SIR JOHN LAWES SCHOOL
A LEVEL PHYSICS
SUMMER PREPARATION PACK
Name:
Section Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Task Name
Completed?
Units
S.I. Units
Unit Prefixes
Scalars and Vectors
Mechanics Questions
Research Task: Light Gates
Reading List
-
When you have finished each task, tick  it off in the
‘Completed?’ column.
Print the booklet and work through the six tasks. They have been designed to build on
your Y10/11 courses. For some tasks you may be required to do some research (the
websites and the books on the reading list (Section 7) will give you a good starting
point for this).
This pack will be collected from you for assessment in the first Physics lesson of your
A Level course in September. (A guideline time limit for each task has been given).
You will be completing an assessment in the first week of you’re A Level course.
This assessment will test your understanding of Physics from GCSE as well as your
understanding of the work in this pack.
GOOD LUCK!
We look forward to welcoming you to the Science Department in September!
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Task 1: Units
(20 minutes)
Research and write down from your knowledge the symbols, units and
equations for each of the following physical quantities. Some have been
completed as an example:
Physical Quantity
Distance
Displacement
Time
Velocity
Acceleration
Force
Mass
Kinetic Energy
Gravitation Potential
Energy
Work Done
Momentum
Symbol
d
s
t
Units
Metres, m
Metres, m
Equation
-
Ek = ½ mv2
G.P.E = mgh
Task 2: S. I. Base Units
(20 minutes)
S.I. Base Units are the international system of units of measurement based on
seven basic quantities. Research: What are these units?
1. …………………………………………….… which measures …………………………………………
2. ………………………………………………. which measures …………………………………………
3. ………………………………………………. which measures …………………………………………
4. ………………………………………………. which measures …………………………………………
5. ………………………………………………. which measures …………………………………………
6. ………………………………………………. which measures …amount of substance……
(7. ………………………………………………. which measures ………luminous intensity…)
All other quantities in the world can be expressed in terms of these units. For
example the unit of ‘velocity’ is ‘metres per second’ and the unit of Force is the
Newton, which can also be written as kg m/s2.
(You will use all of these units apart from ‘7’ during A Level Physics).
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Task 3: Unit Prefixes
(20 minutes)
Units often require a prefix to make them more appropriate for the size of the measurement. For example:
- 100 kilometres, as opposed to 100,000 metres.
- 1 micrometre, as opposed to 0.000 001 metres.
Complete the table below to include all the data on the prefixes you will use in A Level Physics. The first two have been
completed for you as an example.
Size
Very Small
Small
‘Normal’ sizes
Big
Very Big
Prefix Symbol Example (metres)
Number
Standard Form
Picop
pm
0.000 000 000 001
10-12
n
nm
0.000 000 001
10-9
Microμ
μm
0.000 001
Millimm
0.001
Centicm
0.01
None
m
1
k
km
1000
MegaTera-
M
G
T
Mm
Gm
Tm
1 000 000
1 000 000 000
1 000 000 000 000
(The ‘case’ of the prefix letters is important, little m means ‘milli’, big M means ‘Mega’)
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10?
-12
-9
Task 4: Scalars and Vectors
(15 minutes)
Copy and complete the following sentences:
A vector is defined as a quantity which has both ……………………………..
and ………………………………
A scalar is defined as a quantity which has …………………………….. only.
Sort the following quantities into the categories: Scalars and Vectors.
Distance
Acceleration
Displacement
Momentum
Scalars
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Speed
Energy
Velocity
Mass
Time
Force
Temperature
Vectors
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Task 5: Mechanics (motion) Questions
(2 ½ hours)
The following 20 questions are on Mechanics (movement of objects). You should
be able to complete the 10 questions in Section 1 with your GCSE Physics
knowledge.
Section 2 is made up of 10 A Level questions that build on your Y10/11
knowledge. You should be able to solve these problems with minimal research.
Task 5. Section 1- GCSE questions
1.
(a)
The diagram shows a book resting on a table. The weight of the book is 5 N.
P
5N
Two forces are shown acting on the book.
P is the upward push of the table on the book.
(i)
State the value of P.
...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii)
Explain your answer.
...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
The diagram below shows the book falling through the air.
R
5N
(i)
Name the force R.
...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii)
Complete the equation for the unbalanced force on the book.
unbalanced force =
(1)
(Total 4 marks)
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2.
(a)
A car is travelling along a straight flat road at 30 m/s.
(i)
What type of energy does it have?
.............................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii)
When the brakes are applied the car is brought to a stop. What has happened to the
energy it had whilst moving?
.............................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
The car starts going up a hill. The driver notices that the speed of the car begins to
decrease. He has not applied the brakes or altered the setting on the accelerator.
Explain in terms of energy why the car’s speed begins to decrease.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(c)
When the driver brakes, the distance needed to stop the car moving at 30 m/s up a hill is
less than the distance on a flat road.
Explain why.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(d)
A journey involving a lot of speeding up and slowing down uses more petrol than one
where the speed remains fairly constant.
Explain this in terms of energy.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 8 marks)
3.
The diagram shows a ball of mass 0.2 kg held 1.5 m above the ground.
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(a)
Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the ball.
Assume that the gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(b)
State the value of the kinetic energy of the ball just as it reaches the ground.
......................................................................................................................................
(1)
(c)
Show that just as the ball reaches the ground it has a speed of approximately 5.5 m/s.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 5 marks)
4.
Paul and Kate are climbers.
Kate weighs 550 N and Paul weighs 750 N.
They climb a rock face to a height of 45 m.
Not to
scale
45 m
(i)
In the diagram, Paul has more gravitational potential energy than Kate.
Explain why.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
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(1)
(ii)
Give the equation needed to calculate how much work Kate will do in climbing the rock
face.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(iii)
Calculate how much work she does in climbing 45 m.
State the unit in your answer.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(iv)
Paul accidentally dislodged a small rock.
The rock took 3 s to fall to the ground.
The acceleration due to gravity is 10 m/s2.
How fast was the rock travelling when it hit the ground?
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(v)
Complete the sentences.
While the rock was falling, gravitational potential energy was converted to
…………………………. energy.
(1)
(Total 8 marks)
5.
Two forces that act on a moving cyclist are the driving force and the resistive force.
(a)
The diagram shows a cyclist.
(i)
Add an arrow to show the direction of the resistive force.
(1)
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(ii)
The cyclist is speeding up. Which is the correct statement about these two forces?
A
The driving force is greater than the resistive force.
B
The driving force is smaller than the resistive force.
C
The driving force is the same as the resistive force.
Write the correct answer (A, B or C) in the box.
(1)
(b)
The table shows how the distance travelled by a cyclist changes with time.
Distance travelled (m)
0
40
80
80
110
140
Time (s)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Some of these points have been plotted on the graph.
140
120
100
Distance
travelled 80
in m
60
40
20
0
0
(i)
10
20
Time in s
30
40
50
Complete the graph.
(2)
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(ii)
Between which TWO times shown on the graph was the cyclist not moving?
Between.......................s and ......................s
(1)
(iii)
Between which TWO times shown on the graph did the cyclist have the greatest
speed?
Between.......................s and ......................s
Explain your answer.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)
6.
The diagram shows a mobile crane and a removal van. Each vehicle has a mass of
15 tonnes (15 000 kg).
The van and the crane both start to move. The table shows their speed during the first ten
seconds of movement.
(a)
Speed after 5 s
Speed after 10 s
Van
10 m/s
15 m/s
Crane
3 m/s
5 m/s
Which vehicle has the greater acceleration? Explain how you can tell.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(2)
(b)
The driving force used by the mobile crane to make it move is 20 000 N.
Explain why the driving force used by the removal van must be greater than
20 000 N.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(2)
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(Total 4 marks)
7.
The diagram shows the horizontal forces acting on a cyclist while she is accelerating.
(i)
A cyclist and her cycle have a total mass of 85 kg.
Calculate the combined kinetic energy of the cyclist and cycle when travelling at a speed
of 12 m/s.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(ii)
The kinetic energy of the cyclist and cycle increases at an average rate of 180 joules per
second.
Calculate the time it takes to gain this energy.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2
(iii)
The diagram shows the energy flow through the cycle during the first second that the
cyclist is accelerating.
.....................
200 J
from cyclist
180 J
as kinetic energy
When the cyclist is travelling at constant speed, the kinetic energy is constant although
the cyclist is still producing 200 J/s.
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Where does the energy go?
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 6 marks)
8.
A sky-diver of mass 70 kg jumps from a plane. The graph shows how the vertical velocity of the
sky-diver varies with time. Parts of the graph have been labelled A, B, C, D and E.
50
B
C
40
Vertical velocity 30
in m/s
20
D
10
A
0
0
(a)
E
5
10
15
20
25
30
Time in s
35
40
45
50
At A, the sky-diver has an acceleration equal to the acceleration due to gravity of
10 m/s2. Calculate the resultant force acting on the sky-diver at this instant.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(b)
How can you tell from the graph that in the time period from B to C the resultant force
acting on the sky-diver is zero?
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(c)
Describe and explain the motion of the sky-diver from C until he lands at E.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(4)
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(d)
A sky-diver, of the same mass, falls from the same height but uses a parachute with a
larger surface area. On the grid, sketch a graph to show his motion.
(2)
(Total 11 marks)
9.
When an athlete attempts to jump over a horizontal hurdle he pushes down on the ground.
(a)
Describe the force that causes the athlete to move upwards.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(b)
The graph shows how the upwards velocity of the athlete changes after leaving the
ground.
4
Velocity in m/s
2
0
Time in s
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
–2
–4
(i)
Calculate the acceleration of the athlete.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(3)
(ii)
What is the direction of the acceleration? Explain how you can tell from the graph.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(2)
(iii)
The mass of the athlete is 65 kg.
Calculate the force required to cause this acceleration.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
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(3)
(iv)
Describe the force that causes the athlete’s acceleration.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 11 marks)
10.
The graph shows how the speed of a lift changes with time as it descends from the third to the
ground floor of a building.
1.8
Speed
in m/s
0
2
6
4
Time in s
8
10
Use the graph to answer the following questions.
(a)
Between which times is the lift increasing in speed?
...............................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
What is the direction of the resultant force on the lift between 8 and 10 seconds? Explain
your answer.
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 3 marks)
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Task 5. Section 2- Topic 2 A Level Mechanics Questions
1.
Which of the following quantities is a vector?
A
density
B
mass
C
strain
D
weight
(Total 1 mark)
2.
For each of the physical quantities in the table below add the missing information. The first one
has been done for you.
Physical quantity
Base units
Vector or scalar
force
kg m s–2
vector
displacement
gravitational potential
energy
(Total 2 marks)
3.
y
y
y
x
A
y
x
B
Variable on y-axis
The acceleration of a feather falling near to
the Moon’s surface
x
C
x
D
Variable on x-axis
Height above the Moon’s surface
(Total 1 mark)
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4.
Figure 1 shows a box resting on the floor of a stationary lift. Figure 2 is a free-body force
diagram showing the forces A and B that act on the box.
Box
A
Lift floor
B
For each of the following situations, tick the appropriate boxes to show how the magnitude of
the forces A and B change, if at all, compared with when the lift is stationary.
Force A
Situation
increases
no change
Force B
decreases
increases
no change
decreases
Lift
accelerating
upwards
Lift moving
with constant
speed upwards
Lift
accelerating
downwards
Lift moving
with constant
speed
downwards
(Total 4 marks)
5.
(a)
Near schools the speed limit is 20 mph. It is claimed that reducing the speed limit from
30 mph (13.3 m s–1) to 20 mph (8.9 m s–1) halves the risk of serious injury in a car
accident.
When a car is involved in a crash, the collision energy depends upon the car’s speed just
before impact.
(i)
Determine
kineticenergy of car travelling at 20 mph
.
kineticenergy of car travelling at 30 mph
kineticenergy of car travelling at 20 mph
= ........................................................
kineticenergy of car travelling at 30 mph
(1)
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(ii)
To what extent does your answer support the claim?
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(b)
A car of mass 1200 kg is in a crash. The front bumper of the car deforms, and the car is
brought to rest from an initial speed of 10 m s–1 in a distance of 0.12 m.
By considering the work done on the car as it is brought to rest, calculate the average
impact force that acts.
Average impact force = .................................
(3)
(c)
Modern cars include crumple zones to reduce the size of the impact force. Suggest how
the crumple zones do this.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 7 marks)
6.
A skydiver accelerates towards the ground at 9.81 m s–2 at the instant that he leaves the
aeroplane.
(a)
Explain why his acceleration will decrease as he continues to fall.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(b)
The skydiver opens his parachute. Explain why he reaches a terminal velocity shortly
afterwards.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
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(c)
The velocity at which he then hits the ground is similar to that achieved when falling
freely from a height of 3 m. Calculate this velocity.
Velocity = ................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)
7.
A student was asked the following question: “Describe the variation in energy of a bungee
jumper from the moment that the jumper is released to the lowest point that the jumper
reaches.” As an answer the student wrote the following:
“Initially the jumper has gravitational potential energy, which is converted into elastic potential
energy as the cord stretches. At the lowest point in the jump, all of the gravitational potential
energy has been converted to elastic potential energy.”
(a)
Discuss the student’s answer, highlighting any incorrect or missing physics.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(4)
(b)
The bungee jumper has a mass of 80 kg and is in free fall through the air. At a particular
instant the force of the air resistance acting on the bungee jumper is 285 N.
Calculate the acceleration of the jumper.
Acceleration = ..........................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)
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8.
Two of the world’s biggest roller-coasters are Apollo’s Chariot in Busch Gardens, USA, and
The Big One in Blackpool, England. The principle of all roller-coasters is that gravitational
potential energy possessed by the vehicle at the top of a track is converted into kinetic energy at
the bottom.
In Apollo’s Chariot the vehicle drops a vertical distance of 64 m from rest.
Show that the expected speed of the vehicle at the bottom of the track is about 35 m s–1.
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
(3)
State one assumption you have made in this calculation.
...............................................................................................................................................
(1)
The Busch Gardens brochure states that the speed of Apollo’s Chariot at the bottom is in fact
32.5 m s–1. Suggest and explain one reason why the speed might be less than 35 m s–1.
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
(2)
Calculate the efficiency of this energy conversion as the vehicle runs down the track.
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
Efficiency = ...............................................
(3)
Vehicles on The Big One fall through an almost identical vertical distance to those on Apollo’s
Chariot; but the owners of The Big One claim that the speed at the bottom is 38 m s–1.
Assume their claim is truthful, and that the vertical falls are the same. Suggest how the vehicles
on The Big One could have a speed of 38 m s –1 at the bottom.
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 10 marks)
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9.
The graph below shows how the velocity of a motorbike varies with time during the final 10 s
of a race.
/ m s –1
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
t/s
(a)
(i)
Describe the motion shown by the graph.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(ii)
Show that during the final 10 s the motorbike travels a distance of approximately
800 m.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(3)
(b)
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Using the axes below, sketch a graph showing how the distance of the motorbike from the
finishing line varies with time during the final 10 s of the race. (Hint: your motorbike
should finish 0m from finishing line).
20
800
Distance from
finishing
line / m
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
4
3
2
1
0
7
6
5
8
10
9
t/s
(3)
(Total 8 marks)
10.
(a)
State the difference between distance and displacement.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
Figure 1 shows an idealised displacement-time graph for the journey of a train along a
straight horizontal track, from the moment when it passes a point A on the track.
Initially the train moves in an easterly direction away from A.
Figure 1
700
600
Displacement
from A
500
/m
400
300
200
100
0
-100
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
8
Time/minutes
-200
-300
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(i)
Describe the position of the train relative to A at the end of the 8 minutes covered
by the graph.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(ii)
Use the grid, Figure 2, to plot a velocity against time graph of the journey shown in
Figure 1. Do the calculations that are required on the lines below the grid.
Figure 2
Velocity
/m s-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
8
Time/minutes
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 7 marks)
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Task 6: Research Task: Light Gates
(45 minutes)
Conduct some research to answer the following questions. Record your
findings below. Continue on another page if necessary.
- What is a light gate?
- How do light gates work?
- How could you use it to measure the speed of a falling object at a
particular point? (Draw a diagram at the bottom of this page to aid your
explanation)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Section 7: Reading List
The main textbook is very useful but yet to be updated for the
new 2015 specification. In the meantime we suggest borrowing
books from a library, anything that links to the current Edexcel
syllabus (from 2008) will be very useful. Books tailored to the
course will be published this Autumn.
Books:
Textbook
Advanced Physics for You
(Blue cover with water skier) published by nelson thornes
ISBN: 978-0-7487-5296-6
Whole Course Revision Guide (currently only available for pre-order)
REVISE Edexcel AS/A Level Physics Revision Guide (with online edition)
(Orange cover) published by Pearson
ISBN: 978-1-4479-8998-1
Wider Reading:
Physics World Magazine (available in WH Smith)
For those keen to study Physics at University:
‘Physics for Scientists and Engineers’ 6th Edition by P.A. Tipler and G. Mosca
ISBN: 978-142-9202-657
Websites:
Course information (Edexcel A Level Physics from 2015) :
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-alevels/physics-2015.html
Learning/ Revision:
SJL iSpace is in the process of being updated.
SJL iSpace / School Departments / Science / A-Level Physics / AS Physics
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/physics
Wider Reading:
http://physicsworld.com/
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