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AQA GCSE Physics — Energy and Electricity flashcards

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Topics 1 and 2 of AQA GCSE Physics: energy stores, kinetic and potential energy, specific heat capacity, power, efficiency and energy resources; current, resistance, I–V graphs, series and parallel circuits, mains safety, the National Grid and static.

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Learn deck · part of AQA GCSE Physics · written against: AQA GCSE Physics (8463) specification, version 1.1; Higher Tier and separate-science-only cards marked on the front. Updated 2026-10-10.

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  1. In energy questions, what does the word 'system' mean?
    An object or a group of objects whose energy stores you are tracking.

    Why: once the system is defined, every energy change is either a change between its own stores or a transfer to or from the surroundings.
    Energy › Energy Stores and Systems
  2. A ball is thrown straight upwards. Which energy store empties and which fills as it rises?
    Its kinetic store empties while its gravitational potential store fills.

    Watch out: air resistance also dissipates some energy to the thermal store of the surrounding air, so the ball gains a little less gravitational potential energy than the kinetic energy it loses.
    Energy › Energy Stores and Systems
  3. A car brakes to a stop. Describe the change in the way energy is stored.
    Energy moves from the car's kinetic store to the thermal store of the brakes, which then warm the surroundings.

    Why: friction between the brake pads and the wheel does work, and that work heats the brakes.
    Energy › Energy Stores and Systems
  4. An electric kettle brings water to the boil. How is energy transferred, and which store gains it?
    Energy is transferred electrically (work done by the current) to the element, then by heating to the water's thermal store.

    Why: the mains supply does the work; the element and the water are both warmed.
    Energy › Energy Stores and Systems
  5. By which three kinds of process can the energy stored in a system be changed?
    By heating, by work done by forces, and by work done when a current flows.

    Why: these are the transfers you must be able to calculate throughout the Energy topic.
    Energy › Energy Stores and Systems
  6. What is electric current?
    The rate at which electric charge flows.

    Why: 1 ampere is 1 coulomb of charge passing a point every second.
    Electricity › Current and Resistance
  7. A current of 0.50 A flows for 2.0 minutes. How much charge passes a point in the circuit?
    60 C

    Why: Q=It=0.50×120=60Q = It = 0.50 \times 120 = 60 C; convert the minutes to seconds first.
    Electricity › Current and Resistance
  8. How does the current compare at different points of a single closed loop?
    It is the same at every point in the loop.

    Why: charge is not used up as it goes round; the same charge passes every point each second.
    Electricity › Current and Resistance
  9. A 12 V supply drives a current of 0.40 A through a resistor. What is the resistance?
    30 Ω

    Why: R=VI=120.40=30R = \frac{V}{I} = \frac{12}{0.40} = 30 Ω.
    Electricity › Current and Resistance
  10. The potential difference across a component is kept the same but its resistance increases. What happens to the current?
    The current decreases.

    Why: I=VRI = \frac{V}{R}⁠, so at a fixed potential difference a larger resistance means a smaller current.
    Electricity › Current and Resistance

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About these cards

Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.

Checked against:

  • Topic outline and equation list follow the AQA GCSE Physics (8463) specification, version 1.1 (outline only; no specification text reproduced).
  • OpenStax College Physics 2e, consulted as a reference; no text copied.
  • Equation-sheet statements checked against AQA's Physics Equations Sheets for GCSE Physics (8463), June 2022 to June 2027, and Ofqual's decisions of 13 November 2024 and 5 May 2026 on formulae and equations sheets (Open Government Licence v3.0) (reference only; no text copied).

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