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Quick Revision

This document is a quick revision guide for IGCSE Physics, covering key topics such as Newton's Laws of Motion, energy, waves, electricity and magnetism, nuclear physics, and space physics. It includes important constants, principles, and diagrams relevant to each topic. The guide serves as a comprehensive resource for students preparing for their exams.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
8 views19 pages

Quick Revision

This document is a quick revision guide for IGCSE Physics, covering key topics such as Newton's Laws of Motion, energy, waves, electricity and magnetism, nuclear physics, and space physics. It includes important constants, principles, and diagrams relevant to each topic. The guide serves as a comprehensive resource for students preparing for their exams.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Nerd Café / IGCSE / Physics / 🕑 Quick Revision

🕑
Quick Revision
Table of Contents
Constants

General Physics

Newtons Laws of Motion

Energy

Scalars & Vectors

Motion in a Circular Path

Waves

Diffraction of Waves

Types of Waves

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Analogue & Digital Signals

Light

All Possible Ray Diagrams

Electricity & Magnetism

Electrical Components

LDR & Thermistor

Electromagnetic Devices

All About A.C Generators

D.C Motors

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All About D.C Motors

The Transformer

Introduction To The Transformer

Hand Rules

Nuclear Physics

The Structure of an Atom

Properties of Nuclear Radiation

Deflection of Radiation In Magnetic & Electric Fields

Half Life of Radiation in Applications

Safety Precautions

Space Physics

The Moon

The Planets

Life Cycle of a Star

Constants
Constant Value

Acceleration of Free Fall ( g 9.8


)

Speed Of Light in Vacuum ( 3 × 108


c)

Speed of Sound (in air) 330 − 350

Audible Frequency 20 to 20, 000

Charge of an Proton + 1.6 × 10−19 C

Charge of an Electron - 1.6 × 10−19 C

Atmospheric Pressure 101, 325

One Light Year 9.5 × 1015

Diameter of Milky Way Approx. 100,000

Hubble’s Constant ( H0 ) ​ 2.2 × 10−18

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General Physics
Newtons Laws of Motion

💡 Newton's Laws of Motion are fundamental principles that


describe the relationship between the motion of an object and
the forces acting on it.

Newton’s First Law


The motion of an object will remain constant unless or until a
external resultant force acts on it

Newton’s Second Law


The acceleration of an object depends on the resultant force
acting on it and its mass

F = ma

 
Where,

F = Force
m = mass
a = acceleration
Newton’s Third Law

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

Energy

Rely On Sun Do Not Rely On Sun

Solar Energy Geothermal

Biofuels Nuclear

Hydro-Electric Tidal

Wind -

Coal -

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Scalars & Vectors


Scalars: Quantities that contain only magnitude

Vectors: Quantities that contain both magnitude and direction

Scalars Vectors

Speed Velocity

Distance Displacement

Time Weight

Energy Force

Mass Electrical Field


Strength

Density Momentum

Temperature Acceleration

Power -

Motion in a Circular Path

Change Effect Constants

Force Speed Increases Mass, Radius


Increased

Force Radius Decreases Mass, Speed


Increased

Increased Requires Increased To Keep Speed & Radius


Mass Force Constant

Waves
Diffraction of Waves

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Types of Waves

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Reasons For Some Applications:

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Application Wave They Use Reason For Application

Mobile Phones, Microwave because they can pene


Wireless Internet and only require a shor
transmission and recep

Bluetooth Low-Energy Radio because they can pass


Waves or the signal is weakened
Microwaves

Optical Fibre Visible because glass is transp


Cables Light/Infrared light and some infrared
short wavelength infrar
rates of data

X-Rays Medical Scanning because they cannot p


or tumours

 

Analogue & Digital Signals

Note that sounds can be transmitted as both digital or analogue


signals

Differences:

Analogue Digital

Varies continuously, often represents Represents data using


sound or light (0s & 1s)

Amplitude and frequency vary Changes in steps rathe


smoothly over time continuous

 
Advantages:

Analogue Digital

More Accurate When Data Is Larger Range due to a


Continuously Changing regeneration

Better Quality When Compared Faster Rate of Data Tra

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Smooth Transitions Can Carry More Data

Light
Total Internal Reflection
Occurs When Angle of Incidence > Critical Angle
Dispersion of Light:
 
The Mnemonic VIBGYOR can be used to keep the series in
mind

All Possible Ray Diagrams

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Electricity & Magnetism


Electrical Components
LDR & Thermistor
LDR: Light Dependant Resistor

Change in Light Intensity Change in


Resistance

Increases Decreases

Decreases Increases

Thermistor:

Change in Change in
Temperature Resistance

Increases Decreases

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Decreases Increases

Electromagnetic Devices
All About A.C Generators

Components Involved & Their Functions:

Components Functions

Coil/Armature It rotates between the poles of the mag


through the magnetic field, inducing an

Two Permanent Creates a flux through which the coil cu


Magnets generate electricity

Slip Rings Provide a continuous connection betwe

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Carbon brushes Made of graphite and ensures a firm co


with the external circuit also helps redu

How it Functions:
The rotating coil cuts through magnetic field lines
This induces a changing e.m.f in the coil

The changing e.m.f produces an alternating current


The alternating current is then supplied to external loads
through slip rings & brushes

D.C Motors
 

All About D.C Motors

Components Involved & Their Functions:

Components Functions

Coil/Armature It rotates between the poles of the mag


through the magnetic field, inducing an

Two Permanent Creates a magnetic flux through which t


Magnets through to generate electricity

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Slit Rings Reverses current in coil and forces wire


positions

Carbon brushes Made of graphite and ensures a firm co


with the external circuit also helps redu

How it Functions:

Current flowing through the coil interacts with external


magnetic field
On each side of the coil a force is applied in opposite
directions causing a turning effect.

The greater the turning effect the faster the coil will turn
 
Factors That Increase Turning Effect:

Increase in Number of turns


Increase in current in the coil
Increase in the strength of magnetic field

The Transformer
Introduction To The Transformer

Components Involved & Their Functions:

Components Functions

Primary Coil Alternating current is inputted here

Secondary Coil E.M.F is induced here which is then tran

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Soft-Iron Core Soft iron is easily magnetised hence cha


magnetic fields can pass through it and
secondary coil

How it Functions:

Alternating current is transferred into the primary coil


The current in primary coil generates a magnetic field
Iron core transfers the magnetic field to secondary coil

 E.M.F is induced in secondary coil since it cuts magnetic field.


Hand Rules
Flemings Right Hand Rule: Used For Generators/Transformers,
induced emf

Flemings Left Hand Rule: Used For Motors

Right Hand Thumb Rule: Used for Determining Direction of


Magnetic Field (the thumb direction indicates north pole)

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Nuclear Physics
The Structure of an Atom

Properties of Nuclear Radiation



Particle Relative Range (in air) Stopped By
Charge

4
Alpha (2 α) ​
+2 Few Cm Paper

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Beta (−1
0 β) ​
-1 Few 10 Cms Few mm of
Aluminium

Gamma (γ) 0 Infinite Few mm of


Lead

Deflection of Radiation In Magnetic & Electric Fields


Magnetic Field:

 

Electric Field:

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Half Life of Radiation in Applications

Application Radiation
Emitted

Household Fire Alarm Alpha

Irradiating Food To Kill Bacteria Gamma

Sterilisation of Equipment Using Gamma Gamma

Measuring & Controlling Thicknesses of Materials Gamma/Bet

Diagnosis & Treatment of Cancer Using Gamma Rays Gamma

 

Safety Precautions
Limit exposure time
Maintain a safe distance between source and body
Use shielding to absorb radiation
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Store in a lead-lined box so radiation is absorbed by box


preventing it from reaching humans

Space Physics
The Moon
Revolution of The Satellite (Moon)
1 full revolution occurs roughly every 30 days

The Planets


Planet Density Size Mnemonic

Mercury High (Rocky) Small My

Venus High (Rocky) Small Very

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Earth High (Rocky) Small Educated

Mars High (Rocky) Small Mother

Jupiter Low (Gaseous) Large Just

Saturn Low (Gaseous) Large Served

Uranus Low (Gaseous) Large Us

Neptune Low (Gaseous) Large Noodles

Life Cycle of a Star

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Scenario One: Scenario Two:

Steps (in Mnemonic Steps (in Mnemonic


order) order)

Molecular My Molecular Mega


Cloud Cloud

Protostar Pet Protostar Penguins

Main Monkey Main Melt


Sequence Sequence
Star Star

Red Giant Ran Red Really


Supergiant
Planetary Past
Nebula Supernova Stupid

White Dwarf Wild Blackhole/N Brains


eutron Star
Black Dwarf Berries

 
 

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