AQA GCSE Forces Revision

Topic overview

Plan your forces revision

Use the resource cards below to revise one idea at a time. Each page includes worked examples, mini quizzes, practice questions, exam language and a visual or simulation when it adds learning value.

Knowledge map

How the topic fits together

Use this overview to find the part of the topic that needs attention; the focused guides below teach and assess each idea in depth.

Draw the forces first

A force is an interaction that can change motion or shape. A free-body diagram should show the object, labelled force arrows and their directions. Do not draw forces that are not acting.

Connect resultant force to motion

A resultant force causes acceleration. If the resultant is zero, the object is stationary or moves at constant velocity. A larger mass needs a larger resultant force for the same acceleration.

Use graphs as evidence

The gradient of a distance–time graph gives speed; the gradient of a velocity–time graph gives acceleration. The area under a velocity–time graph gives displacement.

Focused revision

Choose one idea at a time

Each guide combines explanation, a diagnostic check, misconception repair, worked examples and exam-style practice.

FO-01

Scalars, Vectors and Free-Body Diagrams

Choose one object before drawing any arrows. A force arrow identifies an interaction acting on that object, while a motion arrow describes its velocity.

DiagnosticExam practice

FO-02

Motion Graphs, Speed and Acceleration

Read the vertical-axis quantity first. A flat distance–time line means rest; a flat velocity–time line can mean steady motion.

DiagnosticExam practiceInteractive

FO-03

Newton’s Laws, Resultant Force and Acceleration

A resultant force causes acceleration, rather than being required to maintain velocity. Use the sum of forces in F = ma.

DiagnosticExam practiceInteractive

FO-04

Forces, Elasticity and Springs

Extension is the change in length. A force–extension graph tells you whether proportionality holds, while unloading tells you whether deformation is reversible.

DiagnosticExam practiceInteractive

FO-05

Moments, Levers and Gears

Turning effects depend on the perpendicular distance from a pivot. This focused guide develops moments, balanced levers and gears; the linked fluid guide teaches pressure and upthrust separately.

DiagnosticExam practice

FO-06

Momentum, Conservation and Safety

Use a direction convention for momentum. Conservation concerns a system, while a stopping-time calculation gives an average interaction force.

DiagnosticExam practiceInteractive

FO-07

Force and Extension Required Practical

Read the bottom of the spring or hanger against a fixed ruler. Subtract its unloaded position from each loaded position to obtain extension.

DiagnosticExam practice

FO-08

Acceleration Required Practical

The accelerating system includes the trolley and hanging masses. Adding mass to the hanger alone changes both force and total mass, spoiling a force-only test.

DiagnosticExam practice

NEW-STOPPING

Stopping Distance, Reaction Time and Braking

Stopping distance has a reaction stage and a braking stage. Different factors affect each, so name the stage before explaining a change.

DiagnosticExam practice

NEW-FLUID

Fluid Pressure, Atmosphere and Floating

Fluid pressure produces normal forces. A pressure difference between the bottom and top of an immersed body produces upthrust.

DiagnosticExam practice

Across every topic

Build the exam skills around the physics

AQA GCSE Physics Required PracticalsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.GCSE Physics Equations and Maths SkillsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.How to Answer GCSE Physics Calculation QuestionsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.How to Answer GCSE Physics Six-Mark QuestionsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.GCSE Physics Graph SkillsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.

Useful next steps

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