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14/11/2025
Physics
GCSE AQA Combined Science Physics Paper 2 P5-P7
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14 Nov 2025
•
AQA GCSE Combined Science: Physics Paper 2 Mindmaps P5-P7
Dae !
@dailydae_aojb
1 / 5
Forces and Energy
Forces are either contact forces (when objects touch) or non-contact forces (like gravity). Unlike scalar quantities (mass, temperature) which only have magnitude, forces are vectors with both magnitude and direction, represented by arrows.
Spring forces follow Hooke's Law , where the extension of a spring is proportional to the force applied. This relationship remains linear until the spring reaches its elastic limit. When stretched, springs store elastic potential energy calculated using EPE = ½ke².
Remember: Weight and mass are different! Mass is measured in kg and stays the same everywhere, while weight is measured in newtons (N) and varies depending on location due to gravity.
Gravitational force exists between all objects with mass. On Earth, gravity causes everything to fall at the same rate regardless of mass. Your weight equals your mass multiplied by gravitational field strength , with g = 9.8 N/kg on Earth but less on the Moon.
Motion and Braking
When driving, your stopping distance depends on two factors: thinking distance (how far you travel during your reaction time) and braking distance (how far you travel while the brakes slow you down).
Newton's First Law states that objects at rest stay at rest, and objects in motion stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. This property is called inertia. When a force is applied, acceleration occurs according to Newton's Second Law .
Top tip: Reaction times typically range from 0.2-0.9 seconds, but can be affected by tiredness, alcohol, and distractions. This makes a huge difference to stopping distances!
Objects falling through air eventually reach terminal velocity when the gravitational force equals the air resistance. Factors affecting terminal velocity include shape (streamlined objects fall faster) and surface area (larger areas create more air resistance).
On distance-time graphs, the gradient represents speed, while on velocity-time graphs, the gradient represents acceleration and the area under the graph shows distance travelled.
Waves
Waves transfer energy without transferring matter. There are two main types: transverse waves (like electromagnetic waves) where vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of travel, and longitudinal waves (like sound) which have compressions and rarefactions.
Wave speed (v) equals frequency (f) multiplied by wavelength (λ). Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz) and represents how many waves pass a point per second. When waves cross boundaries between materials, refraction occurs as wave speed changes.
Did you know? The electromagnetic spectrum includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays - all travelling at the same speed in a vacuum but with different frequencies!
You can measure the speed of sound using a signal generator, microphone and oscilloscope. By finding the wavelength (distance between identical points on adjacent waves) and the frequency, you can calculate the speed using v = fλ.
Radiation
Different surfaces emit and absorb infrared radiation at different rates. You can investigate this using a Leslie cube - a hollow metal cube with four different surfaces (usually matt black, white, polished, and rough).
Ionising radiation includes high-frequency electromagnetic waves like gamma rays, X-rays and some UV rays. These waves carry enough energy to damage cells and can cause cancer or premature aging.
Warning: Never look directly at the sun, even during an eclipse! UV radiation can cause permanent eye damage even when it doesn't feel bright.
Electromagnetism
When a current flows through a wire, it creates a circular magnetic field around it. The direction of this field can be determined using the right-hand thumb rule - if your thumb points in the direction of the current, your fingers curl in the direction of the magnetic field.
The motor effect occurs when a current-carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field, creating a force. This force can be calculated using F = BIL and its direction found using Fleming's Left Hand Rule .
Pro tip: To remember Fleming's Left Hand Rule, think "FBI" - Field, B (current), I (motion).
Electric motors work because of this motor effect - forces act on opposite sides of a coil in a magnetic field, creating rotation. The speed and direction of motors can be changed by altering the current or magnetic field strength. Solenoids (coils of wire) create stronger magnetic fields, especially when wrapped around iron cores.
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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
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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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
AQA GCSE Combined Science: Physics Paper 2 Mindmaps P5-P7
Dae !
@dailydae_aojb
Physics at GCSE covers everything from forces and energy to waves and magnetism. These notes will help you understand key concepts that appear frequently in exams. We'll break down complex ideas into simple explanations that will make revision much easier.
Forces and Energy
Forces are either contact forces (when objects touch) or non-contact forces (like gravity). Unlike scalar quantities (mass, temperature) which only have magnitude, forces are vectors with both magnitude and direction, represented by arrows.
Spring forces follow Hooke's Law , where the extension of a spring is proportional to the force applied. This relationship remains linear until the spring reaches its elastic limit. When stretched, springs store elastic potential energy calculated using EPE = ½ke².
Remember: Weight and mass are different! Mass is measured in kg and stays the same everywhere, while weight is measured in newtons (N) and varies depending on location due to gravity.
Gravitational force exists between all objects with mass. On Earth, gravity causes everything to fall at the same rate regardless of mass. Your weight equals your mass multiplied by gravitational field strength , with g = 9.8 N/kg on Earth but less on the Moon.
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Motion and Braking
When driving, your stopping distance depends on two factors: thinking distance (how far you travel during your reaction time) and braking distance (how far you travel while the brakes slow you down).
Newton's First Law states that objects at rest stay at rest, and objects in motion stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. This property is called inertia. When a force is applied, acceleration occurs according to Newton's Second Law .
Top tip: Reaction times typically range from 0.2-0.9 seconds, but can be affected by tiredness, alcohol, and distractions. This makes a huge difference to stopping distances!
Objects falling through air eventually reach terminal velocity when the gravitational force equals the air resistance. Factors affecting terminal velocity include shape (streamlined objects fall faster) and surface area (larger areas create more air resistance).
On distance-time graphs, the gradient represents speed, while on velocity-time graphs, the gradient represents acceleration and the area under the graph shows distance travelled.
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Waves
Waves transfer energy without transferring matter. There are two main types: transverse waves (like electromagnetic waves) where vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of travel, and longitudinal waves (like sound) which have compressions and rarefactions.
Wave speed (v) equals frequency (f) multiplied by wavelength (λ). Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz) and represents how many waves pass a point per second. When waves cross boundaries between materials, refraction occurs as wave speed changes.
Did you know? The electromagnetic spectrum includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays - all travelling at the same speed in a vacuum but with different frequencies!
You can measure the speed of sound using a signal generator, microphone and oscilloscope. By finding the wavelength (distance between identical points on adjacent waves) and the frequency, you can calculate the speed using v = fλ.
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Radiation
Different surfaces emit and absorb infrared radiation at different rates. You can investigate this using a Leslie cube - a hollow metal cube with four different surfaces (usually matt black, white, polished, and rough).
Ionising radiation includes high-frequency electromagnetic waves like gamma rays, X-rays and some UV rays. These waves carry enough energy to damage cells and can cause cancer or premature aging.
Warning: Never look directly at the sun, even during an eclipse! UV radiation can cause permanent eye damage even when it doesn't feel bright.
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Electromagnetism
When a current flows through a wire, it creates a circular magnetic field around it. The direction of this field can be determined using the right-hand thumb rule - if your thumb points in the direction of the current, your fingers curl in the direction of the magnetic field.
The motor effect occurs when a current-carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field, creating a force. This force can be calculated using F = BIL and its direction found using Fleming's Left Hand Rule .
Pro tip: To remember Fleming's Left Hand Rule, think "FBI" - Field, B (current), I (motion).
Electric motors work because of this motor effect - forces act on opposite sides of a coil in a magnetic field, creating rotation. The speed and direction of motors can be changed by altering the current or magnetic field strength. Solenoids (coils of wire) create stronger magnetic fields, especially when wrapped around iron cores.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
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.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
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Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
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