Open the App

Subjects

Physics

6 Dec 2025

190

2 pages

AQA Physics Paper 1 Study Guide

user profile picture

Kayleigh @kaycarew

Physics might seem overwhelming, but it's actually just about understanding how energy moves around and how forces affect... Show more

ENERGY
Always conservat note created or desarged juste transferred
STORES EM uaves are
Crustacional Pacerbial-ingin
Elastic Potential-ke
Kne

Energy and Electricity Fundamentals

Energy is never created or destroyed - it just moves from one form to another, which is brilliant news because it makes physics predictable! You'll encounter different energy stores like gravitational potential energy (mgh), kinetic energy (½mv²), and elastic potential energy (½ke²). When something falls, gravitational potential energy converts to kinetic energy - simple as that.

Electrical circuits work in two main ways series and parallel. In series circuits, current stays the same throughout I1=I2=I3I₁ = I₂ = I₃, but voltage adds up. In parallel circuits, it's the opposite - voltage stays constant whilst current splits up. This is why Christmas lights used to go out completely when one bulb failed (series), but modern ones keep working (parallel).

Power measures how quickly energy transfers P=E/tP = E/t, and efficiency tells you how much useful energy you actually get out compared to what you put in. Real-world devices always waste some energy, usually as heat - that's why your laptop gets warm when you're gaming.

Quick Tip Remember that Ohm's Law V=IRV = IR only works for resistors at constant temperature - filament bulbs get hot and their resistance changes!

ENERGY
Always conservat note created or desarged juste transferred
STORES EM uaves are
Crustacional Pacerbial-ingin
Elastic Potential-ke
Kne

States of Matter and Forces

Matter exists in three main states - solid, liquid, and gas - with particles that have different amounts of kinetic energy and different forces between them. Heating a system gives particles more kinetic energy, making them move faster until they have enough energy to break bonds and change state.

Density calculations ρ=m/Vρ = m/V help you work out whether objects will float or sink. For gases, there's a really useful relationship pressure and volume are inversely proportional when temperature stays constant PV=constantPV = constant. This explains why a balloon shrinks in the fridge.

Forces come in two types contact forces (like friction and air resistance) and non-contact forces (gravity, magnetism, electrostatics). Weight is different from mass - mass is how much stuff you have, whilst weight depends on gravitational field strength. On the Moon, your mass stays the same but your weight becomes much less.

Moments and equilibrium are about turning effects. A moment equals force × distance from the pivot M=FdM = Fd. Levers work by increasing the distance from the pivot where you apply force, so you need less effort to get the same turning effect.

Real-World Connection Understanding pressure P=F/AP = F/A explains why drawing pins have sharp points and why you sink into sand but not concrete!

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?

You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

1

Smart Tools NEW

Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines

Mock Exam
Quiz
Flashcards
Essay

Most popular content: Work

Most popular content in Physics

Most popular content

Chemistry paper 1 aqa

This is the aqa exam board for triple highwe

ChemistryChemistry
10

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

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

 

Physics

190

6 Dec 2025

2 pages

AQA Physics Paper 1 Study Guide

user profile picture

Kayleigh

@kaycarew

Physics might seem overwhelming, but it's actually just about understanding how energy moves around and how forces affect objects in our everyday world. These fundamental concepts explain everything from why your phone battery runs out to how bridges stay standing.

ENERGY
Always conservat note created or desarged juste transferred
STORES EM uaves are
Crustacional Pacerbial-ingin
Elastic Potential-ke
Kne

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Energy and Electricity Fundamentals

Energy is never created or destroyed - it just moves from one form to another, which is brilliant news because it makes physics predictable! You'll encounter different energy stores like gravitational potential energy (mgh), kinetic energy (½mv²), and elastic potential energy (½ke²). When something falls, gravitational potential energy converts to kinetic energy - simple as that.

Electrical circuits work in two main ways: series and parallel. In series circuits, current stays the same throughout I1=I2=I3I₁ = I₂ = I₃, but voltage adds up. In parallel circuits, it's the opposite - voltage stays constant whilst current splits up. This is why Christmas lights used to go out completely when one bulb failed (series), but modern ones keep working (parallel).

Power measures how quickly energy transfers P=E/tP = E/t, and efficiency tells you how much useful energy you actually get out compared to what you put in. Real-world devices always waste some energy, usually as heat - that's why your laptop gets warm when you're gaming.

Quick Tip: Remember that Ohm's Law V=IRV = IR only works for resistors at constant temperature - filament bulbs get hot and their resistance changes!

ENERGY
Always conservat note created or desarged juste transferred
STORES EM uaves are
Crustacional Pacerbial-ingin
Elastic Potential-ke
Kne

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

States of Matter and Forces

Matter exists in three main states - solid, liquid, and gas - with particles that have different amounts of kinetic energy and different forces between them. Heating a system gives particles more kinetic energy, making them move faster until they have enough energy to break bonds and change state.

Density calculations ρ=m/Vρ = m/V help you work out whether objects will float or sink. For gases, there's a really useful relationship: pressure and volume are inversely proportional when temperature stays constant PV=constantPV = constant. This explains why a balloon shrinks in the fridge.

Forces come in two types: contact forces (like friction and air resistance) and non-contact forces (gravity, magnetism, electrostatics). Weight is different from mass - mass is how much stuff you have, whilst weight depends on gravitational field strength. On the Moon, your mass stays the same but your weight becomes much less.

Moments and equilibrium are about turning effects. A moment equals force × distance from the pivot M=FdM = Fd. Levers work by increasing the distance from the pivot where you apply force, so you need less effort to get the same turning effect.

Real-World Connection: Understanding pressure P=F/AP = F/A explains why drawing pins have sharp points and why you sink into sand but not concrete!

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?

You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

1

Smart Tools NEW

Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines

Mock Exam
Quiz
Flashcards
Essay

Most popular content: Work

Most popular content in Physics

Most popular content

Chemistry paper 1 aqa

This is the aqa exam board for triple highwe

ChemistryChemistry
10

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

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