Physics

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

SI units and prefixes, measuring length, volume and time, and the difference between scalars and vectors.

Motion

Speed, velocity and acceleration, distance–time and speed–time graphs, and motion under gravity.

Mass and weight

Mass as the quantity of matter, weight as the force of gravity on a mass, and gravitational field strength.

Density

Density as mass per unit volume, measuring it for regular and irregular solids and for liquids, and floating.

Forces

Resultant force and Newton's laws, friction, springs and Hooke's law, circular motion, turning effect and equilibrium, and centre of gravity.

Momentum

Momentum as mass × velocity, impulse, and conservation of momentum in collisions.

Energy, work and power

Energy stores and transfers, conservation of energy, kinetic and gravitational potential energy, work, power, efficiency and energy resources.

Pressure

Pressure as force per unit area, pressure in liquids and gases, and the effect of depth.

Kinetic particle model of matter

States of matter, particle arrangement and motion, changes of state, gas pressure and the gas laws.

Thermal properties and temperature

Thermal expansion, thermometers, specific heat capacity and specific latent heat.

Transfer of thermal energy

Conduction, convection, radiation, and how to reduce or increase energy transfer.

General properties of waves

Transverse and longitudinal waves, wavelength, frequency, amplitude, the wave equation, reflection, refraction and diffraction.

Light

Reflection in a plane mirror, refraction and refractive index, total internal reflection, thin converging lenses and dispersion.

Electromagnetic spectrum

The order of the spectrum, common uses and the dangers of each region.

Sound

Sound as a longitudinal wave, the range of human hearing, the speed of sound and echoes, and ultrasound.

Simple phenomena of magnetism

Magnetic materials, magnetic fields and field lines, and induced magnetism.

Electrical quantities

Charge, current, potential difference, resistance, Ohm's law and electrical energy and power.

Electric circuits

Circuit diagrams, series and parallel circuits, combined resistance, and action of components.

Electrical safety

Hazards of electricity, fuses, circuit breakers, earthing and double insulation.

Electromagnetic effects

Electromagnetic induction, the a.c. generator, transformers, the magnetic effect of a current, and the motor effect.

The nuclear model of the atom

Protons, neutrons and electrons, nuclide notation, isotopes and the alpha-scattering evidence.

Radioactivity

Background radiation, alpha, beta and gamma emission, decay equations, half-life, safety and uses.

Earth and the Solar System

Day and night, seasons, the Moon, the planets, orbital speed and the formation of the Solar System.

Stars and the Universe

The Sun as a star, nuclear fusion, the life cycle of stars, galaxies, redshift and the Big Bang.