1. Motion, forces and energy
- Syllabus
- 0625–2026–2027
- Section
- 1
- Level
- —
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In this section
Topic 1.1
1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques
Objectives in this topic
1.1.1—Use of rulers and measuring cylinders
- Describe the use of rulers and measuring cylinders to find a length or a volume
1.1.2—To measure a variety of time intervals
- Describe how to measure a variety of time intervals using clocks and digital timers
1.1.3—An average value for a small distance
- Determine an average value for a small distance and for a short interval of time by measuring multiples (including the period of oscillation of a pendulum)
1.1.4—A scalar quantity has magnitude (size)
- Understand: a scalar quantity has magnitude (size) only and that a vector quantity has magnitude and direction
1.1.5—Distance, speed, time, mass, energy
- Know scalar quantities: distance, speed, time, mass, energy and temperature
1.1.6—Force, weight, velocity, acceleration
- Know vector quantities: force, weight, velocity, acceleration, momentum, electric field strength and gravitational field strength
1.1.7—Determine, by calculation or
- Determine, by calculation or graphically, the resultant of two vectors at right angles, limited to forces or velocities only
Topic 1.2
1.2 Motion
Objectives in this topic
1.2.1—Speed as distance travelled per unit
- Define speed as distance travelled per unit time; recall/use: v = s/t
1.2.2—Velocity as speed in a given direction
- Define velocity as speed in a given direction
1.2.3—Recall/use: average speed = total
- Recall/use: average speed = total distance travelled / total time taken
1.2.4—Distance–time and speed–time graphs
- Sketch, plot and interpret distance–time and speed–time graphs
1.2.5—From given data or the shape of a
- Determine qualitatively from given data or the shape of a distance–time graph or speed–time graph when an object is: (a) at rest (b) moving with constant speed (c) accelerating (d) decelerating
1.2.6—Speed from the gradient of a
- Calculate speed from the gradient of a straight-line section of a distance–time graph
1.2.7—Area under a speed–time graph to
- Calculate the area under a speed–time graph to determine the distance travelled for motion with constant speed or constant acceleration
1.2.8—Acceleration of free fall g for an
- State: the acceleration of free fall g for an object near to the surface of the Earth is approximately constant, about 9.8 m/s²
1.2.9—Acceleration as change in velocity per
- Define acceleration as change in velocity per unit time; recall/use: a = Δv/Δt
1.2.10—From given data or the shape of a
- Determine from given data or the shape of a speed–time graph when an object is moving with: (a) constant acceleration (b) changing acceleration
1.2.11—Acceleration from the gradient of a
- Calculate acceleration from the gradient of a speed–time graph
1.2.12—A deceleration is a negative
- Know: a deceleration is a negative acceleration and use this in calculations
1.2.13—Motion of objects falling in a uniform
- Describe the motion of objects falling in a uniform gravitational field with and without air/liquid resistance, including reference to terminal velocity
Topic 1.3
1.3 Mass and weight
Objectives in this topic
1.3.1—Mass is a measure of the quantity of
- State: mass is a measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to the observer
1.3.2—Weight is a gravitational force on an
- State: weight is a gravitational force on an object that has mass
1.3.3—Gravitational field strength as force
- Define gravitational field strength as force per unit mass; recall/use: g = W/m; know it is equivalent to acceleration of free fall
1.3.4—Weights (and masses) may be compared
- Know: weights (and masses) may be compared using a balance
1.3.5—Describe, and use the concept of
- Describe, and use the concept of, weight as the effect of a gravitational field on a mass
Topic 1.4
1.4 Density
Objectives in this topic
1.4.1—Density as mass per unit volume
- Define density as mass per unit volume; recall/use: ρ = m/V
1.4.2—To determine the density of a liquid
- Describe how to determine the density of a liquid, of a regularly shaped solid and of an irregularly shaped solid which sinks in a liquid (volume by displacement), including appropriate calculations
1.4.3—Whether an object floats based on
- Determine whether an object floats based on density data
1.4.4—Whether one liquid will float on
- Determine whether one liquid will float on another liquid based on density data given that the liquids do not mix
Topic 1.5.1
1.5.1 Effects of forces
Objectives in this topic
1.5.1.1—Forces may produce changes in the size
- Know: forces may produce changes in the size and shape of an object
1.5.1.2—Load–extension graphs for an elastic
- Sketch, plot and interpret load–extension graphs for an elastic solid and describe the associated experimental procedures
1.5.1.3—Resultant of two or more forces acting
- Determine the resultant of two or more forces acting along the same straight line
1.5.1.4—An object either remains at rest or
- Know: an object either remains at rest or continues in a straight line at constant speed unless acted on by a resultant force
1.5.1.5—A resultant force may change the
- State: a resultant force may change the velocity of an object by changing its direction of motion or its speed
1.5.1.6—Solid friction as the force between
- Describe solid friction as the force between two surfaces that may impede motion and produce heating
1.5.1.7—Friction (drag) acts on an object
- Know: friction (drag) acts on an object moving through a liquid
1.5.1.8—Friction (drag) acts on an object
- Know: friction (drag) acts on an object moving through a gas (e.g. air resistance)
1.5.1.9—Spring constant as force per unit
- Define spring constant as force per unit extension; recall/use: k = F/x
1.5.1.10—Term ‘limit of proportionality’ for a
- Define and use the term ‘limit of proportionality’ for a load–extension graph and identify this point on the graph (an understanding of the elastic limit is not required)
1.5.1.11—Recall/use: F = ma
- Recall/use: F = ma; know: the force and the acceleration are in the same direction
1.5.1.12—Circular motion caused by a force
- Describe circular motion caused by a force perpendicular to motion: (a) greater force increases speed if mass/radius stay constant (b) greater force decreases radius if mass/speed stay constant (c) greater mass needs greater force to keep speed/radius constant (F = mv^2/r not required)
Topic 1.5.2
1.5.2 Turning effect of forces
Objectives in this topic
1.5.2.1—Moment of a force as a measure of its
- Describe the moment of a force as a measure of its turning effect and give everyday examples
1.5.2.2—Moment of a force as moment = force ×
- Define the moment of a force as moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot; recall/use this equation
1.5.2.3—Apply the principle of moments to
- Apply the principle of moments to situations with one force each side of the pivot, including balancing of a beam
1.5.2.4—That, when there is no resultant force
- State that, when there is no resultant force and no resultant moment, an object is in equilibrium
1.5.2.5—Apply the principle of moments to
- Apply the principle of moments to other situations, including those with more than one force each side of the pivot
1.5.2.6—An experiment to demonstrate that
- Describe an experiment to demonstrate that there is no resultant moment on an object in equilibrium
Topic 1.5.3
1.5.3 Centre of gravity
Objectives in this topic
1.5.3.1—What is meant by centre of gravity
- State what is meant by centre of gravity
1.5.3.2—An experiment to determine the
- Describe an experiment to determine the position of the centre of gravity of an irregularly shaped plane lamina
1.5.3.3—Qualitatively the effect of the
- Describe qualitatively the effect of the position of the centre of gravity on the stability of simple objects
Topic 1.6
1.6 Momentum
Objectives in this topic
1.6.1—Momentum as mass × velocity
- Define momentum as mass × velocity; recall/use: p = mv
1.6.2—Impulse as force × time for which
- Define impulse as force × time for which force acts; recall/use: impulse = F∆t = ∆(mv)
1.6.3—Apply the principle of the
- Apply the principle of the conservation of momentum to solve simple problems in one dimension
1.6.4—Resultant force as change in momentum
- Define resultant force as change in momentum per unit time; recall/use: F = Δp/Δt
Topic 1.7.1
1.7.1 Energy
Objectives in this topic
1.7.1.1—Energy may be stored as kinetic
- State: energy may be stored as kinetic, gravitational potential, chemical, elastic (strain), nuclear, electrostatic and internal (thermal)
1.7.1.2—Energy is transferred between stores
- Describe how energy is transferred between stores during events and processes, including examples of transfer by forces (mechanical work done), electrical currents (electrical work done), heating, and by electromagnetic, sound and other waves
1.7.1.3—Principle of the conservation of
- Know the principle of the conservation of energy and apply this principle to simple examples including the interpretation of simple flow diagrams
1.7.1.4—Kinetic energy: Ek = 1/2 mv^2
- Recall/use kinetic energy: Ek = 1/2 mv^2
1.7.1.5—Recall/use: for the change in
- Recall/use: for the change in gravitational potential energy ∆Ep = mg∆h
1.7.1.6—Principle of the conservation of
- Know the principle of the conservation of energy and apply this principle to complex examples involving multiple stages, including the interpretation of Sankey diagrams
Topic 1.7.2
1.7.2 Work
Objectives in this topic
1.7.2.1—Mechanical or electrical work done is
- Understand: mechanical or electrical work done is equal to the energy transferred
1.7.2.2—Recall/use: for mechanical working W =
- Recall/use: for mechanical working W = Fd = ∆E
Topic 1.7.3
1.7.3 Energy resources
Objectives in this topic
1.7.3.1—Energy/electrical power sources: (a)
- Describe useful energy/electrical power sources: (a) fossil fuels (b) biofuels (c) water: waves, tides and hydroelectric dams (d) geothermal resources (e) nuclear fuel (f) sunlight for solar cells (g) infrared/other EM waves for solar water heating and wind energy, including boilers, turbines and generators where used
1.7.3.2—Advantages and disadvantages of each
- Describe advantages and disadvantages of each method in terms of renewability, availability, reliability, scale and environmental impact
1.7.3.3—Understand, qualitatively, the concept
- Understand, qualitatively, the concept of efficiency of energy transfer
1.7.3.4—Radiation from the Sun is the main
- Know: radiation from the Sun is the main source of energy for all our energy resources except geothermal, nuclear and tidal
1.7.3.5—Energy is released by nuclear fusion
- Know: energy is released by nuclear fusion in the Sun
1.7.3.6—Research is being carried out to
- Know: research is being carried out to investigate how energy released by nuclear fusion can be used to produce electrical energy on a large scale
1.7.3.7—Efficiency: (a) efficiency = useful
- Define and use efficiency: (a) efficiency = useful energy output / total energy input × 100% (b) efficiency = useful power output / total power input × 100%
Topic 1.7.4
1.7.4 Power
Objectives in this topic
1.7.4.1—Power as work done per unit time or
- Define power as work done per unit time or energy transferred per unit time; recall/use: P = W/t and P = ΔE/t
Topic 1.8
1.8 Pressure
Objectives in this topic
1.8.1—Pressure as force per unit area
- Define pressure as force per unit area; recall/use: p = F/A
1.8.2—Pressure varies with force and area in
- Describe how pressure varies with force and area in the context of everyday examples
1.8.3—Qualitatively how the pressure beneath
- Describe qualitatively how the pressure beneath the surface of a liquid changes with depth and density of the liquid
1.8.4—Recall/use: for the change in pressure
- Recall/use: for the change in pressure beneath the surface of a liquid ∆p = ρg∆h