GCSE Physics Edexcel 1PH0

Explain that a scalar quantity has magnitude (size) but no specific direction

Explain that a vector quantity has both magnitude (size) and a specific direction

Explain the difference between vector and scalar quantities

Recall vector and scalar quantities, including:

a) displacement/distance b) velocity/speed c) acceleration d) force e) weight/mass f) momentum g) energy

Recall that velocity is speed in a stated direction

Recall and use the equations:

a) (average) speed (metre per second, m/s) = distance (metre, m) ÷ time (s) b) distance travelled (metre, m) = average speed (metre per second, m/s) × time (s)

Analyse distance/time graphs including determination of speed from the gradient

Recall and use the equation:

acceleration (metre per second squared, m/s²) = change in velocity (metre per second, m/s) ÷ time taken (second, s)

$a = \dfrac{(v-u)}{t}$

Use the equation:

(final velocity)² ((metre/second)², (m/s)²) – (initial velocity)²((metre/second)², (m/s)²) = 2 × acceleration (metre per second squared, m/s²) × distance (metre, m)

$v^2 - u^2 = 2×a×s$

Analyse velocity/time graphs to:

a) compare acceleration from gradients qualitatively b) calculate the acceleration from the gradient (for uniform acceleration only) c) determine the distance travelled using the area between the graph line and the time axis (for uniform acceleration only)

Describe a range of laboratory methods for determining the speeds of objects such as the use of light gates

Recall some typical speeds encountered in everyday experience for wind and sound, and for walking, running, cycling and other transportation systems

Recall that the acceleration, g, in free fall is 10m/s² and be able to estimate the magnitudes of everyday accelerations

Recall Newton’s first law and use it in the following situations:

a) where the resultant force on a body is zero, i.e. the body is moving at a constant velocity or is at rest b) where the resultant force is not zero, i.e. the speed and/or direction of the body change(s)

Recall and use Newton’s second law as:

force (newton, N) = mass (kilogram, kg) × acceleration (metre per second squared, m/s²)

$F = m × a$

Define weight, recall and use the equation:

weight (newton, N) = mass (kilogram, kg) × gravitational field strength (newton per kilogram, N/kg)

$W = m × g$

Describe how weight is measured

Describe the relationship between the weight of a body and the gravitational field strength

Core Practical: Investigate the relationship between force, mass and acceleration by varying the masses added to trolleys

Explain that an object moving in a circular orbit at constant speed has a changing velocity (qualitative only)

Explain that for motion in a circle there must be a resultant force known as a centripetal force that acts towards the centre of the circle

Explain that inertial mass is a measure of how difficult it is to change the velocity of an object (including fromrest) and know that it is defined as the ratio of force over acceleration

Recall and apply Newton’s third law both to equilibrium situations and to collision interactions and relate it to the conservation of momentum in collisions

**Define momentum, recall and use the equation:

momentum (kilogram metre per second, kg m/s) = mass (kilogram, kg) × velocity (metre per second, m/s)**

$p = m × v$

Describe examples of momentum in collisions

**Use Newton’s second law as:

force (newton, N) = change in momentum (kilogram metre per second, kg m/s) ÷ time (second, s)**

$F = \dfrac{mv - mu}{t}$

Explain methods of measuring human reaction times and recall typical results

Recall that the stopping distance of a vehicle is made up of the sum of the thinking distance and the braking distance

Explain that the stopping distance of a vehicle is affected by a range of factors including:

a) the mass of the vehicle b) the speed of the vehicle c) the driver’s reaction time d) the state of the vehicle’s brakes e) the state of the road f) the amount of friction between the tyre and the road surface

Describe the factors affecting a driver’s reaction time including drugs and distractions

Explain the dangers caused by large decelerations and estimate the forces involved in typical situations on a public road

Estimate how the distance required for a road vehicle to stop in an emergency varies over a range of typical speeds

Carry out calculations on work done to show the dependence of braking distance for a vehicle on initial velocity squared (work done to bring a vehicle to rest equals its initial kinetic energy)