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4.5 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 forces change motion, and what do Newton's laws say?

Acceleration and Newton's laws: the acceleration equation, the uniform acceleration equation, velocity-time graphs, and Newton's three laws of motion.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.5.6, covering acceleration and its equation, the uniform acceleration equation, reading velocity-time graphs, and Newton's first, second and third laws of motion with the force, mass and acceleration relationship.
9 min answer →

How do we describe and calculate motion using distance, speed and velocity?

Distance, time and velocity: distance and displacement, speed and velocity, the speed equation, and interpreting distance-time graphs.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.5.6, covering the difference between distance and displacement and between speed and velocity, the speed equation, typical everyday speeds, and how to read and use distance-time graphs.
8 min answer →

What is momentum, and why is it conserved in collisions?

Momentum: the momentum equation, conservation of momentum in collisions and explosions, and the link between force and rate of change of momentum (higher and separate).
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.5.7, covering the momentum equation, the conservation of momentum in collisions and explosions, and how force relates to the rate of change of momentum and to road-safety features.
9 min answer →

What is the difference between scalars and vectors, and what types of force are there?

Scalars, vectors and forces: the difference between scalar and vector quantities, contact and non-contact forces, weight and the resultant of several forces.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.5.1, covering the difference between scalar and vector quantities, contact and non-contact forces, weight and gravity, and how to find the resultant of forces acting in a line.
8 min answer →

What affects how far a car travels before it stops?

Stopping distances: thinking distance and braking distance, the factors that affect each, and the link between braking, work done and road safety.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.5.6, covering stopping distance as the sum of thinking and braking distance, the factors that affect each part, and how braking transfers kinetic energy to heat through work done by the friction force.
8 min answer →

How do forces do work and stretch springs?

Work done and elasticity: work done by a force, the link to energy, Hooke's law, the spring constant and elastic potential energy, and the required practical.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.5.2 and 4.5.3, covering work done by a force and its link to energy transfer, Hooke's law and the spring constant, elastic potential energy, and the required practical investigating force and extension.
9 min answer →