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
Particle Model
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Paper 2
What Particle Model covers
Particle Model is examined in Paper 2, Physics 2. It covers kinetic theory and differences in density, calculating density, and investigating it, changes of state and internal energy, specific heat capacity, specific latent heat and thermal insulation, investigating the specific heat capacity of water, gas pressure and the motion of particles, absolute zero and the kelvin scale, compressing gases, and the force a gas exerts and pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas.
Where it is assessed
Paper 2
Physics 2: 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Kinetic theory and differences in densityThe arrangement and movement of particles in solids, liquids and gases, fixed shapes, compressing and filling containers, and differences in density between states, including compressed and heated gases and ice floating on water.Open →
- Calculating density, and investigating itThe density equation and kg/m³, calculations of density, mass and volume, measuring regular and irregular solids and liquids, sources of error, and density as a property of the material.Open →
- Changes of state and internal energyFreezing, condensing, sublimation, evaporating and boiling, mass conserved in changes of state as physical changes, heating raising the kinetic store of particles or changing state, and why temperature stays constant while a substance melts or boils.Open →
- Specific heat capacitySpecific heat capacity and specific latent heat, their units and the difference between them, change in thermal energy = mass × specific heat capacity × change in temperature, and calculating energy, specific heat capacity, temperature rise and mass.Open →
- Specific latent heat and thermal insulationThe energy for a change of state from mass and specific latent heat, calculations for melting and boiling, and how trapped air, double glazing, loft insulation, foam and shiny surfaces reduce energy transfer.Open →
- Investigating the specific heat capacity of waterFinding the specific heat capacity of water with an immersion heater and joulemeter, stirring, why results come out high and how lagging helps, the flat temperature–time graph for melting ice, and safety with heaters and hot water.Open →
- Gas pressure and the motion of particlesHow particle collisions with the walls produce a steady pressure on every surface, why more particles or heating raise the pressure, a can in sunlight, and temperature as average kinetic energy.Open →
- Absolute zero and the kelvin scaleAbsolute zero at −273 °C and 0 K, why particles stop and no lower temperature or gas pressure is possible, and converting between degrees Celsius and kelvin, including the size of a temperature change.Open →
- Compressing gases, and the force a gas exertsWhy gases compress and expand as pressure changes, syringes and balloons carried up a mountain, why liquids cannot be compressed, and gas pressure pushing at right angles to every surface, which gives an inflated balloon its rounded shape.Open →
- Pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gasWhy compressing a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature raises its pressure and expanding it lowers the pressure, a blocked bicycle pump, the pressure × volume equation, and calculating new pressures, volumes and pressure factors.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Use the particle model to explain a solid's fixed shape, why a gas compresses but a liquid does not, and why compression raises density.
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Describe how a temperature–time graph for melting ice is obtained, the shape of the graph, and what the flat section shows.
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State the equation linking density, mass and volume.
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Describe one difference between evaporating and boiling.
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State the unit of specific heat capacity.
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State the two features of particle collisions that determine the pressure a gas exerts on its container.
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Describe what happens to the movement of particles at absolute zero.
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Explain why a sealed balloon of air gets bigger when it is carried up a mountain.
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Explain why reducing the volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature increases its pressure.
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Explain why a solid keeps a fixed shape while a liquid takes the shape of its container.
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Name the unit of density used when mass is measured in kilograms and volume in cubic metres.
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Give one way in which a change of state differs from many chemical changes.
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State the unit of specific latent heat.
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State the equation for the thermal energy needed for a change of state.
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Describe how an electric immersion heater and a joulemeter are used to find the specific heat capacity of water.
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Explain why the pressure of a gas in a sealed container is steady rather than jerky.
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Explain why no temperature lower than −273 °C is possible.
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Explain why the air inside an inflated balloon pushes outwards on every part of its skin.
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Explain why the pressure of a fixed mass of gas falls when the gas expands at constant temperature.
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Explain why a gas can be squashed into a much smaller volume but a liquid cannot.
Numbers
Calculate the density of a block of mass 1.5 kg and volume 0.0020 m³.
Key term
Water boils away in an open pan and the pan and its contents weigh less afterwards. Explain why mass has still been conserved.
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Give the main difference between specific heat capacity and specific latent heat.
Numbers
Calculate the energy needed to melt 0.50 kg of ice at 0 °C, given a specific latent heat of fusion of 3.34 × 10⁵ J/kg.
Numbers
State the equation used to calculate the specific heat capacity of water from measured energy, mass and temperature rise.
Key term
Explain why adding more gas particles to a sealed rigid container raises the pressure inside it.
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State the pressure a fixed mass of gas would exert at absolute zero.
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Explain why an inflated balloon takes up a rounded shape.
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Explain why the average speed of the particles does not change when a gas is compressed at constant temperature.
Take Particle Model further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Specific heat capacity vs Specific latent heat
Specific heat capacity: the energy needed to raise 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C. Specific latent heat: the energy needed to change the state of 1 kg without changing its temperature.
Evaporation vs Boiling
Evaporation: a change from liquid to gas at the surface only, at any temperature. Boiling: a change from liquid to gas throughout the liquid at one fixed temperature.
Melting vs Sublimation
Melting: a solid becoming a liquid at a constant temperature. Sublimation: a solid turning directly into a gas.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
How are the particles in a solid arranged, and how do they move?
Model answer
They are packed closely in a fixed, regular arrangement and vibrate about fixed positions.
- 2
Describe the arrangement and movement of the particles in a liquid.
Model answer
They are close together but randomly arranged, and they can slide past one another.
- 3
Describe the arrangement and movement of the particles in a gas.
Model answer
They are far apart and randomly arranged, moving quickly in random directions.
- 4
Explain why a solid keeps a fixed shape while a liquid takes the shape of its container.
Model answer
Solid particles are held in fixed positions by strong forces, while liquid particles are free to move past each other.
- 5
Explain why a gas can be squashed into a much smaller volume but a liquid cannot.
Model answer
Gas particles have large gaps between them that can be closed up, while liquid particles are already touching.
- 6
Explain why a gas spreads out to fill any container it is put into.
Model answer
Its particles move rapidly in random directions until they reach the container walls.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Particle Model revision questions
- What does Particle Model cover in Edexcel GCSE Physics?
- 10 subtopics: kinetic theory and differences in density, calculating density, and investigating it, changes of state and internal energy, specific heat capacity, specific latent heat and thermal insulation, investigating the specific heat capacity of water, gas pressure and the motion of particles, absolute zero and the kelvin scale, compressing gases, and the force a gas exerts and pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Particle Model organised?
- By the Edexcel 1PH0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Particle Model, 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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