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
Motion and Forces
- 11 subtopics
- 33 things to know
- Paper 5
What Motion and Forces covers
Motion and Forces is examined in Paper 5, Physics 1. It covers scalar and vector quantities, examples of vectors and scalars, and velocity, speed, distance, time and distance-time graphs, acceleration and the equation v squared minus u squared, velocity-time graphs and free fall, measuring speed in the laboratory, and typical everyday speeds, Newton's first law, and investigating force, mass and acceleration, Newton's second and third laws, weight, mass and gravitational field strength, reaction time, stopping distance and large decelerations and factors affecting stopping distance and reaction time.
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 11 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Scalar and vector quantitiesScalar and vector quantities, why mass, temperature and time are scalars, drawing a vector as an arrow, equal forces that cancel, distance versus displacement, speed versus velocity, and negative vector values.Open →
- Examples of vectors and scalars, and velocityWhich of distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, force, mass, weight, momentum and energy are scalars and which are vectors, then velocity as speed in a stated direction.Open →
- Speed, distance, time and distance-time graphsThe average speed equation and calculations with it, why a journey speed is an average, and what gradients, horizontal lines, curves and tangents on a distance–time graph show.Open →
- Acceleration and the equation v squared minus u squaredThe acceleration equation and its unit, calculating acceleration, deceleration, final velocity and time, and using (final velocity)² − (initial velocity)² = 2 × acceleration × distance to find speeds, decelerations and distances.Open →
- Velocity-time graphs and free fallWhat the gradient and the area under a velocity–time graph give, reading acceleration and deceleration from the line, the 10 m/s² acceleration of free fall, and straight-line graphs of the form y = mx + c, with v = u + at as an example.Open →
- Measuring speed in the laboratory, and typical everyday speedsMeasuring speed with light gates or a metre rule and stopwatch, typical speeds for walking, running, cycling, cars, wind and sound, then accuracy, precision, repeatable and reproducible results, and random, systematic and zero errors.Open →
- Newton's first law, and investigating force, mass and accelerationNewton's first law and resultant force, forces on objects at rest or at constant velocity, the trolley investigation into force, mass and acceleration with its variables, errors and safety, and writing hypotheses, plotting graphs and drawing conclusions.Open →
- Newton's second and third lawsForce = mass × acceleration and calculations with it, how acceleration depends on force and mass, Newton's third law and why its equal and opposite force pairs never cancel, and the proportionality symbol ∝.Open →
- Weight, mass and gravitational field strengthWeight as a gravitational force, weight = mass × gravitational field strength with calculations on Earth, the Moon and Mars, the difference between mass and weight, measuring weight with a newtonmeter, and what 10 N/kg means.Open →
- Reaction time, stopping distance and large decelerationsMeasuring reaction time with a ruler drop or a computer, thinking, braking and stopping distance, why large decelerations injure, seat belts, skidding and overheated brakes, then the mean, range, uncertainty, anomalous results, median and mode of repeat readings.Open →
- Factors affecting stopping distance and reaction timeHow speed, mass, road conditions and worn brakes or tyres affect stopping distance, how tiredness, alcohol, drugs and distractions lengthen reaction time, and showing reaction times in frequency tables, histograms, bar charts and scatter diagrams, with correlation and causation.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Classify distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration and force as scalars or vectors.
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State Newton's first law, applied to a car at steady velocity and a box under opposing forces of 12 N and 5 N.
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State the equation linking average speed, distance and time.
Numbers
State in words the equation used to calculate acceleration.
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What does the gradient of a velocity–time graph represent?
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Describe how a single light gate can be used to measure the speed of a trolley.
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State in words the equation that links resultant force, mass and acceleration.
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Define the weight of an object.
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Describe a simple laboratory method for measuring a person's reaction time.
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Explain how increasing the speed of a vehicle affects its thinking distance.
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What is meant by a scalar quantity?
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Classify distance and displacement as scalar or vector.
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State the equation used to find the distance travelled from an average speed and a time.
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State the unit of acceleration.
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Two straight lines on the same velocity–time graph have different gradients. Which line shows the greater acceleration?
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Why does a light gate give a more accurate speed than timing a trolley with a stopwatch?
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State the first of Newton's laws of motion.
Numbers
A resultant force of 60 N acts on a mass of 12 kg. Calculate the acceleration.
Evaluation
State in words the equation linking weight, mass and gravitational field strength.
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State a typical value for a person's reaction time.
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Explain how the mass of a vehicle affects its braking distance.
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A student writes that a mass of 3 kg acts to the left. Explain why the direction is meaningless here.
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Classify speed and velocity as scalar or vector.
Numbers
A runner covers 400 m in 50 s. Calculate the average speed.
Numbers
A car speeds up from 4 m/s to 24 m/s in 5 s. Calculate its acceleration.
Numbers
A velocity–time graph line rises steadily from 0 m/s to 18 m/s in 6 s. Calculate the acceleration.
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Describe how a metre rule and a stopwatch can be used to find the average speed of a person walking along a corridor.
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A car travels at a steady 20 m/s along a straight road. State the resultant force on the car.
Numbers
A car of mass 1200 kg accelerates at 2 m/s². Calculate the resultant force on it.
Numbers
Calculate the weight of a 6 kg bag where the gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg.
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Describe how a computer can be used to measure a person's reaction time.
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Explain how worn brakes affect the stopping distance of a vehicle.
Take Motion and Forces further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Scalar vs Vector
Scalar: a quantity with magnitude only and no direction. Vector: a quantity with both a magnitude and a specific direction.
Distance vs Displacement
Distance: the total path length travelled. Displacement: the straight-line separation from start to finish in a stated direction.
Speed vs Velocity
Speed: how fast an object moves, with no direction given. Velocity: how fast an object moves in a stated direction.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is meant by a scalar quantity?
Model answer
A scalar quantity has magnitude only and no specific direction.
- 2
A student writes that a mass of 3 kg acts to the left. Explain why the direction is meaningless here.
Model answer
Mass is a scalar, so it has size only and cannot act in a direction.
- 3
How much information is needed to state a scalar quantity fully?
Model answer
Only a number and its unit are needed, because no direction is involved.
- 4
Explain why temperature is classed as a scalar.
Model answer
A temperature has a size but does not point anywhere, so it has no direction.
- 5
Is the time taken for a race a scalar or a vector? Give a reason.
Model answer
Time is a scalar, because it has magnitude only and no direction.
- 6
What is meant by a vector quantity?
Model answer
A vector quantity has both a magnitude and a specific direction.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Motion and Forces revision questions
- What does Motion and Forces cover in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics?
- 11 subtopics: scalar and vector quantities, examples of vectors and scalars, and velocity, speed, distance, time and distance-time graphs, acceleration and the equation v squared minus u squared, velocity-time graphs and free fall, measuring speed in the laboratory, and typical everyday speeds, newton's first law, and investigating force, mass and acceleration, newton's second and third laws, weight, mass and gravitational field strength, reaction time, stopping distance and large decelerations and factors affecting stopping distance and reaction time. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Motion and Forces organised?
- By the Edexcel 1SC0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Motion and Forces, 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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