1 Skills for physics

m length A current
? cm
?s
kg
10 –12 pico
?N ?A mass K temperature 10 –9 nano
10 – 6 micro
10 –3 milli
? cm 3 10 3 kilo
s mol 10 6 mega
? kg time amount of substance 10 9 giga
10 12 tera

1.1 Physical quantities KC 1.2 SI units KC

Units of measurement

scalar vector V A
13 :0 3

time acceleration
volume velocity
speed
mass
force
displacement
kg s
energy momentum

1.4 Scalars and vectors KC 2.1 Measurements KC

precise imprecise
Measurement uncertainty
±0.05 ˚C

systematic
±0.01 g
random
accurate inaccurate

2.2 Errors and uncertainties KC

Key: KC 1 KC 2 KC 3 KC 4 KC 5
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 2 Motion
equations of motion v
m
velocity (m/s)

GRADIENT =

v = u + at
ACCELERATION

resultant force
AREA = DISPLACEMENT

s = (u + v)t/2 projectile motion

F = ma acceleration p = mv
time (s)

s = ut + 1⁄ 2at 2
displacement (m)

g = 9.81 m s-2 1st law 2nd law 3rd law

GRADIENT = SPEED

v 2 = u2 + 2as F = ma

Motion and acceleration

time (s) stationary uniform motion

Momentum and Newton’s

3.1 Equations of motion KC 4.1 laws of motion
KC

W = mg uniform gravitational field uniform electric field

terminal velocity
F = mg F = Eq
velocity (m/s)

Gravity
g
m
E + q q
MASS: 75kg MASS: 75kg

–
terminal velocity

F F F
WEIGHT: 735N WEIGHT: 122N
time (s)

4.2 Non-uniform motion KC 5.1 Types of force KC

+
+ + + + + + + ∆V
+ + + + E=
REPEL

∆d
+
ATTRACT

–
+ Electric fields
QV
– – – REPEL

– F=
– – – – – – – d

17.1 Concept of an electric field KC 17.2 Uniform electric fields KC

1 2 1 2 1 2

Momentum conserved: m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v’ 1 + m2v’2

elastic collision inelastic collision

Velocity
1 2 1 2 Momentum
1 2 1 2

4.3 Linear momentum and its conservation KC

Key: KC 1 KC 2 KC 3 KC 4 KC 5
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 3 Forces, work and materials
moment = force × distance

Force
d

upthrust friction and air resistance

Balanced forces

5.1 Types of force KC 5.2 Turning effects of forces KC

vector d
moment triangle m
ρ= h
V
force × distance 1m 1m h
WATER
newtons metres
10 N 5N 1g/cm3 ∆p = ρg∆h
w

5.3 Equilibrium of forces KC 5.4 Density and pressure KC

TRANSFERS useful work done

Efficiency =
total energy input
heating

kinetic gravitational elastic gas

N
mechanical

d
electricity
Kinetic and potential energy

chemical nuclear internal

waves W = p∆V W = fd

Work and power

6.1 Energy conversion and conservation KC 6.2 Work and efficiency KC

v 2 = u2 + 2as F = ma P = ∆E/t

Ek = ½mv2
∆Ep

∆Ep = mg∆h power = change in energy ÷ time

½mv2 = mg∆h power = force × velocity

∆h

6.3 Potential energy and kinetic energy KC 6.4 Power KC

W = ½kx2
plastic
stress

elastic
stress

fracture
elastic

gradient = point potential

Young modulus
Springs
F = kx kinetic
strain strain

9.1 Stress and strain KC 9.2 Elastic and plastic behaviour KC

Key: KC 1 KC 2 KC 3 KC 4 KC 5
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 4 Waves
wavelength

amplitude
Types of wave
v = fλ 1
f=
intensity ∝ (amplitude)2 T Frequency

14.1 Progressive waves KC 14.2 Transverse and longitudinal waves KC

20 Hz to low frequency high frequency

20000 Hz
Wavelengths

343 m/s 1
f= Sound
T direction of travel

Determination of frequency and

14.3 14.4 Doppler effect

Wavelength
KC KC
wavelength of sound waves

radio infra-red ultraviolet gamma

microwave visible X-ray

Microwaves

14.5 Electromagnetic spectrum KC 15.1 Stationary waves KC

Diffraction

interference ax
λ=
coherence D

15.3 Interference, two-source interference KC 15.2 Diffraction KC

d sin θ = nλ

15.4 Diffraction gratings KC

Key: KC 1 KC 2 KC 3 KC 4 KC 5
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 5 Electrical circuits
V
e.m.f. electrons
cell lamp resistor
A – – – – –
p.d. Ammeter current
V
thermistor LDR variable resistor

1 coulomb
Q = It I = Anvq
V A

voltmeter ammeter galvanometer LED bell 6.25 × 1018 e–

20.1 Practical circuits KC 19.1 Electric current KC

Circuits

V = IR
1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb
W
A 9 V BATTERY V= Q
resistor 9V

P = VI
V

I I I
4.5 V 4.5 V
9V

P = I2R
I–V V V V
V V V
V characteristics

19.3 Resistance and resistivity KC 19.2 Potential difference and power

Potential difference
KC
Resistance

first law second law VIN = V1 + V2 R2

VIN
R1
VOUT = VIN R + R
IReq = IR1 + IR2 1 2
I1 I2 VIN
V1 V2

V1 R1
V V Req = IR1 + IR2
I
I3 R2 VOUT V =
I1 + I 2 + I 3 = 0 VIN = V1 + V2 Req = R1 + R2 V2 R2
20.2 Kirchhoff’s laws KC 20.3 Potential dividers KC

Key: KC 1 KC 2 KC 3 KC 4 KC 5
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 6 Particle physics
α α + +
β γ
β alpha beta gamma

γ ionisation

penetration
A
Z X A–4
Z–2 W + 42 α
A
Z X A
Z+1 Y + 0
–1 β
α
+ β+ + +
+ + e–

β–
+

+
+ + e+
nuclear equations + +

26.1 Atoms, nuclei and radiation KC

Subsatomic particles

Leptons

u c t
u u d d
d s b
d u quarks

leptons

proton neutron e– νe

26.2 Fundamental particles KC

Copyright © UCLES 2018 Key: KC 1 KC 2 KC 3 KC 4 KC 5