1
Cambridge IGCSE
Physics
Revision Guide 2024
Unit 1 Part 1
Mohammed Ali
[Physics with Mo Ali]
Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 1 – Part 1
, 2
Quantities and Measurements
1 Describe the use of rulers and measuring cylinders to find a length or a volume
2 Describe how to measure a variety of time intervals using clocks and digital timers
3 Determine an average value for a small distance and for a short interval of time by measuring multiples (including
the period of oscillation of a pendulum)
International System of Units (SI) and Prefixes
Base Quantity SI Unit Prefix Multiplier Value
Length meters (m) mega (M) × 1000 000 × 106
Time seconds (s) kilo (k) × 1000 × 103
Mass kilograms (kg) centi (c) ÷ 100 × 10−2
Temperature Kelvin (K) milli (m) ÷ 1000 × 10−3
Electric Current Ampere (A) micro (µ) ÷ 1000 000 × 10−6
Measuring Length
Meter Rule Lengths up to 1 m
Measuring Tape Long distances more than 1 m
Micrometer Small lengths, such as thickness of coins or wires
Measuring the thickness of a sheet of paper
thickness
1. Measure the thickness of several sheets of paper (100) of 100
2. Divide the reading by the number of sheets (100) to get the thickness of one sheet sheets
3. Repeat and take an average
Defining Volume: The space occupied by an object. (m3 cm3).
Measuring volume of a liquid Use a measuring cylinder
Measuring volume of a regular 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ × ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
solid 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 × ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Measuring volume of an irregular pour some water into a measuring cylinder and record the volume
solid (V1)
gently put the stone (object) into the water using a thread to avoid
splashing
record the new volume level from the cylinder (V2)
the volume of the stone is the difference between the two readings
(V2-V1)
Time
Converting Units of time: 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 → 60𝑚𝑖𝑛 and 1𝑚𝑖𝑛 → 60𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
Time is measured using a stopwatches, clocks and digital timers.
Measuring the period of oscillation of a pendulum
1. Measure the time of several cycles in one go (20 oscillations).
2. Then divide the reading by the number of oscillations (20).
3. Repeat the reading and take an average.
4. Reset your stopwatch to zero before making measurements
Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 1 – Part 1
, 3
Mass and Weight
1 State that mass is a measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to the observer
2 State that weight is a gravitational force on an object that has mass
𝑊
3 Define gravitational field strength as force per unit mass; recall and use the equation 𝑔 = 𝑚 and know that this is
equivalent to the acceleration of free fall (9.8𝑁/𝑘𝑔)
4 Know that weights (and masses) may be compared using a balance
5 Describe, and use the concept of, weight as the effect of a gravitational field on a mass
Defining Mass: A measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to the observer (amount of matter)
Mass is measured using a balance.
Measuring the mass of a liquid
1. To find the mass of a liquid measure the mass of the empty container first (m1).
2. Then measure the mass of the container and liquid together (m2).
3. Finally calculate the difference to get the mass of the liquid alone (m2-m1). mass of liquid = 250 – 200 = 50 g
Defining Weight: The gravitational force on an object that has mass
Calculating Weight: 𝑾 = 𝒎𝒈 where g = 9.8N/kg and is equal to the acceleration of freefall.
Defining gravitational field strength (g): force per unit mass
From June 2023 Paper 23
From June 2023 Paper 22
Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 1 – Part 1
Cambridge IGCSE
Physics
Revision Guide 2024
Unit 1 Part 1
Mohammed Ali
[Physics with Mo Ali]
Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 1 – Part 1
, 2
Quantities and Measurements
1 Describe the use of rulers and measuring cylinders to find a length or a volume
2 Describe how to measure a variety of time intervals using clocks and digital timers
3 Determine an average value for a small distance and for a short interval of time by measuring multiples (including
the period of oscillation of a pendulum)
International System of Units (SI) and Prefixes
Base Quantity SI Unit Prefix Multiplier Value
Length meters (m) mega (M) × 1000 000 × 106
Time seconds (s) kilo (k) × 1000 × 103
Mass kilograms (kg) centi (c) ÷ 100 × 10−2
Temperature Kelvin (K) milli (m) ÷ 1000 × 10−3
Electric Current Ampere (A) micro (µ) ÷ 1000 000 × 10−6
Measuring Length
Meter Rule Lengths up to 1 m
Measuring Tape Long distances more than 1 m
Micrometer Small lengths, such as thickness of coins or wires
Measuring the thickness of a sheet of paper
thickness
1. Measure the thickness of several sheets of paper (100) of 100
2. Divide the reading by the number of sheets (100) to get the thickness of one sheet sheets
3. Repeat and take an average
Defining Volume: The space occupied by an object. (m3 cm3).
Measuring volume of a liquid Use a measuring cylinder
Measuring volume of a regular 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ × ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
solid 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 × ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Measuring volume of an irregular pour some water into a measuring cylinder and record the volume
solid (V1)
gently put the stone (object) into the water using a thread to avoid
splashing
record the new volume level from the cylinder (V2)
the volume of the stone is the difference between the two readings
(V2-V1)
Time
Converting Units of time: 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 → 60𝑚𝑖𝑛 and 1𝑚𝑖𝑛 → 60𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
Time is measured using a stopwatches, clocks and digital timers.
Measuring the period of oscillation of a pendulum
1. Measure the time of several cycles in one go (20 oscillations).
2. Then divide the reading by the number of oscillations (20).
3. Repeat the reading and take an average.
4. Reset your stopwatch to zero before making measurements
Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 1 – Part 1
, 3
Mass and Weight
1 State that mass is a measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to the observer
2 State that weight is a gravitational force on an object that has mass
𝑊
3 Define gravitational field strength as force per unit mass; recall and use the equation 𝑔 = 𝑚 and know that this is
equivalent to the acceleration of free fall (9.8𝑁/𝑘𝑔)
4 Know that weights (and masses) may be compared using a balance
5 Describe, and use the concept of, weight as the effect of a gravitational field on a mass
Defining Mass: A measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to the observer (amount of matter)
Mass is measured using a balance.
Measuring the mass of a liquid
1. To find the mass of a liquid measure the mass of the empty container first (m1).
2. Then measure the mass of the container and liquid together (m2).
3. Finally calculate the difference to get the mass of the liquid alone (m2-m1). mass of liquid = 250 – 200 = 50 g
Defining Weight: The gravitational force on an object that has mass
Calculating Weight: 𝑾 = 𝒎𝒈 where g = 9.8N/kg and is equal to the acceleration of freefall.
Defining gravitational field strength (g): force per unit mass
From June 2023 Paper 23
From June 2023 Paper 22
Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 1 – Part 1
