Paper 1

• What are the three key particles that make up an atom?

  Protons, neutrons, and electrons
• Where are protons and neutrons located in an atom?

  In the nucleus
• What charge do protons have?

  Plus one charge
• What charge do electrons have?

  Minus one charge
• What are isotopes?

  Atoms of the same element with different neutrons
• What are ions?

  Atoms that gain or lose electrons
• What is the principle of energy transfers?

  Energy cannot be created or destroyed
• What are the different energy stores mentioned?

  Kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential
• What does specific heat capacity measure?

  Energy needed to heat 1 kg by 1°C
• What are the units for specific heat capacity?

  Joules per kilogram per degree Celsius
• How does current behave in series circuits?

  Current stays the same
• How does voltage behave in parallel circuits?

  Voltage stays the same across each branch
• What does resistance do in a circuit?

  Slows down the flow of current
• What factors increase resistance?

  Longer wires, thinner wires, higher temperatures
• How is charge measured?

  In coulombs
• How is current measured?

  In amps
• How is potential difference measured?

  In volts
• What is kinetic energy?

  Energy of a moving object
• What is gravitational potential energy?

  Energy stored when an object is lifted
• What is the function of the national grid?

  Delivers electricity from power stations to homes
• Name some renewable electricity generation sources.

  Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass
• Name some non-renewable electricity generation sources.

  Fossil fuels, coal, oil, gas, nuclear
• What are the three types of radiation?

  Alpha, beta, and gamma
• What stops alpha radiation?

  Paper
• What is the ionization and penetration level of alpha radiation?

  Most ionizing but least penetrating
• What stops beta radiation?

  Aluminium
• What is the ionization and penetration level of beta radiation?

  Moderate ionization and penetration
• What stops gamma radiation?

  Thick lead
• What is the ionization and penetration level of gamma radiation?

  Least ionizing but most penetrating
• What is half-life in radioactive decay?

  Time for half of a sample to decay
• What does half-life measure in radioactive materials?

  Decay rate of radioactive samples
• What are the key topics to revise for AQA physics predictions for 2025?

  • Structure of the atom
  • Isotopes and ions
  • Energy transfers and stores
  • Specific heat capacity
  • Series and parallel circuits
  • Resistance
  • Charge, current, and potential difference
  • Gravitational and kinetic energy
  • National grid
  • Renewable and non-renewable electricity generation
  • Types of radiation
  • Half-life and radioactive decay