The Physics Question Bank

Turn each topic into one mind map. Below, every topic tells you exactly what goes in the centre, on each main branch and on the smaller branches. ← Fill the gaps

Jump to: Energy · Electricity · Particle model · Atomic structure · Forces · Waves · Magnetism · Space

Energy

Centre: ENERGY

1. Stores and transfers: the 8 stores (kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential, thermal, chemical, magnetic, electrostatic, nuclear) · 4 ways to transfer (work done by a force, electrically, heating, radiation) · closed system = no net change in total energy
2. Energy equations: E_k = ½mv² · E_p = mgh · E_e = ½ke² (with units) · double the speed → 4 × the kinetic energy
3. Specific heat capacity: definition (energy to raise 1 kg by 1 °C) · ΔE = mcΔθ · required practical (joulemeter, thermometer, insulation)
4. Power: rate of energy transfer · P = E ÷ t and P = W ÷ t · 1 W = 1 J/s
5. Wasted energy: conservation of energy · dissipated → heats the surroundings · reduce with lubrication and insulation · thicker walls with lower thermal conductivity cool more slowly
6. Efficiency: useful output ÷ total input (energy or power) · never more than 1 (100%)
7. Energy resources: list of renewable and non-renewable · one advantage and one disadvantage for each · reliable vs unreliable · CO₂ → climate change; SO₂ → acid rain

Electricity

Centre: ELECTRICITY

1. Current, charge and p.d.: Q = It · V = IR · ammeter in series, voltmeter in parallel · sketch the main circuit symbols
2. Components and I–V graphs: sketch the graph for a resistor, filament lamp and diode · thermistor (resistance falls as temperature rises) · LDR (resistance falls as light increases) · required practicals: I–V characteristics and resistance of a wire
3. Series and parallel: the rule for current, p.d. and total resistance in each
4. Mains electricity: a.c. vs d.c. · 230 V, 50 Hz · live (brown), neutral (blue), earth (green/yellow) and the job of each · why touching the live wire is dangerous
5. Power and energy: P = VI · P = I²R · E = Pt · E = QV · what a power rating means
6. National Grid: step-up (p.d. up, current down, less heating loss) · step-down (safe for homes)
7. ★ Static electricity (S): rubbing transfers electrons · like charges repel, unlike attract · electric fields (sketch one) · sparks

Particle model of matter

Centre: PARTICLE MODEL

1. States and density: particle diagrams for solid, liquid and gas · ρ = m ÷ V · required practical (regular solid, irregular solid with a eureka can, liquid)
2. Internal energy: total kinetic + potential energy of the particles · heating raises the temperature OR changes the state
3. Changes of state: melting, freezing, boiling, evaporating, condensing, sublimating · physical and reversible · mass is conserved · sketch a heating graph showing the flat sections
4. Specific heat capacity and latent heat: ΔE = mcΔθ · E = mL · latent heat of fusion vs vaporisation · how SHC and latent heat differ
5. Gas pressure: random motion · collisions with walls → force → pressure · hotter → faster particles → more frequent, harder collisions → higher pressure
6. ★ Pressure and volume (S): pV = constant · ★ HT: doing work on a gas raises its temperature (bicycle pump)

Atomic structure

Centre: ATOMIC STRUCTURE

1. The atom: radius about 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ m · nucleus (protons + neutrons) · electrons in energy levels · absorb EM radiation → move up; emit → move down
2. Numbers and isotopes: atomic number · mass number · isotopes · ions
3. History of the model: timeline: tiny spheres → plum pudding → alpha scattering (nuclear model) → Bohr (energy levels) → protons → Chadwick (neutrons) · models change when new evidence doesn’t fit
4. Types of radiation: a mini table for alpha, beta, gamma: what it is · how ionising · range in air · what stops it
5. Decay equations: alpha (mass −4, atomic −2) · beta (mass same, atomic +1) · gamma (no change) · one worked example of each
6. Half-life: definition · activity (Bq) and count-rate · fraction left after 1, 2 and 3 half-lives · ★ HT: net decline
7. Safety: contamination vs irradiation · precautions (distance, shielding, time) · peer review
8. ★ Separate only: background radiation and dose (sieverts) · medical uses (tracers, radiotherapy) · fission and chain reactions · fusion

Forces

Centre: FORCES

1. Scalars and vectors: definitions with 3 examples of each · contact vs non-contact forces
2. Weight and resultant force: W = mg · centre of mass · resultant force · ★ HT: free body diagrams and resolving forces
3. Work done and springs: W = Fs · F = ke · elastic vs inelastic deformation · limit of proportionality · sketch a force–extension graph · required practical (springs)
4. ★ Moments, levers and gears (S): M = Fd · balanced: clockwise = anticlockwise · levers as force multipliers · gears
5. ★ Pressure (S): p = F ÷ A · ★ HT: p = hρg · upthrust and floating · atmospheric pressure decreases with height
6. Motion: s = vt · typical speeds (walking, cycling, car, sound) · distance–time graphs (gradient = speed) · a = Δv ÷ t · velocity–time graphs (gradient = acceleration, area = distance) · v² − u² = 2as
7. Newton’s laws: all three laws · F = ma · ★ HT: inertia · required practical (acceleration) · terminal velocity with a sketch of the skydiver’s graph
8. Stopping distance: thinking + braking · three factors for each · braking energy transfer (kinetic → thermal) · measuring reaction time with a ruler
9. ★ Momentum (HT): p = mv · conservation of momentum · safety features · ★ S: F = mΔv ÷ Δt

Waves

Centre: WAVES

1. Types of wave: transverse vs longitudinal · a labelled sketch and an example of each
2. Wave properties: amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period (label them on a sketch) · v = fλ · T = 1 ÷ f · required practical (ripple tank and waves on a string)
3. Reflection and refraction: law of reflection · specular vs diffuse · refraction is caused by a change in speed · ★ HT: wavefront explanation · required practical (glass block)
4. EM spectrum: the order (Raging Martians Invaded Venus Using X-ray Guns) · all transverse · same speed in a vacuum · wavelength and frequency arrows
5. Uses and dangers: one use for each EM wave · dangers of UV, X-rays and gamma · ionising radiation · required practical (infrared radiation from surfaces)
6. ★ Sound, ultrasound and seismic waves (S): human hearing range · ultrasound scans and echo sounding · P-waves vs S-waves · evidence for a liquid outer core
7. ★ Lenses and light (S): convex vs concave (ray diagram for each) · real vs virtual images · magnification = image height ÷ object height · why objects look coloured
8. ★ Black body radiation (S): all bodies emit and absorb infrared · hotter → more radiation · Earth’s temperature balance

Magnetism and electromagnetism

Centre: MAGNETISM

1. Magnets: poles · attract and repel · permanent vs induced · sketch the field round a bar magnet (N → S) · compasses and the Earth’s field
2. Electromagnetism: field around a wire · solenoid (sketch its field) · electromagnet: 3 ways to make it stronger · uses
3. ★ Motor effect (HT): F = BIl · Fleming’s left-hand rule (sketch your hand) · how a motor works · ★ S: loudspeakers
4. ★ Generator effect (S, HT): induced p.d. · alternator (a.c.) vs dynamo (d.c.) with output graphs · microphones
5. ★ Transformers (S, HT): labelled sketch · how it works · step-up vs step-down · V_p/V_s = n_p/n_s · V_pI_p = V_sI_s

Space physics (S only)

Centre: SPACE

1. Solar system: Sun, 8 planets, dwarf planets, moons · natural vs artificial satellites · the Milky Way · formed from a nebula by gravity
2. Life cycle of a star: a flow chart splitting into two paths (Sun-sized and much bigger) · why a main sequence star is stable
3. Making elements: fusion makes elements up to iron · heavier elements are made in supernovae and scattered through the universe
4. ★ Orbits (HT): gravity provides the force · constant speed but changing velocity · faster → smaller orbit
5. Red-shift and the Big Bang: what red-shift is · further = faster · expanding universe · Big Bang (small, hot, dense) · dark mass and dark energy