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
Static Electricity
- 4 subtopics
- 12 things to know
- Paper 2
What Static Electricity covers
Static Electricity is examined in Paper 2, Physics 2. It covers charging by friction, and attraction and repulsion, electrostatic phenomena and earthing, uses and dangers of static electricity and electric fields.
Where it is assessed
Paper 2
Physics 2: 1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 4 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Charging by friction, and attraction and repulsionElectrons moving when insulators are rubbed, why metals held in the hand do not charge, equal and opposite charges, and attraction and repulsion between charged rods, spheres and balloons.Open →
- Electrostatic phenomena and earthingShocks from carpets and car doors, charging thunderclouds and lightning, balloons, combs and paper attracted by induction, and earthing charged objects, with the direction electrons flow and why the connection must conduct.Open →
- Uses and dangers of static electricityElectrostatic crop and paint spraying, precipitators removing smoke particles, the danger of sparks during refuelling and in operating theatres, and earthing tankers and aircraft.Open →
- Electric fieldsWhat an electric field is and what produces one, the field patterns around a point charge and between parallel plates, field strength from line spacing, and fields explaining sparks and lightning conductors.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Use electric fields to explain sparking in air, the point on a lightning conductor, a balloon near a wall and two separated charged spheres.
Key term
Define an electric field, how to tell a point lies inside a field, what produces a field, and how charges act at a distance.
Key term
Explain what earthing means and how electrons move when a negatively or positively charged metal object is earthed through a conductor.
Key term
Which particles move when an insulator is charged by rubbing it with a cloth?
Key term
Explain why the droplets leaving an electrostatic insecticide sprayer spread out into a fine, even cloud.
Key term
Explain why protons are not transferred when a polythene rod is rubbed with a duster.
Key term
Explain why a person can feel a small shock after walking across a nylon carpet and then touching a metal door handle.
Key term
Explain how charged insecticide droplets reach the underside of a leaf as well as its upper surface.
Key term
Describe what happens to the electrons when a polythene rod rubbed with a woollen cloth becomes negatively charged.
Key term
Explain why shocks from everyday objects such as car doors are more common in dry weather.
Evaluation
State one advantage of charging the droplets produced by a crop sprayer.
Take Static Electricity further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Charging by friction vs Attraction by induction
Charging by friction: electrons transferred between two insulators rubbed together. Attraction by induction: a charged object drawing an uncharged one by giving its near surface an opposite charge.
Insulator vs Conductor
Insulator: a material in which charge cannot flow, so it stays where it is made. Conductor: a material in which electrons are free to move, so charge flows away.
Electron vs Proton
Electron: the negative particle that moves between materials when they are rubbed. Proton: the positive particle held inside the fixed nucleus that cannot be transferred.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Which particles move when an insulator is charged by rubbing it with a cloth?
Model answer
Electrons move from one material onto the other.
- 2
State the name of the process that charges an insulator when two materials are rubbed together.
Model answer
It is called charging by friction.
- 3
Explain why protons are not transferred when a polythene rod is rubbed with a duster.
Model answer
Protons are held inside the fixed nuclei of the atoms, so they cannot move between the materials.
- 4
Describe what happens to the electrons when a polythene rod rubbed with a woollen cloth becomes negatively charged.
Model answer
Electrons are transferred from the wool onto the surface of the polythene rod.
- 5
Explain why the charge stays where it is made on a rubbed plastic rod.
Model answer
Plastic is an insulator, so the charge cannot flow through the rod or away from it.
- 6
Explain why rubbing a metal rod held in a bare hand does not leave the rod charged.
Model answer
The metal and the person conduct, so the charge flows away to earth as fast as it is produced.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Static Electricity revision questions
- What does Static Electricity cover in Edexcel GCSE Physics?
- 4 subtopics: charging by friction, and attraction and repulsion, electrostatic phenomena and earthing, uses and dangers of static electricity and electric fields. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Static Electricity organised?
- By the Edexcel 1PH0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Static Electricity, 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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