# "Explain" questions — AQA GCSE Physics (8463)

> 109 questions · physics

## 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…](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-a-kettle-transfers-electrical-00e57f80)
2. [Explain what happens to the internal energy of steam as it condenses into liquid water at 100 °C.](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-what-happens-to-the-internal-02271337)
3. [Explain why planets closer to the Sun orbit at greater orbital speeds than planets further away.](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-planets-closer-to-the-05a4ae4d)
4. [Explain why P-waves can be detected on the opposite side of the Earth from an earthquake, but S-waves cannot.](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-p-waves-can-be-detected-05e2ea84)
5. [A car is travelling along a motorway at a constant speed. Explain why the car must have its engine running to maintain t…](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-car-is-travelling-along-a-07c9beaa)
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…](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-van-de-graaff-generator-builds-0a59f531)
7. [Explain why the upthrust acting on a submarine increases as it dives deeper into the ocean.](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-the-upthrust-acting-on-0ec54d6f)
8. [Explain how radio waves are produced and what happens in a receiver when radio waves are absorbed.](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-how-radio-waves-are-produced-0f240e3a)

## Related

- [AQA GCSE Physics (8463) revision notes](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn/aqa-gcse-physics-8463)
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