Pearson Edexcel Igcse 9-1 Physics: Unit 1: Forces and Motion

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PEARSON EDEXCEL IGCSE 9-1 PHYSICS

UNIT 1 : FORCES AND MOTION

Specification Point 1.1:Use the following units: kilogram (kg), metre (m), metre/second
(m/s), metre/second2 (m/s2), newton (N), second (s) and newton/kilogram (N/kg)

Paper 2 Only
Specification Point  1.2P: Use the following units: newton metre (Nm), kilogram
metre/second (kg m/s)

Distance-Time Graphs

Specification Point 1.3: Plot and explain distance−time graphs


The Basics

A distance-time graph shows how the distance of an object (from a point) varies over time:

Graphs showing how the distance travelled by


three objects varies over time
PEARSON EDEXCEL IGCSE 9-1 PHYSICS
UNIT 1 : FORCES AND MOTION

Finding Speed

 The speed of an object is given by the gradient of the line.

 A horizontal line means stationary.
 A straight line means constant speed.
 If the gradient increases the object is speeding up (accelerating).
 If the gradient decreases the object is slowing down (decelerating).

 If the line is going down, the object is moving backwards.

Exam Tip:
 When you come across any graph, look carefully at what is plotted on each axis and think for a
while about what the graph is showing you.
 Distance-time graphs are also known as position-time graphs or displacement-time graphs. Don’t
be fooled by these different names: They describe the same kind of things.

Speed: The Basics


Specification Point 1.4:Know and use the relationship between average speed, distance
moved and time taken:
average speed = distance moved / time taken

 Speed (measured in metres per second) is the distance moved by an object each
second.
 The average speed of an object is given by the equation:

You can rearrange the equation with the help of the formula triangle:
PEARSON EDEXCEL IGCSE 9-1 PHYSICS
UNIT 1 : FORCES AND MOTION

Exam Tip:
 Use the units of speed (metres per second – distance divided by time) to help you remember the
formula.
 The equation is for average speed, but the speed at a specific moment might be higher or lower.

Practical: Investigating Motion

Describing Experiments

Specification Point 1.5:Practical: Investigate the motion of everyday objects such as toy
cars or tennis balls.

 You might be asked to describe an experiment in which you have to determine the
speed or acceleration of an object, or how its position or speed change with time.
 As part of this, you will be expected to list any apparatus that you need, explaining
clearly how you will use it.

 The experiment you describe must be realistic: Using a ruler to measure the length of
an athletics track is not realistic – you would be far better using a (long) tape measure
or a trundle wheel.
Top Tips for describing experiments:

 If you need to use an equation to calculate something, start off by giving it.
(Listing it at the start will give you some hints about the things you need to mention
later).
PEARSON EDEXCEL IGCSE 9-1 PHYSICS
UNIT 1 : FORCES AND MOTION
 State what your independent variable is (the thing that you are going to change) and
how you will measure it.
If appropriate, you should also suggest some values for your independent variable.

 State what your dependent variable is (the thing you are going to measure), and
describe how you will measure it (what equipment will you use?)
 List any variables that you need to control and explain briefly how you will do so.
 Finally, state that you will repeat the experiment several times and take an average.

Example:

“Describe an experiment to measure the terminal velocity of a falling paper cone.”

 I will determine the terminal velocity using the equation:

speed = distance / time

 My independent variable will be the distance, which I will measure using a tape
measure. I will drop the paper cone from a variety of heights starting at 1 metre and
going up in 10 cm intervals to 2 meters.

(Note: These distances are big enough that the times will be measurable – any smaller and
they won’t be).

 My dependent variable will be the time which I will measure using a stop clock. I will
start the clock when I drop the cone and stop it when it hits the ground.
 I will repeat each measurement three times and take an average of the times at each
height.
 I will then calculate the speed at each height using the above equation.

 I will use the same paper cone throughout the experiment and do the experiment
somewhere where there are no drafts which could affect the results.

Exam Tip:
 You may write your answer using bullet points (as in the example above).
 The use of bullet points will help you to structure your answer and to keep better track of the
marking points that you have addressed.

Light gates

 Sometimes you may be asked to suggest ways in which an experiment could be


improved.
 Light gates are pieces of apparatus that allow times to be measured more accurately, but
in order to gain marks you must describe what they do and how you would use them.
PEARSON EDEXCEL IGCSE 9-1 PHYSICS
UNIT 1 : FORCES AND MOTION

 A light gate can be used to start a timer when an object passes through it (blocking the
light gate).
 A second light gate (a fixed distance away) can be used to stop the timer.
 Light gates can also be used to determine the speed of an object through the gate by
timing how long the gate is blocked for.

Acceleration, Velocity & Time

Specification Point 1.6: Know and use the relationship between acceleration,
change in velocity and time taken:
acceleration = change in velocity / time taken
a = (v − u) / t
 Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity: In other words, how much the velocity of
an object changes by every second.
 Acceleration is given by the equation (where u is the initial velocity of an object and v is
its final velocity):

(Where u is the initial velocity of an object and v is its final velocity.)

 You can rearrange this equation with the help of the formula triangle:
PEARSON EDEXCEL IGCSE 9-1 PHYSICS
UNIT 1 : FORCES AND MOTION

 The units of acceleration are m/s2, which mean the same thing as m/s/s – the change in
velocity (in m/s) every second.

ExamTip:
 Marks are often available for giving the correct unit, even if your answer is incorrect.
 You must, however, give an answer (even if it’s just a guess): giving a unit without an
answer will not gain you any marks.

Velocity-Time Graphs

Specification Point 1.7: Plot and explain velocity-time graphs

 A Velocity-time graph shows how the velocity (or speed) of an object changes over time.

Specification Point 1.8: Determine acceleration from the gradient of a


velocity−time graph

 The acceleration of an object is given by the gradient of the graph:


PEARSON EDEXCEL IGCSE 9-1 PHYSICS
UNIT 1 : FORCES AND MOTION

 If the line is horizontal, the velocity is constant (no acceleration).


 If the line slopes upwards then the object is accelerating (speeding up).
 If the line goes down then the object is decelerating (slowing down).

Finding Distance
Specification Point 1.9: Determine the distance travelled from the area
between a velocity−time graph and the time axis

 The distance travelled by an object can be found by determining the area beneath the


graph.

 If the area beneath the graph forms a triangle (the object is accelerating or decelerating)
then the area can be determined using the formula:
PEARSON EDEXCEL IGCSE 9-1 PHYSICS
UNIT 1 : FORCES AND MOTION
area = ½ × base × height
 If the area beneath the graph is a rectangle (constant velocity) then the area can be
determined using the formula:

area = base × height


Exam Tip:

 Remember to include units when giving your answers:


o The units of acceleration, for example, are m/s2
 When asked to find the distance, start by stating:
distance = area beneath graph
 A common mistake is to try and find distance using the distance-speed-time equation. This
equation will not work if the speed of the object is changing.
 Lines that slope downwards have negative gradients and so can be said to have negative
accelerations: This is the same thing as a deceleration. Don’t worry about this, though –
you can use either term to describe it.

Equations of Motion

Acceleration & time

 If the acceleration of an object is known, you can determine how its speed changes over
time, using the equation:

final speed = initial speed + acceleration time


 This equation is often written using the algebraic form:

v=u+a×t
Where:

o u = initial speed
o v = final speed
o a = acceleration
o t = time

Acceleration & Distance

Specification Point 1.10: Use the relationship between final speed, initial
speed, acceleration and distance moved
PEARSON EDEXCEL IGCSE 9-1 PHYSICS
UNIT 1 : FORCES AND MOTION

 If you don’t know how long the object accelerates for but you do know how far it travels,
a different equation can be used:

(final speed)2 = (initial speed)2 + (2 × acceleration × distance moved)


 This can be written algebraically:

v2 = u2 + (2 × a × s)
Where:

o s = distance travelled
o u = initial speed
o v = final speed
o a = acceleration

Exam Tip:

 When tackling problems like this, start by writing down the values of all of the quantities
you know.
 You can do this by writing down the expression   suvat   and then writing numbers next to
each letter, as shown below:
s = 10 m
u = 0 m/s
v = ???? (this is what we want to find out)
a = 5 m/s2
t = xxx (we don’t know this value)
 Writing out the information as shown above will make the problem clearer and help you to
decide which equation to use.

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