Key term
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics 1SC0
Key Concepts of Physics
Motion and Forces
Topic overviewScalar and vector quantitiesExamples of vectors and scalars, and velocitySpeed, distance, time and distance-time graphsAcceleration and the equation v squared minus u squaredVelocity-time graphs and free fallMeasuring speed in the laboratory, and typical everyday speedsNewton's first law, and investigating force, mass and accelerationNewton's second and third lawsWeight, mass and gravitational field strengthReaction time, stopping distance and large decelerationsFactors affecting stopping distance and reaction time
Conservation of Energy
Waves
Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Topic overviewProperties of electromagnetic wavesInvestigating refraction in glass blocksThe groups of the electromagnetic spectrumThe continuous spectrum, and what our eyes can detectHow radiation is generated, and why danger rises with frequencyHarmful effects of excessive exposure to radiationUses of electromagnetic radiation
Radioactivity
Topic overviewThe atom and the size of atomsIsotopes, atomic number and mass numberRelative masses and charges of subatomic particlesElectron orbits and energy levelsForming ions, and how the atomic model changedTypes of ionising radiationBackground radiation and detecting radioactivityAlpha, beta and gamma, and their penetrating powerBeta-minus and beta-plus decayEffects of decay on atomic number and mass numberBalancing nuclear equationsActivity and the becquerelHalf-life and the randomness of decayHalf-life calculationsThe dangers of ionising radiationSafety precautions, contamination and irradiation
Energy – Forces Doing Work
Topic overviewEnergy stores and energy transfer diagramsChanging a system's energy, and measuring work doneWork done and the energy changes it causesGravitational potential and kinetic energy calculationsDissipation and wasted energyPower as the rate of energy transferThe watt, and calculating efficiency
Forces and Their Effects
Electricity and Circuits
Topic overviewThe atom, and drawing circuit diagramsSeries and parallel circuitsPotential difference and the voltmeterEnergy transferred by moving chargeCurrent, charge and measuring currentResistance and the equation V = IRResistors in series and in parallelDesigning circuits to test componentsInvestigating resistance in circuitsCurrent-potential difference graphs for componentsLight-dependent resistors and thermistorsThe heating effect of an electric currentUses of the heating effect, and the equation E = IVtPower as energy transferred per secondCalculating electrical powerEnergy transfer in domestic devices, and power ratingsDirect and alternating currentAlternating current and the UK mains supplyLive and neutral wires, earthing and fusesFuses in the live wire, mains voltages and electrical dangers
Magnetism and the Motor Effect
Electromagnetic Induction
Particle Model
Topic overviewKinetic theory and differences in densityCalculating density, and investigating itChanges of state and internal energySpecific heat capacitySpecific latent heat and thermal insulationInvestigating the specific heat capacity of waterGas pressure and the motion of particlesAbsolute zero and the kelvin scale
Conservation of Energy
- 7 subtopics
- 21 things to know
- Paper 5
What Conservation of Energy covers
Conservation of Energy is examined in Paper 5, Physics 1. It covers gravitational potential and kinetic energy, energy transfer diagrams and conservation of energy, energy stores and closed systems, dissipation and wasteful energy transfer, reducing unwanted energy transfer, calculating efficiency, and energy resources and trends in their use.
Where it is assessed
Paper 5
Physics 1: Physics in Combined Science: 1 hour 10 minutes, 60 marks, 16.67% of the qualification.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Gravitational potential and kinetic energyChange in gravitational potential energy = mass × gravitational field strength × change in vertical height, finding energy, height and mass, why only vertical height counts, kinetic energy = ½ × mass × (speed)², and speed after a fall.Open →
- Energy transfer diagrams and conservation of energyWhat energy transfer and Sankey diagrams show, arrow widths and why outputs equal the input, diagrams for a torch and a hairdryer, the principle of conservation of energy, and why energy is wasted but never used up.Open →
- Energy stores and closed systemsEnergy store changes for a thrown ball, a freewheeling cyclist, a crashing car, a hammer, a kettle and a braking car, then what a closed system is and why its total energy stays fixed.Open →
- Dissipation and wasteful energy transferWhy friction makes mechanical processes wasteful, warming on slides and rubbed hands, why dissipated energy is hard to recover while the total is conserved, and dissipation in lamps, loudspeakers, mobile phones and bicycles.Open →
- Reducing unwanted energy transferReducing unwanted energy transfer with wall and loft insulation, double glazing, lubrication and draught-proofing, how wall thickness and thermal conductivity affect a building's rate of cooling, and cavity walls filled with foam.Open →
- Calculating efficiencyThe efficiency equation, why efficiency has no unit, and calculating efficiency as a decimal or a percentage, the useful energy transferred, the total energy supplied and the energy wasted by devices, lamps and kettles.Open →
- Energy resources and trends in their useFossil fuels, nuclear fuel, bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, tides and solar energy, renewable versus non-renewable resources, their reliability and environmental effects, trends in energy use, ethical issues and the limits of science, and charting resources.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
State the principle of conservation of energy, then use the principle to explain a braking car and the limit on a machine's output.
Key term
How do wall insulation, double glazing and lubricating oil reduce unwanted energy transfer, and why does a well-insulated home need less heating?
Numbers
State the equation used to calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of an object that is raised above the ground.
Key term
Describe the change in the way energy is stored as a ball is thrown vertically upwards.
Numbers
State the equation used to calculate the efficiency of a device.
Key term
Name three fossil fuels used as energy resources.
Evaluation
Give the unit of gravitational field strength used in the gravitational potential energy equation.
Key term
In a Sankey diagram, what does the width of each arrow represent?
Key term
Describe the main change in energy stores as a cyclist freewheels up a slope and slows down.
Process
Explain why mechanical processes involving friction are described as wasteful.
Key term
Explain how thermal insulation in the walls of a house reduces unwanted energy transfer.
Numbers
A device is supplied with 120 J and usefully transfers 30 J. Calculate its efficiency.
Key term
Describe how nuclear fuel is used to generate electricity.
Numbers
Calculate the gain in gravitational potential energy when a 2 kg bag is lifted 3 m, taking gravitational field strength as 10 N/kg.
Key term
In a Sankey diagram for an electric lamp, why is the input arrow wider than the arrow representing the light output?
Key term
Explain, in terms of energy stores, why a ball thrown upwards is momentarily stationary at its highest point.
Key term
Explain why a child slowing down on a playground slide leaves the slide slightly warmer.
Key term
Describe how double glazing reduces unwanted energy transfer from a room.
Numbers
A lamp is supplied with 200 J and transfers 15 J as light. Calculate its efficiency as a percentage.
Key term
Describe what a bio-fuel is and give one example.
Take Conservation of Energy further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Gravitational potential energy vs Kinetic energy
Gravitational potential energy: the store filled when an object is raised against gravity. Kinetic energy: the store filled when an object is set moving, growing with speed squared.
Dissipation vs Conservation of energy
Dissipation: energy spreading into the surroundings where it is stored in a less useful way. Conservation of energy: the principle that the total in all stores can only be transferred, never created or destroyed.
Renewable vs Non-renewable
Renewable: an energy resource replaced as fast as it is used, so it will not run out. Non-renewable: an energy resource being used far faster than it can be replaced.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
State the equation used to calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of an object that is raised above the ground.
Model answer
Change in gravitational potential energy = mass × gravitational field strength × change in vertical height.
- 2
Give the unit of gravitational field strength used in the gravitational potential energy equation.
Model answer
newtons per kilogram, N/kg.
- 3
Calculate the gain in gravitational potential energy when a 2 kg bag is lifted 3 m, taking gravitational field strength as 10 N/kg.
Model answer
ΔGPE = 2 × 10 × 3 = 60 J.
- 4
A 30 kg child gains 900 J of gravitational potential energy climbing a ladder. Calculate the vertical height climbed, taking gravitational field strength as 10 N/kg.
Model answer
Height = 900 ÷ (30 × 10) = 3 m.
- 5
A crate gains 1500 J of gravitational potential energy when it is raised 5 m. Calculate its mass, taking gravitational field strength as 10 N/kg.
Model answer
Mass = 1500 ÷ (10 × 5) = 30 kg.
- 6
Explain why only the vertical height, and not the distance travelled along a ramp, is used to calculate a change in gravitational potential energy.
Model answer
Gravitational potential energy depends on how far the object is raised against gravity, which is the vertical height.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Conservation of Energy revision questions
- What does Conservation of Energy cover in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics?
- 7 subtopics: gravitational potential and kinetic energy, energy transfer diagrams and conservation of energy, energy stores and closed systems, dissipation and wasteful energy transfer, reducing unwanted energy transfer, calculating efficiency and energy resources and trends in their use. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Conservation of Energy organised?
- By the Edexcel 1SC0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Conservation of Energy, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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