GCSE AQA June 2025 Higher Triple Science
Physics
Name 8 energy stores - answers Thermal
Kinetic
Gravitational potential
Elastic potential
Chemical
Magnetic
Electrostatic
Nuclear
What are the four ways that energy is transferred? - answers Mechanically, electrically,
by heating, by radiation
What is a closed system? - answers Neither energy nor matter can enter or leave. The
net change in the total energy of a closed system is always zero.
What does work done mean? - answers Energy transferred
What happens to an object's g.p.e. store and kinetic energy when it falls? - answers The
object's gravitational potential energy store is transferred to its kinetic energy store.
What is the equation for kinetic energy? - answers Kinetic energy = 0.5 x mass x
(velocity)^2
What is the equation for gravitational potential energy? - answers Gravitational potential
energy = mass x gravitational field strength x height
What is specific heat capacity? - answers The amount of energy needed to raise the
temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 degree C.
What is the conservation of energy principle? - answers Energy can be transferred
usefully, stored or dissipated, but can never be created or destroyed
Describe the transfer of energy in a closed system for a cold spoon and hot soup.
Assume the flask is a perfect thermal insulator. - answers Energy is transferred from the
thermal energy store of the soup to the useless thermal energy store of the spoon
(causing the soup to cool down slightly). Energy transfers have occurred within the
system, but no energy has left the system - so the net change in energy is zero.
What is power? - answers The rate of energy transfer or the rate of doing work
What is energy measured in? - answers Joules (J)
,What is power measured in? - answers watts
What is one watt? - answers 1 joule of energy transferred per second
What are the two equations for calculating power? - answers Power(W) = energy
transferred(J) / time(s)
Power(W) = work done(J) / time(s)
What is conduction? - answers conduction is the process where vibrating particles
transfer energy to neighbouring particles
How does conduction happen? - answers The thermal energy in the object causes the
particles to vibrate more and collide with each other. This causes the energy to be
transferred between particles' kinetic energy stores
In what states does convection occur? - answers Liquid and gas
What is convection? - answers Convection is where energetic particles move away from
hotter to cooler regions
How does convection happen? - answers Unlike in solids, the particles are able to
move. When you heat a region of a gas or liquid, the particles move faster and the
space between individual particles increases. This causes the density to decrease. The
warmer regions will rise above the cooler, denser regions, and the process repeats.
What do lubricants do? - answers Reduce the friction between objects' surfaces when
they move. They are usually liquids so they can flow easily between objects and coat
them.
How do you prevent energy losses through heating in a house? - answers Have thick
walls made from a material with low thermal conductivity
Use thermal insulation
Give four examples of thermal insulation and what they do - answers Cavity walls -
inner and outer wall with an air gap between them. This reduces conduction through the
walls
Loft insulation - fibreglass wool is often used as it has pockets of trapped air. It helps
convection currents from being created
Double glazed windows - two sheets of glass with an air gap between them. This
prevents conduction through the windows
Draught excluders - around doors and windows to reduce energy transfers by
convection
What 3 ways are there to improve the efficiency of energy transfers? - answers
Insulating objects
Lubricating them
,Making them more streamlined
What are the two equations for calculating efficiency? - answers Efficiency = useful
output energy transfer / total input energy power
Efficiency = useful power output / total power output
What are the three main fossil fuels? - answers Coal
Oil
(Natural) Gas
What are two disadvantages of fossil fuels? - answers They will run out
They damage the environment
What are the 7 renewable energy resources? - answers Solar
Wind
Waves
Hydro-electricity
Bio-fuel
Tides
Geothermal
What are two disadvantages of renewable energy resources? - answers Don't provide
much energy
Some are unreliable as they depend on the weather
Give some transportation methods and which energy resources they use - answers
Vehicles - petrol and diesel from oil
Steam trains - coal is used to boil water to produce steam
Vehicles - biofuels, or biofuels and petrol/diesel
How are non-renewable energy resources used for heating? - answers Natural gas is
used to heat water which is then pumped into radiators
Coal is burnt in fireplaces
Electric heaters for heating
How are renewable energy resources used for heating? - answers Geothermal pump is
used to heat buildings
Solar water heaters heat water which is then pumped into radiators in the building
Burning biofuels or using electricity from renewable resources can also be used
How does a wind turbine work? - answers The turbine turns a generator which produces
electricity
On average what percentage of the time do wind turbines produce electricity? - answers
70-85
, Give 5 disadvantages of wind turbines - answers Spoil the view
Can be very noisy
Cannot increase supply when there's extra demand
Turbines stop when there is no wind or it is too strong
Initial costs are quite high
Give 4 advantages of wind turbines - answers No pollution
No fuel costs
Minimal running costs
No permanent damage to the landscape
Where are solar cells most often used? - answers Calculators and watches
Give 4 advantages of solar cells - answers No pollution
Very reliable in sunny countries
Energy is free
Running costs are almost nil
Give 1 disadvantage of solar cells - answers Initial costs are high
Where is geothermal power possible? - answers Volcanic areas where the hot rocks lie
near to the surface
Give three advantages of geothermal power - answers Can generate electricity or heat
buildings directly
Very few environmental problems
Reliable resource
Give 2 disadvantages of geothermal power - answers There aren't very many suitable
places
The cost of building a plant is high
Give 4 advantages of hydro-electric power - answers Provides an immediate response
to an increased demand for electricity
Reliable
No fuel costs
Minimal running costs
Give 3 disadvantages of hydro-electric power - answers Possible loss of habitat
Reservoirs look unsightly
The flooding of the valley has an impact on the environment as rotting vegetation
releases methane and carbon dioxide
Give three advantages of wave power - answers No pollution
No fuel costs
Minimal running costs
Physics
Name 8 energy stores - answers Thermal
Kinetic
Gravitational potential
Elastic potential
Chemical
Magnetic
Electrostatic
Nuclear
What are the four ways that energy is transferred? - answers Mechanically, electrically,
by heating, by radiation
What is a closed system? - answers Neither energy nor matter can enter or leave. The
net change in the total energy of a closed system is always zero.
What does work done mean? - answers Energy transferred
What happens to an object's g.p.e. store and kinetic energy when it falls? - answers The
object's gravitational potential energy store is transferred to its kinetic energy store.
What is the equation for kinetic energy? - answers Kinetic energy = 0.5 x mass x
(velocity)^2
What is the equation for gravitational potential energy? - answers Gravitational potential
energy = mass x gravitational field strength x height
What is specific heat capacity? - answers The amount of energy needed to raise the
temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 degree C.
What is the conservation of energy principle? - answers Energy can be transferred
usefully, stored or dissipated, but can never be created or destroyed
Describe the transfer of energy in a closed system for a cold spoon and hot soup.
Assume the flask is a perfect thermal insulator. - answers Energy is transferred from the
thermal energy store of the soup to the useless thermal energy store of the spoon
(causing the soup to cool down slightly). Energy transfers have occurred within the
system, but no energy has left the system - so the net change in energy is zero.
What is power? - answers The rate of energy transfer or the rate of doing work
What is energy measured in? - answers Joules (J)
,What is power measured in? - answers watts
What is one watt? - answers 1 joule of energy transferred per second
What are the two equations for calculating power? - answers Power(W) = energy
transferred(J) / time(s)
Power(W) = work done(J) / time(s)
What is conduction? - answers conduction is the process where vibrating particles
transfer energy to neighbouring particles
How does conduction happen? - answers The thermal energy in the object causes the
particles to vibrate more and collide with each other. This causes the energy to be
transferred between particles' kinetic energy stores
In what states does convection occur? - answers Liquid and gas
What is convection? - answers Convection is where energetic particles move away from
hotter to cooler regions
How does convection happen? - answers Unlike in solids, the particles are able to
move. When you heat a region of a gas or liquid, the particles move faster and the
space between individual particles increases. This causes the density to decrease. The
warmer regions will rise above the cooler, denser regions, and the process repeats.
What do lubricants do? - answers Reduce the friction between objects' surfaces when
they move. They are usually liquids so they can flow easily between objects and coat
them.
How do you prevent energy losses through heating in a house? - answers Have thick
walls made from a material with low thermal conductivity
Use thermal insulation
Give four examples of thermal insulation and what they do - answers Cavity walls -
inner and outer wall with an air gap between them. This reduces conduction through the
walls
Loft insulation - fibreglass wool is often used as it has pockets of trapped air. It helps
convection currents from being created
Double glazed windows - two sheets of glass with an air gap between them. This
prevents conduction through the windows
Draught excluders - around doors and windows to reduce energy transfers by
convection
What 3 ways are there to improve the efficiency of energy transfers? - answers
Insulating objects
Lubricating them
,Making them more streamlined
What are the two equations for calculating efficiency? - answers Efficiency = useful
output energy transfer / total input energy power
Efficiency = useful power output / total power output
What are the three main fossil fuels? - answers Coal
Oil
(Natural) Gas
What are two disadvantages of fossil fuels? - answers They will run out
They damage the environment
What are the 7 renewable energy resources? - answers Solar
Wind
Waves
Hydro-electricity
Bio-fuel
Tides
Geothermal
What are two disadvantages of renewable energy resources? - answers Don't provide
much energy
Some are unreliable as they depend on the weather
Give some transportation methods and which energy resources they use - answers
Vehicles - petrol and diesel from oil
Steam trains - coal is used to boil water to produce steam
Vehicles - biofuels, or biofuels and petrol/diesel
How are non-renewable energy resources used for heating? - answers Natural gas is
used to heat water which is then pumped into radiators
Coal is burnt in fireplaces
Electric heaters for heating
How are renewable energy resources used for heating? - answers Geothermal pump is
used to heat buildings
Solar water heaters heat water which is then pumped into radiators in the building
Burning biofuels or using electricity from renewable resources can also be used
How does a wind turbine work? - answers The turbine turns a generator which produces
electricity
On average what percentage of the time do wind turbines produce electricity? - answers
70-85
, Give 5 disadvantages of wind turbines - answers Spoil the view
Can be very noisy
Cannot increase supply when there's extra demand
Turbines stop when there is no wind or it is too strong
Initial costs are quite high
Give 4 advantages of wind turbines - answers No pollution
No fuel costs
Minimal running costs
No permanent damage to the landscape
Where are solar cells most often used? - answers Calculators and watches
Give 4 advantages of solar cells - answers No pollution
Very reliable in sunny countries
Energy is free
Running costs are almost nil
Give 1 disadvantage of solar cells - answers Initial costs are high
Where is geothermal power possible? - answers Volcanic areas where the hot rocks lie
near to the surface
Give three advantages of geothermal power - answers Can generate electricity or heat
buildings directly
Very few environmental problems
Reliable resource
Give 2 disadvantages of geothermal power - answers There aren't very many suitable
places
The cost of building a plant is high
Give 4 advantages of hydro-electric power - answers Provides an immediate response
to an increased demand for electricity
Reliable
No fuel costs
Minimal running costs
Give 3 disadvantages of hydro-electric power - answers Possible loss of habitat
Reservoirs look unsightly
The flooding of the valley has an impact on the environment as rotting vegetation
releases methane and carbon dioxide
Give three advantages of wave power - answers No pollution
No fuel costs
Minimal running costs
