"Explain" questions — AQA GCSE Physics (8463)

109 questions · physics · View as Markdown

How to answer

WHAT + WHY. Every point paired with a because. Structure: X happens because Y. This causes Z because … Assessment Objective: AO2. Every "explain" answer on this spec is marked against exactly this pattern.

Sample questions

  1. Explain why a kettle transfers electrical energy to thermal energy more usefully than a filament lamp transfers electric…
  2. Explain what happens to the internal energy of steam as it condenses into liquid water at 100 °C.
  3. Explain why planets closer to the Sun orbit at greater orbital speeds than planets further away.
  4. Explain why P-waves can be detected on the opposite side of the Earth from an earthquake, but S-waves cannot.
  5. A car is travelling along a motorway at a constant speed. Explain why the car must have its engine running to maintain t…
  6. A van de Graaff generator builds up a large static charge on its metal dome. A small piece of tissue paper placed near t…
  7. Explain why the upthrust acting on a submarine increases as it dives deeper into the ocean.
  8. Explain how radio waves are produced and what happens in a receiver when radio waves are absorbed.

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