Forces and Matter | Edexcel GCSE Physics, Higher tier (1PH0)
Forces and Matter
- 108 questions
- 8 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, calculating pressure, and how pressure varies with depth, pressure in liquids: density and depth and upthrust, floating and sinking.
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. -
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. -
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.
Show the answer
The force applied is the independent variable and the extension is the dependent variable. -
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. -
Force, area and pressure
Explain why a swimmer under water feels the water pressing on their ears whichever way they turn their head.
Show the answer
The pressure in a fluid causes a force normal to each surface, so the ears are pressed on in any orientation. -
Calculating pressure, and how pressure varies with depth
Calculate the force produced by a pressure of 50 000 Pa acting on an area of 0.0040 m².
Show the answer
Force = 50 000 × 0.0040 = 200 N. -
Pressure in liquids: density and depth
Explain why the pressure at the base of a narrow tube holding water 2 m tall equals the pressure at the base of a wide tank of water 2 m deep.
Show the answer
Both have the same height of liquid of the same density above the base. -
Upthrust, floating and sinking
Explain why the upthrust on an object grows as it is pushed further into a liquid until it is fully immersed.
Show the answer
More of the object is surrounded by liquid, so a greater volume of liquid is pushed aside.
The 8 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 |
| Pressure in liquids: density and depth | Why liquid pressure rises with depth and density but not with container width, jets from holes at different heights, divers in sea and fresh water, pressure = height × density × gravitational field strength with calculations, and adding atmospheric pressure. | 13 |
| Upthrust, floating and sinking | Upthrust from the pressure difference across an immersed object, stones, helium balloons and ships, upthrust as the weight of fluid displaced with a calculation, the conditions for floating and sinking, and how fluid density affects floating. | 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
Edexcel GCSE Physics, Higher tier Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,063 questions with their answers.