Forces and motion form the backbone of physics, explaining everything...
Physics539 views·Updated 27 Aug 2026·3 pagesForces and Motion Explained for Edexcel IGCSE Physics
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Velocity, Acceleration and Motion Graphs
Speed and acceleration are two different things that often get mixed up. Speed tells you how fast something's moving, whilst acceleration shows how quickly that speed is changing. The key formulas you'll need are: average speed = distance ÷ time, and acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time taken.
Distance-time and velocity-time graphs are your best friends for solving motion problems. The gradient (slope) of a distance-time graph gives you speed, whilst the area under a velocity-time graph tells you the total distance travelled. These graphs make complex motion problems much easier to visualise and solve.
Don't confuse mass and weight - they're completely different! Mass stays the same whether you're on Earth or the Moon, but weight changes because it depends on gravity. On Earth, weight = mass × 10 (since gravity = 10 m/s²).
Quick Tip: Remember that acceleration can be negative - this just means something is slowing down, not speeding up!
2
of 3
Newton's Laws and Forces
Newton's three laws explain how forces affect motion, and they're simpler than they sound. First law: balanced forces mean no change in speed. Second law: unbalanced forces cause acceleration (Force = mass × acceleration). Third law: forces always come in pairs - push a wall, and it pushes back with equal force.
Terminal velocity happens when falling objects reach their maximum speed. A skydiver falling spreads out to increase air resistance, whilst a streamlined object cuts through air more easily. The balance between weight pulling down and air resistance pushing up determines this maximum speed.
Hooke's Law shows that springs stretch proportionally to the force applied - double the force, double the extension. This works perfectly until you reach the elastic limit, where the spring becomes permanently damaged and won't return to its original shape.
Real-World Connection: Your car's stopping distance increases dramatically with speed because kinetic energy increases with the square of velocity!
3
of 3
Moments and Turning Effects
Moments explain why it's easier to open a door by pushing near the handle rather than near the hinges. The turning effect depends on both the force applied and the distance from the pivot point. The formula is: moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot.
The principle of moments keeps seesaws balanced and cranes stable. For any balanced object, the total clockwise moments must equal the total anticlockwise moments. If they're not equal, the object will start rotating in the direction of the larger moment.
Centre of gravity is the point where all the weight of an object appears to act from. When you hang any object, its centre of gravity will always end up directly below the suspension point - this is how you can find it experimentally.
Practical Tip: Momentum is conserved in collisions, meaning the total momentum before impact equals the total momentum after - this principle helps solve crash and collision problems!
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Physics539 views·Updated 27 Aug 2026·3 pagesForces and Motion Explained for Edexcel IGCSE Physics
Nat@womanb
Forces and motion form the backbone of physics, explaining everything from why your phone drops when you let go to how cars brake safely. These fundamental concepts help you understand the physical world around you and are essential for your...
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Velocity, Acceleration and Motion Graphs
Speed and acceleration are two different things that often get mixed up. Speed tells you how fast something's moving, whilst acceleration shows how quickly that speed is changing. The key formulas you'll need are: average speed = distance ÷ time, and acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time taken.
Distance-time and velocity-time graphs are your best friends for solving motion problems. The gradient (slope) of a distance-time graph gives you speed, whilst the area under a velocity-time graph tells you the total distance travelled. These graphs make complex motion problems much easier to visualise and solve.
Don't confuse mass and weight - they're completely different! Mass stays the same whether you're on Earth or the Moon, but weight changes because it depends on gravity. On Earth, weight = mass × 10 (since gravity = 10 m/s²).
Quick Tip: Remember that acceleration can be negative - this just means something is slowing down, not speeding up!
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Newton's Laws and Forces
Newton's three laws explain how forces affect motion, and they're simpler than they sound. First law: balanced forces mean no change in speed. Second law: unbalanced forces cause acceleration (Force = mass × acceleration). Third law: forces always come in pairs - push a wall, and it pushes back with equal force.
Terminal velocity happens when falling objects reach their maximum speed. A skydiver falling spreads out to increase air resistance, whilst a streamlined object cuts through air more easily. The balance between weight pulling down and air resistance pushing up determines this maximum speed.
Hooke's Law shows that springs stretch proportionally to the force applied - double the force, double the extension. This works perfectly until you reach the elastic limit, where the spring becomes permanently damaged and won't return to its original shape.
Real-World Connection: Your car's stopping distance increases dramatically with speed because kinetic energy increases with the square of velocity!
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Moments and Turning Effects
Moments explain why it's easier to open a door by pushing near the handle rather than near the hinges. The turning effect depends on both the force applied and the distance from the pivot point. The formula is: moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot.
The principle of moments keeps seesaws balanced and cranes stable. For any balanced object, the total clockwise moments must equal the total anticlockwise moments. If they're not equal, the object will start rotating in the direction of the larger moment.
Centre of gravity is the point where all the weight of an object appears to act from. When you hang any object, its centre of gravity will always end up directly below the suspension point - this is how you can find it experimentally.
Practical Tip: Momentum is conserved in collisions, meaning the total momentum before impact equals the total momentum after - this principle helps solve crash and collision problems!
We thought you’d never ask...
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
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