PHYSICS SPM 2010

REVISION NOTES

PREPARED BY: MR. PEETER

CHAPTER 1.
1.1
BASE QUANTITIES AND DERIVED QUANTITIES.
1. A quantity that be measured are physical quantity: examples are area of rectangle area is the quantity and the
rectangle is the physical object.
2. Physical quantities are divided to BASE and DERIVED QUANTITIES. A BASE quantity is a quantity that cannot be
defined in terms of other physical quantities. Units for BASE quantities are called SI units.
3. LIST OF BASE QUANTITIES
Base quantity
SI unit
Symbol
Mass, m
kilogram
kg
Length, l
meter
m
Time, t
seconds
s
Temperature, T (thermodynamic temperature)
kelvin
K
Electric current, I
ampere
A
Quantity of matter
mole
mole
4. DERIVED quantities are derived by multiplications and divisions of BASE quantities. Its a
combination of various basic quantities. Units are known as derived units.
5. LIST OF DERIVED QUANTITIES
Derived quantity
Relationship with the base quantity
Derived unit
Power

Pressure

Scientific notation
Prefixes .
Prefix
Multiple
TERA
1 000 000 000 000
GIGA
1 000 000 000
MEGA
1 000 000
KILO
1 000
HECTO
100
DECA
10
Sub-multiple
DESI
0.1
CENTI
0.01
MILLI
0.001
MICRO
0.000 001
NANO
0.000 000 001
PICO
0.000 000 000 001

In scientific notation
10 12
10 9
10 6
10 3
102
101

SYMBOL
T
G
M
k
h
da

10 1
10 2
10 3
10 6
10 9
10 -12

d
c
m

n
p

1.2

MEASUREMENTS.
1. PRECISION is the degree of uniformity or reproducibility of the measurements.
Is the ability of an instrument in measuring a quantity in a consistent manner with only a small
relative deviation between readings.
A high precision indicates a small deviation. And a low precision indicates a large deviation.
Absolute deviation is the difference between a value and the mean value for the whole measurements.
Relative deviation is the percentage of mean deviation for a set of measurements.
Relative deviation = mean deviation X 100 %
mean value
2. ACCURACY is the degree of closeness of the measurements to the true or accepted value.
Is the approximation of the measurement to the actual value for a certain quantity of physics.
Accuracy of a measurement can be increased by:
a. taking a number of repeated readings to calculate the mean value of the readings
b. avoiding the end errors or zero errors
c. taking into account the zero and parallax errors
d. using more sensitive equipment such as a vernier caliper to replace a ruler.
3. SENSITIVITY of an instrument is its ability to detect small changes in the quantity that is being measured. Measuring
instruments that have smaller scale parts are more sensitive.

MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
a. VERNIER CALIPER

The reading of vernier caliper.

CALIPER READING = MAIN SCALE READING + VERNIER SCALE READING

The reading of the vernier caliper in the

next figure is :
Main scale = 5.30cm
Vernier scale = 0.04cm
Vernier caliper reading
= 5.30cm
+ 0.04cm
= 5.34cm.

ZERO ERROR ( of vernier caliper ).

An instrument which does not register a zero reading when the true reading is zero has a zero
error defect. A vernier caliper has a zero error if the 0 mark on main scale is not in line with the 0 mark on the vernier
scale of the calipers when the jaws are fully closed .
To eliminate zero error:
Correct reading = caliper reading zero error.
REAL READING = CALIPER READING ZERO ERROR
Type of zero error:

b. MICROMETER SCREW GAUGE

The reading of micrometer screw gauge.

The reading of the micrometer screw
gauge :
Reading = main scale + thimble scale

ZERO ERROR ( of a micrometer screw gauge ).

The accuracy of the micrometer screw gauge is also affected by zero errors. If the micrometer shows zero errors then all the readings
have to be corrected.
To eliminate zero error:
Correct reading = micrometer reading zero error.
Type of zero error:

CHAPTER 2.
2.0
FORCES AND MOTION
EQUATIONS FOR LINEAR MOTION WITH UNIFORM ACCELERATION.
LINEAR MOTION EQUATIONS.
b.
c.

v = u + at
s = 1 x (u + v) t
2
DERIVE ALL THESE EQUATIONS, from the above formulae.
d.
s = ut + 1 at 2
2
e.
v 2 = u 2 + 2as
2.1

Analysing Motion Graphs

1. Displacement-time graphs
1a. the displacement stays the same, the object is
at rest, velocity is zero (gradient is zero)

1b. the displacement is increasing uniformly with

time, object moving with constant velocity
(constant gradient)

1c. the displacement is increasing (not uniformly with

time) velocity is increasing (gradient is ncreasing)
object moving with constant acceleration

2. Velocity-time graph
2a. object is not moving, velocity is zero,
(gradient is zero) acceleration zero

2b. constant velocity, (gradient is zero)

acceleration is zero

[displacement of the object = area under the graph]

2c. velocity is increasing uniformly with time,
(constant gradient) acceleration constant

[displacement of the object = area under the graph]

1d. the displacement is increasing (not uniformly

with time) velocity is decreasing
(gradient is decreasing) the object is
moving with constant deceleration

2d. velocity decreasing uniformly with time,

(constant negative gradient) object moving
with constant deceleration

[displacement of the object = area under the graph]

2. Acceleration-time graph
a. object not moving, acceleration zero

b. constant velocity, acceleration zero

c. object moving with constant acceleration

( positive acceleration)

d. object moving with constant deceleration

( negative acceleration)

INERTIA
Inertia = of an object is the tendency of the object to remain at rest or if moving to continue its
motion.
= is the property of matter that causes it to resist any change in its motion or state of rest.
The charecteristics of inertia can be described by
NEWTONS FIRST LAW OF MOTION. STATES:
every object will continue in its state of uniform velocity or at rest unless it is acted
upon by an external force.
o ( MASS DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF INERTIA ).
o AN OBJECT WITH A LARGER MASS HAS A LARGER INERTIA.

Ways of reducing the effects of inertia.

a. Seat belt the seat belts secure the passengers to their seats and prevent them from being thrown forward or head long
into the windscreen.
b. Air bag system mounted on the steering or dashboard, expands automatically during collisions protects the driver and
passenger during collision.
c. Lorries carrying heavy loads ( petrol tanks ) will have following structures:
i.
a strong iron structure behind the drivers cabin, to stop the inertial movement of the heavy load towards the
driver when the lorry is stopped suddenly.
ii.
If it is a petrol tanker the inside tank is divided internally into compartments. This is to lessen the impact of
the inertial movement of the liquid forward.
THE PRINCIPLE OF CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM.
States: that the total momentum of a system is always fixed if there is no external force acting on
the system
THE TOTAL MOMENTUM OF THE OBJECT BEFORE COLLISION IS THE SAME AS THE TOTAL MOMENTUM AFTER
COLLISION PROVIDED THAT THERE IS NO EXTERNAL FORCE ACTING ON IT.
TYPES COLLISIONS:
A.
ELASTIC COLLISION:
After collision the objects move seperately.
Both objects move independently at their respective velocities after collision.
Momentum is conserved, kinetic energy is conserved and total energy is conserved.
B.
INELASTIC COLLISION:
After collision objects stick together and moves with a common velocity.
The two objects combine and move together with a common velocity after collision.
Momentum is conserved, kinetic energy is not conserved and total energy is conserved.
C.
EXPLOSION:
The total momentum before explosion is equal to the total momentum after explosion because the total momentum is conserved
during explosion. The total momentum is zero before and after collision.
Momentum is conserved.

4. B.
Unbalanced Forces. When the forces acting on an object is not at balance the object will accelerate or
decelerate.
The net force is known as the unbalanced force or the resultant force. Net force occur when there is
unbalanced forces acting on an object.
Fb > Fs
Fb Fs = ma
Net force = ma.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FORCE, MASS, AND ACCELERATION.

1. The acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the force applied if the mass of the object is constant.
F a
2. The acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the force applied if the mass of the object is constant.
F a
F =ka
k=m
F=ma
NEWTONS SECOND LAW OF MOTION.
Formula for force, F=ma.
This relationship is known as Newtons second law of motion.
Newtons second law of motion states that the rate of changes of momentum of a moving
body is proportional to and in the same direction as the net force acting on it.

Free Fall.
- objects falls without encountering any resistance from a height towards the earth with an acceleration due to gravity, the
object is said to be free falling.
- All objects which free fall from the same height have the same gravitational acceleration, g. But a free fall can only occur
in vacuum.
MASS AND WEIGHT.
1.
Mass is the amount of matter content in an object(body).
2.
Weight is the gravitational force exerted on an object by the earth.
3.
Weight is therefore a force and measured in Newton, N. Weight is a vector quantity.
Weight = mg
2.9

PULLEY SYSTEM

1. If M1 > M2 ( mass of load M1 is bigger than mass of load M2),

The formula of net force(resultant force) will be:
M1g - T = M1a.
T - M2g = M2 a.
M1g - M2 g = (M2 + M1 )a.

2.10
WORK.
a.
b.
c.

WORK, ENERGY AND POWER.

Work done is the product of an applied force and the displacement of an object in the direction of the applied force.
Work is defined as the product of the applied force and the displacement of an object in the direction of the applied force.
Work is defined as the product of the acting force and the distance travelled in the direction of that acting force. The S.I.
unit for work is Nm or Joule and work is a scalar quantity.
Work done, W

=F X s

F = force, s = displacement
=
=

Nm.
J.

Energy is defined as the capacity for doing work. The S.I. unit for energy is Joule.
Types of Energy.
a.
Gravitational potential energy
Gravitational potential energy is the energy of an object due to its higher position in the gravitational field. Gravitational potential
energy is the energy possessed by a body due to its location.
b.
Elastic potential energy
Elastic potential energy is the energy that is due to a state of compression or stretching.
The elastic potential energy =
c.
Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy is the energy of an object due to its motion.

The principle of conservation of energy

The principle of conservation of energy states that energy can be transferred from one form to another, but it cannot be created or
destroyed.
The Principle of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but it can be converted from one form
into another.
The conservation of energy benefits humans. On the other hand, the abuse of energy can bring about danger.
POWER
Power is defined as the rate at which work is done, or the amount of work done per second.
POWER = WORK
TIME
Efficiency =

2.11
Elasticity
The forces of repulsion act when solids are compressed and forces of attraction act when solids are stretched.
The resultant force is zero when the particles are in a state of equilibrium. Therefore, in such a case, the force of attraction is equal to
the force of repulsion.
Elasticity is the characteristic of a solid to return to its original shape and size after a stretching or compressive force is removed.
The forces of repulsion act when solids are compressed and forces of attraction act when solids are stretched.
Hooke's law
Hooke's law defined that the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the applied force provided that the elastic limit is not
exceeded. It can be written as:
F= k x
where, F is the force on the spring, k is the spring constant and x is the extension of the spring.
The elastic potential energy stored in a stretched spring is given by: ______________________
The spring constant, k is a value that depends on the
(a) type of substance
(b) diameter of the spring
(c) diameter of the wire from which the spring is made.
(d) original length of the spring.
The elastic limit is defined as the maximum force which can be acted upon a given elastic substance before the substance loses its
elastic characteristics.
CHAPTER 3.
3.0
3.1

FORCES AND PRESSURE

PRESSURE IN LIQUIDS
Pressure in liquids caused by the weight of liquids. The pressure at a point in a liquid, at a particular depth, acts equally in
all directions. The pressure in a liquid increases with depth. The pressure at
a point in a liquid depends on its vertical distance from the surface of the liquid.
2.
Deriving a Formula for Pressure in a liquid.
1.

Methods to measure Air(Gas) and Atmospheric Pressure.

1. To measure gas pressure instrument used are:
a.
manometer

b.

and Bourdon gauge

2. To measure atmospheric pressure instrument used are:

a.
Aneroid barometer

b.

And Fortins Barometer

A Simple Barometer

3.2

PASCALS PRINCIPLE
Pascals Principle states that when pressure is applied to an enclosed fluid, the pressure will be
transmitted equally throughout the whole enclosed fluid.
Pascals Principle states that in a confined fluid, an externally applied pressure is transmitted
uniformly in all directions. It is also known as the principle of transmission of pressure in a liquid.

Application of Pascals Priciple:

1. A Basic hydraulic system works with the Pascals principle.
2. Mechanism of a hydraulic system.

When a small force of F1 is exerted at the small piston a larger force of F2 will be exerted at the larger piston.

3. Examples of hydraulic systems.

A hydraulic brake system.

3.3

ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLES
states that for a body immersed wholly or partially in a fluid, the upward buoyant force acting on the
body is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.
( buoyant force is an upward force resulting from an object being wholly or partially immersed in a fluid)
BUOYANT FORCE =
WEIGHT OF LIQUID DISPLACED
=
pVg
p
=
density of the liquid
V
=
volume of liquid displaced
G
=
gravity
1. if objects are freely floating on water( liquid ):
weight of object = buoyant force
2. when weight of object is equal to the buoyant force than the :
weight of object = weight of liquid displaced
[weight of liquid displaced = buoyant force]
Formula for buoyant force:

3.4

BERNOULLIS PRINCIPLE
- states that when the velocity of a fluid is high, the pressure is low and when the
velocity is low, the pressure is high.

Applications of Bernoullis Principle.

A.
Aerofoil
the aerofoil shape of the wing of an aeroplane , causes the lifting of an aeroplane
when the plane is moving horizontally , air flows over the aerofoil
the velocity of the air at the top is greater then at bottom.
The difference in the velocity of air at the top and bottom has caused lower air pressure at the top compared to
the bottom. The higher air pressure at the bottom created a net upward force or lift is resulted.
-

CHAPTER 4.
HEAT
4.1
TEMPERATURE, HEAT AND THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM
Temperature
The degree of hotness or coldness of an object, it is expressed as a number on the
temperature scale. SI unit is Kelvin (K).
Is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules in a substance.
Heat
Heat is energy transfer from a higher temperature substance to a lower temperature
substance. Heat is the energy transfers from one object to another because of the
differences in temperature. Unit of measurement is Joule (J).
Thermal Equilibrium
When objects in thermal contact reach the same temperature, these objects are in
thermal equilibrium. There is no net heat flow between them.
The amount of heat energy flowing out of one object is the same as the amount
flowing in.
The rate of heat absorption equals to the rate of heat dissipation at the same
temperature
e.g.
a thermometer is read when it has reached thermal
equilibrium with the substance being measured

4.2

UNDERSTANDING SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY

Different substance will have different ability to transfer heat energy, the specific heat capacity is used to compare these
ability.
The Specific Heat Capacity of a material is defined as the amount of energy that must be transferred to change the temperature of
one kilogram of a material by 1oC or 1K.
A substance with a larger heat capacity will experience a smaller temperature rise when absorbing heat.
Specific Heat Capacity
Q=mc
C = Q_
m
C = specific heat capacity
Q = amount of energy absorbed or released( J )
= changes in temperature ( OC)
m = mass of the object / material (Kg)
4.3

UNDERSTANDING LATENT HEAT

1.
Latent heat is the energy transferred during the change in state of matter at a constant temperature.

2.

SPECIFIC LATENT HEAT OF FUSION, lf (L) of a substance is the amount of heat energy required to change
1kg of a substance from solid state to liquid state without a change in temperature.
The SI unit for SPECIFIC LATENT HEAT OF FUSION, lf is joule per kilogram ( JKg-1)
Q = m L.

3.

SPECIFIC LATENT HEAT OF VAPORIZATION, lV (L) of a substance is the amount of heat energy required to
change 1kg of a substance from liquid state to gas state without a change in temperature.
The SI unit for SPECIFIC LATENT HEAT OF VAPORIZATION, lV is joule per kilogram ( JKg-1)
Q = m L.

GAS LAWS
A. BOYLES LAW .
a. Boyles Law : states that the pressure of a fixed mass of a gas is inversely proportional to the volume of the gas, provided
the temperature of the gas is constant.

b. When the temperature of a constant mass gas is constant , the average kinetic energy of all the gas particles are constant
too. If the volume of the gas is reduced , the number of gas particles per unit volume will increase. This will increase the
frequency of collision of the gas particles with the wall of the container which will increase the gas pressure.

B. CHARLES LAW.
a. Charless Law: states that for a fixed mass of ideal gas , the volume is directly proportional to its absolute temperature at
constant pressure.

b. When the mass and the pressure of a gas are fixed, frequency of collision between the gas particles and the wall of the
container are constant. If the temperature is increased then the kinetic energy of the gas particles will increase, this will
increase the number/frequency of collision between the gas particles and the wall of the container, so the pressure
exerted by the gas particles on the wall of the container is increasing. The container at first will expand due to the
increase in the pressure but when the pressure becomes the same as before the expansion, the expansion will stop and
the gas will have a new different volume
( an increased volume), when the temperature is increased.
C. PRESSURE LAW.
a. Pressure Law: states that the pressure of an ideal gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature at constant
volume
b. When the temperature of a fixed volume and mass of a gas is increased the kinetic energy of the particles will increase.
The increase in the kinetic energy will increase the frequency of collision, thus this will increase the gas pressure.
CHAPTER 5 LIGHT
IMAGE FORMED BY A CONVEX MIRROR

1. Characteristics of the image formed by convex mirror ,

a.
virtual
b.
upright
c.
diminished in size
d.
image behind the mirror
5.2 REFRACTION OF LIGHT
a. Laws of refraction Snells Law.
-two laws of refraction
- A. the incident ray and the refracted ray are on the opposite sides of the normal at the point of incidence, and all three lie in
the same plane ( phase ).
B.
The value of sin i / sin r is a constant this known as snells law.

C.
Refractive index, n
i. refractive index , n =

sin i
sin r
ii. refractive index , n

iii. refractive index , n

= speed of light in vacuum

speed of light in a medium

real depth
apparent depth
iv. refractive index , n =
1
sin c

Critical angle = C , an angle of incidence when the refracted rays angle is 90o .
The refracted ray travels along the two mediums boundary.
E.
Total Internal Reflection is the total reflection of a beam of light at the boundary of two
mediums, when the angle of incidence in the optically denser medium exceeds a specific
critical angle. The boundary between two mediums acts like a perfect plane mirror where
total internal reflection occurs.
D.

PRACTICE 1:
1.
Draw image formed by a concave mirror when :
a. when the object is at C

b. when the object is between F and C

UNDERSTANDING TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION OF LIGHT

1. Critical angle an angle of incidence that cause a refracted light ray with an angle of 900. If the angle of incidence is
allowed to exceed the critical angle, it is found that light rays are not refracted. This is because all of the light rays are
reflected. This is named total internal reflection.
2. Total internal reflection can happen when:
a. light rays travel from a denser medium to a less dense medium
b. the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle
3. refractive index , n = 1
sin c
4. Light Diagram for total internal reflection.
b. light ray with total internal reflection

c. total internal reflection in a glass prism

d. Applications of Total Internal Reflection:

i.
mirage
ii.
periscope
iii.
binoculars
iii.
fibre optics

Linear Magnification.

i.

linear magnification ,

M = height of image
height of object

ii.

linear magnification ,

M = distance of image (v)

distance of object (u)

iii.

1 = 1
f
u

+ 1
v

Lens Power
Power ( D ) =

1
Focal length(m)

i. convex lens power =

ii. concave lens power =

+ ___ D
- ___ D

5.5 OPTICAL DEVICES

1. Slide Projector.
Components
slide

Functions
Placed at a distance between 2F and F from the projector lens . As an object ,
placed inverted
Projector lens
To focus a clear image on the screen
Can be adjusted
Condenser
Consisting 2 plano-convex lenses to focus all the light on the object to obtain a
clear image on the screen
Concave mirror
To reflect all the light ray and to focus all the light ray to the slide .
* the slide is placed inverted so that the image will be upright

3. Compound Microscope

a. Focal length of the eye lens is longer than the focal length of an objective lens

Fe > Fo
b.
c.
d.
e.

Eye lens works as a magnifying glass

Power of the eye lens is smaller than the power of the objective lens
The final image formed by the eye lens are virtual, magnified and inverted
Magnification of the microscope : M = m0 X me
[The first image from the object lens is used as image for the eye lens]
[The height of the first image is the same height of the object of eye lens]

4.Astronomy Telescope.
a. Focal length of the eye lens is shorter than the focal length of the objective lens
Fo > Fe
b. Power of the eye lens is bigger/higher than the power of the objective lens
c. Magnifications of the telescope :
M = focal length of the objective lens , fo
focal length of the eye lens(eyepiece) , fe
M =

Height of the image

Height of the object

PHYSIC FORM 4.

PREPARED BY: CIKGU PEETER

017 3820248