Q: Describe the three

Q: What is an atom? components of the atom and

their positions.

Q: What are the relative Q: What are the relative

charges of the three masses of the three
components of an atom? components of an atom?

Q: What happens to a material

Q: How can an insulator be gaining electrons through
charged by friction? friction, and what happens to
the material losing electrons?

Q: Explain an electric shock in

Q: Describe the two basic rules terms of movement of
for forces between two charged electrons.
objects.
A: Central core or nucleus of
the atom consisting of protons
and neutrons, surrounded by
A: The basic building block of
electrons occupying the space
an element that cannot be
around the nucleus. The
chemically broken down.
diameter of the nucleus is
~100,000 times smaller than
the diameter of the nucleus.

A: Neutron = 1, proton = 1, A: Neutron = 0, proton = +1,

electron = 0. electron = -1.

A: By rubbing it against another

A: The material gaining
electrons becomes negatively-
charged, the material losing
electrons gains an equal and
opposite positive charge.
insulator. The friction, caused
by the rubbing, strips off some
of the outer electrons of one
insulator and transfers them to
the other, thus causing a build-
up of charge.

A: If you come close to an insulator

with a large amount of negative
charge, electrons on the surface of
the insulator will jump the tiny
distance of air and travel through to A: Like charges repel, unlike
Earth. If the insulator is positively- charges attract.
charged, the electrons will travel
from the Earth to the insulator, but
the experience will still be
unpleasant.
 Q: In terms of movement of Q: Explain how a balloon
electrons, how is lightning rubbed against your clothes
formed? sticks to a wall.

Q: Explain how a charged comb Q: Explain earthing in terms of

picks up small pieces of paper. movements of electrons.

Q: Explain how static electricity Q: Explain how static electricity

is used in paint spraying. is used in insecticide sprayers.

Q: What electrostatic danger is

associated with fuelling aircraft Q: What is electric current?
and tankers?
A: The friction between your clothes and
the balloon transfers electrons to the
balloon. The surface of the balloon
becomes negatively charged. The
charged balloon repels some of the
electrons away from the surface of the
wall. This leaves the surface of the wall
closer to the balloon with a positive
charge. Opposite charges attract; hence
the balloon is attracted to the wall.
A: This involves having a metal
conductor secured between an
object and the Earth. This helps
to transfer electrons from the
object to the Earth, where they
are dispersed (or vice versa)
and therefore reduces the
danger of sparking.
A: The insecticide is given a
positive charge and the plants
acquire a negative charge by
induction. cf. Paint sprayers.
A: The rate of flow of charge.
A: Clouds rub against each
other and become charged with
electrons. Charges discharge
between the cloud and the
Earth to produce enough an
electric current big enough to
heat up the air and produce
light.
A: A charged ruler or comb
electrostatically induces an
opposite charge in the paper,
leading to attraction between
the paper and the comb.
A: The object to be sprayed is connected
to a negative supply. The nozzle of the
sprayer is charged positive; this makes
the tiny droplets of paint emerging from
the nozzle positively-charged. The
charged droplets of paint repel each
other and form a dispersed cloud. The
droplets are attracted to the object being
sprayed. This technique uses less paint
and coats even the underside of the
object.
A: The friction between the fuel and
the rubber pipe makes each of
them acquire opposite charges. The
charges can build up and create a
spark with devastating
consequences; this is why aircraft
and tankers are earthed with an
earthing line when fuelling.
 Q:What is the relationship
Q: In metals, what physically is
between charge, current and
the electric current?
time?

Q: What type of current is

Q: What is direct current?
supplied by cells and batteries?

Q: What happens to current

Q: What is an ammeter and
when it reaches a junction in a
how is it placed in a circuit?
circuit?

Q: What happens to the current

in a circuit if you increase the Q: What is potential
potential difference of the difference (voltage)?
source?
 A: Charge (coulomb, C) =
current (ampere, A) x time
(second, s) A: The flow of electrons.

Q=Ixt

A: Movement of charge in one

A: Direct current (d.c.).
direction only.

A: An instrument to measure
A: Current is conserved at a electric current in amperes,
junction in a circuit. placed in series in an electric
circuit.

A: The energy transferred

A: It increases.
per unit charge passed.
 Q: What happens to the electric
Q: What is a volt? current in a circuit if you
increase the resistance?

Q: What is the relationship

Q: What is a rheostat? between potential difference,
current and resistance?

Q: How does current vary with

Q: How does current vary with
potential difference for a
potential difference for a diode?
filament lamp?

Q: How does current vary with Q: Describe the relationship

potential difference for a fixed between resistance and light
resistor? intensity in an LDR.
 A: It decreases.
A: Potential difference (volt, V)
= current (ampere, A) x
resistance (ohm, )
V=IxR
A:
A: The resistance of an LDR
decreases as the intensity of
light incident on it increases
(more light = less resistance).
A: One joule per coulomb.
A: A variable resistor, in which
you can change its resistance
manually. Usually a wire-wound
type that has a long length of
wire coiled into a tight spiral. A
slider is used to alter the length
of wire in the circuit and this is
how its resistance is altered.
A:
A:
Q: How does the resistance of
Q: Why does a wire get hot
a (negative temperature
when there is an electric current
coefficient) thermistor vary with
passing through it?
temperature?

Q: How can we explain the Q: What is the relationship

heating effect of current in a between electrical power,
wire in terms of electron current and potential
movement? difference?

Q: What is the relationship

between energy transferred,
power and time? How can we Q: What is a scalar quantity?
relate this to current and
potential difference?

Q: What is a vector quantity? Q: What is displacement?

A: A current in a resistor (such
as a wire) will make it transfer
electrical energy into heat
energy.
A: Electrical power (watt, W) =
current (ampere, A) x potential
difference (volt, V)
P=IxV
A: One that has only size (or
magnitude). Examples include:
distance, mass, volume,
temperature, speed and energy.
A: It has a size that is equal to
the distance from a specified
point and it also has direction.
A: The resistance of the
thermistor decreases as it
temperature increases (greater
temperature = less resistance).
A: When current is switched on, fast-
moving electrons collide with the ions
in the metallic lattice and transfer
some of their kinetic energy to the
ions. This increases the vibrational
energy of the ions and they jiggle
about their fixed positions with
greater amplitudes. This increased
vibration of the ions is what we mean
by heat energy.
A: Energy transferred (joule, J) =
power (watt, W) x time (second, s)
or Energy transferred (joule, j) =
current (ampere, A) x potential
difference (volt, V) x time (second,
s)
E=IxVxt
A: One that has both magnitude
and direction. Examples
include: displacement, velocity,
acceleration and force.
 Q: What is velocity? Q: What is acceleration?

Q: How do you determine the

Q: What is a force? speed from a distance-time
graph?

Q: What is the relationship Q: What is the relationship

between speed, distance and between acceleration, velocity
time? and time?

Q: How do you determine the Q: How do you determine the

acceleration from a velocity- distance travelled from a
time graph? velocity-time graph?
 A: The rate of change of
velocity.
A: The gradient of the line is
equal to the speed of an object. quantity, as it has both
A: Acceleration (metre per
second squared, m/s2) =
change in velocity (metre per
second, m/s) / time taken
(second, s)
a = (v u) / t
A: The area under a velocity-
time graph is equal to the
distance travelled.
A: An objects speed in a
specified direction.
A: A push or pull exerted by one
object on another (a vector
magnitude and direction).
A: Speed (metre per second,
m/s) = distance (metre, m) /
time taken (second, s)
v=x/t
A: Acceleration is equal to the
gradient of the graph.
Q: What is a free-body force
Q: What is Newtons third law?
diagram?

Q: What happens if the

Q: What is Newtons first law? resultant force on an object is
not zero?

Q: What two factors affect the Q: What is the relationship

acceleration of a moving between force, mass and
object? acceleration?

Q: What is the relationship

Q: What happens to all falling
between weight, mass and
bodies in a vacuum?
gravitational field strength?
A: When two bodies interact,
A: A diagram that shows all the
each object exerts and equal
forces acting on one object.
and opposite force on the other.

A: If there is no resultant force

acting on a body then if
A: The object will accelerate in
stationary, it will remain at rest;
the direction of the resultant
if moving, it will keep moving at
force.
a constant speed in a straight
line.

A: Force (newton, N) = mass

(kilogram, kg) x acceleration A: The resultant force F (in
(m/s2) newtons) and the mass of the
object, m (in kilograms).
F=mxa

A: Weight (newton, N) = mass

(kilogram, kg) x gravitational
A: They accelerate at the same field strength (newton per
rate. kilogram, N/kg)

W=mxg
Q: What happens to bodies
Q: What is terminal velocity?
falling through an atmosphere?

Q: What two factors contribute Q: State some factors that

to stopping distance? might affect stopping distance.

Q: What is the relationship

Q: Is momentum a vector or a
between momentum, mass and
scalar quantity?
velocity?

Q: How do bubble wraps, seat

Q: What is the principle of belts, crumple zones and air
conservation of momentum? bags protect drivers or other
objects in cars?
A: When air resistance acting
on a falling body is equal to its
weight, the resultant force is
therefore zero and so no further
acceleration occurs.
A: Mass of the vehicle, speed of
the vehicle, the drivers reaction
time, the state of the vehicles
brakes, the state of the road,
the amount of friction between
the road surface and the tyres.
A: Vector it has both
magnitude and direction.
A: They all reduce the rate of
change of momentum during a
collision and hence the force
experienced.
A: Air resistance increases with
increasing speed. Air
resistance increases until it is
equal in size to the weight of
the falling object.
A: Thinking distance and
braking distance.
A: Momentum (kilogram metre
per second, kg m/s) = mass
(kilogram, kg) x velocity (metre
per second, m/s).
A: Total momentum before a
collision = total momentum after
a collision.
Q: What is the relationship Q: What is the relationship
between force, momentum between work done, force and
and time? distance moved?

Q: What is the relationship

Q: What is a joule? between work done and energy
transferred?

Q: What is the relationship

Q: What is power? between power, work done and
time?

Q: State the equation for

Q: What is a watt? calculating gravitational
potential energy.
A: Work done (joule, J) = force A: Force (newton, N) =
(newton, N) x distance moved change in momentum
in the direction of the force (kilogram metre per second,
(metre, m) kg m/s) / time (second, s)

E =Fxd F = (mv mu) / t

A: 1 joule is the work done

when a force of 1 newton
A: Work done by a force =
moves through a distance of 1
energy transferred.
metre in the direction of the
force.

A: Power (watt, W) = work done

(joule, J) / time (second, s) A: The rate of doing work
(measured in watts, W).
P=E/t

A: Gravitational potential
energy (joule, J) = mass
(kilogram, kg) x gravitational
field strength (N/kg) x vertical
height (metre, m) A: 1 watt = 1 joule per second.

GPE = m x g x h
 Q: State the equation for Q: What is the principle of
calculating kinetic energy. conservation of energy?

Q: What is the relationship

between the work done by Q: What is the atomic (proton)
the brakes on a stopping car number of an atom?
and its initial velocity?

Q: What is the mass (nucleon) Q: State two ways of forming an

number of an atom? ion from an atom.

Q: Name the three types of

ionising radiation emitted from
Q: What is an isotope?
unstable nuclei in the random
process of radioactive decay.

A: Energy can neither be
created nor destroyed. It can
only be transformed into
different forms.
A: Kinetic energy (joule, J) =
x mass (kilogram, kg) x
velocity2 ((metre per second)2,
(m/s)2)
KE = x m x v2

A: Work done by the brakes =

A: Atomic number( Z) is the initial KE of the car
total number of protons in the
nucleus of an atom.
Fd = x mv2

A: a) Rubbing insulators together

(the friction strips off electrons
from the atoms of one insulator,
A: Mass number (A) is the total
making some of the atoms
number of protons and
positive ions; b) heating a gas
neutrons within the nucleus of
(thermal energy ionises the gas
atoms; in this process, electrons an atom.
of the atoms gain energy and fly
off, leaving behind positive ions.

A: Nuclei of atoms of an
A: Alpha and beta particles, and element that have the same
gamma rays. number of protons but different
numbers of neutrons.
 Q: What is an alpha particle? Q: What is a beta particle?

Q: Compare alpha, beta and Q: Explain how nuclear

gamma radiation in terms of reactions can be a source of
ionising power and penetrance. energy.

Q:How can we use U-235 to Q: What is a controlled chain

generate energy? reaction?

Q: What does the moderator in Q: What do control rods in a

a nuclear fission reactor do? nuclear fission reactor do?
A: An electron emitted from an A: A helium nucleus (two
unstable nucleus. protons and two neutrons).

A: In radioactive decay, the kinetic

energy of the alpha or beta particles
emitted from the nucleus. This energy
can be used, e.g. to generate electricity A: Alpha is the most ionising,
on a small scale and is how a
followed by beta, then gamma.
radioisotope thermoelectric generator
(RTG) works. Nuclear reactions called The reverse order is true for
fusion reactions are responsible for the penetrance.
energy generated by the Sun and stars.
A nuclear reactor uses fission reactions
to generate electricity on a large scale.
A: A slowing moving neutron is
A: In a controlled chain absorbed by a U-235 nucleus. The
reaction, a steady output power newly created U-236 nucleus is
is produced, and on average a highly unstable. It immediately splits
into two smaller nuclei called
single neutron from the daughter nuclei and two or more
previous fission reaction is left fast-moving electrons. Energy is
to trigger the next fission released as the kinetic energy of
reaction. the daughter nuclei and the
released neutrons.
A: it slows down the fast-moving
A: They absorb neutrons and neutrons produced in fission
so control the chain reaction. reactions. Slow-moving neutrons
The two commonly used have a greater chance of reacting
materials used are cadmium with uranium nuclei than fast-
and boron. The control rods can moving neutrons, enhancing a
be lowered into the reactor to chain reaction. A commonly used
slow down the fission reactions. material for the moderator is
graphite.
Q: How is thermal (heat) energy
Q: What is the problem with
in a nuclear reactor converted
radioactive waste?
into electrical energy?

Q: Why does nuclear fusion

Q: What is nuclear fusion? not occur at low
temperatures and pressures?

Q: Why is it practically and

economically difficult to
Q: What is cold fusion?
create a nuclear fusion
reactor on the Earth?

Q: Why has the theory of cold

Q: What is background
fusion been rejected by the
radiation?
scientific community?

A: The waste from nuclear
power stations is radioactive
and therefore has to be
disposed of with care owing to
its ionising properties.
A: This is due to
electrostatic repulsion of
protons.
A: An invalidated theory that
proposed nuclear fusion
occurring at room temperature.
A: Radiation from natural
radioactive sources around us
and from outer space.
A: A large amount of energy, in
the form of kinetic energy of the
neutrons and the daughter nuclei,
is released in fission reactions.
This kinetic energy is turned into
heat and used to boil water to
make steam. The steam is used
to turn the turbines as in a
conventional power station.
A: the creation of larger nuclei
from smaller nuclei,
accompanied by a release of
energy, such as those that
occurs within stars.
A: In order to create fusion on Earth,
hydrogen nuclei have to be heated to
high temperatures of about 100 million
oC and contained by very strong
magnetic fields produced by super-
cooled electromagnets. This has proved
to be challenging for the production of
energy as such conditions are not
economic and are difficult to manage
when considering large-scale
commercial power stations.
A: Pons and Fleischman failed
to publish sufficient technical
details of their experiment.
Scientists around the world
were unable to reproduce their
results.
 Q: State some sources of Q: How is radioactivity used in
background radiation. smoke alarms?

Q: How is radioactivity used in Q: How is radioactivity used to

the food industry? sterilise medical instruments?

Q: How is radioactivity used in Q: How is radioactivity used to

tracing and gauging thickness? diagnose cancer?

Q: What happens to the

Q: How is radioactivity used to
radioactivity of a source over
treat cancer?
time?
A: Most smoke alarms use a weak source of americium-
241, which emits alpha particles (the most ionising
radiation). The alpha particles ionise the airr producing
positive ions and electrons. The positive ions are
attracted to the negative terminal of the alarms battery.
The electrons travel in the opposite direction towards the
positive terminal. The ionisation of the air produces a tiny
current in the constant circuit.
When smoke enters the casing of the alarm, it absorbs
the alpha particles. There is less ionisation of the air and
hence the current and p.d. across the resistor drops. The
electronic circuit detects the decrease in potential
difference and triggers the alarm.
A: Gamma rays are used to sterilise
hospital equipment. Gamma rays have
sufficient energy to kill off bacteria. In
hospitals, metal instruments are heated
to destroy the germs but the same
cannot be done to plastic syringes and
bandages. Syringes sealed in plastic
bags can be sterilised using gamma
rays.
A: The patient is injected with a small
amount of a radioactive tracer. Technetium-
99m is a versatile tracer used in hospitals. It
emits gamma rays and has a half-life of
about 6 hours. The tracer is carried round
the body the body by the blood. It builds up
in the cancerous regions of the patients
body. A special camera, known as a gamma
camera, is used to detect and display the
gamma rays that pass through the patient..
A: It decreases over time.
A: Cosmic rays from space,
rocks, food, nuclear power
stations, fallout from previous
nuclear weapons tests,
explosions and accidents,
radiation from equipment or
waste from hospitals or
industry.
A: Irradiating food with gamma
rays is used to prolong its life,
which gives more time for
transportation and a longer
shelf-life. The gamma rays kill
off micro-organisms on the food
even after it has been
packaged.
A:In a paper mill, the thickness of paper can be
monitored and controlled using a beta source.
The thickness of the paper is continually
controlled by the amount of pressure applied by
the rollers. A beta source of strontium-90 is
placed above the paper. A radiation detector is
placed directly below the source and the paper.
If the paper thickness is more than the required
thickness, the number of beta particles recorded
per unit time by the detector decreases. A signal
is sent to the rollers to increase the pressure so
as to reduce the thickness of the paper.
A: In a technique known as
radiotherapy, the gamma source of
cobalt-60 is used in the treatment of
cancer. Gamma rays destroy all cells.
However, by targeting the cancerous
cells and rotating the intense beam of
gamma rays, most of the cancerous
cells can be killed off with as little
damage as possible being done to
healthy cells.
Q: What is the unit of activity of
Q: Define the term half-life.
a radioactive source?

Q: Activity of a radioactive
Q: What are the dangers of
sample displays exponential
working with radioactive
decay. Mathematically, how can
sources?
you determine the activity A?

Q: What precautions should be Q: What effect did her work on

taken when using radioactive radioactivity did it have on
sources? Marie Curie?

Q: Describe some ways in

scientists have changed their Q: What are the advantages of
ideas about radioactivity over coal-fired power stations?
time?
A: The average time taken for
half of the undecayed nuclei in
a sample to decay.
A: Ionising radiations carry
sufficient energy to cause
tissue damage in our bodies.
The cells cannot repair
themselves if the damage is too
severe. They can also damage
DNA causing mutation of cells,
which may lead to cancer.
A: She developed leukaemia in
later life. Even after 100 years,
her notebooks remain
radioactive.
A: Cheap fuel; over 100 years
worth of coal reserves;
relatively cheap to build.
A: The becquerel (Bq).
A: A = A0 x 0.5n
where A0 is the initial activity
and n is the number of half-
lives.
A: Never point the source
towards other people; use
special holders to handle the
source; only remove the source
from its lead-lined container
when doing experiments; wash
your hands after using the
source.
A: Through controlled experiments
in the laboratories. Sadly, lessons
were also learned from observing
the effects on humans after atomic
bombs were dropped on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki in 1945, and nuclear
power plant accidents such as
Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima
in 2011.
Q: What are the disadvantages Q: What are the advantages of
of coal-fired power stations? a nuclear power station?

Q: What are the disadvantages Q: How do we dispose of low-

of a nuclear power station? level nuclear waste?

Q: How do we dispose of
Q: How do we dispose of high-
intermediate-level nuclear
level nuclear waste?
waste?

Q: Who would win in a wrestling

Q: Whose side did you take:
match between Lemmy and
Halen or Roth?
God?

A: No CO2 or SO2 emissions;
waste is more compact; little
background radiation; located
far away from populated areas;
low risk of 1 in 5 million of a
nuclear accident.
A: Waste consisting of paper,
rags, clothing etc. that contain
small amounts of short-lived
radioactivity is buried in shallow
trenches in steel drums.
A: Contains fissions products
generated in the reactor core
and is highly radioactive. This
type of waste can only be
stored in deep disused mines or
special tunnels made under
mountains.
A: Trick question: Lemmy *is*
God.
A: Expensive air pollution
controls; CO2 and SO2
emissions; Extensive transport
system; public perception is
poor as it is seen to be a limited
resource with a negative effect
on the environment.
A: Costly to build and
decommission; nuclear waste is
radioactive for thousands of years
and affects future generations; can
cause leukaemia / cancer; severe
storage and disposal problems of
nuclear waste; public perception is
poor because of the long-term
dangers posed by accidents.
A: Contains higher levels of
radioactivity and requires
shielding. Buried ~8m under the
ground and shielded by water,
concrete or lead.
A: The correct answer is Roth.
Any alternative answer
suggests they may work for the
Police.