CAIE IGCSE PHYSICS

Speed is defined as the distance travelled per unit time.

Use the equation
1. Motions, Forces and Energy d
v= t Where:
​

v is speed
1.1. Physical quantities and d is distance
measurement techniques t is time
Velocity is defined as the speed in a given direction.
Making measurements (apparatus):
Distance & Speed Time Graphs
Liquids: Measuring Cylinder.
A pipette (accurate for one specific measurement)
Time: Clock, Digital Timers (reading to 0.1s or better)
Length: Metre rule (graduated in mm)
Micrometer Screw Gauge
Vernier Calliper
Volume: Measuring Length, Width, Height
Distance-Time Graphs
Measuring volume by displacement
Mass: Top pan balance, precision of 0.1g 1 Acceleration
2 At rest
Vectors and Scalars: 3 Deceleration
4 Constant Speed
Scalar: has magnitude only
e.g. distance, speed, time, mass, energy and temperature
Vector: has magnitude and direction
e.g. force, weight, velocity, acceleration, momentum, electric
field strength and gravitational field strength
Speed-Time Graphs
1 Increasing Acceleration
2 Constant Speed
3 Decreasing Acceleration
4 Uniform Acceleration
5 Uniform Deceleration
6 Decreasing Deceleration
7 Increasing Deceleration

Acceleration:

Acceleration is defined as the change in velocity per unit of

time.

a = v−u
Δt
= Δv
Δt
Where:
​

a is acceleration
v is the final velocity
u is the initial velocity
Δt is the change in time.

Falling objects:

Acceleration of free fall (g - gravitational constant) for an

object near the surface of the Earth is constant and is
approximately 9.8 m/s².
At the beginning of the paper, the instructions will tell you
to use 10 m/s² or 9.8 m/s². This detail can be very
important.

1.2. Motion Terminal Velocity:

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CAIE IGCSE PHYSICS

An object falling because of acceleration due to gravity The centre of mass is the place at which all of the object's
through the atmosphere is subjected to two external forces. mass is concentrated. Because gravity works only on one
One force is the gravitational force, expressed as the object's spot in the item. For regularly formed objects, the centre of
weight. The other force is the air resistance or drag of the mass is in the centre.
object. It is critical to understand where a body's centre of mass is
An object has terminal velocity when those two forces are located, as this dictates the body's stability. When a body is
equal. tilted slightly, the line of action of its weight passes through its
base, it is stable.
1.3. Mass and Weight
Resultant forces:
Mass: a measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest
Determine the resultant of two or more forces acting along
relative to the observer. The mass of a body is a measure of
the same straight line.
the amount of matter in it.
An object either remains at rest (stationary) or continues in a
Weight: a gravitational force on an object that has mass.
straight line at constant speed unless acted on by a resultant
Gravitational field strength g is defined as force per unit
force.
mass.
A resultant force may change the velocity of an object by
The equation for gravitational field strength is :
changing its direction of motion or its speed.
g=W
m ​

Gravitational field strength is equivalent to the acceleration of Springs:

free fall.
Weights (and masses) may be compared using a balance. Sketch, plot and interpret load-extension graphs for an elastic
The weight of an object is the effect of a gravitational field on solid (eg. metal wire) and be able to describe any
its mass. experimental procedures.
The limit of proportionality is a point on a load-extension
graph beyond which the graph is no longer a straight line.
1.4. Density Spring constant is defined as force per unit extension. \n
Recall and use the equation:
Density is defined as mass per unit volume.
The equation for density is: k = Fx ​ Where:
p = mv ​
F is the force or load
With this equation, you can determine the density of a liquid, x is the extension
of a regularly shaped solid and of an irregularly shaped solid k is the spring constant ( N/m, N/cm, N/mm)
which sinks in a liquid. You need to record its mass, then
volume and then substitute it through the equation. Hooke’s Law
Know whether an object floats based on density data. A
higher density means that the object will sink. A lower density F = kx
makes it float. This is called buoyancy. Recall and use the equation F = ma and know that the force
and acceleration are in the same direction.
How to determine whether one liquid will float on F = ma
another liquid based on density data given that the When F is the force in N
liquids do not mix: m is mass in kg
a is acceleration in m/s²
The liquid with a larger density will descend below the other
liquid. Centripetal Force
A liquid floats over the other liquid if it has a lower density.
Describe the motion in a circular path due to a force
1.5. Forces perpendicular to the motion.
In a circular motion, if speed increases, the force needed
A force is a push or a pull. increases (mass and radius are constants).
Forces may produce changes in the size, shape and In a circular motion, if radius decreases, the force needed
velocity of an object. increases (mass and speed are constants). In a circular
Solid friction is the force between two surfaces that may motion, if mass is increased, an increased force is
impede motion and produce heating. required to keep speed and radius constant.
Friction (drag) acts on an object moving through a liquid
or a gas (air resistance). Moments of forces

Centre of mass: Moment of a force as a measure of its turning effect.

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