Two ways are suggested in GCSE Physics for measuring the specific heat capacity of a material. I have already explained the electrical method (see here) but it looks likely, from the advanced information supplied by AQA, that the other method will feature in this summer's Trilogy physics examination. So here's what you need to know … Continue reading Specific Heat Capacity and Energy Stores
Ohm’s Law
Potential difference (voltage) and current are fundamental measurements for electric circuits. Multiply the potential difference across a device by the current flowing through it to get the power rating for that device.Multiply the power rating by the time for which the device is used to get the energy that the device has transferred. All of … Continue reading Ohm’s Law
Resources for Electricity Generation
In school we talk about different ways to generate electricity as a potential exam topic but it's much, much more important than that. Russia's war with Ukraine has brought this fact sharply into focus as people start talking about a boycott of Russian oil and gas. At the same time, the UK is phasing-out its … Continue reading Resources for Electricity Generation
Changes of State
Despite having previously examined a phase-change diagram in detail (here) I haven't yet covered the particle model and how it links to different states of matter. So that topic, which is relevant for both chemistry and physics, is the focus of this article. First let's clarify the terminology... we will be confining ourselves to the … Continue reading Changes of State
Energy Revision – new resource
Energy stores and transfers are one of the really big ideas in physics and this is also a topic that AQA has announced will be in Paper 1 for the Trilogy examination this month. With that in mind, I have created a new revision resource that you can use to check your knowledge and understanding. … Continue reading Energy Revision – new resource
Properties of EM Waves
Electromagnetic (EM) waves are generated by the movement of electrons. In an electric circuit, visible light can be generated when electrons (a current) move through a lamp. Electric circuits can also generate infra-red waves (TV remote controls), microwaves (ovens), x-rays (medical scanners) and radio waves (aircraft ground-to-air communications). These different types of EM waves have … Continue reading Properties of EM Waves
Energy Budget
It is well known that darker surfaces heat up faster than lighter surfaces and reach a higher maximum temperature. But why? When the maximum temperature is achieved, there is a state of thermal equilibrium that is is due to a balance between the rates at which (new) energy is being absorbed and (previously) stored energy … Continue reading Energy Budget
EM Waves: Uses and Dangers
Different EM waves are used for different applications, which you are expected to be able to recall and explain. We will go through some of these uses in this article, which is unavoidably long as there is a lot of information to cover. Your exam preparation should therefore involve making summary notes from the wealth … Continue reading EM Waves: Uses and Dangers
Energy Transfers in Electric Circuits
The amount of energy transferred in an electric circuit can be calculated by multiplying the current, time and potential difference. This is expressed in the equation given below. Current is measured in amps (amperes), time is in seconds, and potential difference in volts. Remember that the symbol for current is the letter I - not … Continue reading Energy Transfers in Electric Circuits
Molar Heat Capacity
There is a required practical in GCSE Physics courses, including Trilogy, that involves calculating the specific heat capacity of different metal blocks. This is done by measuring the energy supplied (using voltage, current and time) and monitoring the temperature increase. You are expected to recall this experiment and be able to suggest how it could … Continue reading Molar Heat Capacity
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