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P7 Energy and P8 Global challenges

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

What is efficiency, and how do renewable and non-renewable energy resources compare?

Efficiency as the fraction of energy usefully transferred, the efficiency equation, ways of reducing wasted energy, and the comparison of renewable and non-renewable energy resources with their trade-offs.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A on efficiency and energy resources, covering efficiency as the fraction of energy usefully transferred, the efficiency equation, reducing wasted energy, and comparing renewable and non-renewable resources with their reliability, cost and environmental trade-offs.
9 min answer →

How is energy stored and transferred, and what does conservation of energy mean?

Energy stores (kinetic, gravitational, elastic, thermal, chemical, nuclear, magnetic, electrostatic), the four energy transfer pathways, the law of conservation of energy, and how energy is dissipated to the surroundings.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P7 on energy stores and transfers, covering the energy stores, the four transfer pathways, the law of conservation of energy, and how energy is dissipated to the surroundings as it is transferred.
9 min answer →

How does the national grid transmit electricity efficiently, and what is mains electricity?

The national grid and the role of step-up and step-down transformers, why transmission is at high voltage and low current, the transformer turns and power relationships, and the nature of mains electricity as an alternating supply.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P8 on the national grid and mains electricity, covering step-up and step-down transformers, why transmission is at high voltage and low current, the transformer power relationship, and the nature of mains electricity as an alternating supply.
9 min answer →

How did the Solar System and stars form, and what is the evidence for the Big Bang?

The structure of the Solar System, the life cycle of stars, red-shift of light from distant galaxies, and how red-shift provides evidence for an expanding universe and the Big Bang theory.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P8 Beyond Earth, covering the structure of the Solar System, the life cycle of stars, the red-shift of light from distant galaxies, and how red-shift provides evidence for an expanding universe and the Big Bang theory.
9 min answer →

What affects a car's stopping distance, and how do safety features reduce injury?

Stopping distance as thinking distance plus braking distance, the factors that affect each, the energy and force involved in braking, and how safety features reduce the force on occupants by increasing the collision time.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P8 on vehicle safety and stopping distances, covering stopping distance as thinking plus braking distance, the factors affecting each, the energy and force in braking, and how safety features reduce the force on occupants by increasing the collision time.
9 min answer →

How do we calculate work done, kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy and power?

Work done as energy transferred by a force, the work done equation, the kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy equations, and power as the rate of doing work or transferring energy.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P7 on work, energy and power, covering work done as energy transferred by a force, the work done equation, the kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy equations, and power as the rate of doing work or transferring energy.
9 min answer →