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GCSE AQA Physics Paper 1 & 2 Revision Guide
R
Rhea Jain
@rheajain
1 / 10
Required Practical 1: Specific Heat Capacity
Ever wondered why some materials heat up faster than others? Specific heat capacity tells us how much energy is needed to heat up 1kg of a material by 1°C. This practical helps you measure this property for different metals like copper, iron, and aluminium.
You'll use a 30W heater inserted into holes drilled in 1kg metal blocks, along with a thermometer to monitor temperature changes. The key is wrapping everything in insulation to prevent heat loss and using water in the thermometer hole to improve thermal contact.
The method involves heating the block whilst recording temperature every 10 minutes. You'll then plot temperature against work done by the heater and use the gradient to calculate specific heat capacity.
Top Tip: If you don't know the heater's power, measure current and voltage, then calculate power using P = IV. The specific heat capacity equals the inverse of your graph's gradient (since the mass is 1kg).
Required Practical 3: Resistance - Part 1 (Wire Length)
Understanding how resistance changes with wire length is crucial for designing electrical circuits. This practical proves that longer wires have higher resistance - something that affects everything from household wiring to phone chargers.
You'll set up a simple circuit with an uninsulated wire stretched along a metre ruler. Using crocodile clips, you'll measure current and voltage at 10cm intervals along the wire, then calculate resistance using V = IR at each point.
When you plot wire length against resistance, you'll get a straight line showing that resistance increases proportionally with length. This relationship is fundamental to understanding how electricity behaves in different materials.
Safety Alert: The wire gets hot during the experiment, so never touch it whilst current is flowing. Always switch off between measurements.
Required Practical 3: Resistance - Part 2 (Series vs Parallel)
This part reveals why your Christmas lights might all go out when one bulb fails, but your house lights don't. You'll discover how total resistance changes depending on whether components are arranged in series or parallel circuits.
First, you'll build a series circuit with two resistors and measure the total current and voltage. Then you'll rearrange the same resistors into a parallel circuit and repeat the measurements. The results will be dramatically different!
In series circuits, total resistance equals R₁ + R₂ (resistances add up). In parallel circuits, it's much more complex: 1/R_total = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂. This means parallel circuits actually have lower total resistance than individual components.
Key Insight: Parallel circuits are why you can turn appliances on and off independently at home - each has its own path for current to flow.
Required Practical 4: I-V Characteristics
Different electrical components behave very differently when you change the voltage across them. This practical explores current-voltage characteristics of resistors, filament lamps, and diodes - knowledge that's essential for understanding how electronic devices work.
You'll use a variable power supply to gradually increase voltage across each component whilst measuring the resulting current. Starting with a simple resistor, then moving to a filament lamp, and finally a diode (with protective resistor), you'll see three completely different patterns.
Ohmic conductors like resistors follow Ohm's Law - their I-V graphs are straight lines through the origin because resistance stays constant. Non-ohmic conductors like filament lamps and diodes have curved I-V graphs because their resistance changes with current.
Exam Focus: Remember that filament lamps get hotter as current increases, which increases their resistance. Diodes only allow current to flow in one direction, creating a distinctive I-V curve.
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Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
GCSE AQA Physics Paper 1 & 2 Revision Guide
R
Rhea Jain
@rheajain
Physics practicals are your chance to get hands-on with real science and understand how the concepts you've learnt actually work in practice. These three required practicals for AQA GCSE Physics will help you explore specific heat capacity, electrical resistance, and... Show more
Required Practical 1: Specific Heat Capacity
Ever wondered why some materials heat up faster than others? Specific heat capacity tells us how much energy is needed to heat up 1kg of a material by 1°C. This practical helps you measure this property for different metals like copper, iron, and aluminium.
You'll use a 30W heater inserted into holes drilled in 1kg metal blocks, along with a thermometer to monitor temperature changes. The key is wrapping everything in insulation to prevent heat loss and using water in the thermometer hole to improve thermal contact.
The method involves heating the block whilst recording temperature every 10 minutes. You'll then plot temperature against work done by the heater and use the gradient to calculate specific heat capacity.
Top Tip: If you don't know the heater's power, measure current and voltage, then calculate power using P = IV. The specific heat capacity equals the inverse of your graph's gradient (since the mass is 1kg).
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Required Practical 3: Resistance - Part 1 (Wire Length)
Understanding how resistance changes with wire length is crucial for designing electrical circuits. This practical proves that longer wires have higher resistance - something that affects everything from household wiring to phone chargers.
You'll set up a simple circuit with an uninsulated wire stretched along a metre ruler. Using crocodile clips, you'll measure current and voltage at 10cm intervals along the wire, then calculate resistance using V = IR at each point.
When you plot wire length against resistance, you'll get a straight line showing that resistance increases proportionally with length. This relationship is fundamental to understanding how electricity behaves in different materials.
Safety Alert: The wire gets hot during the experiment, so never touch it whilst current is flowing. Always switch off between measurements.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Required Practical 3: Resistance - Part 2 (Series vs Parallel)
This part reveals why your Christmas lights might all go out when one bulb fails, but your house lights don't. You'll discover how total resistance changes depending on whether components are arranged in series or parallel circuits.
First, you'll build a series circuit with two resistors and measure the total current and voltage. Then you'll rearrange the same resistors into a parallel circuit and repeat the measurements. The results will be dramatically different!
In series circuits, total resistance equals R₁ + R₂ (resistances add up). In parallel circuits, it's much more complex: 1/R_total = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂. This means parallel circuits actually have lower total resistance than individual components.
Key Insight: Parallel circuits are why you can turn appliances on and off independently at home - each has its own path for current to flow.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
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Required Practical 4: I-V Characteristics
Different electrical components behave very differently when you change the voltage across them. This practical explores current-voltage characteristics of resistors, filament lamps, and diodes - knowledge that's essential for understanding how electronic devices work.
You'll use a variable power supply to gradually increase voltage across each component whilst measuring the resulting current. Starting with a simple resistor, then moving to a filament lamp, and finally a diode (with protective resistor), you'll see three completely different patterns.
Ohmic conductors like resistors follow Ohm's Law - their I-V graphs are straight lines through the origin because resistance stays constant. Non-ohmic conductors like filament lamps and diodes have curved I-V graphs because their resistance changes with current.
Exam Focus: Remember that filament lamps get hotter as current increases, which increases their resistance. Diodes only allow current to flow in one direction, creating a distinctive I-V curve.
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We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user