Evaluation
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 strengthCircular motion and centripetal forceInertial mass and momentumCollisions, and force as the rate of change of momentumReaction 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, and calculating depth from wave velocityReflection, refraction, transmission and absorption at a boundarySound waves, ultrasound and infrasoundUses of ultrasound and infrasound
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 detectAbsorption, transmission and the velocity of electromagnetic wavesEmitting and absorbing thermal radiationConstant temperature and the temperature of the EarthHow 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
Topic overviewMagnetic poles, permanent and induced magnetsUses of magnetic materialsThe magnetic field around a bar magnetPlotting compasses and the Earth's magnetic fieldThe magnetic effect of an electric currentSolenoids and electromagnetsThe motor effect and Fleming's left-hand ruleThe force on a conductor, and how a motor turns
Electromagnetic Induction
Topic overviewInducing a current by moving a magnetFactors affecting an induced potential differenceAlternators and microphonesHow a transformer worksThe transformer turns-ratio equationThe national grid, and step-up and step-down transformersTransformer power calculationsWhy high-voltage transmission reduces energy loss
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
Forces and Matter
Topic overviewElastic and inelastic distortionSpring constant, and linear and non-linear behaviourWork done in stretching a springAtmospheric pressure and pressure in a fluidForce, area and pressureCalculating pressure, and how pressure varies with depthPressure in liquids: density and depthUpthrust, floating and sinking
Astronomy
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Paper 1
What Astronomy covers
Astronomy is examined in Paper 1, Physics 1. It covers weight and gravitational field strength on other bodies, the Solar System and the order of the planets, how ideas about the Solar System and ways of observing it have changed, orbits of moons, planets, comets and satellites, gravity, orbital speed and stable orbits, the Steady State and Big Bang theories, evidence for an expanding Universe, the Doppler effect and red-shift in galaxies, the life cycle of a star like the Sun and the life cycle of stars more massive than the Sun.
Where it is assessed
Paper 1
Physics 1: 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Weight and gravitational field strength on other bodiesWhy weight is smaller on the Moon while mass is unchanged, what sets a planet's field strength, and weight calculations on the Earth, the Moon, Mars and Jupiter.Open →
- The Solar System and the order of the planetsThe Sun, planets, natural satellites, dwarf planets such as Pluto, asteroids and comets that make up the Solar System, and the eight planets in order of distance from the Sun, from Mercury to Neptune.Open →
- How ideas about the Solar System and ways of observing it have changedThe geocentric and heliocentric models, telescope evidence from Jupiter's moons and the phases of Venus, elliptical orbits, why models change, and observing by naked eye, telescope, photography and digital detectors, including radio, X-ray and orbiting telescopes.Open →
- Orbits of moons, planets, comets and satellitesThe shapes of the orbits of planets, the Moon and comets, why a comet moves fastest near the Sun, and the orbits and uses of geostationary and low polar satellites.Open →
- Gravity, orbital speed and stable orbitsThe direction of gravity on an orbiting planet, why circular motion is acceleration at constant speed, centripetal force, and how orbital speed must change with orbital radius.Open →
- The Steady State and Big Bang theoriesWhat each theory says about the origin, density and age of the Universe, where they agree, why the Big Bang is accepted, and why red-shift alone cannot decide between them.Open →
- Evidence for an expanding UniverseRed-shift and the cosmic microwave background radiation as evidence for the Big Bang, why the CMB now arrives as microwaves from every direction, space itself expanding, a hotter denser past, and how finding the CMB ended the Steady State theory.Open →
- The Doppler effect and red-shift in galaxiesHow observed wavelength and frequency change for a source moving away or towards an observer, the ambulance siren, what red-shift is, and how it grows with a galaxy's distance and speed.Open →
- The life cycle of a star like the SunThe stages from nebula and protostar to main sequence star, red giant and white dwarf, hydrogen fusing to helium, why a red giant looks red, and how gravity and thermal expansion balance in a main sequence star until its hydrogen runs out.Open →
- The life cycle of stars more massive than the SunThe stages from nebula to red supergiant, supernova, neutron star or black hole, why massive stars live shorter lives, and what supernova material goes on to form.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Why did discovering the cosmic microwave background radiation support the Big Bang theory over the Steady State theory?
Key term
Explain why the pitch of a siren on an ambulance seems to drop as the ambulance drives past a listener.
Evaluation
State the two properties of a planet that determine the gravitational field strength at its surface.
Key term
List the types of object, other than the Sun, that make up our Solar System.
Key term
Which model of the Solar System is accepted today?
Key term
Describe the orbit of the Moon around the Earth.
Key term
In which direction does the gravitational force act on a planet moving in a circular orbit around the Sun?
Key term
How does the Steady State theory explain the Universe keeping the same density while it expands?
Key term
Describe how a star begins to form from a nebula.
Process
State, in order, the stages in the life of a star with a mass much larger than that of the Sun.
Numbers
State the relationship used to calculate the weight of an object from its mass and the gravitational field strength.
Key term
What is a natural satellite, and give one example.
Key term
Give one early telescope observation that supported the Sun-centred model of the Solar System.
Key term
Explain why a comet travels fastest at the point in its orbit closest to the Sun.
Key term
State the difference between the speed and the velocity of an orbiting planet.
Key term
State the main difference between the Big Bang theory and the Steady State theory.
Key term
Name the two pieces of observational evidence that support the Big Bang theory.
Process
What must happen inside a protostar before it becomes a main sequence star?
Process
What is the name of the stage a star much more massive than the Sun reaches after it leaves the main sequence?
Numbers
Calculate the weight of a 60 kg astronaut standing on the surface of the Earth, where the gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg.
Key term
How does a dwarf planet differ from a planet?
Key term
State a telescope observation of Venus that supported the Sun-centred model of the Solar System.
Key term
Describe the orbit of a geostationary satellite.
Key term
What name is given to the force that keeps a body moving in a circular path?
Key term
Compare what the Big Bang theory and the Steady State theory say about the age of the Universe.
Key term
What does the abbreviation CMB stand for in astronomy?
Key term
What happens to the observed wavelength of waves from a source that is moving away from an observer?
Process
Which nuclei fuse in the core of a main sequence star, and what do they produce?
Key term
What is a supernova?
Take Astronomy further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Geocentric model vs Heliocentric model
Geocentric model: the picture with the Earth at the centre and everything else moving around it. Heliocentric model: the picture with the Sun at the centre and the planets orbiting it.
Big Bang theory vs Steady State theory
Big Bang theory: the idea that the Universe began as a hot dense point and has expanded since. Steady State theory: the idea that the Universe has always existed and always looked much the same.
Red giant vs Red supergiant
Red giant: the swollen, cooled stage of a Sun-like body after its core hydrogen runs out. Red supergiant: the stage a body much more massive than the Sun reaches after the main sequence.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Why does a rock have a smaller weight on the surface of the Moon than on the surface of the Earth?
Model answer
The Moon has a much smaller mass than the Earth, so its gravitational field strength at the surface is weaker and the rock is pulled less strongly.
- 2
Does the mass of an astronaut change when the astronaut travels from the surface of the Earth to the surface of the Moon, and why?
Model answer
No, the mass stays the same because mass is the quantity of matter in the astronaut and does not depend on gravitational field strength.
- 3
State the two properties of a planet that determine the gravitational field strength at its surface.
Model answer
The mass of the planet and its radius, which sets how far the surface is from the planet's centre.
- 4
State the relationship used to calculate the weight of an object from its mass and the gravitational field strength.
Model answer
Weight = mass × gravitational field strength.
- 5
Calculate the weight of a 60 kg astronaut standing on the surface of the Earth, where the gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg.
Model answer
Weight = 60 × 10 = 600 N.
- 6
Calculate the weight of a 60 kg astronaut standing on the surface of the Moon, where the gravitational field strength is 1.6 N/kg.
Model answer
Weight = 60 × 1.6 = 96 N.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Astronomy revision questions
- What does Astronomy cover in Edexcel GCSE Physics?
- 10 subtopics: weight and gravitational field strength on other bodies, the solar system and the order of the planets, how ideas about the solar system and ways of observing it have changed, orbits of moons, planets, comets and satellites, gravity, orbital speed and stable orbits, the steady state and big bang theories, evidence for an expanding universe, the doppler effect and red-shift in galaxies, the life cycle of a star like the sun and the life cycle of stars more massive than the sun. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Astronomy organised?
- By the Edexcel 1PH0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Astronomy, 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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