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Northern IrelandPhysics

Motion and forces

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do motion graphs show speed, acceleration and distance travelled?

Interpreting distance-time and velocity-time graphs, finding speed and acceleration from gradients, and distance from the area under a velocity-time graph.
A CCEA GCSE Physics answer on reading distance-time and velocity-time graphs, finding speed and acceleration from gradients, and calculating distance travelled from the area under a velocity-time graph.
10 min answer →

What is momentum, and how is it conserved in collisions and explosions?

Momentum p = mv, the principle of conservation of momentum, and calculations for one-dimensional collisions and explosions.
A CCEA GCSE Physics answer on momentum p = mv, the principle of conservation of momentum, and how to work out velocities in one-dimensional collisions and explosions.
11 min answer →

How do forces change the way objects move?

Resultant force, Newton's first, second and third laws, and using F = ma to relate force, mass and acceleration.
A CCEA GCSE Physics answer on resultant force, Newton's three laws of motion, the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces, and how to use and rearrange F = ma.
11 min answer →

How do we describe how fast something moves and how quickly its motion changes?

Distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration, the difference between scalars and vectors, and the equations linking them.
A CCEA GCSE Physics answer on distance and displacement, speed and velocity, acceleration, the difference between scalar and vector quantities, and how to use and rearrange the speed and acceleration equations.
10 min answer →

What affects how far a car travels before it stops, and how do safety features protect us?

Thinking, braking and stopping distances, the factors affecting each, and how safety features reduce the force in a crash.
A CCEA GCSE Physics answer on thinking, braking and stopping distances, the factors that affect each, and how seat belts, air bags and crumple zones reduce injury by increasing the time of impact.
10 min answer →

What is the difference between mass and weight, and why does a falling object reach a steady speed?

Mass and weight, the equation W = mg, free fall, air resistance and how a falling object reaches terminal velocity.
A CCEA GCSE Physics answer on the difference between mass and weight, the equation W = mg, free fall and how air resistance leads a falling object to reach a constant terminal velocity.
10 min answer →