What this topic covers
Topic 2: Motion and forces has 3 subtopics:
- Scalars, vectors, speed and acceleration
- Forces, weight and Newton's laws
- Momentum and collisions
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GCSE Edexcel Foundation Physics · Topic 2 of 15
Topic 2: Motion and forces – GCSE Edexcel Foundation Physics revision notes
Choose a subtopic. Motion, forces, Newton's laws, momentum and braking. 19 lessons in 3 subtopics.
Revise Topic 2: Motion and forces for GCSE Edexcel Foundation Physics, including Scalars, vectors, speed and acceleration. 19 lessons across 3 subtopics.
19
Lessons
3
Subtopics
Topic 2: Motion and forces lessons by subtopic
19 lessons, grouped by subtopic.
Scalars, vectors, speed and acceleration
Forces, weight and Newton's laws
- Distance, Displacement and Speed (Part 1/3)
- Distance, Displacement and Speed (Part 2/3)
- Distance, Displacement and Speed (Part 3/3)
- Velocity, Distance-Time Graphs and Speed
- Acceleration, Velocity-Time Graphs and Terminal Velocity (Part 1/3)
- Acceleration, Velocity-Time Graphs and Terminal Velocity (Part 2/3)
- Acceleration, Velocity-Time Graphs and Terminal Velocity (Part 3/3)
- Newton's First Law of Motion
- Newton's Second Law: F = ma (Part 1/2)
- Newton's Second Law: F = ma (Part 2/2)
- Newton's Third Law: Action and Reaction
- Thinking Distance
- Braking Distance
- Core practical: force, mass and acceleration with a trolley
- Braking distance and work done
Momentum and collisions
More in this course
Go back to the full GCSE Edexcel Foundation Physics topic list, or practise this topic with past-paper questions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Topic 2: Motion and forces?
Motion, forces, Newton's laws, momentum and braking. 19 lessons in 3 subtopics.
How do you calculate distance from speed and time?
Distance is calculated with s = vt, distance = speed × time. The Distance, Displacement and Speed (Part 2/3) notes cover this in full.
What is the typical speed of walking, running and cycling?
Typical speeds are about 1.5 m/s for walking, 3 m/s for running and 6 m/s for cycling. The Distance, Displacement and Speed (Part 1/3) notes cover this in full.
What is Newton's second law?
Newton's Second Law states that the acceleration of an object is proportional to the resultant force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. The Newton's Second Law: F = ma (Part 1/2) notes cover this in full.
What is the equation for acceleration?
The equation for acceleration is a = Δv/t, where Δv is the change in velocity (final velocity − initial velocity) in m/s and t is the time taken in s. The Acceleration, Velocity-Time Graphs and Terminal Velocity (Part 1/3) notes cover this in full.
What is Newton's third law?
Newton's Third Law states that whenever two objects interact, the forces they exert on each other are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. The Newton's Third Law: Action and Reaction notes cover this in full.
What is the formula for momentum?
The momentum formula is p = mv: momentum (kg m/s) = mass (kg) × velocity (m/s). The Understanding Momentum notes cover this in full.
What is velocity?
Velocity is the speed of an object in a given direction, measured in metres per second (m/s) in a specified direction. The Distance, Displacement and Speed (Part 3/3) notes cover this in full.
What is inertia?
Inertia is the tendency of objects to continue in their state of rest or of uniform motion, so objects 'resist' changes to their motion. The Newton's First Law of Motion notes cover this in full.