Physics: P4, P5, P6

Revision cards

Velocity tells you an objects speed

and direction of travel. For example if
a lorry travels along a road at 15m/s in
one direction the velocity is +15m/s
but if it travels the opposite direction
at the same speed the velocity is
-15m/s. Changes in distance is
described as positive but the opposite
direction is negative.

To calculate an objects average speed you The slope/gradient of a distance time

need to know the distance and time. The graph is a measure of speed . The
speed of an object at a particular point is
steeper he slope, the greater he speed.
the instantaneous speed.

You can work out the speed of an

object by working out the gradient of
a displacement-time graph. First
chose two paints the calculate.
Dis(1)-Dis(2)
Time taken between both

Acceleration= changing in speed

(m /s )
time
taken
(s)
The quantity velocity has both
2

The instantaneous velocity of an object

is its instantaneous speed together with an
indication of direction.
If the
gradient is
steeper
than the
dashed line
then its
faster vice
versa.

The slope/gradient of a speed time

graph shows how quickly an object
is accelerating. The steeper the
faster its speed increases. They're
used in lorry tachographs so the
dont exceed speed/ rest for suitable
time. Straight line which isn't on
zero means its constant.

When two objects try to

slide past each other they
both experience the force
friction. Arrows are used
to represent force the
bigger the arrow the bigger
the force. Also the
direction of the arrow
shows the direction the
force is working.

Momentum is a measure of the

motion of an object. If a lorry and a
car travel at the same speed the lorry
will have more momentum.

Physics: P4
revision cards
Explaining
motion

Tobi Ojo
12T

Momentum = mass x velocity

A moving object has kinetic energy.

The amount depends on its mass/
velocity. The greater the mass/
velocity the greater the kinetic energy.
Kinetic energy=1/2 x mass x velocity^2
When a ball is thrown two forces oppose it
which are: air resistance and gravity
causing the ball to lose speed. i.e. when a
skydiver jumps forces are unequal but
become equal/constant.

A force is the interaction between two

objects. Whenever one exerts force it
speed/direction. A change of either/both
always experiences force back. The
will change the velocity. Velocity can
forces in an interaction are equal and
become negative if an object is going
opposite. A person apply force to the
in the opposite direction.
earth we can walk because our mass is
lighter. Some forces only occur as a
response to another force. i.e. when an
object is on a surface gravity pulls it
down and the surface pushes up.
(reaction of surface)
Cars and bicycles have a driving
If the resultant force acting on an object
force produced by the engine/energy
is zero its momentum wont change. i.e.
also they have counter force caused
if the object is stationary it will stay
by friction. Bigger driving force
stationary, if its moving it will continue
speeds up. Equal driving force
to move. Collisions can cause change in
constant, smaller driving force slows
an objects momentum. Sudden changes
down.
in momentum car affect a car/people. If
the change of momentum is spread over a
period of time the resultant will be
smaller. Safety device: crumple zone.

Work results in the transfer of

energy an object either loses or gains
energy. Overall the energy stays the
same (conserved). Energy gain can
be less because some energy may be
dissipated.
Work done (j) = force (N) x
distance moved (m)

When an object is lifted off the

ground work is done by lifting force
against gravity. (gravitational
potential energy)
Change in GPE (j) =weight x
vertical height difference
If the GPE is 100J loses the kinetic
energy would be 100J gains.

Components resist the flow of charge

through them i.e. resistors, lamps,
motors. The wire have a little
resistance but since its so small its
ignored. The greater the resistance the
smaller the current. 2 lamps in a circuit
have a certain resistance but when you
add another cell (battery) you increase
the potential difference and the
current.
When your rub two objects together
they become electrically charged as
electrons are transferred. The object
receiving electrons becomes negative
vice versa. When two objects are
brought together they exert force two
which are different attract vice versa. An
electrical current is a flow of electricity
(amps). In an electrical circuit the
wires/component all have a charge. The
battery causes the free charges to move.
The current that flows in each
component connected in series is the
same. The circuit diagram shows a
circuit with two lamps connected in
series. If one lamp breaks, the other
lamp will not be lit.
When two or more components are
connected in series, the same
current flows in each component.

Pyhsics :P5
revision cards
Electrical
circuits

Tobi Ojo
12T

When you add resistors in series the

resistance increases because the battery
has to push charges. When you add
resistors in parallel the resistance
decreases because of the many paths.
(current increase). When electric
current flows through a component it
makes it heat up this is enough to make
a lamp filament glow. Moving charges
collide with vibrating ions (energy)
Charges aren't used up but flow
continuously. In metal conductors there
are lots of free charges but in insulators
there are none. Direct current (d.c)
always flows in one direction.
Alternating current (a.c) changes the
direction of flow back used for main
supply of voltage to our homes.
Potential difference=voltage.
Potential difference between two points
is
work.
If one
lamp breaks, the other lamp will
still be lit. Because a parallel circuit
has more paths for charges to flow
along, the current is bigger, and the
resistance of the whole circuit is
smaller.
When two or more components are
connected in parallel, the total
current flowing in the circuit is
shared between the components.

As long as a components resistance

stays constant, the current through the
resistor is directly proportional to the
voltage.

when electrical charge flows through a

component work is done. Energy is
transferred from the power supply to the
components/surroundings. Power is the
rate of energy transferred. Transformers
are used to change the voltage of an a.c it
consist of 2 coils which when near induces
voltage. A transformer that increases the
voltage is called a step-up transformer.
A transformer that decreases the voltage is
called a step-down

A simple electric motor can be built

using a coil of wire that is free to
rotate between two opposite
magnetic poles. When an electric
current flows through the coil, the
coil experiences a force and moves.
The direction of the current must be
reversed every half turn, otherwise
the coil stops. You can use a
commutator.

The potential differences across

resistors in series must add up to the
battery voltage.
In parallel circuits, the voltage
across each component is the same
as the voltage of the battery.

The resistance of a thermistor is

dependent on temperature. When
the temperature increases its
resistance decreases and more
current flows. The resistance of a
light dependent resistor (LDR)
depend on light intensity. When
the amount of light falls its
resistance decreases and more
current flows.
The greater potential difference the
greater current also happens when
you add more batteries. When you
add more batteries to a parallel circuit
the PD and current stay the same each
battery supplies less current. a.c is
used for main supplies instead of
d.c since its easier to generate, can
be distributed efficiently, only a.c
can be used in a transformer.

A voltage is produced when a magnet is

moving into a coil of wire.
(electromagnetic induction). The direction
of the induced voltage is reversed when the
magnet is moved out of the coil again. It
can also be reversed if the other pole of the
magnet is moved into the coil. To increase
the induced voltage: Move magnet faster,
Use stronger magnet, Increase the number
of turns on the coil, Increase the area of the
coil. Generators use the principle of EI.

Electric motors are used in hard

disk drives, DVD players, tumble
dryer etc.

All elements are made of atoms. All

contain a nucleus and electrons. The
nucleus is made from protons and
electron except hydrogen (1 proton, 1
electron) Radioactive elements emit
ionizing radiation nothing can stop
this behavior. Every element has a
particular number of protons except
isotopes. For example oxygen.
Ionising radiation can break
molecules into ions they can
damage living cell to the point they
die or become cancerous. Alpha
can be dangerous if inside the body
cells will absorb the radiation.
Beta rays can be dangerous if
outside the body unlike alpha it can
penetrate the outer layer. Gamma
can pass through the body and
cause little damage.
Marsden and Rutherford concluded
that all atoms consisted of empty space
and a nucleus. The nucleus is positively
charged and electrons are arranged
around.

Pyhsics :P6
revision cards
Radioactiv
e
materials

Tobi Ojo
12T

Radioactive materials can give out three

Ionising radiation: alpha, beta, gamma.
They all have different penetrating
powers. Least penetrating to most (Alpha,
beta, gamma/paper, aluminum, sheet of
lead) ionizing radiation emitted when the
nucleus is unstable then decays
(radioactive decay) this process helps the
atom become stable.

Radioactive decay:
Unstable Alpha= new nucleus + a particle
Unstable beta= new nucleus + b particle
Unstable gamma= stable gamma +
gamma radiation.
Background radiation is radioactive
elements found naturally in the
environment. If a person is irradiated their
exposed if their contaminated radioactive
material has entered them.

Sievert is a measure of a radiation doses

potential to harm. Gamma rays can help kill
cancer cell but may damage healthy cells
doctors must weigh out the risks/ benefits.
Radiation can be used to: sterilise surgical
equipment/food, PET scans.

Nuclear power stations release energy

because of the changes of nucleus of
radioactive substances this is nucleus
waste. High-level waste isnt
radioactive for long so they store it for
a short time. Intermediate-level waste
remains radioactive for years hard to
store (concrete) . Low-level waste
slightly radioactive and sealed/placed
in landfills. Nuclear power stations
dont release pollutants.

Sources of background radiation: medical x

rays, food, gamma rays from rocks/soil,
radon gas and cosmic rays from outer
space.
An atoms activity drops whilst it decays
meaning its radioactivity decreases. The
half-life is the times taken for the
substances radioactivity to halve. Different
substances vary in half-life. A substance is
considered safe once its activity has
dropped to the same level as background
radiation.

Nuclear fission:
when a neutron hits an unstable nucleus
splitting it and creating energy this
continues to happen like a chain
reaction. (uranium and plutonium)
Nuclear power stations use fission
reactions to generate heat. The
nuclear reactor control the chain
reaction. Fission takes place in the fuel
rods (boron) which heat up moving
them changed the amount of fission.