Physics

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1. 3Working scientifically

   Scientific thinking, experimentation, evaluation and communication required throughout the course.

   • WS1Development of scientific thinking
   • WS2Experimental skills and strategies
   • WS3Analysis and evaluation
   • WS4Scientific vocabulary, quantities and units

2. 4.1Energy

   Energy accounting describes system changes, useful transfers and resource choices.

   • 4.1.1Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes
     • GCSE Physics: Changes in energy12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Energy changes in systems10 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Energy stores and systems12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Power11 cards
   • 4.1.2Conservation and dissipation of energy
     • GCSE Physics: Efficiency12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Energy transfers in a system11 cards
   • 4.1.3National and global energy resources
     • GCSE Physics: National and global energy resources12 cards

3. 4.2Electricity

   Circuits transfer energy through moving charge; electrical fields also act between charges at rest.

   • 4.2.1Current, potential difference and resistance
     • GCSE Physics: Current, resistance and potential difference12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Electrical charge and current10 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Resistors12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Standard circuit diagram symbols2 cards
   • 4.2.2Series and parallel circuits
     • GCSE Physics: Series and parallel circuits12 cards
   • 4.2.3Domestic uses and safety
     • GCSE Physics: Direct and alternating potential difference10 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Mains electricity12 cards
   • 4.2.4Energy transfers
     • GCSE Physics: Energy transfers in everyday appliances11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Power12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: The National Grid10 cards
   • 4.2.5Static electricity (physics only)
     • GCSE Physics: Electric fields10 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Static charge11 cards

4. 4.3Particle model of matter

   Particle arrangements and energy account for density, state changes and gas pressure.

   • 4.3.1Changes of state and the particle model
     • GCSE Physics: Changes of state9 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Density of materials11 cards
   • 4.3.2Internal energy and energy transfers
     • GCSE Physics: Changes of state and specific latent heat11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Internal energy9 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Temperature changes in a system and specific heat capacity10 cards
   • 4.3.3Particle model and pressure
     • GCSE Physics: Increasing the pressure of a gas9 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Particle motion in gases10 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Pressure in gases11 cards

5. 4.4Atomic structure

   Atomic models and unstable nuclei explain radiation, its hazards and its applications.

   • 4.4.1Atoms and isotopes
     • GCSE Physics: Mass number, atomic number and isotopes11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: The development of the model of the atom (common content with chemistry)11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: The structure of an atom11 cards
   • 4.4.2Atoms and nuclear radiation
     • GCSE Physics: Half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Nuclear equations11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Radioactive contamination12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation12 cards
   • 4.4.3Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation (physics only)
     • GCSE Physics: Background radiation11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes8 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Uses of nuclear radiation7 cards
   • 4.4.4Nuclear fission and fusion (physics only)
     • GCSE Physics: Nuclear fission12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Nuclear fusion8 cards

6. 4.5Forces

   Forces change motion and shape; quantitative models describe interactions and transport safety.

   • 4.5.1Forces and their interactions
     • GCSE Physics: Contact and non-contact forces12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Gravity11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Resultant forces12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Scalar and vector quantities10 cards
   • 4.5.2Work done and energy transfer
     • GCSE Physics: Work done and energy transfer10 cards
   • 4.5.3Forces and elasticity
     • GCSE Physics: Forces and elasticity12 cards
   • 4.5.4Moments, levers and gears (physics only)
     • GCSE Physics: Moments, levers and gears12 cards
   • 4.5.5Pressure and pressure differences in fluids (physics only)
     • GCSE Physics: Atmospheric pressure8 cards
   • 4.5.6Forces and motion
   • 4.5.7Momentum (HT only)
     • GCSE Physics: Changes in momentum11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Conservation of momentum9 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Momentum is a property of moving objects8 cards

7. 4.6Waves

   Wave models describe energy transmission, imaging and electromagnetic interactions.

   • 4.6.1Waves in air, fluids and solids
     • GCSE Physics: Properties of waves12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Reflection of waves9 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Sound waves8 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Transverse and longitudinal waves11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Waves for detection and exploration12 cards
   • 4.6.2Electromagnetic waves
     • GCSE Physics: Lenses11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Properties of electromagnetic waves9 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Properties of electromagnetic waves11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Types of electromagnetic waves12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Uses and applications of electromagnetic waves12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Visible light11 cards
   • 4.6.3Black body radiation (physics only)
     • GCSE Physics: Emission and absorption of infrared radiation8 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Perfect black bodies and radiation11 cards

8. 4.7Magnetism and electromagnetism

   Magnetic fields connect electric currents, forces, motors and generators.

   • 4.7.1Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields
     • GCSE Physics: Magnetic fields12 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Poles of a magnet9 cards
   • 4.7.2The motor effect
     • GCSE Physics: Electric motors8 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Electromagnetism10 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Fleming's left-hand rule10 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Loudspeakers9 cards
   • 4.7.3Induced potential, transformers and the National Grid (physics only) (HT only)
     • GCSE Physics: Induced potential9 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Microphones7 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Transformers11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Uses of the generator effect12 cards

9. 4.8Space physics (physics only)

   Gravity and nuclear fusion govern stars and orbits; astronomical observations inform cosmological models.

   • 4.8.1Solar system; stability of orbital motions; satellites (physics only)
     • GCSE Physics: Orbital motion, natural and artificial satellites11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: Our solar system11 cards
     • GCSE Physics: The life cycle of a star10 cards
   • 4.8.2Red-shift (physics only)
     • GCSE Physics: Red-shift12 cards

10. 4.9Key ideas

    Models, fields and mathematical relationships connect physical explanations.

    • 4.9-overviewKey ideas

11. 7Mathematical requirements

    The mathematical techniques explicitly required by this subject, with context-specific Higher extensions.

    • MS1Arithmetic and numerical computation
    • MS2Handling data
    • MS3Algebra
    • MS4Graphs
    • MS5Geometry and trigonometry

12. 8Practical assessment

    Required apparatus techniques and the specified practical investigations.

    • 8.1Use of apparatus and techniques
    • 8.2Required practical activities

practice preview — fresh every time

1. 2 marks · foundation tier

   A component has a current of 10 A and a resistance of 7 Ω. Work out the potential difference. Give your answer in V.

   show the answer

   70

   V = I × R = 10 × 7 = 70 V.

2. 2 marks · foundation tier

   An object has a distance travelled of 250 m and a time taken of 35 s. Work out the average speed. Give your answer in m/s. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

   show the answer

   7.14

   v = d / t = 250 / 35 = 7.14 m/s.