Physics paper 1

• What topics are covered in AQA GCSE Physics Paper 1?

  Energy, electricity, particles, and atomic structure
• What is energy described as in the context of physics?

  Energy is an idea that tells us what will happen when objects interact in a system
• What is the principle of conservation of energy?

  Total energy in any interaction is always conserved
• What is a caveat regarding energy conservation mentioned in the material?

  Energy can be turned into matter, but it is still technically conserved
• How is energy measured?

  Energy is measured in Joules
• What is kinetic energy and how is it calculated?

  Kinetic energy is calculated with $E =$$\frac{1}{2} mv^2$
• What does gravitational potential energy depend on?

  Gravitational potential energy depends on mass, gravitational field strength, and height
• What is the formula for gravitational potential energy?

  Gravitational potential energy is calculated with $E =$$mgh$
• What does the formula for elastic potential energy look like?

  Elastic potential energy is given by $E =$$\frac{1}{2} k e^2$
• What is specific heat capacity (shc)?

  Specific heat capacity tells you how much energy is needed to raise 1 kilogram of a substance by 1°C
• What is the equation for change in thermal energy?

  The equation is $E =$$mc\Delta T$
• What happens to particles when thermal energy increases?

  Particles move faster as thermal energy increases
• What is the relationship between energy transfer and closed systems?

  In a closed system, no energy is lost to the surroundings
• How can gravitational potential energy be converted to kinetic energy?

  Gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy as an object falls
• How can you rearrange the kinetic energy equation to find speed?

  Speed can be found using $v =$$\sqrt{\frac{2E}{m}}$
• What is the significance of a closed system in energy transfer?

  A closed system allows us to equate two lots of energy
• What is the equation for power?

  Power is calculated with $P =$$\frac{E}{t}$
• What does efficiency measure?

  Efficiency measures how much energy going into a system is used usefully
• How is efficiency calculated?

  Efficiency is calculated as useful energy out divided by total energy in
• What happens to energy in a system with insufficient insulation?

  Energy is wasted as heat lost to the surroundings
• What are finite energy sources?

  Finite energy sources include fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas
• What is the difference between energy sources and energy stores?

  Energy sources are where we harness energy from, while energy stores are types of energy
• What is the definition of electricity?

  Electricity is the flow of charge, like electrons
• What happens to electrons in a circuit?

  Electrons carry energy from a source to a component where energy is released
• What is potential difference (PD)?

  Potential difference tells us how much energy is transferred per coulomb of electrons
• How is potential difference measured?

  Potential difference is measured with a voltmeter connected in parallel
• What is the equation for potential difference?

  The equation is $V =$$\frac{E}{Q}$
• What does current measure in a circuit?

  Current measures the rate of flow of charge through a circuit
• What is the equation for current?

  The equation is $I =$$\frac{Q}{t}$
• How is resistance defined in a circuit?

  Resistance is the opposition to the flow of charge through a component
• What does Ohm's law state about voltage and current?

  Ohm's law states that voltage is directly proportional to current
• What is the equation for resistance according to Ohm's law?

  The equation is $V =$$I \cdot R$
• How can resistance be determined from an IV graph?

  Resistance can be determined by rearranging Ohm's law from any point on the line
• What does a curved graph for a bulb indicate?

  A curved graph indicates that the resistance is changing
• What is the relationship between potential difference (PD) and current (I) in a resistor?

  They are directly proportional.
• What does a straight line graph of PD versus current indicate about a resistor?

  It shows that the resistor has constant resistance.
• What happens to the graph if the battery is reversed?

  It still produces a straight line through the origin with negative values.
• What does a steeper gradient on the PD versus current graph indicate?

  It indicates a lower resistance of the resistor.
• What is the equation for resistance according to Ohm's law?

  V = I × R
• How can you find the resistance of a component from an IV graph?

  By picking a point on the line and rearranging Ohm's law to R = V / I.