Key term
Edexcel GCSE Physics 1PH0
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 timeBraking distance, speed and work done
Conservation of Energy
Waves
Topic overviewWhat waves transfer, and the evidence for itFrequency, wavelength, amplitude and periodLongitudinal and transverse wavesThe wave equationMeasuring wave speed, and what happens at a boundaryMeasuring waves in ripple tanks, strings and solidsReflection, refraction, transmission and absorption at a boundary
Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Topic overviewReflection, refraction and total internal reflectionWhy objects appear colouredLenses, ray diagrams and imagesProperties of electromagnetic wavesInvestigating refraction in glass blocksThe groups of the electromagnetic spectrumThe continuous spectrum, and what our eyes can detectEmitting and absorbing thermal radiationHow 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 calculationsUses of radioactivity, and how danger depends on half-lifeThe dangers of ionising radiationSafety precautions, contamination and irradiationRadiotherapy, medical tracers and PET scannersNuclear power and where nuclear energy comes fromFission of uranium-235 and the chain reactionControlling a reactor and generating electricityNuclear fusion and how it differs from fissionWhy fusion needs extreme conditions
Astronomy
Topic overviewWeight and gravitational field strength on other bodiesThe Solar System and the order of the planetsHow ideas about the Solar System and ways of observing it have changedOrbits of moons, planets, comets and satellitesGravity, orbital speed and stable orbitsThe Steady State and Big Bang theoriesEvidence for an expanding UniverseThe Doppler effect and red-shift in galaxiesThe life cycle of a star like the SunThe life cycle of stars more massive than the Sun
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
Static Electricity
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 scaleCompressing gases, and the force a gas exertsPressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas
Electromagnetic Induction
- 2 subtopics
- 8 things to know
- Paper 2
What Electromagnetic Induction covers
Electromagnetic Induction is examined in Paper 2, Physics 2. It covers the national grid, and step-up and step-down transformers and transformer power calculations.
Where it is assessed
Paper 2
Physics 2: 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 2 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- The national grid, and step-up and step-down transformersTransmitting electrical energy at high voltage and low current to cut heating losses in cables, the national grid and its thick cables, where and why step-up and step-down transformers are used, the 230 V mains, and why the grid uses alternating current.Open →
- Transformer power calculationsThe power equation for a 100% efficient transformer, calculating an output current, an output voltage or a primary current, and why stepping the voltage up lowers the current.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
How do high voltage and thick cables make the grid efficient, where are step-down transformers used, and why does the grid carry alternating current?
Key term
State the power equation linking the voltages and currents in the two coils of a transformer that is 100% efficient.
Numbers
A transformer takes 2.0 A from a 230 V supply and gives an output of 23 V. Calculate the output current.
Key term
State why electrical energy is transferred across the country at a very high voltage.
Numbers
A transformer takes 5.0 A from a 12 V supply and delivers a current of 0.50 A. Calculate the output voltage.
Key term
Explain why a large current in a transmission cable wastes energy.
Numbers
A transformer supplies 3.0 A at 400 V and is connected to a 100 V supply. Calculate the current in its primary coil.
Take Electromagnetic Induction further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Step-up transformer vs Step-down transformer
Step-up transformer: a device giving an output voltage larger than its input, with more secondary turns. Step-down transformer: a device giving an output voltage smaller than its input, with fewer secondary turns.
Primary coil vs Secondary coil
Primary coil: the winding connected to the input supply of a transformer. Secondary coil: the winding in which the changing field of the core induces the output.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
State why electrical energy is transferred across the country at a very high voltage.
Model answer
A high voltage means a small current, which reduces the energy wasted as heat in the cables.
- 2
Explain why a large current in a transmission cable wastes energy.
Model answer
The cable has resistance, so the current heats it and energy is transferred to the surroundings.
- 3
Explain how raising the transmission voltage reduces the current needed to deliver the same power.
Model answer
Power is the voltage multiplied by the current, so a larger voltage delivers the same power with a smaller current.
- 4
Explain why the voltage is reduced again before electricity reaches houses.
Model answer
A very high voltage would be extremely dangerous in a house and would destroy domestic appliances.
- 5
State the effect of transferring electrical energy at high voltage on the efficiency of the transmission network.
Model answer
The efficiency is higher, because less of the energy is wasted heating the cables.
- 6
Name the network of cables and transformers that carries electrical energy from power stations to consumers.
Model answer
The national grid.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Electromagnetic Induction revision questions
- What does Electromagnetic Induction cover in Edexcel GCSE Physics?
- 2 subtopics: the national grid, and step-up and step-down transformers and transformer power calculations. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Electromagnetic Induction organised?
- By the Edexcel 1PH0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Electromagnetic Induction, 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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