CXC PHYSICS STUDY CHECKLIST

1. Graph Work and Analysis of data

- Gradient (y2 – y1 ÷ x2 – x1)

- Equation of a line (y = mx + c)

2. Deformation (Hooke's Law)

Hooke’s Law states that the load on a spring Learn this graph.
is directly proportional to the extension, given
that the spring is within its elastic limit.

The elastic limit or limit of proportionality of

a spring is the point at which the spring will
experience permanent deformation if any
more weight is added.

Formula: F = kx

The unit for the spring constant, k, is N/m.

3. Turning Forces (Principle of Moments)

- The Principle of Moments states that to achieve equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments about
a pivot must be equal to the sum of anticlockwise moments about the same pivot.

- Formula: F1D1 = F2D2

- Moment of a force = Force x Distance. Unit = Nm.

- There is zero turning force on the pivot.

- Be able to describe examples of levers using the ideas of turning forces, e.g. seesaws, crowbars.
4. Temperature

- Temperature is the degree of which a system is able to transfer heat energy to another
system. Therefore, heat energy always flows from higher temperatures to lower temperatures.

- The SI unit of temperature is Kelvin (K).

- Be able to convert Celsius to Kelvin by adding 273, e.g. 30oC = 303K

- The upper fixed point is given as the temperature of pure dry steam at 1 atmosphere (100oC)

- The lower fixed point is given as the temperature of pure melting ice at 1 atmosphere (0oC).

- Learn how to draw, label and annotate diagrams of a liquid-in-glass thermometer, clinical
thermometer and thermocouple.

- A clinical thermometer has a narrow bore (to increase sensitivity), a short stem (of range 34 –
44oC) and a large bulb (to increase conductivity).

- A thermocouple uses voltage as the factor to measure temperature, whereas liquid-in-glass uses
the expansion of mercury as the factor.

5. Gas Laws

- Boyle’s Law states that for a fixed mass of gas of constant temperature, pressure and volume are
inversely proportional. (P1V1 = P2V2)

- Charles’ Law states that for a fixed mass of gas of constant pressure, volume and temperature are
directly proportional. (V1 / T1 = V2 / T2)

- Pressure Law states that for a fixed mass of gas of constant volume, pressure and temperature are
directly proportional. (P1 / T1 = P2 / T2)

- General Gas Equation: (P1V1 = P2V2)

T1 T2
- Remember to convert Celsius to Kelvin when solving gas law equations.

- Remember that the alternate unit for Pascal is Nm-2 or N/m2.

- Explain how pressure of a gas increases with temperature. Higher temperature means that each
molecule has more kinetic energy, allowing them to move faster and hit the inner walls with greater
force. As the number of collisions increase, so does the pressure.

- Learn the graphs below.

6. Types of Waves

- The electromagnetic spectrum (from lowest to highest frequency): Radio, Microwave, Infra-Red,
Visible Light, Ultraviolet, X-Rays, Gamma Rays (Rich Men in Vegas Use Xpensive Gadgets).

- Learn at least ONE use for each type of electromagnetic radiation, e.g. gamma rays are used for
killing cancer cells.

- Electromagnetic waves are all transverse, all have crests and troughs, can all travel through a
vacuum at the speed of 3 x 108 m/s. Their speed decreases as they propagate through denser media.

- Learn the differences between transverse waves and longitudinal waves.

- Identify differences between light and sound waves.

- Define the terms frequency, period and amplitude.

- In sound, pitch relates to frequency. Loudness relates to amplitude.

7. Speed of Sound

- Formulas to learn: s = d / t ; s = 2d / t (for an echo) ; v = frequency x wavelength

- An echo is a reflection of sound.

- The speed of sound is 330 m/s in air. It increases in value in liquids and solids due to sound being
a mechanical wave. It relies on the transfer of sound energy from molecule to molecule.
8. Reflection

- The incident ray, normal and reflected ray all lie on the same plane (1st law of reflection).

- The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection (2nd law of reflection).

- Properties of an image in a plane mirror: Virtual image, same height as object, same distance from
mirror as object, laterally inverted.

- Be able to explain why words like AMBULANCE are written backwards on those vehicles.

9. Refraction

- The incident ray, normal and refracted ray all lie on the same plane (1st law of refraction).

- The ratio of the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction between two media is a constant (2nd
law of refraction).

- In denser media, the wavelength and speed decreases in value. Frequency is unchanged.

- Formulas: n = sin i / sin r ; n = speed of light in vacuum / speed of light in medium

- Learn to draw and label the diagrams below. Label and define lateral displacement.
10. Critical Angle and Total Internal Reflection

- The critical angle is defined as the angle of incidence for a ray that results in a refracted ray of 90o,
along the boundary of the medium. It results in a ray that neither reflects nor refracts.

- Total internal reflection occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle,
resulting in a reflected ray being formed and no refracted ray.

- Formula: n = 1 / sin c

- Learn some applications of total internal reflection, such as periscopes, road reflectors and optical
fibres.

- Learn the diagrams below, and how to explain them:

11. Alternating Current

- Alternating current is defined as an electric - Learn the following graphs.

current that reverses its direction many times
a second at regular intervals, typically used in
power outlets and power lines.

- An alternating current creates an

alternating electric field and magnetic
field.

- Alternating current is converted into direct

current (or rectified) by a semiconductor
diode.

- Alternating current can be used to transmit

high voltages to reduce transmission
losses.

12. Resistance

- Resistance is defined as the degree at which the passage of electric current is opposed. It is equal
to the voltage divided by the current, and is measured in ohms (Ω).

- Formulas: V = IR ; P = IV ; P = I 2R

- Ohm’s Law states that for a conductor of fixed temperature, the current is directly proportional to
voltage and inversely proportional to resistance.

- Learn the circuit symbols for fixed and variable resistors.

- Learn the following graphs. The filament lamp is non-ohmic. As its temperature increases, so does
its resistance.
13. Magnetic Forces, 14. Electromagnetic Force and 15. Motors

- Draw magnetic fields between N and S poles (attraction) and N and N poles (repulsion).

- Temporary magnets (such as iron) retain their magnetism for a short period of time. Permanent
magnets (such as steel) retain their magnetism for a long period of time.

- A magnet can be demagnetized by heating, hammering and connecting it to an alternating current.

- Electromagnetic Induction is the process

of using magnetic fields to produce voltage,
and in a closed circuit, a current.

- A galvanometer is used to detect small

changes in current.

- By moving a magnet back and forth

through a solenoid, an alternating voltage
can be induced.

- Learn to solve problems involving the Right Hand Grip Rule and Fleming’s Left Hand Rule.

- Explain how a d.c. motor works. The increasing the number of turns of the coils
purpose of the d.c. motor is to create a and by increasing the strength of the magnetic
MOMENT on both sides of the wire loops to field.
create a turning force. This is due to Fleming’s
Left Hand Rule, which says that in order to
create a force, a current must be
PERPENDICULAR to the magnetic flux.

When the loop is turning, there is a chance the

direction can reverse every half-rotation. A
SPLIT RING COMMUTATOR is used to
BREAK THE CIRCUIT every half-turn to keep
the motor spinning in one constant direction.

- The speed of a motor can be increased by

increasing the voltage of the battery, by

Be able to draw diagrams that involve thrust of current-carrying wires in magnetic fields.
16. Particles in the Atom

- The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons. The shells contain electrons.

- Protons have a positive charge and a mass of 1. Discovered by Rutherford.

- Neutrons have no charge and a mass of 1. Discovered by Chadwick.

- Electrons have a negative charge and a mass of 0. Discovered by J.J. Thompson.

- The atomic number is the number of - Learn to draw a basic diagram of the
protons in the atom. The mass number (or modern atom.
atomic mass) is the number of protons and
neutrons in the atom.

- An isotope contains the same number of

protons but different number of neutrons as
another atom.

- Understand the differences between the modern model of the atom and J.J. Thompson’s “plum
pudding model”.

- Learn the significance of the gold-foil experiment performed by Geiger and Marsden. The gold-
foil experiment led to many inferences about the atom, including that the atom is mostly empty
space, that the nucleus is a very small and positive mass.
17. Radioactive Emissions

Learn the following table and diagram:

Type of radiation α particles β particles γ rays

Nature A helium nucleus. A fast-moving electron. A high-frequency e.m.

wave.

Ionising effect Strongest Intermediate Weakest

Penetration strength Weakest (stopped by Intermediate (stopped Strongest (stopped by

paper) by aluminium) thick lead)

Range Shortest (2-10cm) Intermediate (~1m) Longest ( > 1m)

Deflection in Attracted to negative. Attracted to positive. Undeflected.

magnetic fields

Be able to write radioactive decay equations involving alpha and beta particles, such as below:

Understand radioactive emissions in a magnetic and electric field, shown below.

18. Half-life

- Half-life is defined as the time taken for a radioactive substance to decay by half, or for its activity
to drop to half its value.

- Be able to solve half-life based on a half-life curve, shown below:

- Understand that half-life is a constant and is unaffected by external factors such as

temperature. Understand that radioactive decay is random and that half-life is an estimate.

- Be able to solve half-life problems to determine the time elapsed, or the number of half-lives
passed, such as below:

1. A 800mg sample of radon decays over a period of 20 days until only 25mg remains. What is
the half-life of radon, in days?

800  400  200  100  50  25 (800mg decaying to 25mg)

5 half-lives = 20 days

∴ 1 half-life = 20/5 = 4 days

2. If C-14 has a half-life of 5700 years, how much time would pass if a sample decays to 1/8
of its value?

1  1/2  1/4  1/8

Time elapsed = 3 half-lives x 5700 years = 17100 years