Supersimple physics : the ultimate bite-size study guide

Contents
Working scientifically
	The scientific method
	Scientific progress
	Science and society
	Risks and benefits
	Scientific models
	Working safely
	Planning an experiment
	Measuring
	Significant figures
	Presenting data
	Patterns in data
	Conclusions
	Accuracy and precision
	Evaluations
	Using mathematical models
	SI units
Energy
	Energy
	Energy and food
	Energy stores
	Energy transfers
	Renewable energy resources
	Nonrenewable energy
	Climate change
	Trends in energy use
	Efficiency
	Heat transfers
	Radiation
	Investigating radiation
	Conduction
	Investigating insulators
	Convection
	Reducing energy transfers
	Kinetic and potential energy
	Conservation of energy
	Transferring energy by forces
	Energy and power
	Calculating energy efficiency
Describing motion
	Speed
	Calculating speed
	Measuring speed
	Position–time graphs
	Scalars and vectors
	Velocity
	Acceleration
	Velocity–time graphs
Forces
	Forces
	Balanced and unbalanced forces
	Resultant forces
	Resolving forces
	Mass and weight
	Springs
	Investigating springs
	Deformations
	Moments
	Center of mass
	Levers
	Gears
	More simple machines
	Action–reaction forces
	Fields
	Law of gravity
Force and motion
	Circular motion
	Newton’s second law
	Investigating acceleration
	Momentum
	Elastic and inelastic collisions
	Changing momentum
	Stopping distance
	Car safety features
	Braking distance and energy
	Terminal velocity
Waves
	Waves
	Sound
	Oscilloscopes
	Wave equations
	Hearing sound
	Investigating the speed of waves
	Measuring the speed of sound
	Using ultrasound
	Sonar
	Investigating Earth’s interior
	Interference
Light
	Light and seeing
	Comparing sound and light
	Pinhole cameras
	Reflection
	Refraction
	Investigating light
	Total internal reflection
	Lenses
	Waves and refraction
	Refractive index
	Converging and diverging lenses
	Correcting vision
	Converging lens ray diagram
	Magnifying glass ray diagram
	Diverging lens ray diagram
	Light and color
	Reflecting and absorbing
	Electromagnetic radiation
	Radio waves
	Hazardous radiation
Electrical circuits
	Current electricity
	Electrical circuits
	Series and parallel circuits
	Measuring electricity
	Series and parallel circuit rules
	Charge
	Changing resistance
	Investigating resistance in wires
	Resistance in wires
	Investigating resistors in series and parallel
	Current and voltage calculations
	Current and voltage graphs
	Power in circuits
	Calculating energy
	Light-dependent resistors
	Thermistors
	Sensor circuits
Using electricity
	Direct and alternating current
	Electrical wiring
	Fuses and circuit breakers
	Preventing shocks
	Electrical appliances
	Energy use at home
	Wasted energy
	Power transmission
Static electricity
	Attracting and repelling
	Attraction by induction
	Using static electricity
	Dangers of static electricity
	Electric fields
Magnetism and electromagnetism
	Magnets
	Magnetic fields
	Earth’s magnetic field
	Electromagnets
	Using electromagnets
	The motor effect
	Electric motors
	Electromagnetic induction
	Generators
	Loudspeakers and microphones
	Transformers
Matter
	States of matter
	Changes of state
	Particles in motion
	Heat expansion
	Density
	Finding the density
	Internal energy
	Specific heat capacity
	Finding specific heat capacity
	Heating curves
	Temperature and changes of state
	Latent heat calculations
Pressure
	Surface pressure
	Atmospheric pressure
	Pressure in a liquid
	Floating and sinking
	Barometers and manometers
	Pressure in gases
	Pressure and volume
	Pressure and temperature
	Work and temperature
Atoms and radioactivity
	Atomic structure
	Elements and isotopes
	The atomic model
	Radioactive decay
	Different types of radiation
	Nuclear equations
	Half-life
	Background radiation
	Radioactive hazards
	Using radioactive isotopes
	Nuclear medicine
	Nuclear fission
	Nuclear power
	Fusion
Space
	Structure of Earth
	Seasons
	Solar system
	The Moon
	Eclipses
	Orbits
	Galaxies
	Observing space
	Redshift
	Expanding Universe
	Big Bang or steady state?
	Star life cycles
	Classifying stars
Glossary
Circuit symbols
Index
Acknowledgments