ABSTRACT
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS Forces and Motion 5 Measuring and describing motion 5 Motion graphs 6 Equations of motion 8 Describing forces 9 Balanced forces – Newton’s first law 10 Unbalanced forces – Newton’s second law 11 Gravitational forces 12 Terminal velocity 13 Projectiles 14 Newton’s third law 15 Momentum and force (Newton’s laws revisited) 16 Momentum conservation and collisions 17 Motion in circles and centripetal forces 19 Moments and stability 20 Energy 21 Types of energy and energy transfers 21 Energy conservation 22 Work done and energy transfer 23 Power 24 Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy 25 Energy calculations 26 Efficiency and the dissipation of energy 27
TRANSFER OF ENERGY Waves 28 Describing waves 28 Wave speed 29 Electromagnetic waves 30 How electromagnetic waves travel 31 Absorption, reflection and transmission of
electromagnetic waves 32 The Earth’s atmosphere and electromagnetic
radiation 33 Uses of electromagnetic waves, including laser
light 34 Dangers of electromagnetic waves 35 Reflection, refraction and total internal reflection 36 Refractive index and dispersion 38 Diffraction and interference 39 Polarization and photon model of light 40 Seismic waves and the structure of the Earth 41 Sound waves 42 Electrical Energy 43 Static electricity 43 Electric currents 44 Potential difference and electrical energy 45 Energy transfers in series and parallel circuits 46 Resistance 47 Electrical measurements and Ohm’s Law 48 Power in (Ohmic) electrical circuits 49 Properties of some electrical components 50 Potential dividers 52
Electrical cells, alternating and direct current 53 Diodes, rectification and capacitors 54 Mains electricity and wiring 55 Electrical safety 56 Electron beams 57 Magnetic Fields 58 Magnetic fields and the Earth’s magnetic field 58 Electromagnetism and the motor effect 59 Thermal Energy 60 Heat and temperature – what is the difference? 60 Temperature scales 60 Specific and latent heat 61 Heat transfer 1 – conduction 62 Heat transfer 2 – convection 62 Heat transfer 3 – radiation 63 Reducing energy wastage in our homes 64 Kinetic model of gases 65 Gas laws 66 Radioactivity 67 Atomic structure 67 What is radioactivity? 67 A history of our understanding of the atom 68 Background radiation 69 Three types of nuclear radiation 70 Radioactive decay and equations 71 N/Z curve 72 Fundamental particles 73 Half-life 74 Is radiation dangerous? 76 Nuclear fission 77 Nuclear fusion 78
APPLICATIONS OF PHYSICS How science works 79 The Supply and Use of Electrical Energy 80 Examples of energy transformations involving
electrical devices and the impact of electricity on society 80
What influences the energy resources we use? 81 Electricity generation (electromagnetic induction) 82 How power stations work 84 The transformer 85 The national grid 86 The environmental impact of electricity generation 87 Renewable energy resources 88 Calculating the cost of the electrical energy we use 90 The motor and dynamo 91 Logic gates 92 Electricity and the human body 94 Transport 95 Stopping distances 95 Road safety 96 Waves and Communications 97 Using waves to communicate 97 Analogue and digital signals 98 AM/FM radio transmission 99
Images and ray diagrams 101 Mirrors and lenses, images 102 Optical fibres 104 Ultrasound and its applications 105 Uses of electron beams 106 Beams of light – CDs and relativity 107 Radioactivity 108 How is nuclear radiation used in hospitals? 108 Other uses of radioactivity 109 Radioactive dating 110 Nuclear power and weapons 111 Radioactive waste 112 Our Place in the Universe 113 Geological processes 113 The Solar System 114
the Universe 115
The motion of objects in the sky 116 Exploring space 117 Forces in the Solar System 118 The structure of the Universe 119 The Sun 120 Stars and their spectra 121 The life story of a star 122 How did the Solar System form? 124 The expanding Universe 125
APPENDICES Formulae 127
