(IGCSE) – PHYSICS

Section 1 General Physics

General Physics
IGCSE Physics
Revision Book - Section 1

Name: _________________________________

Teacher: _________________________________

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Syllabus Content_______________________________

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Syllabus Details________________________________

Length and time

Core

THINGS TO REMEMBER...
 Always align your eye with the position being measured
 This avoids parallax errors

THINGS TO REMEMBER...
 Remember there is always a reaction time associated with using a clock or stopwatch

THINGS TO REMEMBER...
 For measuring short intervals of time (when each period is the same), multiple
measurements can be taken and then averaged

E.g. Period of a pendulum = Time for 10 oscillations / 10

Speed, velocity and acceleration

Core

Symbol Definition SI Vector /

unit Scalar
Speed v or u Speed = total distance / total time m/s Scalar

• Plot and interpret a speed/time graph or a distance/time graph

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Distance-Time Graphs
Stationary
Constant speed
Distance m

Constant speed

Time s

• Recognise from the shape of a speed/time graph when a body is

– at rest
– moving with constant speed
– moving with changing speed

Speed-Time Graphs
Constant speed
Changing Speed

Changing speed
Speed m/s

At rest

Time s

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• Calculate the area under a speed/time graph to work out the distance travelled for motion with
constant acceleration

Speed-Time Graphs

Area under graph = distance traveled

Distance B-C = v x t
Speed m/s

B C

A
Time s

Distance A-B = ½ x v x t

• Demonstrate some understanding that acceleration is related to changing speed

Symbol Definition SI unit Vector /

Scalar
Acceleration a Acceleration m/s2 Vector (for
= change in velocity or speed / time changing v)

• State that the acceleration of free fall for a body near to the Earth is constant

Acceleration of free fall near the Earth is constant

 All objects near the earth fall with a constant acceleration

 The acceleration of free fall is NOT dependent on mass
 The acceleration is ~10m/s2

Supplement
• Distinguish between speed and velocity

Symbol Definition SI Vector /

unit Scalar
Displacement s Distance moved in particular direction m Vector
from a fixed point
Velocity v or u Velocity = change in displacement / time m/s Vector
Speed v or u Speed = total distance / total time m/s Scalar

Speed has magnitude but no direction - SCALAR

Velocity has magnitude and direction - VECTOR

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• Recognise linear motion for which the acceleration is constant and calculate the acceleration

Acceleration is constant if...

 A constant resultant force acts

o E.g.
 Objects falling in a vacuum

Equations that can be used for constant acceleration...only the first one is needed for 2023

v =u+at u Initial velocity

s = [(u+v)/2]/t v Final velocity
v2 = u2+2as a Acceleration
s = ut+1/2at2 t Time
s = ut-1/2at2 s Displacement
• Recognise motion for which the acceleration is not constant

Acceleration is NOT constant if...

 A varying resultant force acts

o E.g.
 Objects falling in air. The air resistance increases with velocity so
the resultant force changes
 A car accelerating. As the velocity of the car increases the air
resistance also increases, so the resultant force changes.

• Describe qualitatively the motion of bodies falling in a uniform gravitational field with and without
air resistance (including reference to terminal velocity)

IN A VACUUM WITH AIR RESISTANCE

Displacement / m
Displacement / m

Straight line as velocity

become constant

Time / s Time / s
Velocity / m/s
Velocity / m/s

Terminal Velocity

Time / s Time / s
Acceleration / m/s2
Acceleration / m/s2

Acceleration zero at
g = ~10 m/s2 terminal velocity

Time / s Time / s

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Mass and weight

Core
• Show familiarity with the idea of the mass of a body
• State that weight is a force

• Weight is a force acting on objects because of gravity

• Mass is related to the amount of matter
• The Weight can be calculated by multiplying the mass by the
strength of gravity

Weight (N) = Mass (kg) x g (N/kg)

g = 10 N/kg (On the Earth)

• Demonstrate understanding that weights (and hence masses) may be compared using a balance

SIMPLE BALANCE

A B

If Balance is in equilibrium then ….

Weight of A = Weight of B
Mass of A = Mass of B

• Using standard masses the mass of unknown objects can be measured

Supplement
• Demonstrate an understanding that mass is a property that ‘resists’ change in motion

a = 1m/s2

5N
5kg As the mass increases…

• More force is needed for the same

a = 1m/s2 acceleration
10N • The mass “resists” change in motion
10kg

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• Describe, and use the concept of weight as the effect of a gravitational field on a mass

Gravitational field No Gravitational Field

mass
mass

No Weight

Weight

Earth
(LARGE MASS)

 A gravitational field shows a region in which a mass will feel a force due to another
mass nearby
 The Earth is a very large mass so a strong gravitational field exists around it
 Weight is the force acting on a mass due to the Earth’s gravitational field

Density
Core
• Describe an experiment to determine the density of a liquid and of a regularly shaped solid and make
the necessary calculation

Density (kg/m3) = Mass (kg)

Volume (m3)

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Supplement
• Describe the determination of the density of an irregularly shaped solid by the method of
displacement, and make the necessary calculation

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Effects of forces
Core
• State that a force may produce a change in size and shape of a body

Deformation

Deformation

Force

• Plot extension/load graphs and describe the associated experimental procedure

No 10N 20N
Force Force Force

String
Extension / m
0
0

2 1
2 1

2 1

5 4 3
5 4 3

5 4 3

Load / N
7 6
7 6

7 6

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• Describe the ways in which a force may change the motion of a body

Before Applied Force Effect of Force

Velocity increases
Velocity = 0 m/s Unbalanced force in this direction

F F

Object Accelerates

No applied force Velocity = 25 m/s

Velocity = 25 m/s

No change to motion

Velocity = 0 m/s Balanced force Velocity = 0 m/s

F F F F

100N 100N

No change to motion

Velocity = 25 m/s Unbalanced force Velocity decreases

F F

Objects decelerates

• Find the resultant of two or more forces acting along the same line

Forces Resultant

2N 5N 3N

2N 2N
0N

2N 5N 6N

3N

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Supplement
• Interpret extension/load graphs

Measure extension
Extension / m

Read off load

Load / N

• State Hooke’s Law and recall and use the expression F = k x

No 10N 20N
Force Force Force

String
0
0

2 1
2 1

2 1

F = kx
5 4 3
5 4 3

5 4 3

7 6
7 6

7 6

Extension / m

Hooke’s Law: Up to the elastic limit the extension

of a spring is proportional to the tension force. The
constant of proportionality is called the spring
constant (k)
force / N

• Recognise the significance of the term ‘limit of proportionality’ for an extension/load graph
Extension / m

Limit of proportionality

Load / N

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• Recall and use the relation between force, mass and acceleration (including the direction)

Force (N) = Mass (kg) x Acceleration (m/s2)

F = ma
Recall and use the relation between force, mass and change in momentum (including the direction)

REMEMBER:
o Acceleration is a vector and so has direction
o Force is a vector and so has direction

You should quote this equation in any form you can recall easily when explaining why pressure is
exerted by particles in a gas or liquid colliding with the walls of the container….

Any question that involves one mass colliding with another….

Look at your topic 1 questions.

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• Describe qualitatively motion in a curved path due to a perpendicular force

(F = mv2/r is not required)

Pendulum car

Perpendicular force
provided by friction force
between tires and road
Tsinq

Perpendicular force provided

by horizontal component of
tension Car on a Corner

Solar System
Earth
Perpendicular force provided
Sun by gravitational attraction of
Sun

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Turning effect
Core
• Describe the moment of a force as a measure of its turning effect and give everyday examples

Moment = Turning force

Moment (Nm) = Force (N) x perpendicular distance from force to pivot (m)

2N 2N

15m 15m

Anticlockwise Moment = 2N x 15m Clockwise Moment = 2N x 15m

Anticlockwise Moment = 30Nm Clockwise Moment = 30Nm

• Describe qualitatively the balancing of a beam about a pivot

Supplement
• Perform and describe an experiment (involving vertical forces) to show that there is no net moment
on a body in equilibrium
• Apply the idea of opposing moments to simple systems in equilibrium

3N 2N

10m 15m

Anticlockwise Moment = 3N x 10m Clockwise Moment = 2N x 15m

Anticlockwise Moment = 30Nm Clockwise Moment = 30Nm

Anticlockwise moment = Clockwise moment

OBJECT IN EQUILIBRIUM - BALANCED

Conditions for equilibrium

Core
• State that, when there is no resultant force and no resultant turning effect, a system is in equilibrium

FOR A SYSTEM IN EQUILIBRIUM: There is no resultant force and no turning effect

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Centre of mass
Core
• Perform and describe an experiment to determine the position of the centre of mass of a plane lamina

Plane Lamina

Center
Mass
of mass
Plum Line

 Hang the lamina freely

 Hang a plum line from the position the lamina is hang from
 Draw a line along the plum line
 Repeat this procedure for another position

• Describe qualitatively the effect of the position of the centre of mass on the stability of simple objects

Stable Un-stable

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Scalars and vectors

Supplement
• Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between scalars and vectors and give common
examples

SCALAR VECTOR
Property with magnitude but no direction Property with magnitude and direction
Example: Example:
Speed Velocity
Distance Acceleration
Pressure Force
Area Displacement
Volume
Work

• Add vectors by graphical representation to determine a resultant

• Determine graphically the resultant of two Vectors

Energy
Core
• Demonstrate an understanding that an object may have energy due to its motion or its position, and
that energy may be transferred and stored

Energy...
 cannot be created or destroyed
 can be transferred from one form to another
 can be stored in to be transferred later

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• Give examples of energy in different forms, including kinetic, gravitational, chemical, strain, nuclear,
internal, electrical, light and sound

Energy Type Example

Kinetic Energy Moving objects (Car)

Gravitational Potential Energy Raised objects (Water in a dam)
Chemical Energy Energy stored in bonds (coal, oil)
Strain Energy Energy due to flexing of materials (elastic band)
Nuclear Energy Energy associated with atomic nuclei (Fission reactors)
Internal Energy Energy of materials – kinetic from particles moving + potential
from bonds
Electrical Energy Energy from moving charges (electricity)
Light Energy Energy from Electromagnetic waves (light, IR)
Sound Energy Energy due to vibrating particles (sound)

• Give examples of the conversion of energy from one form to another, and of its transfer from one
place to another

Solar Energy

Photovoltaic Cell Motor

Electrical Energy
Kinetic Energy

Potential Energy

• Apply the principle of energy conservation to simple examples

 For any change to occur in nature energy must be transferred.

 Energy is not created or destroyed it is changed from one form into
another

Thermal Energy LOST

(Heat)
Chemical Energy IN
Kinetic Energy OUT (Petrol)
(Movement of car)

Total energy in = total energy out

Chemical Energy = Kinetic Energy + Thermal Energy

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Supplement
• Recall and use the expressions k.e. = ½ mv and p.e. = mgh
2

Energy resources
Core
• Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy

Non-renewable: Energy sources that when used cannot be replaced (or at least it will
take millions of years).e.g. Coal, Oil Natural gas.
Renewable: Energy sources which can be used repeatedly without being used up.
Solar energy, Wind, Tidal etc.

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• Describe how electricity or other useful forms of energy may be obtained from:
– chemical energy stored in fuel

 Coal can be burnt to release thermal energy - which heats water and makes it
move – which turns a generator – which generates electricity

– water, including the energy stored in waves, in tides, and in water behind hydroelectric dams
 Water stored behind a dam or tidal barrier can be allowed to flow down – this
moving water turns a generator – which generates electricity

– geothermal resources

 Cold water is pumped underground – the earth warms the water which rises –
this moving water turns a generator – which generates electricity

– nuclear fission

 Atoms are split in a nuclear reactor – this releases energy which heats water –
the water moves and turns a generator – which generates electricity

– heat and light from the Sun (solar cells and panels)

 Solar energy from the sun can be converted directly into electricity using a solar
cell
 Solar energy can also be used to heat water directly (IR)

• Give advantages and disadvantages of each method in terms of cost, reliability, scale and
environmental impact

Energy Source Cost Reliability Scale Environmental

Impact
Chemical (Coal) Low Reliable Large High
Hydroelectric / High initially Reliable (unless a Large High
tidal drought)
Geothermal High initially Reliable Small Low
Nuclear High Reliable Large Low
Solar Energy High Unreliable (only Small Low
available during
the day)

• Show a qualitative understanding of efficiency

In any energy transfer process energy is “lost” to non-useful forms.

CAR: Chemical Energy is converted to kinetic energy (useful) + Thermal energy (waste)

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Supplement
• Show an understanding that energy is released by nuclear fusion in the Sun

Hydrogen-2 neutron

+
ENERGY
Helium-4
Hydrogen-3

NUCLEAR FUSION IN THE SUN

 In the Sun hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form helium nuclei

 In this process energy is released
• Recall and use the equation: efficiency = useful energy output / energy input × 100%

Efficiency = useful output energy / useful input energy

Percentage Efficiency = ( useful output energy / useful input energy ) x 100

 In the transfer of energy from one form into another, there will always be
losses, normally to heat energy.

 The efficiency of the process tells use how much useful energy we get and
how much is lost

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Work
Core
• Relate (without calculation) work done to the magnitude of a force and the distance moved
Supplement
• Describe energy changes in terms of work done
• Recall and use ΔW = Fd = ΔE

Work done = Energy Transferred

Force

Distance moved

Work done (J) = Force (N) x Distance moved (m)

DW = Fd = DE

EXAMPLES OF WORK BEING DONE

 A car engine does work against friction and accelerating the car
 When you lift an object you do work against gravity

Power
Core
• Relate (without calculation) power to work done and time taken, using appropriate examples
Supplement
• Recall and use the equation P = E/t in simple Systems

Power (W) = Energy Transferred (J)

Time (s)

P = E/t

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Pressure
Core
• Relate (without calculation) pressure to force and area, using appropriate examples

5kg
5kg
5kg

50N 50N 50N

Low Pressure High Pressure

• Relate (without calculation) the pressure beneath a liquid surface to depth and to density, using
appropriate examples

Pressure is dependent on the

height and density of the
column of water

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• Recall and use the equation p = F/A

Pressure
Force (N)
Pressure (N/m2) = Force (N)
Area (m2)

p=F/A
Area (or m2)
• Recall and use the equation p = hρg

Liquid column
r Density = r
Height = h
Acceleration due to gravity = g

Pressure = p = rgh
h

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