The Physics Question Bank

← All topics  |  Particle model topic page  |  Key: C+S = Combined and Separate · S only = Separate only · HT = Higher only  |  🔍 = see example pictures (Google Images, SafeSearch on)

Lesson 1 – States of matter and density (C+S)

1. Read: States of Matter → the table comparing solids, liquids and gases.
2. Copy notes: States of Matter → the “✏️ Copy into your book” box.
3. Copy definitions: Particle Model topic page → Key definitions → 1 “What is density?” and 2 “Why is a gas much less dense than a solid?”
4. Copy worked example: States of Matter → Q6 (density of a wax block, with FIFA working).
5. Draw: Key Diagrams: Particle Model → diagram 30 (particles in a solid, liquid and gas) 🔍.
6. Practise: States of Matter → Q1–Q5 and Q7.

Lesson 2 – Density required practical (C+S)

1. Read: Required practical: Density → the method and variables, and watch the video.
2. Draw: Key Diagrams: Particle Model → diagram 31 (eureka can) 🔍.
3. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Particle Model → passage 1 (states of matter and density) and passage 2 (measuring density).
4. Practise: Required practical: Density → the exam-style questions, then Density: ρ = m/V → Q1–Q5.
5. Extension: Density: ρ = m/V → Q6–Q10.

Lesson 3 – Internal energy and changes of state (C+S)

1. Read and copy notes: Internal Energy and Changes of State → the “✏️ Copy into your book” box and the “Heating and cooling curves” notes.
2. Copy definitions: Particle Model topic page → Key definitions → 3 “What is internal energy?”, 4 “What happens to the internal energy when a substance is heated?” and 8 “Why is a change of state called a physical change?”
3. Draw: Key Diagrams: Particle Model → diagram 32 (heating curve for water) 🔍 and diagram 33 (cooling curve for wax) 🔍.
4. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Particle Model → passage 3 (internal energy), passage 7 (heating and cooling curves) and passage 8 (naming changes of state).
5. Practise: Internal Energy and Changes of State → Q1–Q3 and Q6.

Lesson 4 – Specific heat capacity (C+S)

This is part of the Particle Model section of the AQA specification, but on this site it sits with the Energy pages.

1. Copy definition: Energy topic page → Key definitions → 8 “What is the specific heat capacity of a substance?”
2. Copy worked example: Specific heat capacity: ΔE = mcΔθ → Q1 and its FIFA solution.
3. Read: Required practical: Specific heat capacity.
4. Draw: Key Diagrams: Energy → diagram 5 (specific heat capacity practical) 🔍 and diagram 6 (temperature vs energy supplied graph) 🔍.
5. Practise: Specific heat capacity: ΔE = mcΔθ → Q2–Q10.

Lesson 5 – Specific latent heat (C+S)

1. Copy definitions: Particle Model topic page → Key definitions → 5 “What is specific latent heat?”, 6 “Fusion vs vaporisation” and 7 “Specific heat capacity vs specific latent heat”.
2. Copy worked example: Internal Energy and Changes of State → Q5 (energy needed to melt 0.50 kg of ice).
3. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Particle Model → passage 4 (specific latent heat) and passage 9 (heat capacity or latent heat?).
4. Practise: Internal Energy and Changes of State → Q4 and Q7, then Specific latent heat: E = mL → Q1–Q10.
5. Mixed practice: Particle model – which equation?

Lesson 6 – Gas pressure (C+S; parts S only)

1. Read and copy notes: Gas Pressure → the first “✏️ Copy into your book” box.
2. Copy definitions: Particle Model topic page → Key definitions → 9 “How do gas particles create pressure?”, 10 “How is the temperature of a gas related to its particles?” and 11 “Why does the pressure increase when a sealed gas is heated?”
3. Draw: Key Diagrams: Particle Model → diagram 34 (gas particles hitting the walls) 🔍 and diagram 35 (sealed can before and after heating) 🔍.
4. Fill the gaps: Fill the gaps: Particle Model → passage 5 (gas pressure and temperature).
5. Practise: Gas Pressure → Q1–Q4.
6. (S only) Read Gas Pressure → “Changing the volume”. Copy definition 12 from the topic page. Copy the worked example Gas Pressure → Q5 (new pressure after compressing a gas). Draw diagram 36 (pressure vs volume graph) 🔍. Complete passage 6. Practise: Gas Pressure → Q6, then Gases: pV = constant → Q1–Q10.
7. (S only, HT) Read Gas Pressure → “Doing work on a gas” and copy its box. Copy definition 13 from the topic page. Draw diagram 37 (bicycle pump) 🔍. Practise: Gas Pressure → Q7.

Lesson 7 – Review and test (C+S)

1. Read: Particle Model topic page → “⚠️ Where students lose marks”. Copy the three you think you’d get wrong.
2. Test yourself: Particle Model topic page → cover the answers and try all 13 Key definitions.
3. Mind map: Mind map guide → Particle model.
4. Redraw from memory: any three diagrams from Key Diagrams: Particle Model, then check them.
5. Quiz: Particle model quiz – 20 questions. Mark it with the answer key and work out your percentage.
6. Exam practice: AQA past papers → Paper 1 questions on the particle model.