4th form 1st half term test notes

• What does a distance-time graph show?

  How distance changes over time.
• What does a steeper slope on a distance-time graph indicate?

  A steeper slope indicates faster speed.
• What does a horizontal line on a distance-time graph represent?


  A horizontal line represents that the object is stationary.
• What does a straight line on a distance-time graph indicate?

  A straight line indicates constant speed.
• What does a curved line on a distance-time graph represent?

  A curved line indicates acceleration or deceleration.
• What is the formula for average speed?

  Average speed = Distance / Time taken
• If a car covers 100 meters in 20 seconds, what is its speed?

  The speed is 5 m/s.
• What is the method for conducting a motion investigation?


  • Use a stopwatch to measure distance traveled by an object (e.g., a toy car) in a set time.
  • Plot results on a distance-time graph to analyze motion.
• What is the formula for acceleration?

  Acceleration = Change in velocity / Time
• What do the variables \( v \), \( u \), and \( t \) represent in the acceleration formula?

  \( v \) is final velocity, \( u \) is initial velocity, and \( t \) is time.
• What does a velocity-time graph show?

  A velocity-time graph shows how velocity changes over time.
• What does a horizontal line on a velocity-time graph indicate?

  A horizontal line indicates constant velocity.
• What does the slope of a velocity-time graph represent?

  The slope represents acceleration or deceleration.
• How is acceleration determined from a velocity-time graph?

  Acceleration is found from the slope (gradient) of the velocity-time graph.
• How is distance traveled determined from a velocity-time graph?


  Distance traveled is equal to the area under the graph.
• What are conductors?


  Conductors are materials that allow electrical current to pass, e.g., metals like copper.
• What are insulators?

  Insulators are materials that do not conduct electricity, e.g., plastic, rubber.
• What happens when two insulating materials are rubbed together?


  Electrons are transferred, causing one to gain a negative charge and the other a positive charge.
• What is a positive charge?

  A positive charge occurs when electrons are lost.
• What is a negative charge?

  A negative charge occurs when electrons are gained.
• What is the relationship between like and unlike charges?

  Like charges repel, while unlike charges attract.
• What are the characteristics of series and parallel circuits?


  • Series circuits: Components in a single loop; all devices turn off if one fails.
  • Parallel circuits: Separate branches; failure in one branch doesn’t affect others.
• How does current behave in series circuits?

  Current depends on total voltage and number/type of components; more components result in less current.
• How does current relate to voltage in wires and resistors?


  Current is proportional to voltage in wires and resistors.
• What happens to the resistance of filament lamps as temperature increases?


  Resistance increases as temperature increases, making current non-linear with voltage.
• What is the function of diodes in a circuit?

  Diodes allow current to flow in one direction only.
• What is the effect of increasing resistance on current?

  Increasing resistance reduces the current in a circuit.
• What is Ohm's Law formula?

  V = I × R
• What do the variables \( V \), \( I \), and \( R \) represent in Ohm's Law?

  \( V \) is voltage, \( I \) is current, and \( R \) is resistance.
• What is electric current?

  Current is the flow rate of electric charge in a circuit.
• What is the formula relating charge, current, and time?

  Q = I × t
• What do the variables \( Q \), \( I \), and \( t \) represent in the charge formula?

  \( Q \) is charge, \( I \) is current, and \( t \) is time.
• What causes current in a metallic conductor?


  Current in a metallic conductor is due to the flow of negatively charged electrons.
• What is the conservation of current at junctions?

  At a circuit junction, the total current entering equals the total current leaving.
• What is the voltage across each branch in a parallel circuit?

  The voltage across each branch in a parallel circuit is the same.
• How is total resistance calculated in series circuits?


  Total resistance is the sum of individual resistances.
• How does current behave in series circuits?

  Current is the same throughout a series circuit, but voltage is shared across components.