PHYSICS PAPER 1 ALL CONTENT

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54 Terms

1
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2
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What is meant by the conservation of energy?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred, stored, or dissipated.

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What is meant by 'dissipation' of energy?

Energy becoming spread out and stored in less useful ways, often as thermal energy.

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What is the definition of specific heat capacity?

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1°C.

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Why are metals good conductors of heat?

They contain free electrons that transfer energy quickly through the material.

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What reduces energy transfer by conduction?

Using insulating materials with low thermal conductivity.

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How can energy transfers be reduced in homes?

Loft insulation

cavity wall insulation

double glazing

thick curtains

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What does the national grid do?

Transfers electrical power from power stations to consumers across the country.

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Why is electricity transferred at high voltage?

To reduce current, which reduces energy lost as heat in cables.

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What is a renewable energy source?

One that can be replenished naturally and won’t run out.

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Name 3 renewable energy sources.

Solar, wind, hydroelectric.

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Name 3 non-renewable energy sources.

Coal, oil, natural gas.

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What are the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels?

Releases CO2 (causing climate change) and sulfur dioxide (causing acid rain).

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What is an electric current?

The flow of electric charge (electrons) through a conductor.

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What is resistance?

The opposition to the flow of current in a circuit.

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What is Ohmic behaviour?

When current through a component is directly proportional to voltage across it (constant resistance).

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What happens to resistance in a filament lamp as temperature increases?

It increases

so current does not increase proportionally.

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What is the function of a diode?

Allows current to flow in only one direction.

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What is the function of an LDR?

Its resistance decreases as light intensity increases.

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What is the function of a thermistor?

Its resistance decreases as temperature increases.

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What is the difference between series and parallel circuits?

In series, current is the same everywhere

in parallel, voltage is the same across branches

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What is the UK mains voltage and frequency?

230 V and 50 Hz.

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What are the three wires in a plug and their colours?

Live (brown), neutral (blue), earth (green/yellow).

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Why is the earth wire important?

It carries current away if there is a fault

and prevents electric shock.

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What happens if the live wire touches a metal case?

The case becomes live and could cause electric shock unless earthed.

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What is the function of a fuse?

It melts and breaks the circuit if the current is too high.

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What is internal energy?

The total kinetic and potential energy of particles in a substance.

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What happens to internal energy when a substance is heated?

It increases.

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What causes a change of state?

Energy being added or removed, changing the internal energy without changing temperature.

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What is the process of melting?

Solid to liquid.

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What is the process of condensation?

Gas to liquid.

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What is the process of sublimation?

Solid to gas.

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What is the particle model of matter?

Model where substances are made of tiny particles in constant motion.

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What is density?

Mass per unit volume of a substance.

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How does temperature affect particle motion?

Higher temperature = particles move faster.

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What is meant by specific latent heat?

Energy needed to change the state of 1 kg of a substance without a temperature change.

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What did the alpha particle experiment show?

Most of the atom is empty space, with a dense, positive nucleus.

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What are the charges and relative masses of protons, neutrons and electrons?

Proton: +1, mass 1

Neutron: 0, mass 1

Electron: -1, mass ≈ 0.

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What is an isotope?

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

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What is radioactive decay?

When an unstable nucleus releases radiation to become more stable.

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What is ionising radiation?

Radiation that knocks electrons off atoms, forming ions.

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What are the three types of nuclear radiation?

Alpha, beta, gamma.

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What is alpha radiation?

2 protons and 2 neutrons (helium nucleus), highly ionising, low penetration.

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What is beta radiation?

A fast-moving electron

moderately ionising

medium penetration.

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What is gamma radiation?

Electromagnetic wave

weakly ionising

highly penetrating.

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What stops alpha radiation?

A sheet of paper or a few cm of air.

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What stops beta radiation?

A few mm of aluminium.

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What stops gamma radiation?

Several cm of lead or meters of concrete.

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What is the half-life of a radioactive substance?

Time taken for the number of radioactive nuclei to halve.

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Why is half-life useful?

It helps determine the age of objects

or how long a substance remains dangerous.

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What are the dangers of ionising radiation?

It can damage cells and DNA, potentially causing cancer.

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How can radiation be used in medicine?

In tracers (diagnostic) or to treat cancer (radiotherapy).

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