Physics

1.1

• SI units for physical quantities

1.2

• Multiples and sub-multiples of units

1.3

• Converting between units

1.4

• Significant figures and standard form

2.1

• Scalar quantities

2.2

• Vector quantities

2.3

• Difference between vector and scalar quantities

2.4

• Recall vector and scalar quantities (list)

2.5

• Velocity is speed in a stated direction

2.6

• Speed equation

2.7

• Distance/time graphs

2.8

• Acceleration equation

2.9

• SUVAT v^2 - u^2 = 2ax equation

2.10

• Velocity/time graphs

2.11

• Laboratory methods for measuring speed

2.12

• Typical everyday speeds

2.13

• Acceleration of free fall g = 10 m/s^2

2.14

• Newton's first law

2.15

• Newton's second law F = ma

2.16

• Weight equation W = mg

2.17

• Measuring weight

2.18

• Weight and gravitational field strength relationship

2.19

• Core Practical: F = ma with trolleys

2.20

• Circular motion at constant speed

2.21

• Centripetal force

2.22

• Inertial mass

2.23

• Newton's third law and conservation of momentum

2.24

• Momentum equation p = mv

2.25

• Examples of momentum in collisions

2.26

• Newton's second law as F = change in momentum / time (impulse)

2.27

• Human reaction times

2.28

• Stopping distance = thinking + braking distance

2.29

• Factors affecting stopping distance

2.30

• Factors affecting reaction time

2.31

• Dangers of large decelerations

2.32P

• Estimate stopping distance variation with speed

2.33P

• Braking distance dependence on initial velocity squared

3.1

• Gravitational PE equation

3.2

• Kinetic energy equation

3.3

• Energy transfer diagrams

3.4

• Conservation of energy

3.5

• Analyse energy stores in system changes

3.6

• Closed system - no net change to total energy

3.7

• Wasteful mechanical processes dissipating energy

3.8

• Energy dissipated to less useful stores

3.9

• Reducing unwanted energy transfers (lubrication, insulation)

3.10

• Wall thickness and thermal conductivity in cooling rate

3.11

• Efficiency equation

3.12

• Increasing efficiency

3.13

• Main energy sources on Earth

3.14

• Patterns and trends in energy resource use

4.1

• Waves transfer energy not matter

4.2

• Evidence wave not medium travels

4.3

• Frequency and wavelength

4.4

• Amplitude, period, wave velocity, wavefront

4.5

• Longitudinal vs transverse waves

4.6

• Wave equation v = f x lambda; v = x/t

4.7

• Measuring velocity of sound in air and water ripples

4.8P

• Calculate depth/distance from time and wave velocity

4.9P

• Effects at material interfaces (reflection, refraction, transmission, absorption)

4.10

• Refraction explanation by change of speed

4.11

• Wavelength-dependent absorption/transmission/refraction/reflection

4.12P

• Sound to vibrations conversion and the human ear

4.13P

• Ultrasound (>20 000 Hz)

4.14P

• Infrasound (<20 Hz)

4.15P

• Uses of ultrasound and infrasound

4.16P

• Velocity, frequency, wavelength changes between media

4.17

• Core Practical: speed, frequency and wavelength of waves

5.1P

• Reflection, refraction, total internal reflection (with ray diagrams)

5.2P

• Specular vs diffuse reflection

5.3P

• Colour of light: absorption and filters

5.4P

• Lens power and focal length/shape

5.5P

• Ray diagrams for converging and diverging lenses

5.6P

• Real and virtual images from lenses

5.7

• EM waves are transverse and travel at same speed in vacuum

5.8

• EM waves transfer energy from source to observer

5.9

• Core Practical: refraction in rectangular glass blocks

5.10

• Main groupings of EM spectrum

5.11

• EM spectrum continuous; wavelength/frequency ordering

5.12

• Limited range of frequencies detected by human eye

5.13

• EM wavelength-dependent absorption/transmission/refraction/reflection

5.14

• Effects of velocity differences in different substances

5.15P

• All bodies emit radiation: temperature dependence

5.16P

• Constant temperature: emission equals absorption

5.17P

• Temperature change when emission and absorption differ

5.18P

• Earth's temperature: incoming/outgoing radiation balance

5.19P

• Core Practical: thermal radiation absorption/emission by surfaces

5.20

• Danger of EM waves increasing with frequency

5.21

• Harmful effects of excessive EM exposure

5.22

• Uses of EM radiation

5.23

• Radio waves and electrical oscillations

5.24

• Atomic/nuclear changes generate radiation

6.1

• Atomic structure (nucleus, protons, neutrons, electrons)

6.2

• Typical size of atoms and small molecules

6.3

• Isotope notation: atomic and mass numbers

6.4

• Element nuclear charge and isotopes

6.5

• Relative masses and charges of subatomic particles

6.6

• Atom is neutral - protons = electrons

6.7

• Electron orbits at set distances

6.8

• Electron orbit changes via EM absorption/emission

6.9

• Formation of positive ions

6.10

• Types of nuclear emission (alpha/beta/positron/gamma/neutron)

6.11

• Ionising radiations

6.12

• Background radiation

6.13

• Origins of background radiation

6.14

• Detecting radioactivity (photographic film, GM tube)

6.15

• Nature of alpha, beta, gamma

6.16

• Penetration and ionisation: alpha vs beta vs gamma

6.17

• History of the atomic model

6.18

• Beta-minus decay process

6.19

• Beta-plus decay process

6.20

• Effects of decays on Z and A

6.21

• Gamma emission from nuclear rearrangement

6.22

• Balancing nuclear equations

6.23

• Activity decreases over time

6.24

• Becquerel as unit of activity

6.25

• Half-life definition

6.26

• Random decay vs predictable half-life

6.27

• Half-life calculations and graphs

6.28P

• Uses of radioactivity

6.29

• Dangers of ionising radiation - tissue damage and mutations

6.30P

• Dangers depend on half-life

6.31

• Safety precautions for radiation exposure

6.32

• Contamination vs irradiation

6.33P

• Internal vs external tumour radiation treatment

6.34P

• PET scanners and tracers in diagnosis

6.35P

• PET isotopes produced nearby

6.36P

• Advantages/disadvantages of nuclear power

6.37P

• Nuclear reactions as energy source (fission, fusion, decay)

6.38P

• Fission of U-235

6.39P

• Controlled nuclear chain reaction principle

6.40P

• Moderators and control rods

6.41P

• Thermal energy from chain reaction to electricity

6.42P

• Fission products are radioactive

6.43P

• Nuclear fusion

6.44P

• Difference between fission and fusion

6.45P

• Fusion conditions: high temperature/pressure

6.46P

• Fusion conditions and practical power stations

7.1P

• Weight and g on different bodies

7.2P

• Components of the Solar System

7.3P

• Names and order of eight planets

7.4P

• Changing ideas about Solar System

7.5P

• Orbits of moons, planets, comets, satellites

7.6P

• Circular orbits: gravity changes velocity but not speed

7.7P

• Stable orbit: radius vs orbital speed

7.8P

• Steady State vs Big Bang theories

7.9P

• Evidence for Big Bang: red-shift and CMB

7.10P

• Big Bang as accepted model

7.11P

• Doppler effect (moving wave source)

7.12P

• Red-shift in light from distant galaxies

7.13P

• Red-shift evidence for expanding Universe

7.14P

• Big Bang vs Steady State accounting for red-shift

7.15P

• CMB discovery and Big Bang

7.16P

• Stellar evolution: Sun-like stars

7.17P

• Thermal expansion vs gravity in star life cycle

7.18P

• Stellar evolution: high-mass stars

7.19P

• Observing the Universe; telescopes outside atmosphere

8.1

• Energy stores and system changes

8.2

• Energy transfer diagrams

8.3

• Closed system - no net change

8.4

• Ways to change energy of a system

8.5

• Measuring work done; energy = work done

8.6

• Work done equation E = F x d

8.7

• Calculate energy changes from work done

8.8

• GPE equation

8.9

• Kinetic energy equation

8.10

• Energy dissipation in system changes

8.11

• Wasteful mechanical processes (heat dissipation)

8.12

• Power as rate of energy transfer

8.13

• Power equation P = E/t

8.14

• One watt = one joule per second

8.15

• Efficiency equation

9.1

• Object interactions: at distance and contact

9.2

• Difference between vector and scalar

9.3

• Vector diagrams: resolution, net force, equilibrium

9.4

• Free body force diagrams

9.5

• Forces on objects: resultant and balanced

9.6P

• Forces causing rotation

9.7P

• Moment of a force

9.8P

• Principle of moments

9.9P

• Levers and gears

9.10

• Reducing energy transfer (lubrication)

10.1

• Atomic structure (positions/masses/charges of subatomic particles)

10.2

• Circuit diagrams and component symbols

10.3

• Series vs parallel circuits

10.4

• Voltmeter in parallel

10.5

• Potential difference as energy per charge

10.6

• Energy transferred E = Q x V

10.7

• Ammeter in series

10.8

• Electric current as rate of flow of charge

10.9

• Charge equation Q = I x t

10.10

• Closed circuit with PD source has current

10.11

• Current conserved at junction

10.12

• Resistance changes change current; variable resistor

10.13

• V = I x R equation

10.14

• Net resistance: series increases, parallel decreases

10.15

• Calculations in series circuits

10.16

• Series circuits for testing/measuring

10.17

• Core Practical: I-V relationships and series/parallel

10.18

• I-V relationships: filament lamp, diode, fixed resistor

10.19

• LDR resistance and light intensity

10.20

• Thermistor resistance and temperature

10.21

• Designing circuits to explore variation in resistance

10.22

• Heating effect of current in resistor

10.23

• Electrical energy dissipated as thermal energy

10.24

• Microscopic origin of heating: electron-ion collisions

10.25

• Reducing unwanted energy transfer (low resistance wires)

10.26

• Advantages/disadvantages of heating effect

10.27

• Energy transferred E = I x V x t

10.28

• Power as energy per second; watt

10.29

• Power equation P = E/t

10.30

• Power transfer relationship to PD and current

10.31

• Electrical power equations P = IV and P = I^2 R

10.32

• Energy transfers in domestic devices

10.33

• Direct vs alternating voltage

10.34

• DC: charge in one direction

10.35

• AC: charge changes direction

10.36

• UK mains: 50 Hz, 230 V

10.37

• Live and neutral wires

10.38

• Earth wire and fuses/circuit breakers

10.39

• Switches and fuses in live wire

10.40

• Potential differences: live, neutral, earth

10.41

• Dangers of live-to-earth connection

10.42

• Power ratings and stored energy changes in appliances

11.1P

• Charging by friction (transfer of electrons)

11.2P

• Negative and positive charge from electron transfer

11.3P

• Like charges repel, unlike charges attract

11.4P

• Electrostatic phenomena: shocks, lightning, induction

11.5P

• Earthing removes excess charge

11.6P

• Uses of electrostatic charges

11.7P

• Sparking dangers and earthing for prevention

11.8P

• Definition of electric field

11.9P

• Shape and direction of electric field (point charge, parallel plates)

11.10P

• Electric field explains static phenomena

12.1

• Magnetic poles

12.2

• Permanent and temporary magnetic materials

12.3

• Permanent vs induced magnets

12.4

• Magnetic field around bar magnets and uniform fields

12.5

• Plotting compasses to show magnetic field

12.6

• Magnetic compass and Earth's magnetic core

12.7

• Magnetic field around long straight conductor

12.8

• Field strength: current and distance from straight conductor

12.9

• Solenoid: addition of fields and uniform field

12.10

• Force on a current-carrying conductor (motor effect)

12.11

• Magnetic forces from interacting fields

12.12

• Fleming's left-hand rule

12.13

• Force equation F = B I l

12.14P

• Electric motors

13.1P

• Producing current by relative movement of magnet and conductor

13.2

• Factors affecting size and direction of induced PD

13.3P

• Alternators (ac) and dynamos (dc)

13.4P

• Microphone, loudspeaker, headphones

13.5

• Transformer induction principle

13.6

• Transformer changes alternating voltage size

13.7P

• Transformer turns ratio equation

13.8

• National grid: high voltage transmission, low voltage local

13.9

• Step-up and step-down transformers in national grid

13.10

• Transformer power equation Vp Ip = Vs Is

13.11P

• Advantages of high-voltage transmission

14.1

• Kinetic theory model: states of matter

14.2

• Density equation

14.3

• Core Practical: density of solids and liquids

14.4

• Density and arrangement of particles in different states

14.5

• Conservation of mass during state changes

14.6

• Heating: energy storage, temperature change, state change

14.7

• Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat definitions

14.8

• Specific heat capacity equation Q = m c d-theta

14.9

• Specific latent heat equation Q = m L

14.10

• Reducing energy transfer (thermal insulation)

14.11

• Core Practical: SHC of water and ice melting

14.12

• Pressure of a gas: motion of particles

14.13

• Effect of temperature on gas particle velocity and pressure (constant volume)

14.14

• Absolute zero

14.15

• Kelvin and Celsius scale conversion

14.16P

• Compression and expansion of gases

14.17P

• Pressure of a gas produces normal force

14.18P

• Volume change effect on collisions and pressure (constant T)

14.19P

• Boyle's law: P1 V1 = P2 V2

14.20P

• Doing work on a gas can increase its temperature

15.1

• Stretching, bending, compressing requires more than one force

15.2

• Elastic vs inelastic distortion

15.3

• Hooke's law F = k x x

15.4

• Energy stored in stretched spring E = 1/2 k x^2

15.5

• Linear vs non-linear force-extension

15.6

• Core Practical: extension and work done on a spring

15.7P

• Atmospheric pressure variation with height

15.8P

• Pressure in a fluid (fluid + atmosphere)

15.9P

• Pressure in fluids causes normal force

15.10P

• Pressure related to force and area

15.11P

• Pressure equation P = F/A

15.12P

• Pressure in fluids increases with depth and density

15.13P

• Pressure in liquids varies with density and depth

15.14P

• Pressure in liquid column equation P = h rho g

15.15P

• Upthrust on objects in fluids

15.16P

• Upthrust = weight of fluid displaced

15.17P

• Floating and sinking factors