GCSE Physics Paper 1: Energy, Electricity, Particle Model of Matter, and Atomic Structure

Comprehensive practice flashcards in fill-in-the-blank style covering GCSE Physics Paper 1 topics: Conservation of Energy, Density, Electricity, Potential and Kinetic Energy, Specific Heat Capacity, Latent Heat, Atomic Structure, and Radioactivity.

When a ball falls through the air, energy is transferred from its gravitational potential energy store into its __________ store.

kinetic energy

When an electric heater is switched on, energy is transferred from the chemical energy store of the battery into the __________ energy store of the wire.

internal

As electrons flow through a wire, they collide with __________ in the wire, causing them to vibrate more and increase the wire's temperature.

ions

A group of objects under study in science is defined as a __________.

system

In a __________ system, no energy is transferred to or from the surroundings, meaning there is no net change to the total energy.

closed

The Principle of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be __________.

transferred from one energy store to another

A swinging pendulum with air resistance transfers energy to the surroundings, causing energy to be __________.

dissipated

When a bouncing ball strikes the ground, its shape changes and its kinetic energy is temporarily transferred into __________ potential energy.

elastic

Density is defined mathematically as mass divided by __________.

volume

In the density formula $\rho = \frac{m}{V}$, the standard SI unit for density is __________.

$$\text{kg/m}^3$$

To measure the volume of an irregular solid, water displaced from a __________ can is collected in a measuring cylinder.

Eureka

One limitation of the simple sphere particle model is that it does not show the __________ between particles.

forces

When gas in a fixed volume is heated, the pressure rises because particles have higher average kinetic energy and collide with the container walls more __________ and with greater force.

frequently

Electric current is defined as the rate of flow of __________.

electrical charge

The equation linking charge flow ($Q$), current ($I$), and time ($t$) is __________.

$$Q = I \times t$$

One Ampere is equivalent to a rate of charge flow of one __________ per second.

Coulomb

Conventional current is defined as flowing from the __________ terminal to the negative terminal.

positive

In metal conductors, the actual charge carriers are negatively charged __________ which flow from negative to positive.

delocalised electrons

Identify the standard circuit component shown in this symbol: __________.

lamp

Identify the circuit component represented by this diagram: __________.

variable resistor

Identify the semiconductor circuit component shown in this symbol: __________.

ammeter

Work done on an object is calculated using the equation $W = F \times d$, where $d$ is the distance moved in the __________ of the force.

direction

One Joule of work is done when a force of one Newton causes a displacement of __________.

$$1\,\text{metre}$$

A renewable energy resource is one that is being (or can be) __________ as fast as it is being used.

replenished

The process of removing nuclear fuel, radioactive waste materials, and the reactor before a nuclear power station is demolished is called __________.

decommissioning

Thermal conductivity is a measure of the __________ at which energy is transferred through a material by conduction.

rate

To reduce heat loss through external walls of houses, cavity wall insulation uses materials that trap pockets of __________.

air

According to Ohm's Law, the current through an ohmic conductor at constant temperature is directly proportional to the __________ across it.

potential difference

Identify the electrical component corresponding to this linear current-voltage characteristic: __________.

fixed resistor (ohmic conductor)

As the current through a filament lamp increases, its temperature rises, causing its resistance to __________.

increase

A diode has a very high resistance in the reverse direction, which is called __________ bias.

reverse

Nuclear fission is the splitting of a large, unstable nucleus into two smaller daughter nuclei, accompanied by the emission of two or three __________ and gamma rays.

neutrons

In a nuclear reactor, control rods made of __________ are lowered into the core to absorb excess neutrons.

boron

The minimum mass of fissile material required to sustain a continuous nuclear chain reaction is called the __________ mass.

critical

Nuclear fusion is the process where two light nuclei join to form a heavier nucleus, which powers the __________.

Sun and stars

Internal energy is defined as the sum of the total __________ energy and potential energy of all the particles in a system.

kinetic

During a change of state, energy supplied changes the internal potential energy while the temperature remains __________.

constant

The radius of an atom is approximately __________ metres.

$$1 \times 10^{-10}$$

The radius of an atomic nucleus is less than __________ of the radius of the atom.

$$\frac{1}{10\,000}$$

When an atom absorbs electromagnetic radiation, an electron moves to a higher energy level, meaning the atom is __________.

excited

J. J. Thomson proposed the __________ model, which depicted the atom as a ball of positive charge with negative electrons embedded throughout.

plum pudding

Identify the historic experimental setup shown in this diagram: __________.

Rutherford's alpha particle scattering experiment

In 1932, British physicist James Chadwick discovered the __________, explaining the imbalance between atomic number and mass number.

neutron

An alpha particle ($\alpha$) consists of two protons and two neutrons, which is identical to a __________ nucleus.

helium-4

Identify the nuclear particle notation depicted: __________.

beta particle (or fast-moving electron)

Gamma radiation has the highest penetrating ability and requires several centimetres of __________ or metres of concrete to be absorbed.

lead

The equation for the energy required to change temperature is $\Delta E = m \times c \times \Delta \theta$, where $c$ stands for __________.

specific heat capacity

Specific latent heat of __________ is the energy required to change $1\,\text{kg}$ of a substance from solid to liquid at constant temperature.

fusion

The specific latent heat formula for a change of state at constant temperature is __________.

$$E = m \times L$$

During alpha decay, the mass number of the parent nucleus decreases by $4$ and its atomic number decreases by __________.

$$2$$

During beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus turns into a proton, causing the atomic number to increase by __________ while the mass number stays the same.

$$1$$

The time it takes for the number of unstable nuclei of an isotope in a sample to halve is termed the __________.

half-life

Radioactive activity is defined as the rate at which a source of unstable nuclei decays, and its SI unit is the __________.

Becquerel (Bq)

In an experiment investigating resistance versus wire length, switching off the circuit between readings prevents the __________ of the wire from increasing.

temperature

The kinetic energy ($E_k$) of a moving object with mass $m$ and speed $v$ is calculated using the formula __________.

$$E_k = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$$

The gravitational potential energy gained by an object raised through height $h$ is given by the formula __________.

$$E_p = mgh$$

The elastic potential energy stored in a stretched spring of spring constant $k$ and extension $e$ is __________.

$$E_e = \frac{1}{2}ke^2$$

Efficiency can be calculated as the ratio of useful energy output to __________.

total energy input

Power is defined as the rate of energy transfer or the rate of doing work, calculated via the formula __________.

P=E/t

The total equivalent resistance ($R_T$) of two resistors connected in parallel is always __________ than the resistance of the smallest individual resistor.

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