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 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
Energy – Forces Doing Work
- 7 subtopics
- 21 things to know
- Paper 2
What Energy – Forces Doing Work covers
Energy – Forces Doing Work is examined in Paper 2, Physics 2. It covers energy stores and energy transfer diagrams, changing a system's energy, and measuring work done, work done and the energy changes it causes, gravitational potential and kinetic energy calculations, dissipation and wasted energy, power as the rate of energy transfer and the watt, and calculating efficiency.
Where it is assessed
Paper 2
Physics 2: 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Energy stores and energy transfer diagramsStore changes for a catapult, a fan, a parachutist, a rocket, a clockwork toy and a bouncing ball, what energy transfer diagrams show, and closed systems.Open →
- Changing a system's energy, and measuring work doneThe three ways a system's energy changes, by forces doing work, electrically and by heating, with examples of each, measuring work done with a newtonmeter and a distance, and work done as energy transferred in joules.Open →
- Work done and the energy changes it causesThe work done equation with force and distance calculations, why the distance is along the force, and the store changes when work lifts, drives, brakes or stretches something.Open →
- Gravitational potential and kinetic energy calculationsGravitational potential energy from mass, field strength and height, why lifting work equals the gain, kinetic energy from mass and speed, and finding speed or mass from an energy.Open →
- Dissipation and wasted energyFriction and heating in bicycle gears, lift motors, car engines, drills and tyres, where dissipated energy goes, and why warming a machine's own parts is wasteful.Open →
- Power as the rate of energy transferPower as energy transferred each second, comparing motors, cranes and heaters, the watt, the power equation, and calculations from work done and time.Open →
- The watt, and calculating efficiencyOne watt as one joule per second, energy from power and time, and efficiency from useful and total energy or power, as a decimal or a percentage.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Explain how energy is wasted in a car engine and an electric drill, and why heating a machine's own parts counts as wasteful.
Key term
Describe a closed system, explain why doing work on a system makes the system open, and how a closed system tracks every joule.
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Give an example of the energy of a system being changed in electrical equipment.
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State the equation for the work done by a force.
Numbers
Calculate the gravitational potential energy gained when a crane lifts a 250 kg load through 12 m, taking gravitational field strength as 10 N/kg.
Key term
Define power.
Key term
State the energy transfer represented by a power of one watt.
Key term
Give an example of the energy of a system being changed by heating.
Numbers
Calculate the work done when a force of 20 N moves an object 5 m in the direction of the force.
Numbers
Calculate the gravitational potential energy gained by a 60 kg climber who ascends 8 m, taking gravitational field strength as 10 N/kg.
Key term
Describe how energy is dissipated in the chain and gears of a bicycle.
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Two cranes lift identical loads to the same height, but one takes half the time of the other. Compare the powers of the two cranes.
Key term
Express the watt in terms of joules and seconds.
Key term
Describe the change in energy stores when a stretched catapult launches a stone.
Key term
State what must happen to a system for the energy stored in it to change.
Numbers
Calculate the work done when a force of 300 N pushes a stiff drawer shut through 0.5 m.
Key term
Explain why the work done in lifting an object steadily is equal to its gain in gravitational potential energy.
Key term
Explain why only part of the energy supplied to a lift motor ends up in the gravitational potential store of the passengers.
Key term
Give the unit of power and state what that unit measures.
Numbers
Calculate the energy transferred by a 60 W bulb left on for 30 s.
Take Energy – Forces Doing Work further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Work done vs Power
Work done: force multiplied by the distance moved in the direction of the force, in joules. Power: the rate at which energy is transferred, measured in watts.
Joule vs Watt
Joule: the unit of energy transferred and of work done. Watt: the unit of power, the energy transferred each second.
Kinetic store vs Gravitational potential store
Kinetic store: the store filled when a force sets an object moving. Gravitational potential store: the store filled when an object is lifted against gravity.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Describe the change in energy stores when a stretched catapult launches a stone.
Model answer
Energy is transferred from the elastic potential store of the catapult to the kinetic store of the stone.
- 2
Describe the change in energy stores when a battery-powered fan is switched on.
Model answer
Energy is transferred from the chemical store of the battery to the kinetic stores of the blades and the moving air.
- 3
Describe the change in energy stores while a parachutist falls at a steady speed.
Model answer
The gravitational potential store empties into the thermal store of the air, while the kinetic store stays the same.
- 4
Describe the change in energy stores when fuel burns in a rocket engine during a launch.
Model answer
Energy is transferred from the chemical store of the fuel to the kinetic and gravitational potential stores of the rocket.
- 5
Describe the change in energy stores when a wound-up clockwork toy runs across the floor.
Model answer
Energy is transferred from the elastic potential store of the spring to the kinetic store of the toy.
- 6
Describe the change in energy stores as a bouncing ball rises after hitting the ground.
Model answer
Energy is transferred from the elastic potential store of the squashed ball to its kinetic and gravitational potential stores.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Energy – Forces Doing Work revision questions
- What does Energy – Forces Doing Work cover in Edexcel GCSE Physics?
- 7 subtopics: energy stores and energy transfer diagrams, changing a system's energy, and measuring work done, work done and the energy changes it causes, gravitational potential and kinetic energy calculations, dissipation and wasted energy, power as the rate of energy transfer and the watt, and calculating efficiency. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Energy – Forces Doing Work organised?
- By the Edexcel 1PH0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Energy – Forces Doing Work, 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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