REVISION NOTES
IGCSE Edexcel Physics
1.2 Forces, Movement, Shape and Momentum
1.2.1 Describe the effects of forces between bodies such as changes in speed, shape or direction
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1.2.2 Identify different types of force such as gravitational or electrostatic
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1.2.3 Understand how vector quantities differ from scalar quantities
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Vector quantities have magnitude (size) and a direction.
Example: Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration, Force, Weight, Momentum, etc.
Scalar quantities only have magnitude and no direction.
Example: Distance, Speed, Energy, Mass, Temperature, Time, etc.
1.2.4 Understand that force is a vector quantity
1.2.5 Calculate the resultant force of forces that act along a line
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1.2.6 Know that friction is a force that opposes motion
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1.2.7 Know and use the relationship between unbalanced force, mass and acceleration:
force = mass × acceleration
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1.2.8 Know and use the relationship between weight, mass and gravitational field strength:
weight = mass × gravitational field strength
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1.2.9 Know that the stopping distance of a vehicle is made up of the sum of the thinking distance and the braking distance
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1.2.10 Describe the factors affecting vehicle stopping distance, including speed, mass, road condition and reaction time
1.2.11 Describe the forces acting on falling objects (and explain why falling objects reach a terminal velocity)
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1.2.12 Practical: investigate how extension varies with applied force for helical springs, metal wires and rubber bands
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1.2.13 Know that the initial linear region of a force-extension graph is associated with Hooke’s law
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1.2.14 Describe elastic behaviour as the ability of a material to recover its original shape after the forces causing deformation have been removed
1.2.15P know and use the relationship between momentum, mass and velocity:
momentum = mass × velocity
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1.2.16P Use the idea of momentum to explain safety features
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1.2.17P Use the conservation of momentum to calculate the mass, velocity or momentum of objects
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1.2.18P Use the relationship between force, change in momentum and time taken:
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1.2.19P Demonstrate an understanding of Newton’s third law
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1.2.20P Know and use the relationship between the moment of a force and its perpendicular distance from the pivot:
moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot
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1.2.21P Know that the weight of a body acts through its centre of gravity
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1.2.22P Use the principle of moments for a simple system of parallel forces acting in one plane
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1.2.23P Understand how the upward forces on a light beam, supported at its ends, vary with the position of a heavy object placed on the beam
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