Energy | AQA GCSE Physics, Higher tier (8463)
Energy
- 158 questions
- 8 subtopics
- Paper 1
- Paper 1
Energy is examined in Physics Paper 1.
It covers energy stores and systems, kinetic energy, elastic and gravitational potential energy, energy changes in systems, power, energy transfers in a system, the main energy resources, renewable and non-renewable and environmental impact and trends in energy use.
Sample questions from Energy
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Energy stores and systems
A ball thrown straight upwards is momentarily at rest at the top of its path. State where its energy is stored at that instant.
Show the answer
In its gravitational potential store. -
Kinetic energy
A cricket ball of mass 0.15 kg is bowled at 40 m/s. Calculate its kinetic energy.
Show the answer
Eₖ = ½ × 0.15 × 40² = 120 J. -
Elastic and gravitational potential energy
A spring stores 2.5 J of elastic potential energy when it is extended by 0.5 m. Calculate its spring constant.
Show the answer
k = 2 × 2.5 ÷ 0.5² = 20 N/m. -
Energy changes in systems
6300 J of energy is transferred to 0.5 kg of water of specific heat capacity 4200 J/kg °C. Calculate the rise in temperature.
Show the answer
Δθ = 6300 ÷ (0.5 × 4200) = 3 °C. -
Power
State the equation for power in terms of work done and time.
Show the answer
Power = work done ÷ time, or P = W ÷ t. -
Energy transfers in a system
Explain how thermal insulation in the walls of a house reduces unwanted energy transfers.
Show the answer
The insulation has a low thermal conductivity, so energy is transferred through the walls by conduction more slowly. -
The main energy resources, renewable and non-renewable
Name the energy resource that is grown as a crop or produced from plant and animal waste.
Show the answer
Bio-fuel. -
Environmental impact and trends in energy use
State one environmental impact of a tidal barrage.
Show the answer
It alters the estuary habitat and harms the animals and plants that live there.
The 8 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Energy stores and systems | What a system is and what happens to its energy when it changes, the changes in energy stores when a ball is thrown upwards, a car hits a wall, a trolley accelerates, a cyclist brakes and a kettle boils, changing a system by heating, by work done by a force and by a current, and energy diagrams drawn to a common scale. | 19 |
| Kinetic energy | The two quantities that decide kinetic energy, the kinetic energy equation in words and symbols with calculations of energy, speed and mass, the effect of doubling speed or mass, its units, and elastic potential energy in a stretched spring or catapult with its equation. | 19 |
| Elastic and gravitational potential energy | When the elastic potential energy equation can be used and the limit of proportionality, the units of energy, spring constant and extension with calculations, gravitational potential energy and the quantities that decide it, its equation in words and symbols, and calculating energy, height and mass with a gravitational field strength of 9.8 N/kg. | 20 |
| Energy changes in systems | The equation for the energy stored or released when temperature changes, calculating energy, mass, specific heat capacity and temperature rise, the units in the thermal energy equation, comparing specific heat capacities, and the practical to find the specific heat capacity of a metal block using an immersion heater, insulation and a drop of oil. | 21 |
| Power | What power is and how it differs from energy transferred, power in terms of energy transferred and time and of work done and time with calculations, converting kilojoules and minutes into joules and seconds, one watt as one joule per second, and comparing motors and kettles of different power. | 19 |
| Energy transfers in a system | Conservation of energy and closed systems, dissipated energy and why it is wasted, reducing unwanted transfers with lubrication and thermal insulation, how thermal conductivity and wall thickness affect how quickly a building cools, and the practical comparing materials as thermal insulators with its variables and results. | 26 |
| The main energy resources, renewable and non-renewable | The non-renewable resources and the three fossil fuels, the renewable resources including bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun and water waves, what makes a resource renewable, the main uses of energy resources for electricity, transport and heating, and how reliable wind, solar, gas and nuclear resources are. | 17 |
| Environmental impact and trends in energy use | The environmental impact of fossil fuels, nuclear fuel, hydro-electricity, wind turbines, bio-fuel, tidal barrages and solar cells, trends in the use of renewables, coal and total world energy, the move to electric cars, and why economic and social factors limit what science can do about environmental issues. | 17 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA GCSE Physics, Higher tier Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 1,495 questions with their answers.