EDEXCEL INTERNATIONAL GCSE (9-1) PHYSICS STUDENT BOOK NOTES

Unit 1: Forces and Motion

1.1 Movement and Position

• Key Definitions:

  • Speed: Measure of how fast an object is moving, defined as:
    \text{average speed} = \frac{\text{distance moved}}{\text{time taken}}

1.2 Forces and Shape

• Effects of Forces on Objects:

  • Forces can change speed, direction and shape of an object.

• Types of Forces: Gravitational, Electrostatic, Frictional, etc.

1.3 Forces and Movement

• Equations of motion:

  • Acceleration:
    a = \frac{v - u}{t} where:

  • $u$: initial velocity

  • $v$: final velocity

  • $t$: time taken

1.4 Momentum (Physics only)

• Momentum: Defined as: p = m \times v where:

  • $p$: momentum (kg m/s)

  • $m$: mass (kg)

  • $v$: velocity (m/s)

• Momentum is conserved in collisions, described as:
  \text{momentum before collision} = \text{momentum after collision}

1.5 The Turning Effect of Forces (Physics only)

• Moment of a Force:
  \text{moment} = \text{force} \times \text{perpendicular distance from pivot}

• Example Applications of Turning Moments: Doors, Cranes.

  • In Balance Condition:
    \sum \text{anticlockwise moments} = \sum \text{clockwise moments}

Additional Units Overview

Unit 2: Electricity

• Concepts of current, voltage, resistance; laws of electricity.

Unit 3: Waves

• Properties, types of waves, and applications.

Unit 4: Energy Resources and Energy Transfer

• Transfer of energy, renewable resources, efficiency.