Physics Notes
Physics Notes
Vernier Callipers
For a time of small value a pendulum can be used where the periodic time T can
be obtained; if it takes 33s to have 20 oscillations of the pendulum then time for
one oscillation will be 33/20 (t/20) which is the period; time taken for one
complete oscillation.
Frequency is the number of cycles/oscillations in 1s.
Motion
Speed is the rate of change of distance; d/t, unit of speed is m/s
Velocity is speed in a specified direction, unit of velocity is m/s.
Speed is a scalar quantity while velocity is a vector quantity.
A scalar quantity has only magnitude while a vector quantity has both magnitude
and direction. Examples of scalar quantities are mass, distance, speed etc.
A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction. Examples of vector
quantities are displacement, velocity, force, acceleration etc.
Distance time graph diagram
Velocity time graph diagram
Area under graph gives the distance covered by the object (triangle
Equations of motion
V=U+at
V2=U2 + 2as
S=ut+1/2at2
s-distance
v- final velocity
u- initial velocity
t- time
a-acceleration
Density
This is the ratio of an objects mass to its volume
D=m/v
Its unit is g/cm3
Forces
Forces and their effects
Hooke’s law states that the force on an elastic body is directly proportional to its
extension provided its elastic limit is not exceeded
F αe
F=Ke
F- force
e-extension
k-spring or force constant
Resultant of two forces acting along the same line and at different angles
Turning effect
Moment of a force about a point is the turning effect of that force about that
point
Moment= Force x perpendicular distance of force from the pivot
Unit is Nm
Systems that use moment include spanner, see saw etc.
For a system to be equilibrium; its anticlockwise moment must be equal to its
clockwise moment
ACW=CW
F1xd1=F2xd2
Conditions for equilibrium
Anticlockwise moment must be equal to its clockwise moment
Total upward force must be equal to total downward force
Centre of mass
This is the point where the total weight of the object acts
Momentum
It is the product of the mass of an object with its velocity
Momentum= mxv
Its unit is kgm/s
Stability of objects
The wider the base of the object the more stable it is
The lower the centre of mass (closer the object to the ground) the more stable
it is.
Diagram
Energy resources
Renewable energy does not run out (solar, wind etc)
Non-renewable energy can run out eg coal, oil etc
Note that the Sun is the source of energy for all our energy resources except
Geothermal,
Nuclear and Tidal (GNT)
Tidal flow
• Tides / tidal flow named
• K.E. of water used
• Turbine / waterwheel / paddle wheel operated
• (Turbine) turns / drives a generator (that produces electricity)
Explain why the process described above can be regarded as renewable.
• Moon (and Sun) causes tides
• Moon (and Sun) permanently in place, so renewable
Explain whether the Sun is the source of the energy stored in the water in your
explanation above
• Attraction due to Moon’s (and Sun’s) gravity causes tides
• Sun is a source of (part of) the energy OR Sun is not the primary source of
energy
Waves
• Waves on surface of sea
• K.E. of water used to oscillate a floating mechanism
• Turbine / waterwheel / paddle wheel operated
• (Turbine) turns / drives a generator (that produces electricity)
Explain why the process described above can be regarded as renewable.
• Wind causes waves
• Sun causes wind, so renewable
Explain whether the Sun is the source of the energy stored in the water in your
explanation above
• Winds are air currents caused by thermal energy / heat from the Sun B1
• Sun is the source of energy
Efficiency
Work
Workdone=energy transferred
W=Fxd=Change in energy
Unit of work is the Joule or Nm
Power
Power=W/t= change in energy/time
Unit of power is J/s or Nm/s or Watts
Pressure
P=F/A
Unit is N/m2
Pressure increases with depth
Barometer
It is used to measure atmospheric pressure
The space is a vacuum (no molecules)
Atmospheric pressure is about 760mmHg or 100000Pa
Diagram
Manometer
It is used to determine the pressure of a gas
P=760+h
P=760-h
Pressure in a liquid=hpg
Thermal physics
Simple kinetic molecular model of matter
Solid particles do not move from one place to the other but they vibrate within
fixed positions because they have strong forces holding them together and this
explains why the particles have a fixed pattern.
Liquid molecules can move from one place to another because the force
between its molecules is not as strong as that of the solid, liquid molecules have
a regular pattern but can easily change which explains why liquid takes the shape
of its container.
Gas molecules are very free to move (further apart, lots of space) because there
is little or no force holding its molecules together and therefore gas molecules
have no pattern at all as they are always moving along straight lines and in high
speeds, this is called Brownian motion (random motion).
Note the faster the molecules of a gas the higher the temperature of the gas
because the molecules collide more often.
Evaporation
It is the escape of more-energetic molecules from the surface of a liquid
Factors affecting the rate of evaporation
The higher the temperature the higher the rate of evaporation; more molecules
will have enough energy to escape
The lower the humidity the higher the rate of evaporation; ----- molecules move
from a crowded area to a less crowded area.
The higher the wind speed the higher the rate of evaporation; more molecules
will be given energy to escape
The larger the surface area the higher the rate of evaporation; more molecules
will escape from the surface.
If perfume is sprayed on the skin it feels cold because heat from the body
is used to cause the perfume molecules to escape.
Pressure changes
Draw graph
PαT at constant volume
If the temperature of a fixed mass of gas is increased at constant volume, its
pressure increases because the rate of collision of molecules increases.
Draw graph
Graph
Thermal properties and temperature
Measurement of temperature
Temperature is a number that is related to the average kinetic energy of the
molecules of a substance.
Physical property that varies with temperature may be used for the
measurement of temperature
Change in length of liquid with temperature used in liquid in glass
thermometers
Change in voltage with temperature used in thermocouple.
Change in resistance with temperature used in thermistors.
Change in volume of gas with temperature used in gas thermometers.
Range
Difference between the highest and lowest temperatures
Increasing range
Long tube, wide bore, little liquid
Linearity
Linearity -distance between each degree on scale is the same, idea of equal size
divisions/expansion for equal temperature rises OR Δl / Δθ = constant OR
reference to l against θ graph straight line
Increasing linearity
Uniform bore, use alcohol/liquid expands uniformly
Thermocouple
Working of a thermocouple
Place the cold junction on a surface of known temperature (pure melting
ice)
Place the hot junction on the surface its temperature is to be measured
The temperature difference between the two surfaces produces voltage
which drives current that can be measured and calibrated.
Uses of a thermocouple
It can measure a wide range of temperatures (very high and low).
It can measure rapidly changing temperatures.
It can be connected to a computer to display results.
Heat capacity of an object is the quantity of heat that is required to raise or lower
the temperature of a substance by 10C e.g the heat capacity of oil is lower than
that of water, this explains why oil boils at a lower temperature compared to
water because more heat is required to cause water to boil compared to oil and
this is why water is used as a coolant in car radiators; for water temperature to
rise a lot of heat is removed from the car engine thereby cooling the engine.
Specific heat capacity of an object is the quantity of heat that is required to raise
or lower the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 10C.
Heat capacity=mc
m- mass of substance
c- specific heat capacity of substance; a constant for any given material e.g
specific heat capacity of water is 4200J/Kg 0C
During condensation and solidification molecules move close together and heat
is given off.
Latent heat
It is the heat given to a substance without any corresponding rise in temperature
Heating Curve
Cooling curve
Latent heat is used to break the bonds (forces) holding molecules together so
that they can break away and escape as they have gained more energy.
Specific latent heat of fusion of ice is the quantity of heat required to change 1Kg
of ice (solid) to water (liquid) at a constant temperature.
Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water or steam is the quantity of heat
required to change 1Kg of water (liquid) to steam or vapour (gas) at a constant
temperature.
Then l =VIt/m
Possible precaution
Wait until the water drops at regular intervals before reading is taken
Granulated ice cube are used to provide larger surface area and reduce amount
of air molecules.
Determining specific latent heat of vaporisation of steam
Thermal processes
Effects of Conduction
To show that water is a poor conductor
The experiment is set up as shown below
Ice cubes are forced down the test tube with the help of wire gauze (ice
floats in water)
Water is heated at the top of the test tube (heating below will produce
convection current)
It is observed that water at the top boils but ice at bottom does not melt
Conclusion is that water is not able to conduct the heat down to melt the
ice
Heated molecules at the bottom of the beaker gain heat, become less
dense and rise to the top of the liquid
Cold heavier molecules fall or sink to take up the space
This cycle of movement is called convection current
This process continues until the whole liquid is heated up.
In convection molecules move from one place to the other but in conduction
they only vibrate about a fixed position.
Radiation
Radiation is heat transfer through a vacuum
Vacuum flask
Vacuum reduces heat loss by conduction and convection because there are no
molecules in a vacuum and both of them require molecules
Silvered surface reduces heat loss by radiation by reflecting heat away from
going through the vacuum; heat can travel through vacuum by radiation.
Lid prevents heat loss by evaporation.
The thermometer reading close to the dark object is higher than that close to
the shiny object
Dark coloured objects are good absorbers of heat
Experiment to determine good emitters of heat
Experiment is set up as shown below
The thermopile reading on the side of the dark surface is higher than that close
to the shiny surface.
Dark coloured objects are good emitters of heat.
Properties of waves, including light and sound
General wave properties
Waves transfer energy but not matter that explains why ripples of water does
not carry a cork to another place as it moves from one region of the water to the
other or why a building is not moved from one place to the other as earthquake
goes through parts of the earth.
Frequency is the number of oscillations in one second and period (T) is the time
taken for one oscillation.
Wave equation
V=fλ
V=velocity
F=frequency
λ = wavelength
There are only two types of diagrams that can be drawn concerning the
converging lens
When the object is within the focal length then the diagram is shown below (the
nature of the image is always larger than the object (this is the case of a
magnifying glass), behind the object, upright (erect) and virtual)
When the object is outside the focal length then the diagram is shown below
(the image is always real and inverted, becomes smaller as you go away from
the lens)
When light moves from one medium to another its frequency stays the same but
its velocity and wavelength changes (velocity and wavelength decreases as it
moves from less dense to denser medium).
Electromagnetic spectrum
Gamma x-Ray Uv V R IR Mw TV
--------------------------------------------------------
Decreasing frequency Increasing wavelength→
Uses of Em waves
–– radio and television communications (radio
waves)
–– satellite television and telephones
(microwaves)
–– electrical appliances, remote controllers for
televisions and intruder alarms (infrared)
–– medicine and security (X-rays)
Disadvantages of em waves
Microwaves can cause damage to skin
X rays can cause mutation which can lead to cancer
Sound
Sound is made when an object vibrates and sets air molecules into motion
The harder the object the louder the sound produced (water=1500m/s,
steel=5000m/s, concrete= 3000m/s, glass 4540m/s, gold= 3240m/s air at 200=
340 m/s air at 400= 355 lead = 1210 m/s etc)
Electrical quantities
Electric charge
There are two types of charge, positive and negative
Charge is measured in coulombs (C)
Like charges repel and unlike charges attract
The direction of an electric field at a point is the direction of the force on
a positive charge at that point.
Electric field as a region in which an electric charge experiences a force
Charging by induction
When a negatively charged rod (object) is brought close to a neutral
object, the positive charges are attracted towards the rod and the
negative charges are repelled to the other end of the object as shown
in the diagram.
The object is then earthed with an earthing wire as shown in the
diagram; electrons then flow out to the earth.
The earthing wire is then removed
The rod is also removed, the object becomes positively charged.
Diagram
Energy = VIt
= VQ
V = Energy/Q or J/C (Joule per Coulomb)
1V= J/C
Resistance
This is the opposition to the flow of current in a conductor
It is measured in ohms (Ω)
R=V/I
Ohm’s Law Experiment
Ohm’s law states that voltage is directly proportional to current at
constant temperature
VαI
Graph 3
Graph 4
From graph 3 as temperature increases so does the resistance; this explains
why the graph is curved at some point.
Electrical working
Q=VIT
Q=I2Rt
Q=V2t/R
P=Q/t
P=VI
Electric circuits
Circuit diagrams
Circuit symbols
Series and parallel circuits
Total R in series=R1+R2+R3---
Total R in parallel= R1xR2/R1+R2
Combined resistance of two resistors in parallel is less than that of either
resistor by itself
The sum of the p.d.s across the components in a series circuit is equal to
the total p.d. across the supply
the current from the source is the sum of the currents in the separate
branches of a parallel circuit
Action and use of circuit components
Variable potential divider- splits or divides p.d between components in
a circuit
Diode- allows current to flow only in one direction, it also converts a.c
to d.c (rectifier)
Light dependent resistor (LDR)- its resistance decreases with high light
intensity
NAND gate
INPUT A INPUT B OUTPUT NAND OUTPUT Output is
0 0 0 1 high
0 1 0 1 provided
1 0 0 1 one input
1 1 1 0 is low
OR gate
INPUT A INPUT B OUTPUT Output is
0 0 0 high once
0 1 1 tone input
1 0 1 is high
1 1 1
NOR gate
INPUT A INPUT B OUTPUT NOR OUTPUT Output is high only
0 0 0 1 when 2 inputs is low
0 1 1 0 or output is low
1 0 1 0 provided one input is
1 1 1 0 high
Dangers of electricity
Damaged insulation can cause electric shock
Overheating of cables can cause fire outbreak
Damp conditions can cause electric shock
Fuse is used to protect electrical gadgets; it has wire of very low melting point
which melts when high current flows through a circuit.
Fuse value must be greater than the normal current through the appliance, but
as close to it as possible, so that the fuse will blow as soon as the current gets
too high. E.g a 10A kettle will require a 13A fuse.
Circuit breaker is larger than a fuse; it cuts power supply from parts of buildings
when high current develops in a part of the circuit, it uses electromagnet
principle and a relay
Note that a fuse and switch is always connected to the live wire.
Earthing of the (metal) case of electrical gadgets prevents shock.
Electromagnetic effects
Electromagnetic induction
A conductor moving across a magnetic field or a changing magnetic field
linking with a conductor can induce an e.m.f. in the conductor
The direction of an induced e.m.f. opposes the change causing it (Lenz’s
law)
Factors affecting the magnitude of an induced e.m.f.
increasing the number of turns on the coil
increasing the speed of moving the magnet
increasing the strength of the magnetic field
ELECTRIC MOTOR
It is a device that changes electrical energy into kinetic energy
It is used in drilling machines
it has a coil of wire that rotates in a magnetic field when current flows
through it
The rotation is because of the force produced when there is interference
between magnetic field and current
It has a split ring or commutator through which the current gets to the
coil
It also has brushes that make contact with the split rings
Current flows through the coil from the cell or power supply
The coil experiences a force and rotates because of the force produced
when there is interference between magnetic field and current
The magnetic field is at right angle to the current
The direction of rotation of the coil is determined using fleming’s left
hand rule
If the cell or polarity of the magnet is reversed the direction of rotation
of the coil also reverses
AC GENERATOR
It is a maximum when the coil is horizontal and cutting the magnetic field
at the fastest rate
It is zero when the coil is vertical and cutting no magnetic field
TRANSFORMER
A transformer is used to either step up or step down voltage
A step up transformer has more turns of coil on the secondary or its
output voltage is higher than the input voltage
Transformer equation
Vp/Vs=Np/Ns or Vp/Vs=Is/Ip or VpIp=VsIs or Np/Ns=Is/Ip or NpIp=NsIs
Working of a transformer
AC is input at the primary
Alternating or changing magnetic field is formed
Magnetic field is channelled by the core to the secondary
Secondary coil cuts the field
Voltage is induced
Eddy current formed in a transformer develops heat, this heat can be reduced
by laminating the core; making core into thin sheets.
The magnetic effect of a current
pattern of the magnetic field (including direction) due to currents in
straight wires and in solenoids
The direction of a magnetic field line at a point is the direction of the
force on the N pole of a magnet at that point recall that direction of an
electric field at a point is the direction of the force on a positive charge
at that point
Atomic number=11
Number of protons=11
Number of electrons=11
Nucleon number=23 (Mass number, atomic mass)
Number of neutrons=12
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with same atomic number but
different number of neutrons; they have different number of neutrons.
1
H, 2H, 3H
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b25g4nZTHvM
https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/season/399589
As the earth spins on its axis, producing night and day, it also moves
about the sun in an elliptical (elongated circle) orbit that requires about
365 1/4 days to complete. The earth's spin axis is tilted with respect to
its orbital plane. This is what causes the seasons.
The span of time between one new Moon and the next is called a lunar
cycle, lunation, lunar month, or synodic month and on average lasts for
29.53059 days. This translates to 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 3
seconds; this explains the periodic nature of the Moon’s cycle of
Phases.
6.1.2 The Solar System
The Solar System contains one star, the Sun, the eight planets (Mars,
Venus, Earth, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto)
Minor planets that orbit the Sun (include dwarf planets such as Pluto
and asteroids in the asteroid belt), moons (that orbit the planets),
smaller Solar System bodies (including comets) and natural satellites.
The four planets nearest the Sun are rocky and small
and the four planets furthest from the Sun are
gaseous and large.
Most astronomical objects, such as galaxies, stars, and planets, are
formed by accretion processes. Accretion is the accumulation of
particles into a massive object by gravitationally attracting more matter,
typically gaseous matter, in an accretion disk.
Accretion theory explains how planets formed from the gas, dust, and
ice revolving around an early sun forming an accretion disc. The dust
collected into clumps and would stick together due to gravitational
forces. An interstellar cloud is generally an accumulation of gas, plasma,
and dust in our and other galaxies.
The planets, minor planets and comets have elliptical orbits, and the Sun
is not at the centre of the elliptical orbit, except when the orbit is
approximately circular.
PLANETARY DATA
6.2.2 Stars
The Milky Way is one of many billions of galaxies making up the Universe
and that the diameter of the Milky Way is approximately
100000 light-years.
Redshift is the increase in the observed wavelength of electromagnetic
radiation emitted from receding stars and galaxies.
The light emitted from distant galaxies appears redshifted in comparison
with light emitted on the Earth.
Redshift in the light from distant galaxies is evidence that the Universe
is expanding and supports the Big Bang Theory.
Microwave radiation of a specific frequency is observed at all points in
space around us and is known as cosmic microwave
background radiation (CMBR).
The CMBR was produced shortly after the Universe was formed and that
this radiation has been expanded into the microwave region of the
electromagnetic spectrum as the Universe expanded.
The speed v at which a galaxy is moving away from the Earth can be
found from the change in wavelength of the galaxy’s starlight due to
redshift.
The distance of a far galaxy d can be determined using the brightness of
a supernova in that galaxy.
The Hubble constant H0 as the ratio of the speed at which the galaxy is
moving away from the Earth to its distance from the Earth; recall and
use the equation H0 = v/d
The current estimate for H0 is 2.2 × 10–18 per second
The equation d/v = 1/H0 represents an estimate for the age of the
Universe and that this is evidence for the idea that all the matter in the
Universe was present at a single point.
Quantity Mercu Venus Earth Mars Jupite Saturn Uranu Neptu Pluto
ry r s ne
Mean distance from sun 57.9 108.2 149.6 227.9 778.6 1,433. 2,872. 4,495. 5,906.
(106km) 50 50 10 40
Orbital speed, km/s 47.4 35 29.8 24.1 13.1 9.7 6.81 5.43 4.74
Density (water = 1) 5.427 5.243 5.514 3.933 1.326 0.687 1.271 1.638 2.095