Q: What does A-Level Physics: 4) Energy & Fields Guide cover? A: From energy stores and power equations to field lines and equipotential surfaces, this post demystifies Section I Topic 4 of the 2026 H2 Physics syllabus.
TL;DR Energy keeps moving but never disappears - track the stores, measure the work, picture the fields and you will turn Paper 1 MCQs into freebies. This guide converts the SEAB bullet points into exam-grade check-lists, mini-drills and WA timing hacks.
1 Energy stores & transfers
The syllabus now uses the stores model: kinetic, gravitational, elastic, chemical, nuclear, internal and thermal.
An energy transfer is any process that decreases one store while increasing another, with the total remaining constant (principle of conservation of energy).
Energy store
Main transfer mechanism(s)
Everyday or exam-style example
Typical conversion (“from → to”)
Kinetic (movement)
Mechanical work (friction, collision)
Car brakes to a stop on a road
Kinetic → Thermal (tyre & road heat)
Gravitational potential
Mechanical work (free-fall, lifting)
Roller-coaster car descending first drop
GPE → Kinetic (plus small Thermal via air resistance)
Elastic potential
Mechanical work (stretch/compress)
Drawn bow string launches an arrow
Elastic → Kinetic (arrow) + Sound
Chemical
Electrical work (cell), Heating, Mechanical work
AA battery powers a torch bulb
Chemical → Electrical → Thermal + Light
Nuclear
Radiation
U-235 fission in a reactor core
Nuclear → Thermal (steam) → Electrical
Thermal / Internal
Heating, Radiation, Mechanical work
Hot coffee cooling on a desk
Thermal in Object → Thermal + Radiation into the Surroundings
Mini-drill: Identify the two main stores and the transfer mechanism when a phone slides off a desk, hits the carpet and stops.
2 Work done by a force
Work is the mechanical transfer of energy. For a constant force F acting through displacement s:
W=Fscosθ.
For Weighted Assessment 1 (WA1), sometimes questions set the force to be in the same direction as displacement so θ=0 and hence W=Fs.
Exam cue: quote both the numerical answer and the store changed - SEAB frequently awards a follow-up mark for stating “work done increases kinetic energy”.
3 Kinetic energy
Starting from v2=u2+2as and W=Fs with F=ma:
W=mas=21m(v2−u2)=ΔEk.
Taking the object from rest u=0 gives the familiar
Ek=21mv2.
Check-list: always attach J and quote to three s.f. unless the question states otherwise.
4 Concept of a field
A field is a region where a body experiences a force without direct contact. Visualise it with arrows (field lines) or “slicing planes” (equipotentials).
4.1 Gravitational field
Define field strength
g=mF.
Units: N⋅kg−1.
Lines point towards masses.
4.2 Electric field
Define field strength
E=qF.
Units: N⋅C−1.
where q is positive by convention.
4.3 Equipotential surfaces
Field lines cross equipotentials at right angles. No work is done moving along an equipotential.
WA hack: draw one equipotential ring then add arrows - examiners see the concept instantly.
5 Potential energy
Store
Expression
Gravitational (near Earth)
\( E_g = m g h \)
Electric (point charges)
\( E_e = k \dfrac{Q q}{r} \)
Elastic (spring obeying Hooke)
\( E_e = \tfrac{1}{2} k x^{2} \)
Elastic energy equals the area under the force-extension graph - triangular if Hookean, trapezoidal if not.
Mini-drill: Sketch a non-Hookean graph and shade the work done when stretching from 0 cm to 5 cm.
6 Power & efficiency
Power is the rate of energy transfer
P=tE=tW.
For a constant force,
P=Fv
because v=ts.
Efficiency
Efficiency=total inputuseful output×100%.
Real devices suffer heat, sound and friction losses - a typical electric motor in WA problems lands in the 70-90 % band.
7 Three WA timing rules
1 mark ≈ 1.5 min - same as SEAB design.
Label units first; numbers follow.
When in doubt, state conservation of energy - it rescues method marks even if arithmetic falters.
8 Bridge to Paper 4 practical
Overlay field-line diagrams with equipotential maps in Logger Pro.
Use =TRAPZ() in Sheets to integrate a force-extension curve.
Quote final energies to the same s.f. as the least precise raw input.
Comprehensive revision pack
9478 Section I, Topic 4 Syllabus outcomes at a glance
Outcome (a) - describe and calculate work done, energy transfers and power.
Outcome (b) - relate gravitational, electrical and elastic potential energies to associated forces.
Outcome (c) - define fields in terms of force per unit mass/charge; sketch field lines and equipotentials.
Outcome (d) - analyse energy conversion efficiency in mechanical and electrical systems.
Outcome (e) - apply conservation of energy to multi-stage processes (ramps, springs, fields).
Concept map (in words)
Energy questions have three checkpoints: identify the store, choose the transfer (work, heating, radiation), and quantify with equations. Fields provide the force backdrop that links potential energy to work. Use energy-first reasoning for speed (e.g., convert GPE to KE), then verify with dynamics if required.
Work-energy theorem: derive ΔEk=∫F⋅ds and show it equals the net work.
GPE near Earth vs far field: connect mgΔh (near) with GMm(r11−r21)
Power for lifting: show P=mgv for a constant-speed hoist; discuss inefficiency due to motor heat.
Area under F-x: prove elastic energy equals ∫F,dx; generalise to non-linear springs using numerical integration.
Worked example 1 - multi-store energy track
A 0.80kg block slides down a 3.0m rough slope (angle 25∘) and compresses a spring (k=420N⋅m−1). The frictional force is 5.0N. Find the maximum compression of the spring.
Sketch solution: ΔE=mgh−Ffrics=21kx2. Compute h=ssin25∘. Solve for x.
Worked example 2 - electric + gravitational potential
An electron is released from rest midway between two parallel metal plates 1.5cm apart with potential difference 120V. Determine its speed when it reaches the positive plate, neglecting gravity.
Strategy: energy conversion qV=21mv2. Discuss equivalence with constant electric field E=V/d and Newton's 2nd law approach.
Practical & data tasks
Map gravitational potential using Pasco field plotting board; compare with the theoretical 1/r graph.
Record force vs extension for a rubber band (non-Hookean) and integrate numerically using spreadsheet trapezium rule.
Conduct a small-scale efficiency audit: measure electrical energy in (power meter) vs mechanical output (lifting a mass).
Common misconceptions & exam traps
Forgetting minus signs in potential expressions (gravitational and electric).
Mixing up field strength (N⋅kg−1) with potential (J⋅kg−1).
Assuming energy is “lost” instead of transferred to thermal store; spell it out to secure marks.
Using P=Fv with changing speed without specifying instantaneous value or average work.
Quick self-check quiz
What is the work done by a 30N force acting 60∘ to the direction of motion over 4.0m? - 60J.
State the relationship between electric field strength and potential gradient. - E=−dxdΦ.
How does an equipotential surface relate to field lines? - They intersect at right angles.
If a 75% efficient motor lifts a 120kg load at 0.80m⋅s−1, what electrical power is needed? - P=0.75mgv≈1.3kW
Name two mechanisms by which energy can leave a hot object. - Heating (conduction/convection) and radiation.
Revision workflow
Create a comparison table of gravitational vs electric fields (strength, potential, energy conversions).
Re-do two past-paper questions that mix energy with dynamics (e.g., block-spring, roller coaster).
Practise sketching field lines and equipotentials for point masses/charges and parallel plates from memory.
Summarise common efficiency contexts (motors, generators, power plants) with sample calculations.
Practice Quiz
Test yourself on the key concepts from this guide.
