Tab 1
Edexcel IGCSE Science (Single
Award) Physics Revision Guide
Forces and Motion
Units
Core Units: You must be familiar with and be able to use the following standard units for
measurement.
● kilogram (kg): for mass
● metre (m): for distance or displacement
● metre/second (m/s): for speed or velocity
● metre/second² (m/s²): for acceleration
● Newton (N): for force or weight
● second (s): for time
● newton/kilogram (N/kg): for gravitational field strength
Movement and Position
Distance-time graphs Show how an object's distance from a starting point changes over time.
The gradient represents speed.
Average Speed: This is the total distance travelled divided by the total time taken.
Formula: average speed = distance moved / time taken
Example: A car travels 300 metres in 15 seconds. Calculate its average speed.
Solution:
Speed = Distance / Time
Speed = 300 m / 15 s
Speed = 20 m/s
Acceleration: This is the rate of change of velocity.
Formula: acceleration = (change in velocity) / time taken → a = (v - u) / t
Example: A sprinter accelerates from a standing start (0 m/s) to a final velocity of 9 m/s in 3
seconds. Calculate her acceleration.
Solution:
a = (v - u) / t
a = (9 m/s - 0 m/s) / 3 s
a = 3 m/s²
Velocity-Time Graphs: The gradient represents acceleration, and the area under the graph
represents distance travelled.
Forces and Movement
Effects of Forces: Forces can cause an object to change its speed, direction, or shape.
Friction: A force that opposes motion.
Unbalanced Force (Newton's Second Law):
Formula: Force = mass × acceleration → F = m × a
Example: Calculate the force needed to make a 1,000 kg car accelerate at 2.5 m/s².
Solution:
F = 1,000 kg × 2.5 m/s² = 2,500 N
Weight: The force of gravity acting on an object.
Formula: weight = mass × gravitational field strength → W = m × g
Example: A person has a mass of 70 kg. What is their weight on Earth (g = 9.8 N/kg)?
Solution:
W = 70 kg × 9.8 N/kg = 686 N
Stopping Distance: Thinking Distance + Braking Distance. This is affected by speed, mass, road
conditions, and reaction time.
Electricity
Units
Core Units: ampere (A), coulomb (C), joule (J), ohm (Ω), second (s), volt (V), watt (W).
Mains Electricity
Electrical Power:
Formula: power = current × voltage → P = C × V
Example: A kettle connected to a 230 V supply draws a current of 10 A. What is its power?
Solution:
P = 10 A × 230 V = 2,300 W
AC and DC: Direct Current (d.c.) flows in one direction (from batteries). Alternating Current
(a.c.) continuously changes direction (mains electricity).
Current and Voltage in Circuits
Ohm's Law: Describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance.
Formula: voltage = current × resistance → V = I × R
Example: A resistor has 6 V across it and a current of 0.5 A. What is its resistance?
Solution:
R = V / I = 6 V / 0.5 A = 12 Ω
Current in Metals: A flow of negatively charged electrons.
Series Circuits: Current is the same everywhere. Total resistance is the sum of individual
resistances. Voltage is shared between components.
Waves
Properties of Waves
Definitions: Amplitude, Wavelength (λ), Frequency (f), Period (T).
Wave Transfers: Waves transfer energy and information without transferring matter.
The Wave Equation:
Formula: wave speed = frequency × wavelength → v = f × λ
Example: Waves have a frequency of 500 Hz and a wavelength of 0.7 m. Calculate their speed.
Solution:
v = 500 Hz × 0.7 m = 350 m/s
The Electromagnetic (EM) Spectrum
Order (longest to shortest wavelength): Radio → Microwave → Infrared → Visible →
Ultraviolet → X-ray → Gamma ray.
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Uses: Radio (broadcasting), Microwaves (cooking), Infrared (heaters), Visible Light (sight),,
X-rays (imaging), Gamma rays (sterilisation).
Dangers: Higher frequency waves like UV, X-rays, and Gamma rays are ionising and can cause
cell damage or cancer.
Light and Sound
Law of Reflection: angle of incidence = angle of reflection.
Total Internal Reflection (TIR): Used in optical fibres. Occurs when the angle of incidence is
greater than the critical angle.
Energy Resources and Energy Transfers
Energy Transfers
Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one
store to another.
Efficiency: A measure of how much input energy is converted to useful output energy.
Formula: efficiency = (useful energy output / total energy input) × 100%
Example: A bulb uses 100 J of electrical energy to produce 20 J of light. What is its efficiency?
Solution:
Efficiency = (20 J / 100 J) × 100% = 20%
Work and Power
Work Done: Energy transferred when a force moves an object.
Formula: work done = force × distance moved → W = F × d
Example: Pushing a box with 50 N of force for 4 m.
Solution:
W = 50 N × 4 m = 200 J
Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE): Energy stored by an object due to its height. GPE = mgh.
Kinetic Energy (KE): Energy of a moving object. KE = ½mv².
Power: The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred.
Formula: power = work done / time taken → P = W / t
Example: A crane does 50,000 J of work in 10 s.
Solution:
P = 50,000 J / 10 s = 5,000 W
Solids, Liquids and Gases
Density and Pressure
Pressure: The force exerted per unit area.
Formula: pressure = force / area → p = F / A
Example: A 200 N box with a base area of 0.5 m².
Solution:
p = 200 N / 0.5 m² = 400 Pa
Ideal Gas Molecules
Gas Pressure: Caused by random collisions of gas molecules with the walls of a container.
Absolute Zero: –273 °C or 0 Kelvin. The temperature at which particles have minimum kinetic
energy.
The Kelvin Scale: An absolute temperature scale. K = °C + 273.
Gas Laws: At constant volume, increasing temperature increases pressure. At constant
temperature, decreasing volume increases pressure.
Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Magnetism
Magnetic Field Lines: Show the direction (N to S) and strength of a magnetic field.
Electromagnetism
The Motor Effect: A current-carrying wire in a magnetic field experiences a force. This is used
in motors and loudspeakers.
Fleming's Left-Hand Rule: Used to predict the direction of the force (Thumb = Thrust,
Forefinger = Field, Second finger = Current).
Radioactivity and Particles
Radioactivity
Isotope: Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but a different number
of neutrons.
Nature of Radiations:
● Alpha (α): Helium nucleus. Highly ionising, low penetration.
● Beta (β⁻): High-speed electron. Medium ionising, medium penetration.
● Gamma (γ): EM wave. Low ionising, high penetration.
Half-Life: The time it takes for the activity of a radioactive sample to halve.
Contamination vs. Irradiation: Irradiation is exposure to radiation. Contamination is getting
radioactive material on/in an object.
Fission and Fusion
Nuclear Fission: The splitting of a large nucleus (e.g., Uranium-235) which releases energy.
Nuclear Fusion: The joining of two light nuclei to form a heavier one, releasing vast amounts of
energy. This is how stars produce energy.
Astrophysics
Motion in the Universe
Cosmic Structures: Solar System → Galaxy → Universe. Our solar system is in the Milky Way
galaxy.
Orbits: Gravity provides the force that keeps planets (near-circular orbits) and comets
(elliptical orbits) orbiting the Sun.
Stellar Evolution
Colour and Temperature: Red stars are coolest, yellow are hotter, and blue stars are hottest.
Evolution of a Sun-like Star: Nebula → Main Sequence Star → Red Giant → White Dwarf.
No More Red Wine = mnemonic
Orbital Speed formula
v = 2πr/T
