Unit 2 Physics - Revision Checklist

You should be able to …..

Describing Motion

• Draw and interpret distance-time graphs.

• Draw and interpret velocity-time graphs.

• State the difference between speed and velocity.

• Use the equation: acceleration = change in velocity/time taken.

• (Higher Tier) Work out the acceleration and distance travelled from a velocity-time

graph.

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

• Use the equation: weight = mass x gravitational field strength.

• Know what is meant by a resultant force.

• Calculate the resultant force acting on an object.

• Say what will happen to an object if the resultant force acting on it is zero.

• Say what will happen to an object if the resultant force acting on it is not zero.

• Use the equation: force = mass x acceleration.

• Say what the stopping distance of a vehicle depends on, in terms of a driver’s

reaction time and the braking of the vehicle.

• Say what affects a driver’s reaction time (thinking distance).

• Say what affects a vehicle’s braking distance.

• Explain why an object falling through a fluid (eg air) reaches a terminal velocity, in

terms of the forces acting on it.

• Draw and interpret velocity-time graphs for objects that reach terminal velocity.

Doing Work

• Use the equation: work done = force x distance moved.

• Understand that when work is done energy is transferred.

• (Higher Tier) Use the equation:

Kinetic energy = ½ x mass x (speed)2.

• Know what is meant by elastic potential energy.

• Know what energy change takes place when work is done against frictional forces.

Momentum

• Use the equation: momentum = mass x velocity

• Understand the law of conservation of momentum when applied to

collisions/explosions.

• Use the conservation of momentum to calculate the mass, velocity or momentum of

a body involved in a collision or an explosion.

• Use ideas of momentum to explain safety features.

• (Higher Tier) Use the equation:

Force = change in momentum/time taken for change.

• (Higher Tier) Use the equation above to explain how injuries can be reduced eg use

of seat belts, air bags in cars.

Static Electricity

• Describe how an object becomes charged in everyday situations, given appropriate

information, and how precautions can be taken to make sure that electrostatic

charge is discharged safely.

• Describe how devices like photocopiers and smoke precipitators work, using ideas of

static electricity, given appropriate diagrams.

• Explain how an insulator can be charged by rubbing in terms of movement of

electrons.

• Know what the attraction/repulsion rules are for charges.

• Know what the connection between current and electrical charge is.

• (Higher Tier) Use the equation: charge = current x time

• (Higher Tier) Use the equation: energy transformed = potential difference x charge.

• Say how to discharge a charged object.

• (Higher Tier) Say how a spark may occur between a charged object and an earthed

conductor.

Electrical Circuits

• Interpret and draw circuit diagrams using standard symbols.

• Remember the standard symbols for switch, cell, battery, diode, resistor, variable

resistor, lamp, fuse, voltmeter, ammeter, thermistor, LDR.

• Remember the shape of the current-voltage graphs for resistor at constant

temperature, filament lamp and diode and be able to interpret the graphs.

• Use the equation: potential difference = current x resistance.

• Know and apply the rule for current in a series circuit.

• Know and apply the rule for current in a parallel circuit.

• Know and apply the rule for potential difference in a series circuit.

• Know and apply the rule for potential difference in a parallel circuit.

• Know and apply the rule for resistors in a series circuit.

• (Higher Tier) Use the equation: charge = current x time

• (Higher Tier) Use the equation: energy transformed = potential difference x charge.

• Know the connection between power of an electrical device and the energy

transformed.

• Use the equation: power = current x potential difference.

Mains Electricity

• Know what voltage of the UK mains supply is.

• Explain why mains electricity is dangerous if not used safely, given appropriate

information.

• Know how to correctly label a 3-pin plug.

• Know what materials are used for a plug and why they are used.

• Recognise errors in the wiring of a plug.

• Explain what is meant by alternating current, and name a source of a.c.

• Explain what is meant by direct current, and name a source of d.c.

• Know what the mains frequency is and what this means.

• Know what the purpose of a fuse is and how it works.

• Calculate the size of a fuse that an appliance needs, given its power and the mains

p.d. by using the equation: power = potential difference x current

• Describe how the Earth connection in an appliance with a metal casing works as a

safety device, given an appropriate diagram.

• Know how to work out the peak p.d and frequency of an a.c. supply from diagrams

of oscilloscope traces.

• Know how to work out the p.d. of a d.c. supply from diagrams of oscilloscope traces.

• (Higher Tier) Interpret diagrams of p.d. against time for live and neutral terminals.

Radioactive Decay

• (Higher Tier) Describe the plum pudding model of the atom.

• (Higher Tier) Describe the nuclear model of the atom.

• (Higher Tier) Describe the Rutherford scattering experiments.

• (Higher Tier) Explain how the scattering experiments led to the nuclear model.

• Know the relative masses and relative electric charges of protons, neutrons and

electrons.

• Know the connection between number of electrons and protons for neutral atoms.

• Know what an ion is and how it is formed.

• Know what defines an element in terms of the number of protons.

• Know what isotopes are.

• Know what is meant by the atomic number and mass number.

• Know what happens to the number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus when it

gives off an alpha particle or beta particle.

• Know what happens to the mass number and atomic number of a radioactive

element when it decays by alpha or beta radiation.

• Know what the origins of background radiation are.

Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion

• Know the names of 2 common fissionable substances.

• Know what nuclear fission means, and how it can be started.

• Explain how a fission chain reaction can occur by drawing a labelled diagram.

• Know what nuclear fusion means and where in the universe it happens.