,Cambridge IGCSE™ Physics Study and Revision Guide
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ISBN: 978 1 3983 6137 9
© Mike Folland and Catherine Jones 2022
First published in 2005
Second edition published in 2016
This edition published in 2022 by
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,Contents
Introduction iv
Exam breakdown v
Section 1 Motion, forces and energy
1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques 2
1.2 Motion 6
1.3 Mass and weight 12
1.4 Density 13
1.5 Forces 15
1.6 Momentum 22
1.7 Energy, work and power 24
1.8 Pressure 33
Section 2 Thermal physics
2.1 Kinetic particle model of matter 35
2.2 Thermal properties and temperature 43
2.3 Transfer of thermal energy 49
Section 3 Waves
3.1 General properties of waves 57
3.2 Light 68
3.3 Electromagnetic spectrum 83
3.4 Sound 87
Section 4 Electricity and magnetism
4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism 92
4.2 Electrical quantities 95
4.3 Electric circuits 108
4.4 Electrical safety 115
4.5 Electromagnetic effects 117
Section 5 Nuclear physics
5.1 The nuclear model of the atom 132
5.2 Radioactivity 137
Section 6 Space physics
6.1 Earth and the Solar System 148
6.2 Stars and the Universe 160
Index 167
Answers to exam-style questions are available at:
www.hoddereducation.co.uk/cambridgeextras
egap siht ypocotohp ot lagelli si tI
© Mike Folland and Catherine Jones 2022
, Introduction Skills
Welcome to the Cambridge IGCSE™ Physics Study and Revision Guide. This
book has been written to help you revise everything you need to know and
understand for your Physics exam. Following the Physics syllabus, it covers
all the key Core and Extended content and provides sample questions and
answers, as well as practice questions, to help you learn how to answer
questions and to check your understanding.
How to use this book
Key objectives
Revision activities
Sa ple question 1 Motion, forces and energy
Revision activity Skills
Demonstrating that there is no resultant momentum when an object is
in equilibrium
Key objectives
l l
l l
l
moment of a force
Sample question
9
principle of moments
equilibrium
upward force
to hold
wheelbarrow Teacher’s comments
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egap siht ypocotohp ot lagelli si tI
load Correct answer
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22
23
Sample questions Teacher’s comments
Exam-style questions for you to think about.
Student’s answers
iv Cambridge IGCSE Physics Study and Revision Guide Third Edition
, Correct answers 1.2 Motion
3
4
Teacher’s comments
3 Revision activity
Exam-style questions
4
Correct answers
3
4
Exam-style questions
Extended syllabus
1
2
a
b
c
d
3
Answers egap siht ypocotohp ot lagelli si tI
4
Worked answers to the Exam-style 1.2 Motion
questions can be found at: Key objectives
www.hoddereducation.co.uk/cambridgeextras l l
Exam breakdown
6
You will take three examinations at the end of your studies. If you have
studied the Core syllabus content you will take Paper 1 and Paper 3, and
either Paper 5 or Paper 6. If you have studied the Extended syllabus
content (Core and Supplement) you will take Paper 2 and Paper 4, and
either Paper 5 or Paper 6.
Paper 1: Multiple choice (Core) Paper 3: Theory (Core)
Paper 2: Multiple choice (Extended) Paper 4: Theory (Extended)
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© Mike Folland and Catherine Jones 2022 v
, Paper 5: Practical test Paper 6: Alternative to practical
1 hour 15 minutes 1 hour
40 marks 40 marks
Questions will be based on the experimental skills in Questions will be based on the experimental skills in
Section 4 Section 4
20% 20%
How to prepare for your examinations
Here are a few summary points to guide you:
l Use this book – it has been written to help students achieve high grades.
l Learn all the work – low grades are nearly always attributable to inadequate preparation. If you can
recall the work and show understanding of it, you will succeed. Do not leave things to chance.
l Practise skills such as calculations, equation writing, labelling diagrams and the interpretation of
graphs.
l Use past papers to reinforce revision, to become familiar with the types of question and to gain
confidence.
l Answer each question as instructed on the paper – be guided by the key words used in the question
(describe, explain, state etc.). Do not accept a question as an invitation to write what you know about
the topic.
Examination terms explained
The examination syllabus gives a full list of the command terms used by in the exam and how you are
expected to respond. This is summarised below.
Command word Explanation
Calculate Work out from given facts, figures or information
Compare Identify/comment on similarities and/or differences
Define Give the precise meaning
Describe State the points of a topic / give the characteristics and main features
Determine Establish an answer using the information available
Evaluate Judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount or value of something
Explain Set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things evident / state why
and/or how, and support with relevant evidence
Give Produce an answer from a given source or use recall/memory
Identify Name/select/recognise
Outline Set out the main points briefly
Predict Suggest what may happen, based on available information
Sketch Make a simple freehand drawing, showing the key features, and taking care over proportions
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State Express in clear terms
Suggest Apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there is a range of valid responses,
in order to make proposals / put forward considerations
vi Cambridge IGCSE Physics Study and Revision Guide Third Edition
,Key terms
1 Motion, forces and energy
Term Definition
Acceleration of free fall, g For an object near to the surface of the Earth this is approximately constant and is
approximately 9.8 m/s2
Accuracy An accurate measurement is one that is close to its true value
Air resistance Frictional force opposing the motion of a body moving in air
Centre of gravity The point at which all the mass of an object’s weight can be considered to be
concentrated
Density The mass per unit volume
Energy Energy may be stored as kinetic, gravitational potential, chemical, elastic (strain),
nuclear, electrostatic or internal (thermal)
Equilibrium When there is no resultant force and no resultant moment on an object
Extension Change in length of a body being stretched
Friction Force which opposes one surface moving, or trying to move, over another surface
Gravitational field strength The force per unit mass
Mass A measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to an observer
Moment of a force Moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot
Non-renewable Cannot be replaced when used up
Power The work done per unit time and the energy transferred per unit time
Pressure The force per unit area
Principle of conservation of Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it is always conserved
energy
Principle of moments States when a body is in equilibrium; the sum of the clockwise moments about any
point equals the sum of the anticlockwise moments about the same point
Random error Error introduced by the person taking the measurement
Renewable Can be replaced; cannot be used up
Speed The distance travelled per unit time
Systematic error Error introduced by the measuring device
Velocity Speed in a given direction
Weight A gravitational force on an object that has mass
Work A measure of the amount of energy transferred. Work done = force × distance
moved in the direction of the force. SI unit is the joule (J)
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Acceleration Change of velocity per unit time
Deceleration A negative acceleration; velocity decreases as time increases
Efficiency (useful energy output/total energy input) × 100%
(useful power output/total power input) × 100%
Impulse Force × time for which force acts
Limit of proportionality The point at which the load–extension graph becomes non-linear
Momentum Mass × velocity
Principle of conservation of When two or more bodies interact, the total momentum of the bodies remains
momentum constant provided no external forces act
© Mike Folland and Catherine Jones 2022 1
, 1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques
Term Definition
Resultant force The rate of change in momentum per unit time
Resultant vector A single vector that has the same effect as the two vectors combined
Scalar A quantity with magnitude only
Spring constant Force per unit extension
Terminal velocity Constant velocity reached when the air resistance upwards equals the downward
weight of the falling body
Vector A quantity which has both magnitude and direction
1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques
Key objectives
l l
l l
Each time you measure a quantity you are trying to find its true value.
How close you get to the true value is described as the accuracy of the
measurement.
Length
correct wrong
object
Figure 1.1 The correct way to measure with a ruler
Length is the distance from one end of an object to the other. It is
measured using a ruler. To measure length accurately your eye must be
perpendicular to the mark on the ruler you are trying to read. This avoids
parallax (see Figure 1.1).
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Most rulers have millimetre markings. They give values to the nearest mm.
For example, if you have to measure a small distance of 4 mm you only
know the value to 4 ± 1 mm. To improve this measurement, you measure
multiple distances and find an average distance.
Volume
Volume is the amount of space occupied. Figure 1.2 shows how to measure meniscus
volume using a measuring cylinder. You measure the volume of a liquid by
looking at the level of the bottom of the meniscus (see Figure 1.2). (For
mercury, you should look at the level of the top of the meniscus.)
Figure 1.2 The correct way to
Measuring cylinders often measure in millilitres. Remember 1 ml = 1 cm3. measure a volume of liquid
2 Cambridge IGCSE Physics Study and Revision Guide Third Edition
