Section 1 - General Physics

PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS
Section 1 General Physics
General Physics
PAL (IGCSE) Physics
Revision Book - Section 1
Name:
_________________________________
Teacher:
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DIPONT Educational Resource Science
PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

Syllabus Content_______________________________
PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

Syllabus Details________________________________
1.1 Length and time
Core
Use and describe the use of rules and measuring cylinders to calculate a length
or a volume
THINGS TO REMEMBER...
Always align your eye with the position being measured
This avoids parallax errors
Use and describe the use of clocks and devices for measuring an interval of time
Remember there is always a reaction time associated with using a
clock or stopwatch
Supplement
Use and describe the use of a mechanical method for the measurement of a
small distance (including use of a micrometer screw gauge)
Micrometers are used to measure small distances accurately
PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

Measure and describe how to measure a short interval of time (including the
period of a pendulum)
For measuring short intervals of time (when each period is the
same), multiple measurements can be taken and then averaged
e.g. Period of a pendulum = Time for 10 oscillations / 10
1.2 Speed, velocity and acceleration

Core
Define speed and calculate speed from total distance / total time
Symbol
Speed
v or u
Definition
Speed = total distance / total time
SI
unit
m/s
Vector /
Scalar
Scalar
Plot and interpret a speed/time graph or a distance/time graph
PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

Recognise from the shape of a speed/time graph when a body is

at rest
moving with constant speed
moving with changing speed
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Calculate the area under a speed/time graph to work out the distance travelled
for motion with constant acceleration
Demonstrate some understanding that acceleration is related to changing speed
Symbol
Acceleration
Definition
SI unit
m/s2
Acceleration
= change in velocity or speed / time
Vector /
Scalar
Vector (for
changing v)
State that the acceleration of free fall for a body near to the Earth is constant
Acceleration of free fall near the Earth is constant
All objects near the earth fall with a constant acceleration

The acceleration of free fall is NOT dependent on mass
The acceleration is ~10m/s2
Supplement
Distinguish between speed and velocity
Symbol
Displacement
Velocity
Speed
s
v or u
v or u
Definition
Distance moved in particular direction
from a fixed point
Velocity = change in displacement / time
Speed = total distance / total time
Speed has magnitude but no direction

Velocity has magnitude and direction
SI
unit
m
Vector /
Scalar
Vector
m/s
m/s
Vector
Scalar
- SCALAR
- VECTOR
PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

Recognise linear motion for which the acceleration is constant and calculate the
acceleration
Acceleration is constant if...
A constant resultant force acts

o Eg.
Objects falling in a vacuum
Equations that can be used for constant acceleration...
v=u+at
s=[(u+v)/2]/t
v2=u2+2as
s=ut+1/2at2
s=vt-1/2at2
Recognise motion for which the acceleration is not constant
Acceleration is NOT constant if...
A varying resultant force acts

o Eg.
Objects falling in air. The air resistance increases with
velocity so the resultant force changes
A car accelerating. As the velocity of the car
increases the air resistance also increases, so the
resultant force changes.
Describe qualitatively the motion of bodies falling in a uniform gravitational field

with and without air resistance (including reference to terminal velocity)
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1.3 Mass and weight

Core
Show familiarity with the idea of the mass of a body
State that weight is a force
Demonstrate understanding that weights (and hence masses) may be compared

using a balance
Supplement
Demonstrate an understanding that mass is a property that resists change in
motion
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Describe, and use the concept of weight as the effect of a gravitational field on
a mass
A gravitational field shows a region in which a mass will feel a force

due to another mass nearby
The Earth is a very large mass so a strong gravitational field exists
around it
Weight is the force acting on a mass due to the Earths gravitational
field
1.4 Density
Core
Describe an experiment to determine the density of a liquid and of a regularly
shaped solid and make the necessary calculation
Density (kg/m3) = Mass (kg)

Volume (m3)
Measuring Density of a Liquid

Measuring cylinder to
measure the volume
50ml
40ml
30ml
20ml
10ml
00250.0g
Balance to measure the mass of the

liquid
(Remember: mass of liquid = measured
mass mass of measuring cylinder)
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Measuring Density of a Regular Shaped Object
Measure the dimensions (height, length

and width) and calculate the volume
0
10
20
30
40
Volume = height x length x width
00250.0g
Use a Balance to measure the mass

of the object
Supplement
Describe the determination of the density of an irregularly shaped solid by the
method of displacement, and make the necessary calculation
Measuring Density of an Irregularly Shaped Object
Use a Balance to
measure the mass of
the object
Volume of liquid displaced from a

displacement can = volume of object
50ml
40ml
30ml
00250.0g
20ml
10ml
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1.5 (a) Effects of forces

Core
State that a force may produce a change in size and shape of a body
Plot extension/load graphs and describe the associated experimental procedure
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Describe the ways in which a force may change the motion of a body
Find the resultant of two or more forces acting along the same line
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Supplement
Interpret extension/load graphs
State Hookes Law and recall and use the expression F = k x
Recognise the significance of the term limit of proportionality for an

extension/load graph
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Recall and use the relation between force, mass and acceleration (including the
direction)
REMEMBER:
o Acceleration is a vector and so has direction
o Force is a vector and so has direction
Describe qualitatively motion in a curved path due to a perpendicular force
(F = mv2/r is not required)
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1.5 (b) Turning effect

Core
Describe the moment of a force as a measure of its turning effect and give
everyday examples
Describe qualitatively the balancing of a beam about a pivot

Supplement
Perform and describe an experiment (involving vertical forces) to show that
there is no net moment on a body in equilibrium
Apply the idea of opposing moments to simple systems in equilibrium
1.5 (c) Conditions for equilibrium

Core
State that, when there is no resultant force and no resultant turning effect, a
system is in equilibrium
FOR A SYSTEM IN EQUILIBRIUM: There is no resultant force and no
turning effect
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1.5 (d) Centre of mass

Core
Perform and describe an experiment to determine the position of the centre of
mass of a plane lamina
Hang the lamina freely

Hang a plum line from the position the lamina is hang from
Draw a line along the plum line
Repeat this procedure for another position
Describe qualitatively the effect of the position of the centre of mass on the
stability of simple objects
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1.5 (e) Scalars and vectors

Supplement
Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between scalars and vectors
and give common examples
SCALAR
Property with magnitude but no
direction
Example:
Speed
Distance
Pressure
Area
Volume
Work
VECTOR
Property with magnitude and direction
Example:
Velocity
Acceleration
Force
Displacement
Add vectors by graphical representation to determine a resultant

Determine graphically the resultant of two Vectors
Adding vectors by a graphical method

A car travels 3km north and then turns due east and travels a
further 4km. What is its resultant displacement
4km
3km
Resultant Displacement = 5km
1.6 (a) Energy

Core
Demonstrate an understanding that an object may have energy due to its
motion or its position, and that energy may be transferred and stored
Energy...
cannot be created or destroyed

can be transferred from one form to another
can be stored in to be transferred later
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PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

Give examples of energy in different forms, including kinetic, gravitational,
chemical, strain, nuclear, internal, electrical, light and sound
Energy Type
Example
Kinetic Energy
Gravitational Potential
Energy
Chemical Energy
Strain Energy
Nuclear Energy
Moving objects (Car)

Raised objects (Water in a dam)
Internal Energy
Electrical Energy
Light Energy
Sound Energy
Energy stored in bonds (coal, oil)

Energy due to flexing of materials (elastic band)
Energy associated with atomic nuclei (Fission
reactors)
Energy of materials kinetic from particles moving
+ potential from bonds
Energy from moving charges (electricity)
Energy from Electromagnetic waves (light, IR)
Energy due to vibrating particles (sound)
Give examples of the conversion of energy from one form to another, and of its
transfer from one place to another
Apply the principle of energy conservation to simple examples
For any change to occur in nature energy must be transferred.

Energy is not created or destroyed it is changed from one form into
another
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Supplement
Recall and use the expressions k.e. = mv and p.e. = mgh
2
Types of Energy Gravitational Potential Energy
As an object is raised in gains gravitational potential energy

This is energy associated with gravity
Height
Before
After
Gravitational Potential Energy (J) = Mass (kg) x Strength of Gravity (N/kg) x height m)
PE = mgh
Types of Energy Kinetic Energy
Any object which is moving has an associated energy

This energy is called Kinetic Energy
Velocity
Kinetic Energy (J) = 0.5 x Mass (kg) x velocity (m/s) 2
KE = mv2
1.6 (b) Energy resources
Core
Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy
Non-renewable: Energy sources that when used cannot be replaced (or at least it will
take millions of years).e.g. Coal, Oil Natural gas.
Renewable: Energy sources which can be used repeatedly without being used up.
Solar energy, Wind, Tidal etc.
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PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

Describe how electricity or other useful forms of energy may be obtained from:
chemical energy stored in fuel
Coal can be burnt to release thermal energy - which heats

water and makes it move which turns a generator which
generates electricity
water, including the energy stored in waves, in tides, and in water behind
hydroelectric dams
Water stored behind a dam or tidal barrier can be allowed
to flow down this moving water turns a generator which
generates electricity
geothermal resources
Cold water is pumped underground the earth warms the

water which rises this moving water turns a generator
which generates electricity
nuclear fission
Atoms are split in a nuclear reactor this releases energy

which heats water the water moves and turns a generator
which generates electricity
heat and light from the Sun (solar cells and panels)
Solar energy from the sun can be converted directly into

electricity using a solar cell
Solar energy can also be used to heat water directly (IR)
Give advantages and disadvantages of each method in terms of cost, reliability,

scale and
environmental impact
Energy
Source
Chemical
(Coal)
Hydroelectric /
tidal
Cost
Reliability
Scale
Low
Reliable
Large
Environment
al Impact
High
High initially
Large
High
Geothermal
Nuclear
Solar Energy
High initially
High
High
Reliable
(unless a
drought)
Reliable
Reliable
Unreliable
(only available
during the
day)
Small
Large
Small
Low
Low
Low
Show a qualitative understanding of efficiency

In any energy transfer process energy is lost to non-useful forms.
CAR: Chemical Energy is converted to kinetic energy (useful) + Thermal energy
(waste)
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PAL (IGCSE) PHYSICS

Supplement
Show an understanding that energy is released by nuclear fusion in the Sun
NUCLEAR FUSION IN THE SUN
In the Sun hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form helium nuclei

In this process energy is released
Recall and use the equation: efficiency = useful energy output / energy input
100%
Efficiency = useful output energy / useful input energy

Percentage Efficiency = ( useful output energy / useful input energy ) x 100
In the transfer of energy from one form into another, there will always be
losses, normally to heat energy.
The efficiency of the process tells use how much useful energy we get and
how much is lost
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1.6 (c) Work

Core
Relate (without calculation) work done to the magnitude of a force and the
distance moved
Supplement
Describe energy changes in terms of work done
Recall and use W = Fd = E
EXAMPLES OF WORK BEING DONE
A car engine does work against friction and accelerating the car
When you lift an object you do work against gravity
1.6 (d) Power

Core
Relate (without calculation) power to work done and time taken, using
appropriate examples
Supplement
Recall and use the equation P = E/t in simple Systems
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1.7 Pressure
Core
Relate (without calculation) pressure to force and area, using appropriate
examples
Describe the simple mercury barometer and its use in measuring atmospheric
pressure
The height of the mercury column relates to the atmospheric pressure
Relate (without calculation) the pressure beneath a liquid surface to depth and
to density, using appropriate examples
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Use and describe the use of a manometer
Recall and use the equation p = F/A
Recall and use the equation p = hg
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