AQA Combined Science Physic Paper 2

What is a vector quantity? Give two examples.

A quantity with magnitude and direction. Examples: force, velocity, displacement.

What is a scalar quantity? Give two examples.

A quantity with magnitude only. Examples: speed, mass, temperature.

Give two examples of contact forces.

Friction, air resistance, tension, normal contact force.

Give two examples of non-contact forces.

Gravitational force, magnetic force, electrostatic force.

State Newton’s Third Law of motion.

When two objects interact, they exert equal and opposite forces on each other.

What is the formula relating weight, mass and gravitational field strength?

Weight = mass × gravitational field strength (W = m × g)

What is the approximate value of g on Earth?

9.8 N/kg (or 9.8 m/s²)

Define ‘resultant force’.

The single force that has the same effect as all forces acting on an object combined.

What is the formula for work done?

Work done = force × distance moved in direction of force

What is the unit of work done?

Joule (J), where 1 J = 1 Nm

State Hooke’s Law (equation form).

Force = spring constant × extension (F = k × e)

What is the limit of proportionality?

The point beyond which force and extension are no longer directly proportional.

How is elastic potential energy calculated for a spring?

Elastic potential energy = ½ × spring constant × extension² (Eₑ = ½ k e²)

Distinguish between distance and displacement.

Distance is scalar (how far moved). Displacement is vector (distance and direction from start to finish).

What is the difference between speed and velocity?

Speed is scalar (how fast). Velocity is vector (speed in a given direction).

What is the formula for average speed?

Speed = distance ÷ time

Define acceleration.

Rate of change of velocity: acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time

What is the typical speed of sound in air?

330 m/s

What does the gradient of a distance–time graph represent?

Speed.

What does the gradient of a velocity–time graph represent?

Acceleration.

What is terminal velocity?

Constant speed reached when drag equals weight; resultant force is zero.

State Newton’s First Law.

An object remains at rest or moves at constant velocity unless acted upon by a resultant force.

State Newton’s Second Law (equation form).

Force = mass × acceleration (F = m × a)

What is ‘thinking distance’?

Distance travelled during driver’s reaction time.

What factors affect braking distance?

Speed, road conditions, tyre condition, brake condition.

What is a typical human reaction time?

0.2 s to 0.9 s

How can reaction time be measured practically?

Ruler drop test or computer-based reaction test.

Do waves transfer matter or energy?

Energy only, not matter.

What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?

Transverse: vibrations perpendicular to direction of travel. Longitudinal: vibrations parallel to direction of travel.

Give two examples of transverse waves.

Light waves, water ripples, electromagnetic waves.

Give an example of a longitudinal wave.

Sound waves.

Define wavelength.

Distance between two equivalent points on consecutive waves (e.g., crest to crest).

Define frequency and its unit.

Number of complete waves per second; unit: hertz (Hz).

What is the wave equation?

Wave speed = frequency × wavelength (v = f λ)

What is the speed of all electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

3 × 10⁸ m/s

Name the seven types of electromagnetic waves in order of increasing frequency.

Radio, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays.

Which EM waves are used for satellite communication?

Microwaves.

Which EM waves are used in medical imaging (bones)?

X-rays.

What property makes UV, X-rays and gamma rays dangerous?

They are ionising – can damage cells and DNA.

What is refraction?

Change in direction of a wave when it crosses a boundary between two media at an angle.

What is the normal in a ray diagram?

A line drawn perpendicular to the boundary at the point of incidence.

What does a Leslie cube experiment demonstrate?

Different surfaces emit different amounts of infrared radiation.

Which surface is a better emitter of infrared radiation: black or white?

Black.

What happens when like magnetic poles are brought together?

They repel.

What happens when unlike magnetic poles are brought together?

They attract.

Name four magnetic materials.

Iron, steel, nickel, cobalt.

How can you plot a magnetic field pattern?

Using a compass to trace direction of field lines from north to south.

What is created around a current-carrying wire?

A circular magnetic field.

State the right-hand thumb rule for a straight wire.

Thumb points in direction of current; curled fingers show direction of magnetic field lines.

What is a solenoid?

A coil of wire that produces a strong, uniform magnetic field inside when current flows.

How can you increase the strength of the magnetic field of a solenoid?

Increase current, increase number of turns, add an iron core.

What is an electromagnet?

A solenoid with an iron core; its magnetism can be turned on/off.

What is the main use of an electromagnet in scrap yards?

To lift and release magnetic materials (e.g., iron/steel).

Why does a compass needle point north?

It aligns with Earth’s magnetic field.

What is the difference between mass and weight?

Mass is the amount of matter (kg). Weight is the force due to gravity (N).

What is the unit of force?

Newton (N).

How is stopping distance calculated?

Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance.

What does a flat section on a distance-time graph indicate?

The object is stationary.

What does a curve on a velocity-time graph indicate?

Changing acceleration.

What is the relationship between force and extension for a spring within its limit of proportionality?

They are directly proportional.

What is the spring constant a measure of?

The stiffness of a spring.

What is the energy transfer when work is done against friction?

Kinetic energy → thermal energy.

What is the typical speed of a person walking?

1.5 m/s.

What is uniform acceleration?

Constant acceleration.

What is the equation linking final velocity, initial velocity, acceleration and distance?

v² = u² + 2as.

What type of wave is sound?

Longitudinal.

What is the range of human hearing?

Approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

What type of EM wave is used in fibre optic communications?

Visible light.

What are gamma rays used for in medicine?

Cancer treatment and sterilising equipment.

What is the unit of radiation dose?

Sievert (Sv), often millisievert (mSv).

What does a stronger magnetic field look like on a field line diagram?

Closer together field lines.

How can you reverse the direction of the magnetic field around a wire?

Reverse the direction of the current.

What is the magnetic field like inside a solenoid?

Strong and uniform.

Why is iron used as the core of an electromagnet?

It becomes magnetised, increasing field strength; loses magnetism when current stops.