AQA 8463 · PHYSICS
GCSE Physics

Physics Required
Practicals.

All 10 AQA required practicals with full method, variables, error analysis and grade-9 model answers — plus every equation, both papers' core content, and the exam technique that turns a 7 into a 9.

10Required practicals
15%+Of marks are practical skills
23Equations to recall
2Papers covered
01

The 10 Required Practicals

RP1–5 sit on Paper 1 (energy, electricity, particle model). RP6–10 sit on Paper 2 (forces & waves). RP2 and RP9 are Physics-only — Combined Science students don't do them. Tap any card.

All Paper 1 Paper 2 Physics only
02

Equations

The single biggest free-marks win: know which equations you must recall from memory and which are printed on the sheet. Examiners reward the right substitution → rearrange → answer → unit chain.

Recall from memory

No sheet for these — learn them cold.

weightW = m g
work doneW = F s
force on a springF = k e
moment of a forceM = F d
pressurep = F / A
distance travelleds = v t
accelerationa = Δv / t
resultant forceF = m a
momentump = m v
kinetic energyEₖ = ½ m v²
grav. potential energyEₚ = m g h
power (energy)P = E / t
power (work)P = W / t
efficiency= useful out / total in
wave speedv = f λ
charge flowQ = I t
potential differenceV = I R
electrical powerP = V I = I² R
energy transferredE = P t = Q V
densityρ = m / V

Given on the sheet

Provided — but you must still pick the right one & rearrange.

pressure in a liquid columnp = h ρ g
uniform accelerationv² − u² = 2 a s
elastic potential energyEₑ = ½ k e²
change in thermal energyΔE = m c Δθ
periodT = 1 / f
magnification= image h / object h
force on a conductorF = B I L
energy for change of stateE = m L
transformer (pd)Vₚ/Vₛ = nₚ/nₛ
transformer (power)Vₛ Iₛ = Vₚ Iₚ

Units to never drop: J, W, N, Pa, Ω, C, kg/m³, m/s. Always convert cm→m and g→kg before substituting.

03

Paper 1 — Core Content

Energy · Electricity · Particle model of matter · Atomic structure. The high-value 6-markers live in energy resources, the National Grid, and radioactivity.

⚡Energy

stores · transfers · efficiency · resources
  • Stores: kinetic, thermal, chemical, gravitational, elastic, electrostatic, magnetic, nuclear. Energy is conserved — never created/destroyed, only transferred.
  • Transfer pathways: mechanically, electrically, by heating, by radiation.
  • Reduce waste: lubrication (friction), insulation (lower thermal conductivity, thicker walls = slower transfer).
  • Efficiency useful ÷ total — never >100%. Wasted energy usually dissipated to thermal store of surroundings.
  • Renewables: wind, solar, hydro, tidal, wave, geothermal, bio-fuel. Non-renewables: coal, oil, gas, nuclear. Trade-off = reliability vs environmental impact.

🔌Electricity

circuits · components · mains · static
  • Series: same current; pd shares; resistances add. Parallel: same pd; current splits; total resistance falls.
  • Components: ohmic resistor = straight I–V; filament lamp = S-curve (R rises as it heats); diode = one-way; thermistor R falls as temp rises; LDR R falls as light rises.
  • Mains: a.c., 230 V, 50 Hz. Live (brown), neutral (blue), earth (green/yellow = safety).
  • National Grid: step-up transformer raises pd → lowers current → less heat loss in cables (P = I²R); step-down before homes for safety.
  • Static: friction transfers electrons; like charges repel, opposite attract; sparks when pd large enough.

🧊Particle Model

density · states · SHC · latent heat
  • Density ρ = m/V. Solid → liquid → gas: particles gain energy, spacing increases, density usually falls.
  • Internal energy = total kinetic + potential energy of particles.
  • Specific heat capacity: energy to raise 1 kg by 1 °C. ΔE = m c Δθ.
  • Specific latent heat: energy to change state of 1 kg with no temp change (fusion = melt, vaporisation = boil). E = m L.
  • Changes of state are physical — mass conserved, reversible. Gas: higher temp → faster particles → more frequent/harder collisions → more pressure.

☢️Atomic Structure

model history · radiation · half-life
  • Model history: plum pudding → Rutherford's alpha-scattering (mass + positive charge in tiny nucleus) → Bohr (electrons in shells) → neutron discovered.
  • Sizes: atom ~1×10⁻¹⁰ m; nucleus ~1×10⁻¹⁴ m (≈10,000× smaller).
  • Radiation: alpha (He nucleus, stopped by paper, most ionising), beta (electron, stopped by aluminium), gamma (EM wave, stopped by thick lead, least ionising), plus neutron.
  • Half-life = time for half the unstable nuclei to decay (or for count-rate to halve).
  • Irradiation = exposed to radiation (source elsewhere). Contamination = radioactive atoms on/in you — more dangerous long-term.
04

Paper 2 — Core Content

Forces · Waves · Magnetism & electromagnetism · Space (Physics only). Watch out for vectors, Newton's laws, stopping distance and the EM spectrum order.

🏃Forces & Motion

vectors · Newton · stopping distance · momentum
  • Scalar = size only (speed, distance). Vector = size + direction (velocity, force, acceleration).
  • Newton's laws: 1) no resultant force → constant velocity/at rest. 2) F = m a. 3) equal & opposite reaction forces on different objects.
  • Hooke's law F = k e up to the limit of proportionality. k = gradient of force–extension.
  • Stopping distance = thinking + braking. Thinking ↑ with speed, tiredness, alcohol, drugs, distraction. Braking ↑ with speed, mass, wet/icy road, worn tyres/brakes.
  • Terminal velocity: weight = drag → resultant force 0 → constant velocity. Momentum p = mv, conserved in collisions.
  • Graphs: distance–time gradient = speed; velocity–time gradient = acceleration, area under = distance.

🌊Waves

transverse/longitudinal · EM spectrum
  • Transverse: vibration ⟂ to travel (light, all EM, water). Longitudinal: vibration ∥ to travel, with compressions & rarefactions (sound).
  • v = f λ and T = 1/f. Frequency in Hz = waves per second.
  • EM spectrum (low→high freq, long→short λ): Radio · Micro · Infrared · Visible · Ultraviolet · X-ray · Gamma. All travel at the same speed in a vacuum.
  • Uses/dangers: radio (broadcast), micro (cooking/comms), IR (heating/cameras), UV (tanning, skin cancer), X/gamma (imaging, sterilising — cell mutation, cancer).
  • Black body: hotter object emits more radiation & shorter peak wavelength. Earth's temp stays constant when radiation absorbed = emitted.

🧲Magnetism & Electromagnetism

fields · motor effect · transformers
  • Permanent magnet = always magnetic; induced = only near a field, loses it. Field lines run N→S; strongest at poles.
  • Solenoid: coil of wire → uniform field inside, like a bar magnet; add iron core = electromagnet (stronger, switchable).
  • Motor effect: current-carrying wire in a field feels a force. Fleming's left-hand rule: thuMb=Motion, First=Field, seCond=Current.
  • F = B I L — force = flux density × current × length.
  • Transformers (Physics only): change pd via turns ratio Vₚ/Vₛ = nₚ/nₛ; assumed 100% efficient so Vₚ Iₚ = Vₛ Iₛ.

🌌Space Physics Physics only

star life cycle · red-shift · Big Bang
  • Star life cycle: nebula → protostar → main sequence (fusion of H→He). Then: low mass → red giant → white dwarf; high mass → red supergiant → supernova → neutron star / black hole.
  • Fusion in stars makes elements up to iron; heavier elements form in supernovae, then scattered to seed new systems.
  • Orbits: gravity provides the centripetal force; faster orbit → smaller radius.
  • Red-shift: light from distant galaxies shifted to longer (red) wavelengths → universe is expanding; more distant = faster.
  • This supports the Big Bang theory. Dark matter & dark energy remain unexplained.
05

Grade-9 Exam Technique

The gap between 7 and 9 is rarely knowledge — it's command words, structured calculations, and writing evaluations that actually compare and justify.

Decode the command word

State / GiveOne-word or one-line fact. No explanation.
DescribeSay what happens — the steps or the pattern. No "why".
ExplainGive reasons / mechanism. Use "because", "this causes…".
CalculateShow working. Equation → substitute → answer → unit.
EvaluateBoth sides + a justified conclusion.
CompareUse linking words: "whereas", "both", "but X is larger".

Nail every calculation

  1. Write the equation in symbols first (free marks even if final answer is wrong).
  2. Convert units before substituting: g→kg, cm→m, mins→s.
  3. Substitute numbers, then rearrange — examiners give method marks.
  4. Quote the answer to sensible significant figures.
  5. Always add the unit — a missing unit is a thrown-away mark.

Answer a practical question

  1. Variables: name the independent, dependent and at least one control variable.
  2. Method: measurable steps, the right apparatus, and how you record data.
  3. Repeats & mean to spot anomalies and improve reliability.
  4. Errors → improvements: every error you name must have a matching fix.
  5. Plot a graph and use the gradient where possible — reduces effect of single anomalies.

The 6-marker (Level of Response)

  1. Underline what's being asked + the command word.
  2. Jot 4–6 bullet points before writing — plan = structure marks.
  3. Write in logical order with linked reasoning, not a random list of facts.
  4. Use correct technical vocabulary (e.g. "resultant force", "thermal energy store").
  5. End with a clear conclusion if it's "evaluate/which is best".