CAIE IGCSE PHYSICS

Speed is defined as the distance travelled per unit time.

Use the equation
1. Motions, Forces and Energy d
v= t Where:
v is speed
1.1. Physical quantities and d is distance
measurement techniques t is time
Velocity is defined as the speed in a given direction.
Making measurements (apparatus):
Distance & Speed Time Graphs
Liquids: Measuring Cylinder.
A pipette (accurate for one specific measurement)
Time: Clock, Digital Timers (reading to 0.1s or better)
Length: Metre rule (graduated in mm)
Micrometer Screw Gauge
Vernier Calliper
Volume: Measuring Length, Width, Height
Distance-Time Graphs
Measuring volume by displacement
Mass: Top pan balance, precision of 0.1g 1 Acceleration
2 At rest
Vectors and Scalars: 3 Deceleration
4 Constant Speed
Scalar: has magnitude only
e.g. distance, speed, time, mass, energy and temperature
Vector: has magnitude and direction
e.g. force, weight, velocity, acceleration, momentum, electric
field strength and gravitational field strength
Speed-Time Graphs
1 Increasing Acceleration
2 Constant Speed
3 Decreasing Acceleration
4 Uniform Acceleration
5 Uniform Deceleration
6 Decreasing Deceleration
7 Increasing Deceleration

Acceleration:

Acceleration is defined as the change in velocity per unit of

time.

a = v−u
Δt
= Δv
Δt
Where:
a is acceleration
v is final velocity
u is initial velocity
Δt is change in time

Falling objects:

Acceleration of free fall g for an object near to the surface

of the Earth is constant and is approximately 9.8 m/s².
At the beginning of the paper, the instructions will tell you
to use 10 m/s² or 9.8 m/s². This detail can be very
important.

Terminal Velocity:
1.2. Motion
CAIE IGCSE PHYSICS
An object which is falling because of acceleration due to
gravity through the atmosphere is subjected to two external
forces. One force is the gravitational force, expressed as the
weight of the object. The other force is the air resistance or
drag of the object.
An object has terminal velocity when those two forces are
equal.
1.3. Mass and Weight
Mass: a measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest
relative to the observer. The mass of a body is a measure of
the amount of matter in it.
Weight: a gravitational force on an object that has mass.
Gravitational field strength g is defined as force per unit
mass.
The equation for gravitational field strength is :
g=W
m
Gravitational field strength is equivalent to the acceleration of
free fall.
Weights (and masses) may be compared using a balance.
The weight of an object is the effect of a gravitational field on
its mass.
1.4. Density
Density is defined as mass per unit volume.
The equation for density is:
p = mv
With this equation, you can determine the density of a liquid,
of a regularly shaped solid and of an irregularly shaped solid
which sinks in a liquid. You need to record its mass, then
volume and then substitute it through the equation.
Know whether an object floats based on density data. A
higher density means that the object will sink. A lower density
makes it float. This is called buoyancy.
How to determine whether one liquid will float on
another liquid based on density data given that the
liquids do not mix:
The liquid with a larger density will descend below the other
liquid.
A liquid floats over the other liquid if it has a lower density.
1.5. Forces
A force is a push or a pull.
Forces may produce changes in the size, shape and
velocity of an object.
Solid friction is the force between two surfaces that may
impede motion and produce heating.
Friction (drag) acts on an object moving through a liquid
or a gas (air resistance).
Centre of mass:
The centre of mass is the place at which all of the object's
mass is concentrated. Because gravity works only on one
spot in the item. For regularly formed objects, the centre of
mass is in the centre.
It is critical to understand where a body's centre of mass is
located, as this dictates the body's stability. When a body is
tilted slightly, the line of action of its weight passes through its
base, it is stable.
Resultant forces:
Determine the resultant of two or more forces acting along
the same straight line.
An object either remains at rest (stationary) or continues in a
straight line at constant speed unless acted on by a resultant
force.
A resultant force may change the velocity of an object by
changing its direction of motion or its speed.
Springs:
Sketch, plot and interpret load-extension graphs for an elastic
solid (eg. metal wire) and be able to describe any
experimental procedures.
The limit of proportionality is a point on a load-extension
graph beyond which the graph is no longer a straight line.
Spring constant is defined as force per unit extension. \n
Recall and use the equation:
k = Fx Where:
F is the force or load
x is the extension
k is the spring constant ( N/m, N/cm, N/mm)
Hooke’s Law
F = kx
Recall and use the equation F = ma and know that the force
and acceleration are in the same direction.
F = ma
When F is the force in N
m is mass in kg
a is acceleration in m/s²
Centripetal Force
Describe the motion in a circular path due to a force
perpendicular to the motion.
In a circular motion, if speed increases, the force needed
increases (mass and radius are constants).
In a circular motion, if radius decreases, the force needed
increases (mass and speed are constants). In a circular
motion, if mass is increased, an increased force is
required to keep speed and radius constant.
Moments of forces
Moment of a force as a measure of its turning effect.
CAIE IGCSE PHYSICS

The moment of a force is defined as moment = force x

perpendicular distance from the pivot.
Apply the principle of moments to situations with one
force on each side of the pivot, including balancing of a
beam. When there is no resultant force and no resultant
moment, an object is in equilibrium.
Apply the principle of moments in situations with more
than one force on each side of the pivot.
Describe an experiment to demonstrate that there is no
resultant moment on an object in equilibrium.
The stability of an object depends on the position of its
centre of gravity.

1.6. Energy Work and Power Energy transfer diagrams :

Energy 'stores’ are: kinetic, gravitational potential, chemical,
elastic (strain), nuclear electrostatic and internal (thermal).
Energy is transferred between stores during events and
processes.
Energy is transferred by forces (mechanical work done),
electrical currents (electrical work done), heating, and by
electromagnetic, sound and other waves.

The principle of the conservation of energy.

The principle of energy conservation states that energy is

Sankey Diagrams:
neither created nor destroyed. It may transform from one
type to another.
Energy can only be used by converting it from one form to
another. Unless energy is added from the outside, a system
always possesses the same quantity of energy.
The chemical energy of the batteries is transformed into
electrical energy in a torch, which is then converted into light
and heat. This energy is either absorbed or reflected by the
environment.

Kinetic energy formula: Mechanical or electrical work done is equal to the energy
transferred.
The equation for (mechanical) work done is:
W = F d = ΔE
Units : Joules (J)
Where:
W = Work Done
F = magnitude of the force
d = the distance in the direction of the force

Energy Resources

Useful energy may be obtained, or electrical power

generated, from:
Change in gravitational potential energy formula: Non-Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy Sources
Sources
Fossil Fuels Wind
Oils Tidal
Coal Hydro-electric
Natural Gas Geothermal
CAIE IGCSE PHYSICS

Non-Renewable Energy Power is defined as work done per unit time and also as
Renewable Energy Sources
Sources energy transferred per unit time.
Solar (EM Waves from the W
Nuclear P=
sun) t
- Biofuels ΔE
P=
t
Some sources of energy derive their energy from the sun. P = power (watt)
These are: W = work done (J)
ΔE = energy transferred (J)
Coal - formed from dead trees that have used energy T = time (s)
from the sun to produce hydrocarbons that have become
coal under pressure 1.7. Momentum
Biofuels - organic matter that is burned in order to
produce energy Momentum is defined as mass x velocity (kg m/s)
Hydro-electric - energy relies on the sun’s energy to run
the water cycle so energy can be harnessed The equation for momentum is p = mv Where:
Wind - gets heated and rises up and cooler air flows to fill p is momentum
the space m is mass
Solar - Electromagnetic waves from the sun are captured v is velocity
by photocells and turned into energy Resultant force is defined as the change in momentum per
unit time:
Environmental Δp
Renewability Availability Reliability Scale
Impact
F= Δt
Wind ✓ high low high on birds ∴ F = mΔv
Δt
Solar ✓ high low high low impact Impulse of a force is defined as force x time for which force
Almost no acts:
Geothermal ✓ low high low Impulse = F Δt = Δ(mv)
impact
Biofuels ✓ high high high low impact
The principle of the conservation of momentum:
Hydro- impacts
✓ high high high
electric marine life
General law of physics according to which the quantity called
Tidal ✓ high low low - momentum that characterises motion never changes in an
Greenhouse isolated collection of objects; that is, the total momentum of a
Coal ☓ high high low
gases closed system remains constant.
Radioactive
Nuclear ☓ low high high
substances 1.8. Pressure
Boilers, turbines and generators are used to generate Pressure is defined as force per unit area, and measured in
electricity in a power plant. N/m or Pa. 1 Pa = 1 N/m
The equation for pressure is: p = Fa ​ Where:
p is pressure
F is force
a is area
Pressure beneath the surface of a liquid changes with depth
and density of the liquid. The change in pressure beneath the
surface of a liquid is given by the equation:
change in pressure = density x gravitational field strength x
change in depth

Efficiency: Δp = ρgΔh Where:

Δp= pressure di erence in pascals (Pa)
Useful energy output ρ = density in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m3)
Efficiency = × 100
Total energy input g = gravitational eld strength (N/kg)
Δh = change in height/height of vertical column (m)
Power: