Module 12: Energy, force and communication

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You should be able to (higher tier in bold):

12.01 use the following units:
– coulomb (C), ampere (A), volt (V), watt (W), second (s), metre (m), hertz (Hz), metre per second (m/s), newton (N), newton metre (Nm) ()

Charge and energy
You should be able to (higher tier in bold):
12.02 describe common materials which are electrical conductors or insulators including metals and plastics
12.03 describe how an insulator can be charged by friction, resulting in the transfer of electrons
12.04 recall that like charges repel and unlike charges attract
12.05 describe common electrostatic phenomena in terms of movement of electrons, for example
– shocks from car doors
– charges on synthetic fabrics
– lightning
12.06 describe some of the uses and dangers of electrostatic charges in everyday situations, eg fuelling aircraft and tankers, photocopiers and inkjet printers
12.07 explain how earthing removes the excess charge on a body, with reference to the
movement of electrons
12.08 understand that current is rate of flow of charge
12.09 recall and use the equation
– charge (C) = current (A) * time (s)
Q = I
* t
12.10 understand that electric current in metals is a flow of negatively charged electrons
12.11 understand that electric current in molten or dissolved electrolytes is a movement of
both positive and negative ions
12.12 recall and use the equation
– electrical power (W) = current (A) * voltage (V)
P = I
* V
12.13 use the quantitative relationship between energy transferred, current, voltage and
time
– energy transferred = current * voltage * time
E = I
* V * t (will be provided if needed)
12.14 understand that voltage is the energy transferred per unit charge passed; the volt as a
joule per coulomb
12.15 recall that a force is exerted on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field and understand
how this is used in a simple d.c. motor
12.16 understand that when a wire carrying a current is perpendicular to a magnetic field, the
resulting force is perpendicular to both
12.17 recall the structure of a transformer and understand that a transformer changes the size of an
alternating voltage by having different numbers of turns on the input and output sides
12.18 recall and use the quantitative relationship between input (primary) and output (secondary) voltages and the turns ratio for a transformer
voltage (primary) / voltage(secondary) = turns(primary) / turns(secondary
Vp/Vs = np/ns
12.19 explain the use of step-up and step-down transformers in transmitting electricity
12.20 understand that transmitting electrical power at high voltages reduces the current required,
and this reduces power losses caused by heating

Waves and communication
You should be able to (higher tier in bold):
12.21 recall that waves transfer energy and information without transferring matter

12.22 recall and use the equation for all waves:
- wave speed (m/s) = frequency (Hz)
* wavelength (m)
v = f
*l
12.23 understand the condition for total internal reflection to take place and how this is used in optical fibres and in reflecting prisms
12.24 understand that digital signals can carry more information than analogue signals
12.25 recall that waves spread out when they pass through a narrow gap or past an edge and that
this is called diffraction
12.26 understand that sound and light show diffraction effects
12.27 describe and interpret some examples of diffraction, eg
– of sound by large building/doorways
– of water waves by harbours
– of light by a single narrow slit
12.28 understand how reflection and diffraction affect the quality of received radio signals

Forces and shape
You should be able to (higher tier in bold):
12.29 understand that the upward forces on a light beam supported at its ends vary with the position of a heavy object placed on the beam
12.30 describe how extension varies with applied force for a range of materials including springs
and rubber bands
12.31 recall that particles in a gas have random motion and that they exert a force on the walls of
the container
12.32 understand the relationship between the pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas at
constant temperature and use the quantitative relationship
– P1 * V1 = P2 *
V2 ()