Cambridge International GCSE Physics Review

These flashcards cover essential physics concepts for the CIE GCSE, including forces, energy, laws of motion, and electricity.

What is a force?

A force is any push or pull.

What are the two types of forces?

Contact forces and non-contact forces.

Give an example of a contact force.

Pushing a door.

Give an example of a non-contact force.

Magnetism.

What is the formula to find work done?

Work done = force × distance moved.

What is the unit for work done?

Joules (J).

What are balanced forces?

Forces that add up to zero and do not cause acceleration.

What does Newton's first law state?

An object will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by a resultant force.

Define weight in terms of force due to gravity.

Weight = mass × gravitational field strength.

What is gravitational field strength on Earth?

Approximately 9.8 Newtons per kilogram.

What is the equation for gravitational potential energy (GPE)?

GPE = mass × g × height.

What does Hooke's law state?

Force is proportional to extension: F = k × e.

What is the unit for spring constant (k)?

Newtons per meter (N/m).

What is a moment in physics?

A turning force, calculated as force times distance to the pivot.

What is the formula for acceleration?

Acceleration = change in velocity / time.

What does Newton's second law state?

F = m × a, where F is resultant force, m is mass, and a is acceleration.

What is momentum?

Momentum = mass × velocity.

Explain the principle of conservation of momentum.

Total momentum before a collision equals total momentum after the collision.

What is the formula for kinetic energy?

Kinetic energy = 0.5 × mass × velocity².

What happens to energy in a closed system?

Total energy is conserved; it cannot be created or destroyed.

What is the specific latent heat of fusion for water?

334,000 joules per kilogram.

What is the equation for density?

Density = mass / volume.

What type of wave is a sound wave?

Longitudinal wave.

What is the wave equation?

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

What are the two types of electrical current?

Direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).

What does Ohm's law state?

V = I × R, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance.

What is the purpose of a transformer?

To change the voltage in an electrical circuit.

What do electric fields around a charge show?

The direction of the force that would be experienced by a positive charge.

What is a permanent magnet?

A material that produces a magnetic field without needing an external power supply.

What are seismic waves?

Waves that travel through the Earth and are generated by earthquakes.

Define thermal energy in the context of particles.

The kinetic energy related to the movement of particles in a substance.

What is the principle behind electric motors?

They use the motor effect, where a current-carrying conductor experiences a force in a magnetic field.