio of _____________________ to __________________.
Pressure increases below the surface of a liquid. What
two factors affect the change in pressure?
Pressure is measured in ____________________________ or __________________.
•
Pressure can be calculated using this equation: Pressure = _________________
•
Pressure is caused by…
Write the equation for calculating pressure include the
symbols and units
Pressure can be measured using a barometer. It works by…
What is the difference between total pressure and
additional pressure?
What is atmospheric pressure? Describe it and give
it a value.
What is the additional
pressure on a scuba diver at
45m below? (sea water density
= 1030kg/m3)
KEY WORDS:
Pressure
Density
Depth
Fluid
Liquid
Barometer
Area
ASSESSMENT:
13. Thermal Physics – KINETIC MODEL 1
Complete the table to compare states of matter
Solid
How do
particles
move?
Diagram
KEY WORDS:
Liquid
Gas
Gas
Liquid
Solid
Flow
Particle
Molecule
Kinetic
ASSESSMENT:
Arrangement
of particles
Shape and
flow
Compressibility
Use the kinetic theory to explain each of the following:
Gases have a measurable mass
Gases have a measurable volume
Gases exert a measurable pressure
Gases have a measurable temperature
Absolute zero exists
Briefly describe what a
molecule is.
14. Thermal Physics – KINETIC MODEL 2
Briefly describe what Brownian motion is and what causes
it.
Describe the steps that lead to evaporation and explain
why this causes cooling.
KEY WORDS:
Pressure
Volume
Boyle’s law
Brownian
Random
Heat
Evaporation
ASSESSMENT:
What factors affect the rate of evaporation?
What causes molecules of gas to exert pressure?
A gas with volume 100cm3 at
pressure 300kPa is
decompressed to 100kPa.
What is its new volume?
What happens when the molecules are heated? Why?
Explain why the pressure exerted by a gas increases
when the volume is reduced.
p1V1=p2V2 explain what this equation demonstrates
15. Thermal Physics – THERMAL PROPERTIES
Why is it necessary for
bridges to have
expansion joints in their
construction?
What is a bimetallic
strip?
What does thermal capacity measure and what is it
affected by?
Define both latent heat of
fusion and vaporisation.
Describe one use of this.
Write the definition and equation for specific heat
capacity.
KEY WORDS:
Why do gases expand
more than solids?
Describe how a thermocouple is used to measure
temperature. You may use a labelled diagram.
Why do gases expand
more than solids?
Melting
Vapour
Capacity
Thermal
Coupling
Expansion
Temperature
ASSESSMENT:
16. Thermal Physics – THERMAL PROCESSES
Draw a diagram to show how heat energy is transferred during conduction,
explain it.
Draw a diagram to show how heat energy is transferred
during convection, explain it.
Explain how the layers within the
walls of a vacuum flask control the
flow of heat.
Describe how a convection
current forms within a room
with a radiator.
Describe how radiation plays a role in thermal transfer.
KEY WORDS:
Compare the properties of dull black and shiny materials
as radiation emitters and absorbers.
Thermal energy
Transfer
Convection
Radiation
Spectrum
Electromagnetic
Conduction
ASSESSMENT:
17. Wave Properties – WAVE STRUCTURE
Name the parts of the wave:
L=
O
Complete the diagrams of water waves to show refraction,
reflection and diffusion. Give a definition of each term.
State the equation for wave
speed, include the symbols
and units of measure
M=
N=
O=
P=
P
Define the following:
Wave frequency
Wave speed
KEY WORDS:
Wave front
Longitudinal
Transverse
Rarefaction
Compression
Refraction
Diffusion
Wavelength
ASSESSMENT:
Medium
17. Wave Properties – LIGHT 1
Describe and define the virtual image.
Use a protractor to complete the ray diagrams to show reflection and refraction
State the law of reflection
Explain what causes the effect known as refraction.
Don’t forget to label your diagrams properly with the
angles incidence, reflection & refraction and normal lines
Complete the diagram to show the position of the image.
KEY WORDS:
Refraction
Reflection
Ray diagram
Protractor
Virtual image
Lateral inversion
Index
What does a refractive index indicate?
ASSESSMENT:
Give the equation for calculating it.
19. Wave Properties – LIGHT 2
Define critical angle
Describe the properties
of a virtual image
Complete the diagram to show rays through a converging lens
Define Total Internal Reflection
Don’t forget to label your diagrams properly with focal plane,
F and f.
Describe how total internal reflection is used for
communication
Draw the three standard rays to complete the diagram and
show the object’s image.
Describe some uses of a
converging lens.
Describe what the principle focus, F, and the focal
length, f, inform about a lens.
KEY WORDS:
Convex
Converging
Internal reflection
Focal length
Principal focus
Standard ray
ASSESSMENT:
20. Wave Properties – THE E.M. SPECTRUM
Complete the diagram using the following terms only once:
Wavelength (m), radio waves, ultraviolet, gamma rays, increasing energy, visible light, infrared,
Frequency (Hz), increasing wavelength, increasing frequency, X-rays, microwaves
Describe one use and one natural occurrence of each section
of the EM spectrum
Radio waves
Microwaves
Ultraviolet waves
X-rays
Gamma rays
What is dispersion?
Describe and define the visible spectrum.
KEY WORDS:
Dispersion
Prism
Spectrum
Wavelength
Frequency
Energy
ASSESSMENT:
21. Wave Properties – SOUND
What causes sound?
(include the following terms in your answer: longitudinal,
air, particles, pressure, compression, rarefaction,
vibrations, medium, vacuum, fastest, 340m/s)
What causes an echo?
Describe the sounds:
A:
C:
B:
D:
What factors affect an
echo’s clarity and
loudness?
Describe how to measure the speed of sound using an
echo.
Describe how to measure the speed of sound in air.
What is an oscilloscope and
for what is it used?
What is ultrasound?
KEY WORDS:
Longitudinal
Echo
Reflection
Pressure
Ultrasound
Hertz
ASSESSMENT:
22. Electricity & Magnetism – SIMPLE MAGNETISM
Explain why a suspended permanent magnetic will align north – south.
Describe one use for each:
Magnetically hard material
Describe a simple method to visualise field
lines.
What is magnetic
induction? Give an
example.
Draw magnetic field lines to around the below magnets.
Magnetically soft material
N
S
KEY WORDS:
Describe two methods of magnetisation
N
S
S
N
Describe two methods of demagnetisation
Magnetism
Field lines
Magnetic field
Induction
Ferrous
Magnetised
ASSESSMENT:
N
S
N
S
23. Electricity & Magnetism – ELECTROSTATICS
Define:
Electrical insulator
Describe how an insulator can become charged. Use an example to
illustrate the effect.
What causes a static
charge on a material?
Electrical conductor
Resistance
Complete the diagrams to show the electrical field lines.
---------
Potential difference
+
Coulomb
Describe two hazards caused by electrostatics.
+++++++++
Describe briefly how an electroscope is charged by
induction.
KEY WORDS:
Electrostatic
Electron
Proton
Charge
Electric field
Coulomb
ASSESSMENT:
24. Electricity & Magnetism – CURRENT & POTENTIAL DIFF
What two factors affect the size of electrical current?
Define potential difference.
What is it’s unit and device of measure?
Current is a measure of….
Current is measured using…
Describe how the energy of electrons changes as they
move around a circuit. Use the following terms: potential,
transfer, kinetic, power supply, component.
Define electromotive
force.
One Amp is equivalent to….
Therefore state the equation for the relationship with
charge and current. Include symbols and units.
KEY WORDS:
What is the difference between conventional current and
electron flow? Why does this exist?
Draw a circuit diagram to demonstrate how p.d. is
measured ‘across’ a component.
Current
Ammeter
Potential difference
Energy
Transfer
Component
ASSESSMENT:
25. Electricity & Magnetism – RESISTANCE & ENERGY
State Ohm’s law, give the symbols and
units.
Calculate the resistance of a heater with
13A current. The supply provides 110V.
What information does the
power rating of a device give us?
Write the equation for
calculating power. Give the
symbols and units.
Calculate the normal current
through a 500W, 230V heater.
Describe the relationship
between voltage, current
and energy (thus with
energy and power) state
the equation.
Calculate the power rating of a
kettle with 230V supply and
current of 9A.
A light bulb transfers 30000J of
electrical energy when it is on for
300s. Calculate its power
What it the voltage supply for a 1500ohm
resistor if the current is 0.045A?
KEY WORDS:
Describe how and why resistance is affected by
temperature of conductors.
Describe how and why the length and cross sectional area
of a wire effects resistance
Resistance
Energy
Ohm
Watt
Voltage
Current
ASSESSMENT:
26. Electricity & Magnetism – CIRCUITS
Label these circuit components:
Two resistors connected
in parallel of 23ohms and
37.6ohms. What is their
combined resistance?
State the difference between alternating and direct
current. What are the advantages of each?
State the rules for calculating combined resistance in
each series and parallel.
What is the combined
resistance of 12 lamps
connected in series each
of 0.5ohms?
Complete the table. Include for I and V rules for splitting and totalling.
Series
Simple circuit diagram
Current
Voltage
Advantages/disadv.
Examples of use
KEY WORDS:
Resistance
Voltage
Current
Parallel
Series
Component
Parallel
ASSESSMENT:
27. Electricity & Magnetism – COMPONENTS
Describe the structure of a variable resistor
(rheostat)
Explain how changes in light affect the
resistance of an LDR.
Describe how a potential divider can be used
with a to create an input transducer. You
could use a circuit diagram to help.
Explain how a rheostat changes the current in a
circuit.
Explain how changes in temperature affect
the resistance of an thermistor.
Give two uses of a rheostat
How do potentiometers differ from rheostats
structurally?
What is the main difference in their use and
why?
What is the function of a
diode?
Why are diodes useful in
circuits with a.c.?
What is the function of a
capacitor?
Draw a circuit with a capacitor and
diode.
KEY WORDS:
Diode
Capacitor
Rheostat
Thermistor
Potentiometer
Transducer
LDR
ASSESSMENT:
28. Electricity & Magnetism – DIGITAL ELECTRONICS
Compare an analogue signal with a digital.
Draw the circuit symbol/diagram for each type of logic gate and complete the truth tables
AND gate
Input
A
B
Output
NOR gate
Input
A
B
Output
Define logic gate
OR gate
Input
A
B
Output
NAND gate
Input
A
B
Output
What is a logic gate threshold?
Describe how the sequence of events that can
switch the output of a NAND latch circuit from
high to low and back to high. In the space to the
right draw the latch.
NOT gate
Input
Output
KEY WORDS:
Logic gate
Digital
Analogue
Bistable
Input/output
ASSESSMENT:
29. Electricity & Magnetism – ELECTRICAL DANGERS
What is the function of the earth wire?
Which fuses are commonly
available?
In a standard 3-pin plug what is:
X:
W
Y:
Z:
How does it work?
How do you choose the correct
fuse for an appliance?
W:
Z
How do the materials and design of the following plug parts
improve their safety?
Case
Fuse
Pins
Why do appliances with plastic casings
not require an earth?
What is an RCCB? What is it’s
function?
What is the function of an MCB? How does it work?
How are electrical cables designed to be safe?
KEY WORDS:
Earth
Resistance
Live wire
Safety
Fuse
Breaker
ASSESSMENT:
30. Electricity & Magnetism – ELECTROMAGNETISM 1
You can use a diagram. Demonstrate how a coil of wire within a magnetic
field can produce an AC current in a simple generator.
Describe how an emf can be induced in a wire.
Explain the necessity of transformers in transmitting electricity long
distances.
Describe the structure and outcome of a:
- step-up transformer
- Step-down transformer
How much power is lost if electricity is
transmitted at 30,000V current of 70A
and resistance 4.5ohms?
KEY WORDS:
Transmit
Transformer
Power
Resistance
Field
Current
Magnetic
ASSESSMENT:
31. Electricity & Magnetism – ELECTROMAGNETISM 2
Complete the diagrams to show the field pattern for a straight conductor
Explain what Fleming’s Left-hand rule means
What do the dot and the cross represent?
What happens when you reverse the current?
What is a solenoid?
What happens when a current flows through a solenoid?
As a wire is moved through a magnetic
field why is an opposing force generated
to resist the movement? Explain using
ideas about e.m.f.
KEY WORDS:
Conductor
Field direction
Field lines
e.m.f.
Field
Current
Magnetic
ASSESSMENT:
Why is a soft magnetic core within a solenoid helpful?
32. Electricity & Magnetism – ELECTROMAGNETISM 3
What happens to a charged particle as it moves within a magnetic field?
Explain how a simple motor works. Refer to the parts and
forces shown in the diagram.
Draw a labelled diagram of a particle generator to demonstrate this effect
Describe two ways in which you could
reverse the direction of the spinning
motor.
What factors affect the force
experiences by the motor?
KEY WORDS:
Field
Coil
Power
Motor
Field
Current
ASSESSMENT:
33. Atomic Physics – THE ATOMIC MODEL
Briefly describe the procedure and findings of
Geiger, Marsden and Rutherford’s experiment.
Define and give two
examples of isotope.
Describe nuclear fission.
What two things occur when nuclear fission happens?
What is a radioactive
isotope?
What is produced by a fission reaction?
Describe how a fission reaction leads to a chain reaction.
What does the nucleon number tell us?
How do you find the number of neutrons in
an atom?
Name the three sub-atomic
particles and their relative masses
and charges.
KEY WORDS:
Atom
Fission
Neutron
Electron
Proton
Isotope
ASSESSMENT:
34. Atomic Physics – RADIOACTIVE DECAY
Complete the table
Decay
Written
as:
(symbol)
Description
Penetrating power
Deflection by
magnetic or
electric field field
Describe how describe what changes occur within
the nucleus as each type of decay is emitted.
Alpha:
Beta:
Alpha
radiation
(𝛼)
Beta
radiation
(𝛽)
Gamma:
Gamma
radiation
(𝛾)
What is back ground radiation and
what are the main sources?
State two ways in which
radiation can be
detected.
KEY WORDS:
Atom
Decay
Alpha
Gamma
Penetrating
Ionising
ASSESSMENT:
Write two nuclear equations for Potassium-42
which undergoes alpha and then beta decay.
Write two nuclear equations for Radon-86
which undergoes alpha and then beta decay.
35. Atomic Physics – HALF LIFE
Radioactive activity is measured as the…
Half-life is…
Complete this table. Assume the material has an hourly 10% decay.
Time from start
(hours)
0
1
No. of unstable atoms
1000
900
477
No, of unstable atoms
that decay in the next
hour
100
90
48
2
3
4
5
6
What is the half life of this material?
The unit of measure for activity is…
This means one unit is…
State the safety precautions that must be taken when
handling sources of radioactivity.
The activity of a material is 2200Bq. Its The activity is a material is 800Bq. Its half
half life is 7.5hours. After how long will it life is 3hours. After 21 hours what will its
be 550Bq?
activity be?
Briefly describe three uses for radioactive
isotopes.
KEY WORDS:
Half-life
Activity
Radiation
Becquerels
Radioisotopes
Radiotherapy
ASSESSMENT: