Pearson Edexcel Igcse 9-1 Physics: Unit 1: Forces and Motion
Pearson Edexcel Igcse 9-1 Physics: Unit 1: Forces and Motion
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
A distance-time graph shows how the distance of an object (from a point) varies over time:
Finding Speed
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).
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 (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.
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:
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
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.
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):
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
A Velocity-time graph shows how the velocity (or speed) of an object changes over time.
Finding Distance
Specification Point 1.9: Determine the distance travelled from the area
between a velocity−time graph and the time axis
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:
Equations of Motion
If the acceleration of an object is known, you can determine how its speed changes over
time, using the equation:
v=u+a×t
Where:
o u = initial speed
o v = final speed
o a = acceleration
o t = time
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:
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.