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
Particle Model
Pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas
- 3 things to know
- Paper 2
Overview
Why compressing a gas at constant temperature raises its pressure, the pressure times volume equation with calculations, and why work done on a gas warms it.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Explain why reducing the volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature increases its pressure.
Key term
Explain why the pressure of a fixed mass of gas falls when the gas expands at constant temperature.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Explain why reducing the volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature increases its pressure.
Model answer
The particles have less space, so they strike the walls more often each second.
- 2
State what happens to the rate at which particles collide with the walls when a fixed mass of gas expands at constant temperature.
Model answer
It falls, because the particles travel further between collisions with the walls.
- 3
Explain why the pressure of a fixed mass of gas falls when the gas expands at constant temperature.
Model answer
Fewer collisions on each square metre of wall each second means a smaller average force per unit area.
- 4
Explain why the average speed of the particles does not change when a gas is compressed at constant temperature.
Model answer
The temperature sets the average speed of the particles, and the temperature has been kept the same.
- 5
The outlet of a bicycle pump is blocked and the plunger is pushed slowly halfway in. Describe what happens to the pressure of the trapped air.
Model answer
It roughly doubles, because the same number of particles is squeezed into half the volume.
- 6
State the two quantities that must be kept constant for the pressure of a gas to be inversely proportional to its volume.
Model answer
The mass of gas and its temperature.
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