Year 10 Science Physics Revision 2024

Useful Formulas

• F = ma: Force equals mass multiplied by acceleration.
• W = Fd: Work equals force multiplied by distance.
• GPE = mgh: Gravitational Potential Energy equals mass multiplied by gravitational acceleration and height.
• g = 9.8 m/s²: Standard gravity on Earth.

Key Terms and Definitions

• Inertia: Resistance of an object to any change in its state of motion.
• Sankey Diagram: Visual representation showing energy flow in a system and energy losses.
• Forces: Push or pull acting upon an object.
• Accelerate: Increase in the speed of an object over time.
• Net Force: The overall force acting on an object after all the forces are combined.
• Ticker Tape: A tape used for recording motion, showing the time interval and distance covered.
• Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
• Gravitational Energy: Energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field.
• Kinetic Energy: Energy possessed by an object due to its motion.
• Potential Energy: Energy stored in an object due to its position or state.
• Newton's Laws of Motion:
  • First Law: An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by a net force.
  • Second Law: The acceleration of an object depends on the net force acting on it and its mass.
  • Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Types of Energy

• Energy: The capacity to do work or produce change.
• Energy Wastage: Loss of energy due to inefficiencies in a system.
• Energy Conservation: The practice of using less energy and making efficient use of the energy available.
• Friction: Force opposing motion between two surfaces in contact.
• Mass: Measure of the amount of matter in an object.
• Nuclear Energy: Energy released during nuclear reactions, either through fission or fusion.
• Solar Energy: Energy harnessed from sunlight.
• Chemical Energy: Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds.
• Thermal Energy: Internal energy of an object due to the kinetic energy of its particles.
• Mechanical Energy: Sum of potential and kinetic energy in a system.

Motion and Forces

• An object moving at constant speed through air experiences balanced forces.
• Momentum is defined as the product of mass and velocity; stationary bodies have no momentum.

Practical Experiments and Observations

• Dropping identical masses (rubber ball and modelling clay) from the same height demonstrates gravitational effects.
• 'Block and tackle' machines illustrate energy transfer and efficiency, noting that energy is often lost due to friction.
• Average speed can be calculated through total distances divided by total time taken during physical activities.

Historical Context

• Aristotle's theory of falling objects was challenged by Galileo, who demonstrated that mass does not affect falling speed.
• The experiment with crumpled and flat paper illustrates air resistance affecting fall times.

Safety Features in Cars

• Modern vehicles include safety features such as airbags, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), stability control, crumple zones, and reinforced cabin structures to protect occupants in an accident.

Motion Graphs

• Create motion graphs to analyze position over time, noting changes as movement pauses or accelerates during various intervals.