AQA GCSE Physics Paper 1 Revision Checklist

4.1 Energy

12 sub-topics · 2 required practicals.

• Energy stores and transfers — Identify kinetic, thermal, chemical, gravitational, elastic, magnetic, electrostatic and nuclear stores.
• Kinetic energy — Use Ek = ½ m v².
• Gravitational potential energy — Use Ep = m g h.
• Elastic potential energy — Use Ee = ½ k e²; required for Higher.
• Specific heat capacity — Use ΔE = m c Δθ.
• Required practical: specific heat capacityRequired practical
• Power — Use P = E / t = W / t.
• Conservation and dissipation — Energy is conserved and useful vs wasted transfers.
• Reducing unwanted transfers — Lubrication and thermal insulation; effect of wall thickness/conductivity.
• Required practical: thermal insulationRequired practicalTriple only
• Efficiency — Useful/total energy or power; ways to increase efficiency.
• National and global energy resources — Renewable vs non-renewable; reliability, cost and environmental impact.

4.2 Electricity

12 sub-topics · 2 required practicals.

• Circuit symbols — Draw standard symbols including diode, LED, LDR, thermistor.
• Electrical charge and current — Use Q = I t.
• Current, resistance and potential difference — Use V = I R.
• Required practical: I–V characteristicsRequired practical — Resistor, filament lamp, diode.
• Required practical: resistance and lengthRequired practical
• Series and parallel circuits — Compare current, p.d. and total resistance; combine resistors.
• Mains electricity — a.c. vs d.c.; UK mains values; live, neutral, earth wires; safety.
• Energy transfers in appliances — Use E = P t and E = Q V.
• Power formulas — Use P = V I and P = I² R.
• The National Grid — Role of step-up and step-down transformers in efficient transmission.
• Static electricity (Physics only)Triple only — Charging by friction; explain attraction and repulsion.
• Electric fields (Physics only)Triple only

4.3 Particle model of matter

9 sub-topics · 2 required practicals · 2 Higher-only.

• Density — Use ρ = m / V; relate to particle arrangement.
• Required practical: density of solids and liquidsRequired practical
• Changes of state — Physical changes; mass is conserved.
• Internal energy — Heating changes either temperature or state.
• Specific latent heat — Use E = m L; interpret heating/cooling curves.
• Required practical: specific latent heatRequired practicalTriple only
• Particle motion in gases — Link temperature to mean kinetic energy and to pressure on container walls.
• Pressure in gases (Higher)Higher — Use p V = constant at constant temperature.
• Increasing pressure by doing work (Physics only, Higher)HigherTriple only

4.4 Atomic structure

11 sub-topics.

• Structure of the atom — Nucleus (protons + neutrons), electron shells, sizes (~10⁻¹⁰ m vs 10⁻¹⁵ m).
• Mass number, atomic number and isotopes
• Development of the atom model — Plum-pudding → Rutherford scattering → Bohr → discovery of neutron.
• Radioactive decay — Alpha, beta, gamma and neutron emission; properties and ionising power.
• Nuclear equations — Balance nuclear equations for α and β decay.
• Half-life — Define half-life; calculate from a decay curve.
• Radioactive contamination vs irradiation
• Hazards and uses of radiation (Physics only)Triple only
• Background radiation (Physics only)Triple only
• Nuclear fission (Physics only)Triple only
• Nuclear fusion (Physics only)Triple only

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