Exam Focus

🎯 Exam Focus

Exam Favourite

Newton's Laws are examined on Edexcel 1PH0/1 (Paper 1, Foundation or Higher tier) and across all major GCSE Physics boards. Edexcel favours context/scenario-based questions ("A student investigates acceleration…") and multi-step F = ma calculations. Core Practical CP2 (investigating the relationship between force, mass and acceleration) is explicitly assessed — expect questions that reference a trolley-and-runway setup. Key question types:

• F = ma calculations — given two quantities, find the third. Always use resultant force
• Third Law pair identification — name both forces, both objects, state they are equal and opposite
• First Law explanations — "explain why the car accelerates / decelerates / moves at constant speed"
• Diagram questions — draw free body diagrams for objects with known accelerations
• 6-mark extended response — describe all three laws with examples

Marks trap: When asked to "identify a Newton's Third Law pair," you must state BOTH forces, BOTH objects they act on, and that they are equal and opposite. One mark for each part.