GCSE Physics Paper 1 Review

Suitability

• Suitable for all students: foundation tier, higher tier, combined science, separate science.

Energy Stores

• Thermal Energy: Present in anything hot, e.g., oven.
• Chemical Energy: Found in batteries, food, and fuel.
• Kinetic Energy: In moving objects, e.g., a running person.
• Gravitational Potential Energy: In objects above Earth's surface, e.g., a thrown ball.
• Elastic Potential Energy: In elastic bands and springs.
• Nuclear Energy: Example for GCSE is uranium fuel in nuclear power stations.

Law of Conservation of Energy

• Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred.
• Applies in a closed system (no energy enters or exits).

Energy Equations

• Kinetic Energy: Measured in joules, mass in kg, speed in m/s.
• Gravitational Potential Energy: Measured in joules, g = 9.8 N/kg, height in meters.
• Elastic Potential Energy: Spring constant in N/m, extension in meters.

Problem-Solving Method (FIFA)

1. Formula: Write out the formula.
2. Insert: Insert the known values.
3. Fine-tune: Simplify equations.
4. Answer: Solve for the unknown.

Work and Power

• Work: Energy transfer, calculated as force x distance.
• Power: Rate of energy transfer/work done.
  • Equations: Energy/Time or Work Done/Time.
• Efficiency: Useful energy output / total energy input.
  • Can be improved by lubrication, insulation, streamlining.

Thermal Energy

• Travels from hot to cold.
• Rate of transfer depends on thermal conductivity, material thickness, and temperature difference.

Energy Sources

• Non-renewable: Fossil fuels, nuclear.
  • Advantages: Reliable, existing technology.
  • Disadvantages: Greenhouse gases, radioactive waste.
• Renewable: Solar, wind, wave, biofuel, geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal.
  • Benefits: Do not produce greenhouse gases.
  • Downsides: Weather-dependent, habitat destruction for hydroelectric.

National Grid

• Network links power stations to consumers.
• Uses transformers to adjust voltage (increased for efficiency).
• Electricity demand varies by time of day and year.

Electricity Basics

• Circuit Symbols: Know all symbols, especially voltmeters and ammeters.
• Potential Difference: Work done per unit charge, measured in volts.
• Current: Rate of flow of charge, measured in amperes.
• Resistance: Opposition to current flow, affected by material and temperature.

Ohm's Law

• Potential difference is directly proportional to current (at constant temperature).
• Graph: Linear for Ohmic conductors.

Circuit Types

• Series Circuit: One path for current, same current at all points.
• Parallel Circuit: Multiple paths, current shared among branches.

Electrical Components

• Resistor: Follows Ohm's Law.
• Filament Lamp: Non-linear graph due to temperature increase.
• Diode: Allows current in one direction only.

UK Plugs

• Wires: Live (brown), neutral (blue), earth (green/yellow).
• Fuse: Prevents excess current by breaking circuit.

Electromagnetic Induction

• Alternating Potential Difference: Changes direction, provides 50 Hz.
• Direct Potential Difference: Constant direction.

States of Matter

• Particle Diagrams: Precision needed in drawing and describing.
• Properties: Solids have strong forces; gases have none.

Changes of State

• Processes: Melting, evaporating, condensing, freezing.
• Internal Energy: Sum of kinetic and potential energy.

Specific Heat Capacity

• Energy to raise temperature of 1 kg by 1°C.

Radioactivity

• Atomic Model: Development from solid sphere to nuclear model.
• Alpha Scattering Experiment: Led to discovery of nucleus.
• Nuclear Equations: For alpha, beta, and gamma decay.

Radiation Types

• Alpha: Short range, high ionizing.
• Beta: Moderate range and ionization.
• Gamma: Long range, weak ionization.

Half-Life

• Time for radioactive nuclei to halve in number.

Nuclear Reactions

• Fission: Splitting of a nucleus, used in power stations.
• Fusion: Joining of nuclei, requires high temperature and pressure.

Safety and Background Radiation

• Safety Precautions: Gloves, tongs, lead-lined boxes.
• Background Radiation: Natural and artificial sources.