Gcse physics

Thank you so much, physicskate, that is extremely helpful, not least because I now know I don't need to understand why, only be able to apply! I really thought I was missing something, so it's good to know just knowing and using the equations is enough.

The spring constant is just a number assigned to an individual spring to indicate its relative 'stretchiness'. F = kx. So if the same force stretches twice the extension as another spring, it has a smaller spring constant (k) to indicate that it is stretched more (the extension is larger).

It makes the maths work so that you can predict how far a spring is stretched if you know the force applied and the constant. If you have a graph of different forces applied against extension, k is the slope (or the inverse of the slope depending on which way round the axes are). That's how you find k of an individual spring, generally (to ensure it hasn't passed the elastic limit).

Honestly, this is not a concept that needs to be understood at gcse, just applied by using the formula f=kx. I've never seen a question (hm maybe one at a level?) where you are required to compare spring constants.

To calculate the work done by extending a spring (which is the same as energy stored in a spring), work = f x d. Where f is the force applied and d is the distance this force causes the spring to extend. Oh wait! We also know that f = k x. So substitute this into the work equation gives you work = k x (squared). Hm so then that leaves is with the problem of the one half. And that actually relates back to the graph... work = force x extension is equal to the area under the 'curve', which makes a triangle shape on these graphs. The area of a triangle? 0.5 base x height. So that's where your 0.5 comes from. Work = 0.5 force x extension = 0.5 (kx) x = 0.5 k x(squared).

Again, this is NOT a proof you would normally see or need to 'understand' in any sense at gcse... you simply need to be able to apply the formula. I would generally only show this to a top top set, and expect maybe one or three 8/9 grade pupils to 'follow' it.

Gpe = mgh = weight height. Because don't forget work = force * distance and weight is a force!

I'm really sorry about the bold. I don't know how to undo it on the app and cvs typing it all out only for the same to happen. Hope that helps a little @Alsoplayspiccolo.

So relieved to have found this post!
DD is in year 11, DS is in year 9, so we are going through the energy topic for the second time and it STILL fries my brain!
For example, what is the spring constant? Why do you only calculate 0.5? Why is the extension to the power of 2?
And then, why does GPE involve mass x GFS, rather than simply weight?

Concepts are key, but a lot up to this level is taught as how to answer questions. If you can understand the concepts then there is very little to actually learn. Good luck finding the right resources to help!

DD did double and struggled with the physics component - so dh (who did physics at Cambridge) decided to tutor her - he was utterly appalled by her lack of basic knowledge, understanding the concepts and thinking them through to answers questions was not something that had been rehearsed at school, her science teachers with staff turnover being incredibly high. Dh spent time, maybe an hour or two with her every week from Feb - May and she ended up with 8:8 in her GCSE up from 6:5 in her mocks.

Good advice from physicskate
DD found physics hard, so she practised using old exam papers, and ended up with the highest UMS marks of the three sciences she took.

What she struggled with was that so much of it is intangible theory. At least with biology and chemistry you can physically see what is going on and everything seems much more logical.

Will be showing myDD this link in the morning. Thanks

Retired physics teacher here. I don't think physics is hard - but I suppose I would say that! I found the students who struggled tried to learn it, when in fact there isn't really much to learn. (I used to give the students an A4 sheet - printed on both sides but double spaced) with everything they needed to actually learn.

The key is understanding - and you need to understand as you go. No use leaving the understanding until the end, so it helps that she's in Y10, not 11. I used to liken it to a jigsaw puzzle - easy at first, then hard, then easier again towards the end, as everything fits into place.

So yes to the online material suggested here, and if she is really struggling with specific heat capacity PM me and I'll try to hunt out some of the resources I created which might help.

Give Seneca learning a try.
www.senecalearning.com/

Some great advice here. My app won't let me watch threads for some reason so I'm placemarking and will pass this advice on to DD.
Thanks all

Yep, it is energy right now. Specific heat capacity, potential difference etc

Sorry, just noticed this. Potential difference is part of the electricity topic, and won't make much sense until she's done that one. Is this in the context of the specific heat capacity required practical?

Energy (the AQA version) has changed quite a bit for the new spec and I'm finding very few textbooks are able to explain it well (because they were rushed out and hadn't been properly updated).

FWIW, I doubt very much either you or she has a "block" on physics. More likely you had a poor teacher (they are, and always have been, very common in physics) and she's struggling because relying on books is hard.

For anyone struggling to understand physics concepts, I recommend PhET - online interactive simulations which are awesome for visualising stuff. The "energy skatepark" one is good for showing the changes in energy stores, and I think there's one with springs that shows it too. (Sorry, I cant link cos I'm on my iPad).

Finally (and sorry this is getting epic), if she's in hospital for a while what provision is being made for teaching her? Her school should be setting appropriate work.

Seneca is a great website and free. Physics and maths tutor (a website) has topic based revision notes and then past paper questions (beyond what’s on the aqa site). CGP books are amazing as well. There are also songs etc on you tube to help with remembering equations.

I think part of the thing with the equations is that many of them use unfamiliar symbols and initially look scary. If they can be broken down into an easier to understand form, this can help some children get to grips with them.

Which area of physics are you looking at at the moment? There are some less mathsy/easier to understand areas e.g. pros/cons of different ways of producing electricity, some of the forces stuff, some of the stuff around waves.

Most schools start with the energy topic, but I actually think it's one of the harder ones.

Hi all, we're a new online GCSE learning platform called CoreSciences that may be able to help you. We offer lessons in physics, biology and chemistry and particularly focus on the required practicals.

My son finds Senecal useful. Dd liked Primrosekitten.

As far as I am aware Trilogy, Synergy and Single Subject are the same level of difficulty (depending on whether a student is studying foundation or Higher of course.)

I always found physics hard but I'm not mathematical.

I'm just placemarking too (to pass on the tips to DS).

He has just gone into Year 10, he's doing the separate sciences and he said that Physics is by far the hardest.

It's odd really, as he said he's struggling to get to terms with the equations - he's really strong in Maths, so he doesn't get why it seems so different.

I think physicskate's advice was good.

My dd used CGP revision guides and workbooks.

I especially think the advice of leave it a few weeks or days and come back to it works well.

My daughter pulled up from a low 3 3 to high grade 5 5 in 3 months with freesciencelessons. They really helped

Place marking as annoyingly my watch button is missing and I love the advice!

DD liked ‘free science lessons’ and primrose kitten on YouTube for science

Former physics teacher.

Questions questions questions. Past paper questions, google worksheets, cgp, Collins workbooks. Use the questions to guide the revision. Come back to questions you found hard a few days/ weeks later.

Break it down into definitions and statements of fact. Learn the equations. Read the questions carefully looking for the command words. See what information you're given in the questions (data, scenario to apply knowledge to, need to recall facts etc...).

Let me know if I can help! I quit teaching a year and a half ago to get pregnant (long, irrelevant story) and am currently twiddling thumbs on maternity leave...