Forces and Matter | Edexcel GCSE Physics, Foundation tier (1PH0)
Forces and Matter
- 78 questions
- 6 subtopics
- Paper 2
- Paper 2
Forces and Matter is examined in Paper 2, Physics 2.
It covers elastic and inelastic distortion, spring constant, and linear and non-linear behaviour, work done in stretching a spring, atmospheric pressure and pressure in a fluid, force, area and pressure and calculating pressure, and how pressure varies with depth.
Sample questions from Forces and Matter
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Elastic and inelastic distortion
Describe the forces needed to bend a metre rule that is supported at both ends.
Show the answer
An upward force at each end together with a downward force in the middle, acting in opposing directions. -
Elastic and inelastic distortion
Give one everyday example of an elastic distortion.
Show the answer
Stretching a rubber band, which springs back to its original length when released. -
Spring constant, and linear and non-linear behaviour
A force of 12 N stretches a spring by 0.040 m. Calculate the spring constant.
Show the answer
Spring constant = 12 ÷ 0.040 = 300 N/m. -
Spring constant, and linear and non-linear behaviour
Describe how a graph of force against extension changes once the behaviour of a spring becomes non-linear.
Show the answer
The line curves away from the straight part instead of continuing straight. -
Work done in stretching a spring
State the independent and dependent variables when investigating how the extension of a spring depends on the applied force.
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The force applied is the independent variable and the extension is the dependent variable. -
Work done in stretching a spring
Describe how to choose the scales when plotting a graph of experimental results.
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Choose scales that make the plotted points fill at least half the grid in each direction, using simple steps such as 1, 2 or 5 per square. -
Atmospheric pressure and pressure in a fluid
Explain why the cabin of an aircraft is pressurised when it flies at high altitude.
Show the answer
Atmospheric pressure outside is very low there, so the cabin must be held at a higher pressure for people to breathe comfortably. -
Atmospheric pressure and pressure in a fluid
Describe what happens to the total pressure on a diver as they swim deeper into the sea.
Show the answer
It increases, because the weight of water above them grows while atmospheric pressure stays the same.
The 6 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Elastic and inelastic distortion | Why more than one force is needed to stretch, compress or bend an object, the difference between elastic and inelastic distortion with examples, and the elastic limit. | 11 |
| Spring constant, and linear and non-linear behaviour | Force = spring constant × extension and the unit N/m, calculating force, spring constant and extension, stiff springs, linear and non-linear force–extension graphs, the limit of proportionality, and the intercept of a length–force graph. | 14 |
| Work done in stretching a spring | Energy transferred = 0.5 × spring constant × extension² with calculations, the elastic potential store, investigating spring extension, spring constant and work done from a graph, and results tables, scales, lines of best fit, anomalies, hypotheses and safety. | 21 |
| Atmospheric pressure and pressure in a fluid | Why atmospheric pressure and density fall with height, pressurised aircraft cabins and the atmosphere's lack of an edge, and total pressure in a fluid as liquid pressure plus atmospheric pressure in lakes, pools and the sea. | 10 |
| Force, area and pressure | Why fluid pressure acts at right angles to every surface, from tank walls to a submarine hull and a swimmer's ears, and how spreading or concentrating a force changes the pressure. | 10 |
| Calculating pressure, and how pressure varies with depth | Pressure = force normal to the surface ÷ area of the surface, the pascal, calculating pressure, force and area, and how liquid pressure rises with depth and density, as in mercury and at the base of a dam. | 12 |
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
Edexcel GCSE Physics, Foundation tier Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 1,778 questions with their answers.