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AQA GCSE Physics — Required Practicals flashcards

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The ten AQA GCSE Physics required practicals: method, variables, safety, errors and improvements, expected results and the calculation for specific heat capacity, insulation, resistance, I–V graphs, density, springs, acceleration, waves, light and infrared.

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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 the specific heat capacity practical, what are the independent, dependent and control variables?
    • Independent: the energy supplied (heating time).
    • Dependent: the temperature of the block.
    • Control: the block's mass and material, and the heater's power.
    Required Practicals › Specific Heat Capacity
  2. In the specific heat capacity practical, how is the energy supplied to the metal block measured?
    With a joulemeter, or from a voltmeter, ammeter and stopclock using E = VIt.

    Why: P = VI gives the heater's power, and E = Pt the energy over the heating time.
    Required Practicals › Specific Heat Capacity
  3. Why is the metal block wrapped in insulation, and why is a little water put in the thermometer hole?
    The insulation reduces energy lost to the surroundings; the water improves thermal contact, so the thermometer reads the block's true temperature.
    Required Practicals › Specific Heat Capacity
  4. Why is the specific heat capacity found in this practical usually higher than the true value?
    Some of the energy supplied is dissipated to the surroundings, so the temperature rise is smaller than it would be if all of it went into the block.

    Why: c=ΔEmΔθc = \frac{\Delta E}{m\Delta\theta} uses all the energy supplied, so a too-small Δθ makes c too big.
    Required Practicals › Specific Heat Capacity
  5. In the specific heat capacity practical, temperature is plotted against energy supplied. How is c found from the straight part of the graph?
    The gradient equals 1 ÷ (mc), so c = 1 ÷ (mass × gradient).

    Why: rearranging ΔE=mcΔθ\Delta E = mc\Delta\theta gives Δθ=1mc×ΔE\Delta\theta = \frac{1}{mc} \times \Delta E⁠.
    Required Practicals › Specific Heat Capacity
  6. A 1.0 kg block is heated by a 50 W heater for 10 minutes and its temperature rises by 30 °C. What is its specific heat capacity?
    1000 J/kg °C

    Why: E = Pt = 50 × 600 = 30 000 J, and c=300001.0×30=1000c = \frac{30000}{1.0 \times 30} = 1000 J/kg °C.
    Required Practicals › Specific Heat Capacity
  7. Why may the block's temperature keep rising for a short time after the heater is switched off?
    Energy is still conducting from the hot heater into the block.

    Why: so keep recording until the highest temperature is reached.
    Required Practicals › Specific Heat Capacity
  8. What is the main hazard in the specific heat capacity practical, and how is it controlled?
    Burns from the hot heater and block: do not touch them while hot, let them cool before handling, and stand the block on a heatproof mat.
    Required Practicals › Specific Heat Capacity
  9. In the thermal insulation practical, how is the effectiveness of different materials compared? (not in Combined Science)
    A beaker of hot water is wrapped in each material in turn, and the temperature drop over a fixed time is measured; the smallest drop shows the best insulator.
    Required Practicals › Thermal Insulation
  10. Which variables must be controlled when comparing insulating materials? (not in Combined Science)
    The volume and starting temperature of the water, the thickness of insulation, the size of the beaker and the time of each test.
    Required Practicals › Thermal Insulation

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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.

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