Complete physics summary notes for EDEXCEL International GCSE Specification
Forces and Motion
1. Movement and position ( with exam style worked examples)
* The relationships with speed, distance, time , displacement, velocity and acceleration.
* The motion graphs
2. Forces, stopping distance, changing the shape , momentum and moment (with exam style
worked examples)
* The relationship with force , mass and acceleration and related graphs
* Stopping distance and controlling speed
* Changing the shape of wires and helical springs
* Momentum and car safety
* Moment
Movement and position
Definitions and units:
Speed:Speed is the distance travelled in unit time.
Speed is a scalar quantity.
average speed=v
distance moved = s
time taken = t
Unit: m/s or ms-1 ( metre/second)
Velocity: Velocity is the distance travelled in unit time in a stated direction.
Velocity is a vector quantity.
Unit: m/s or ms-1 ( metre/second)
Distance: Distance between any points.
Distance is a scalar quantity.
Unit: metres (m)
,Complete physics summary notes for EDEXCEL International GCSE Specification
Displacement:Distance moved in a stated direction is called the displacement.
Displacement is a vector quantity.
Unit: metres (m)
Acceleration:Acceleration is the rate at which objects change their velocity.
Acceleration is a vector quantity.
acceleration = a
initial velocity = u
final velocity = v
change in velocity = (v − u )
time taken= t
Unit: m/s2 or ms-1
Deceleration:A negative acceleration is called a deceleration or retardation.
An acceleration is positive if the velocity increases and negative if it decreases. A negative
acceleration is also called a deceleration or retardation.
Distance−time graphs
The slope or gradient of a distance–time graph represents the speed of the body.
If it is a straight line, it shows the uniform or steady speed. If a body is moving with equal distance
in equal time it is known as the uniform speed.
It it is a curved line , it is non-uniform motion.
The steeper the gradient , the faster the motion.
A horizontal line means stationary.
, Complete physics summary notes for EDEXCEL International GCSE Specification
To find the gradient ( speed) of the non-uniform motion , it is drawn a tangent and find the gradient of
the asked point.
Identify the different shapes of distance time graphs.
Velocity – time graph
The slope or gradient of a velocity–time graph represents the acceleration of the body. The steeper the
gradient, the greater the acceleration.
The area under a velocity–time graph measures the distance travelled.
Forces and Motion
1. Movement and position ( with exam style worked examples)
* The relationships with speed, distance, time , displacement, velocity and acceleration.
* The motion graphs
2. Forces, stopping distance, changing the shape , momentum and moment (with exam style
worked examples)
* The relationship with force , mass and acceleration and related graphs
* Stopping distance and controlling speed
* Changing the shape of wires and helical springs
* Momentum and car safety
* Moment
Movement and position
Definitions and units:
Speed:Speed is the distance travelled in unit time.
Speed is a scalar quantity.
average speed=v
distance moved = s
time taken = t
Unit: m/s or ms-1 ( metre/second)
Velocity: Velocity is the distance travelled in unit time in a stated direction.
Velocity is a vector quantity.
Unit: m/s or ms-1 ( metre/second)
Distance: Distance between any points.
Distance is a scalar quantity.
Unit: metres (m)
,Complete physics summary notes for EDEXCEL International GCSE Specification
Displacement:Distance moved in a stated direction is called the displacement.
Displacement is a vector quantity.
Unit: metres (m)
Acceleration:Acceleration is the rate at which objects change their velocity.
Acceleration is a vector quantity.
acceleration = a
initial velocity = u
final velocity = v
change in velocity = (v − u )
time taken= t
Unit: m/s2 or ms-1
Deceleration:A negative acceleration is called a deceleration or retardation.
An acceleration is positive if the velocity increases and negative if it decreases. A negative
acceleration is also called a deceleration or retardation.
Distance−time graphs
The slope or gradient of a distance–time graph represents the speed of the body.
If it is a straight line, it shows the uniform or steady speed. If a body is moving with equal distance
in equal time it is known as the uniform speed.
It it is a curved line , it is non-uniform motion.
The steeper the gradient , the faster the motion.
A horizontal line means stationary.
, Complete physics summary notes for EDEXCEL International GCSE Specification
To find the gradient ( speed) of the non-uniform motion , it is drawn a tangent and find the gradient of
the asked point.
Identify the different shapes of distance time graphs.
Velocity – time graph
The slope or gradient of a velocity–time graph represents the acceleration of the body. The steeper the
gradient, the greater the acceleration.
The area under a velocity–time graph measures the distance travelled.
