AQA GCSE Physics Paper 1 Overview

Key Areas Covered

• Topics 1 to 4: Energy, Electricity, Particles, Atomic Structure (Nuclear Physics)
• Relevant for Higher and Foundation Tier, Double Combined Trilogy, and Triple/Separate Physics

Important Concepts

Energy

• Concept: Energy is an idea, a number indicating interactions in a system; conserved in interactions.
• Conversion: Energy can convert to matter/mass (important in nuclear fission and fusion).
• Energy Stores: Kinetic, Gravitational Potential (GPE), Elastic Potential, Thermal, Chemical Potential.
• Energy Transfer Equations:
  • Kinetic: ( E = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 )
  • Gravitational: ( E = mgh )
  • Elastic Potential: ( E = \frac{1}{2} k e^2 )
  • Thermal energy: ( Q = mc\Delta T )
• Work Done: Related to energy transfer (particles topic).
• Efficiency: Ratio of useful energy output to total energy input.

Electricity

• Basics: Flow of charge (electrons) carrying energy.
• Circuit Components:
  • Voltage (PD): Energy per coulomb, measured by voltmeters (connected in parallel).
  • Current: Rate of flow of charge, measured by ammeters (connected in series).
  • Resistance: Opposition to current, calculated using Ohm’s Law ( V = IR ).
• Graphs and Practical Experiments: Characterizing resistance and temperature effects.
• Series and Parallel Circuits:
  • Series: Shared PD, same current, total resistance is sum of individual resistances.
  • Parallel: Same PD, shared current, total resistance decreases with more branches.
• Power Equations: ( P = VI ), alternative ( P = I^2R ).
• AC vs. DC: Alternating Current (AC) vs. Direct Current (DC).
• National Grid: Distribution of electrical energy, use of transformers.

Particles and Matter

• Density: Mass per volume ( \rho = \frac{m}{V} ).
• States of Matter: Solids, liquids, gases; energy changes for state transitions.
• Internal Energy: Sum of kinetic and potential energy of particles.
• Specific Heat Capacity and Latent Heat:
  • SHC: Energy required to change temperature.
  • SLH: Energy required to change state.
• Gas Laws: Pressure and volume relationships, ideal gas behavior.

Atomic Structure (Nuclear Physics)

• History of Atomic Models: Plum pudding model, nuclear model development.
• Subatomic Particles: Protons, neutrons, electrons, and their arrangement.
• Isotopes: Variants of elements with differing neutron counts.
• Radiation:
  • Types: Alpha, Beta, Gamma.
  • Properties: Ionizing ability, penetration power.
• Radioactive Decay and Half-Life: Concepts of decay rate, activity, half-life calculations.
• Nuclear Reactions: Fission and fusion processes, energy considerations.

Additional Notes for Triple Science

• Specific Practicals: Heat transfer experiments, insulation effectiveness.
• Transformer Functionality: Step-up and step-down processes in detail.
• Static Electricity: Charge distribution through friction, electric fields.
• Pressure in Gases: Effects of temperature and volume on gas behavior.
• Advanced Nuclear Physics: Detailed fission and fusion processes, energy transitions.