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Physics IGCSE > General Facts > Flashcards

General Facts Flashcards

1
Q

What do you assume when you measure the density of an object by finding volume with a measuring cylinder?

A

That its density is more than water.

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2
Q

What is the density of water?

A

1g/cm3 or 1000kg/m3

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3
Q

Give an experiment to find how extension of a spring varies with force applied.

A
  1. Measure original position of spring.
  2. Add a 100g mass to the hanger and measure new position.
  3. Repeat adding a 100g mass each time.
  4. Calculate extension by subtracting original position from subsequent position.
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4
Q

Why, with centripetal force, is no work done on the object?

A

The object does not move in the direction of the force.

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5
Q

What should you remember when you construct wave-fronts for refraction?

A

Draw a normal

Draw direction of wave travel

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6
Q

How do you increase sensitivity of a thermometer?

A
  1. Mass of liquid
  2. Diameter of thread
  3. Change liquid so has higher expansivity
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7
Q

Why is acceleration rarely steady?

A
  1. Air resistance and terminal velocity
  2. Gear change
  3. Mass of car changes as fuel burns
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8
Q

What is responsible for making objects float?

A

Upthrust

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9
Q

What is tension?

A

The force in a stretched material

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10
Q

Newton’s first law?

A

When no external force is acting on an object:

  1. If moving, keeps moving at steady speed in straight line
  2. If still, remain still
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11
Q

What is inertia?

A

A resistance to change in velocity.

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12
Q

What is true of heavier objects?

A

Takes more force for acceleration.

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13
Q

What is Newton’s Second Law of Motion?

A

F=ma

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14
Q

How do you reduce friction?

A
  1. Mount wheels on roller bearings

2. Add oil/lubricant

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15
Q

As force is increased, what happens to friction on a stationary object?

A

Friction rises until object slips

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16
Q

How do you increase static friction?

A

Add greater downward force on block

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17
Q

Why is friction a nuisance?

A

Has heating effect.

Makes moving parts so hot they seize up.

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18
Q

Which type of friction heats materials up?

A

Dynamic friction

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19
Q

Three features of gravitational force:

A
  1. Closer together, more attraction
  2. More mass, more attraction
  3. All masses attract each other
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20
Q

What is a gravitational field?

A

Region where mass experiences a force due to gravitational attraction.

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21
Q

What are forces?

A

Pushes and pulls between two objects.

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22
Q

What is Newton’s Third Law of Motion?

A

To every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.

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23
Q

Formula for resultant force using change in momentum and time.

A

Resultant force = change in momentum / time

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24
Q

What is an impulse?

A

(Resultant) Force x time

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25
Q

Object with most mass has ____ velocity.

A

Lowest

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26
Q

Why is momentum conserved?

A

Newton’s third law - to every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.
So if change in momentum = force x time, and force and time are equal (in magnitude) for both cases, mass x velocity = mass x - velocity

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27
Q

Law of conservation of momentum?

A

When two or more objects act on each other, their total momentum remains constant, provided no external forces are acting.

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28
Q

Conditions of equilibrium:

A
  1. Sum of anticlockwise moments about point …

2. Sum of forces in one direction = sum of forces in other direction

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29
Q

Why does a beam balance at centre of gravity?

A

Particles have turning effects which cancel out at centre of gravity.

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30
Q

What is a centre of gravity?

A

Point where particles have a resultant force = weight of object

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31
Q

What is load (on a spring)?

A

Force applied to a spring

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32
Q

Characteristics of direct proportion?

A
  1. X doubles, Y doubles
  2. X / Y gives same value
  3. Increase in X gives constant increase in Y
  4. Straight line through origin
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33
Q

What happens beyond elastic limit?

A
  1. Permanently stretched

2. Breaks

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34
Q

Typical pressure of shoe sole?

A

20 kPa

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35
Q

Typical pressure of high heel?

A

500kPa

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36
Q

Typical pressure of pin?

A

5 million kPa

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37
Q

Conditions of pressure in liquid:

A
  1. Depends on depth
  2. DEPENDS ON DENSITY OF LIQUID because mass of liquid in certain volume depends on density
  3. Acts in all directions
  4. Does not depend on shape
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38
Q

Why is the output piston only moved a fraction of the distance?

A

Because the volume of oil used to push both pistons is the same.
Same volume means that area x height of X = area x height of Y`
So if area of Y is larger, height must be smaller

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39
Q

What reduces output force in a hydraulic jack?

A

Friction

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40
Q

What is atmospheric pressure?

A

100kPa

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41
Q

How does a straw work?

A

Lungs lower air pressure in straw

So atm pushes liquid up straw

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42
Q

How do you find actual pressure of gas supply?

A

Find excess pressure in mm of mercury
Add atmospheric pressure in mm of mercury
Convert to Pa

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43
Q

Relationship between pressure and volume?

A

Inverse proportion

44
Q

Why pressure increases with decreased volume:

A

Decreased volume = more particles / unit volume
So collisions per second of particles with walls increases
So more force exerted on walls in one second
So more force / same area = higher pressure

45
Q

Conditions of a real gas:

A

Minimum attraction between molecules

  1. Low density
  2. Not full of water vapour
  3. Well above liquefying point
46
Q

How to find experimentally link between pressure and volume

A
  1. Trap air in glass tube with oil
  2. Pump air into reservoir in stages so oil compresses air so volume reduces
  3. Pause for few moments so air returns to original temperature
  4. Measure pressure of oil in stages (using pressure gauge in oil reservoir)
47
Q

What is work?

A

Work is done whenever a force makes something move

48
Q

Why does a falling object do work?

A

Work done = force x distance

Gravitational force makes object move (downwards)

49
Q

What is electrical energy?

A

Energy transferred by electrons in a circuit

50
Q

What holds the nucleus together?

A

Strong nuclear force

51
Q

How do engines use thermal energy to do work?

A

Thermal energy turns liquids to gas, gas pushes on pistons

52
Q

Waves carry ____

A

energy

53
Q

Sources of wasted energy (all of them turn into thermal energy):

A
  1. Air resistance
  2. Inefficiency of a system (e.g. in muscles)
  3. Sound (so any vibration)
54
Q

What does sound turn into and why?

A

Sound is absorbed, so leaves objects warmer than before, so thermal energy

55
Q

Efficiency =

A

useful power output / total power input

useful work done / total energy input

56
Q

Causes of inefficiency in power stations?

A
  1. Energy lost in cooling water and waste gases (which travel away)
  2. Turbines heating up when hit by air and also direction of air particles used to turn them
  3. Heat energy lost in turning generator
  4. Resistance in wires of generator
57
Q

How sun’s energy becomes energy in waves:

A 
Sun heats earth
Air heats up (gains thermal energy) and RISES
Air forms belts around the equator
Air belts causes wind systems
Wind produces waves`
58
Q

Why do particles in liquids and gases have energy?

A
  1. They have kinetic energy because they are moving

2. They have potential energy because they are moving and this movement opposes intermolecular forces

59
Q

Do solids, liquids or gases have the highest potential energy?

A

Gases, because they are most separated

60
Q

What is internal energy?

A

Kinetic + potential energy

61
Q

What is thermal energy?

A

Internal energy + heat

62
Q

Properties that vary with temperature?

A

Expansion of liquid (volume)
Expansion of gas (volume)
Expansion of solid (volume)
Resistance of semi-conductor

63
Q

Explain how a thermocouple thermometer works.

A

Two different metals (copper and constantan) joined at two junctions
A temperature difference causes tiny voltage
Tiny voltage induces current

64
Q

Objects at the same temperature have the same:

A

average kinetic energy per particle

65
Q

Why is temperature different to heat?

A

Heat (energy) takes into account mass

66
Q

How to make thermometer more responsive?

A
  1. Change material to be a better conductor
  2. Use thin glass in bulb
  3. Use a smaller bulb
67
Q

How to increase range?

A
  1. Use electronic thermometer
  2. Use different material with lower expansivity
  3. Make capillary longer
68
Q

Why does a gas not necessarily expand when heated?

A

Volume depends on shape of container

69
Q

How to find experimentally how pressure changes with temperature?

A
  1. Trap air in glass flask (so volume constant) and place in water bath
  2. Change temperature by heating water in stages
  3. Measure pressure in stages
70
Q

How does conduction take place?

A
  1. Heated so particles gain kinetic energy and vibrate more
  2. Bump against neighbouring particles
  3. So motion is transferred from hot end to cold end
71
Q

How to increase rate of conduction?

A
  1. Bigger temp. difference
  2. Increase cross-sectional area
  3. Decrease length
72
Q

How to use insulating materials in home:

A
  1. Foam around boiler
  2. Mineral wool in wall cavity
  3. Double glazing
  4. Mineral wool insulation in loft
73
Q

How to increase radiation emitted:

A
  1. Higher temp

2. Higher surface area

74
Q

Experiment to show black surfaces better absorbers of heat?

A

Apparatus: radiant heater, thermometers, black and white cans
Actions: Fill cans with water. Place at equal distances from the radiant heater. Measure temperature rise.
Observation: Water in black can as greater temperature rise.

75
Q

What happens to water vapour when it evaporates?

A

Bear in mind it may return to the liquid

76
Q

How do refrigerators work?

A
  1. Coolant evaporates, taking thermal energy away from the food
  2. Vapour drawn by pump and compressed by liquid, releasing thermal energy, heating liquid up
  3. Hot liquid cooled down by cool pipes at back of refrigerator
  4. So thermal energy in total carried away FROM FOOD INSIDE to air
77
Q

Specific heat capacity of water

A

4200J/(kg degC)

78
Q

UNITS OF SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY

A

J / kg degC

79
Q

What is thermal capacity?

A

Mass x specific heat capacity

80
Q

Units of thermal capacity?

A

J / deg C

81
Q

Specific latent heat of fusion of water?

A

330,000 J/kg

82
Q

Specific latent heat of vaporization of water?

A

2,300,000 J/kg

83
Q

What is specific latent heat?

A

Heat needed to turn 1 kg of solid into liquid etc.

With no rise in temperature

84
Q

What does specific latent heat calculations not allow for?

A

Any heat gained by surroundings e.g. funnel

85
Q

How to measure latent heat?

A
  1. Place boiling water in beaker and place electric heater of known power inside, place this on balance
  2. Measure initial mass of water and beaker
  3. For set amount of time (on stopwatch), heat boiling water
  4. Measure final mass of water and beaker
  5. Calculate l using E = ml
86
Q

Why does refraction cause change in direction?

A

Frequency stays same
So slowing down means that wavelength decreases
If wave-fronts close up on each other (due to decreased wavelength) direction of travel must change unless at right angles

87
Q

Evidence for reflection

A

Light reflects in mirrors

Echoes from hard surfaces

88
Q

Evidence for refraction

A

Light bends from glass to water

89
Q

Evidence for diffraction

A

Sound spreads around walls so can hear round corners

Some radio signals bend around hills

90
Q

Characteristics of sound waves:

A
  1. caused by vibrations
  2. need a medium to travel through, no vacuum
  3. can travel through liquids, solids and gases
  4. longitudinal waves
  5. can be diffracted
  6. can be reflected and refracted
91
Q

How microphone works:

A

Sound enters microphone
Crystal in microphone vibrates
Vibrations changed into electrical oscillations
Graph produced of how air pressure in microphone varies with time

92
Q

Speed of sound depends on:

A

Temperature of air
Does not depend on pressure of air
Material

93
Q

Principle of echoes used in:

A
  • Echo-sounders

- Radar

94
Q

Induction results in ____ charge compared to inducing object:

A

Opposite

95
Q

What an arrow signifies in an electric field?

A

Force on a positively charged particle.

96
Q

What happens at a sharp curve on a charged object?

A
  1. Field lines closest together
  2. So charges most concentrated
  3. May ionise air
97
Q

Why does charge gather on the outside of an object?

A

Because they repel each other

98
Q

Under what conditions does a cell make electrons move?

A

When there is a conductor between its terminals (i.e. complete circuit)

99
Q

What inside a cell pushes electrons round a circuit?

A

Chemical reactions

100
Q

Current in electric kettle element?

A

10A

101
Q

What is an ampere?

A

flow of 1 coulomb / second

102
Q

Why do electrons in a circuit have potential energy?

A

They repel each other because they have the same charge

103
Q

What is voltage a measure of?

A

The energy a cell gives to electrons it pushes out.

104
Q

What is a volt?

A

1 Joule / Coulomb

105
Q

What is emf?

A

Work done / unit of charge by the cell in driving charge round a complete circuit, including the cell itself.

106
Q

All the energy supplied by a battery is…

A

…radiated out or used up by its components.

107
Q

What is potential difference of a component?

A

Work done / unit of charge in driving charge around component.

Physics IGCSE (9 decks)

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