Key term
OCR GCSE Physics A J249
Electricity
Topic overviewCharge, and producing static electricityTransfer of electrons, and electric fieldsCurrent as a rate of flow of chargeCharge, current and timeSeries and parallel circuits, and circuit symbolsCurrent, potential difference and resistanceResistors whose resistance changes, and investigating themLinear and non-linear circuit elements from graphsNet resistance in series and parallelCircuits for measurement, and electrical power
Energy
Topic overviewConservation of energy, and energy storesEnergy changes on heating, and calculating themEnergy of a moving body, a spring and a raised objectDissipation, and energy transfer in domestic devicesPower ratings, and calculating efficiencyReducing unwanted energy transfer, and the rate of cooling
Forces
Topic overviewMeasuring distance and time, and calculating speedConverting units, and ratesVectors and scalars in motionDistance-time and velocity-time graphsAverage speed, and the equations of uniform motionHow objects interact, and forces as vectorsNewton's first lawNewton's second lawForce and the time taken to change velocityWork done, and stored energyPower, and Newton's third lawStretching, bending and compressing; elastic and plasticForce and extension, linear and non-linearThe spring constant, and work done in stretchingGravitational fields, weight and free fallCalculations with weight and gravitational field strengthTurning forces and the moment of a forceLevers and gearsPressure in fluids, and the force on a surface
Global Challenges
Topic overviewTypical speeds and everyday accelerationsReaction time, stopping distance and the dangers of large decelerationsEstimating stopping distances and the forces in a collisionEnergy resources, and trends in their useThe national grid, and step-up and step-down transformersWhy the national grid is efficient, and power in a transformerMains electricity: a.c., d.c. and the domestic supplyLive, neutral and earth wires, and electrical dangerRed-shift and the Big BangThe formation of the Sun, and radiation from bodiesThe solar system
Magnetism and Magnetic Fields
Matter
Topic overviewHow the atomic model changed, and the structure of the atomThe size of atoms, and defining densityDensity of the states of matter, and density calculationsConservation of mass in changes of stateHeating a system, and specific heat capacityCalculations with specific heat capacity and latent heatGas molecules, temperature and pressureCompressing a gas, and changing its volumeAtmospheric pressure and why it varies with height
Radioactivity
Topic overviewProtons, neutrons and isotopesUnstable nuclei and the emissions they give outBalancing nuclear equationsElectron energy levels, and radiation from atomsHalf-life and the randomness of decayPenetration of alpha, beta and gammaContamination and irradiation, and half-life as a hazardUses of nuclear radiationNuclear fission and fusion
Waves in Matter
Topic overviewAmplitude, wavelength, frequency and periodThe wave equationTransverse and longitudinal wavesSound crossing a boundary; reflection, transmission and absorptionModelling waves with ripples and soundElectromagnetic waves as transverse, and energy transferFrequency and wavelength across the spectrumWhat our eyes detect, and light as an electromagnetic waveUses of electromagnetic wavesHazards of ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma raysRay diagrams for reflection and refractionHow colour arises
Forces
Vectors and scalars in motion
- 3 things to know
- Paper 1
Overview
The difference between a scalar and a vector, why distance is a scalar and displacement a vector, how velocity differs from speed, and journeys where the two disagree.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What is the difference between a scalar quantity and a vector quantity?
Key term
Is distance a scalar or a vector, and why?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is the difference between a scalar quantity and a vector quantity?
Model answer
A scalar has size only, while a vector has both a size and a direction.
- 2
Is distance a scalar or a vector, and why?
Model answer
A scalar, because it is only the total length of the path travelled and carries no direction.
- 3
What does displacement measure?
Model answer
The straight-line distance from the starting point to the finishing point, together with its direction.
- 4
Which of speed and velocity is the vector, and what extra information does it carry?
Model answer
Velocity is the vector, and it carries the direction of travel as well as the size of the speed.
- 5
A runner completes exactly one lap of a 400 m track. What distance has she covered and what is her displacement?
Model answer
The distance is 400 m and the displacement is zero, because she finishes where she started.
- 6
A student walks 30 m east and then 40 m north. What distance has she walked and what is the size of her displacement?
Model answer
She has walked 70 m, and her displacement is 50 m, because the two legs form a right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse of 50 m.
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