Physics

1.1 Electric circuits

• Circuit symbols
• Effect of adding components on resistanceFoundation
• Electrical power equations
• Investigating I-V for components
• Ohm's law (V=IR)
• Power as energy per unit timeHigher
• Series and parallel circuit rules
• Specified practical: I-V characteristics
• Total resistance and current calculations
• Variation of resistance in components
• Voltmeters and ammeters

1.2 Generating electricity

• Comparing UK power stationsHigher
• Fuel-based power station processes
• National Grid distribution
• Non-renewable energy resources
• Renewable energy resources
• Sankey diagrams and efficiency
• Transformers in transmission
• Voltages in the National GridFoundation

1.3 Making use of energy

• Conduction and mobile electrons
• Convection in fluids
• Cost of energy sources for heating and transport
• Density and states of matter
• Heat transfer mechanisms
• Insulation cost-effectiveness and paybackFoundation
• Reducing energy loss from houses
• Specified practical: density of solids and liquids
• Specified practical: methods of heat transfer

1.4 Domestic electricity

• Alternating vs direct current
• Cost of electricityHigher
• Domestic solar and wind cost-effectiveness
• Energy ratings of appliances
• Fuses, MCBs and RCCBs
• Investigating energy transfers in domestic contextsHigher
• Kilowatt and kilowatt-hour
• Ring main and three-pin wiringFoundation

1.5 Features of waves

• Energy and information transfer by EM waves
• Geostationary satellite communication
• Graphical representation of transverse waves
• Ionising radiation and damage to cells
• Reflection and refraction of plane waves
• Refraction explained by speed change
• Regions of the electromagnetic spectrumHigher
• Specified practical: speed of water waves
• Transverse vs longitudinal waves
• Use of "radiation" terminologyFoundation
• Wave description quantitiesFoundation
• Wave speed equations

1.6 Total internal reflection of waves

• Conditions for total internal reflection
• Endoscopy and CT scans
• Optical fibres rely on TIR
• Optical fibres vs satellites for long distance

1.7 Seismic waves

• Locating an earthquake epicentre
• P waves longitudinal vs S waves transverse
• Path of P and S waves through Earth
• Properties of seismic P, S and surface waves
• S-wave shadow zone and Earth structure

1.8 Kinetic theory

• Absolute zero and the Kelvin scale
• Behaviour of fixed mass of gas
• Combined gas equation pV/T = constant
• Molecular explanation of state changes
• Pressure as force per area
• Pressure variation explained by molecular motion
• Specific heat capacity and specific latent heatFoundation
• Specified practical: specific heat capacity

1.9 Electromagnetism

• a.c. generatorFoundation
• Direction of induced current in a generator
• Electromagnetic induction conditions
• Force on a conductor F=BIl
• Magnetic field patterns
• Motor effect and Fleming's left-hand rule
• Operation of a transformerHigher
• Simple d.c. motor
• Specified practical: transformer output
• Transformer turns equation

2.1 Distance, speed and acceleration

• Equations for speed and acceleration
• Speed-time and distance-time graphs
• Speed, velocity and acceleration
• Stopping distances
• Traffic control implicationsFoundation
• Velocity-time graphs for acceleration and distance

2.2 Newton's laws

• Falling objects and terminal speedFoundation
• Inertia and mass
• Mass vs weight; W = mg
• Newton's first law of motion
• Newton's second law (F = ma)
• Newton's third law of motion
• Resultant force and acceleration
• Specified practical: terminal speed

2.3 Work and energy

• Car safety features
• Conservation of energy when work is done
• Elastic energy from F-x graph
• Hooke's law for springsFoundation
• KE and GPE equations
• Kinetic, gravitational and elastic energy
• Specified practical: F-x graph for a spring
• Vehicle energy efficiencyHigher
• Work as energy transfer
• Work done equation W = Fd

2.4 Further motion concepts

• Conservation of momentum
• Equations of uniformly accelerated motion (suvat)
• Moment of a forceFoundation
• Momentum p = mv
• Newton's second law as F = ∆p/∆t
• Principle of moments
• Specified practical: principle of moments

2.5 Stars and planets

• Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
• Life cycle of stars
• Observable universe and units of distance
• Origin of the solar systemFoundation
• Recycling of heavy elements via supernovae
• Solar system features
• Stellar stability and fusion of heavier elements

2.6 The Universe

• Atomic absorption spectra and stellar composition
• Big Bang model and red shift evidence
• Cosmic microwave background radiation
• Cosmological red shift and Hubble

2.7 Types of radiation

• Atomic notation: A, Z, isotope
• Background radiation correction
• Balancing nuclear decay equationsHigher
• Identities of α, β and γ radiation
• Long-lived radioactive waste
• Origin of radioactive emissions
• Penetrating power of alpha, beta, gammaFoundation
• Random nature of radioactive decay
• Sources of background radiation and dose

2.8 Half-life

• Activity and half-life calculations
• Decay curves and half-life
• Modelling radioactive decay with constant probability
• Specified practical: half-life modelling
• Uses of radioactive materials

2.9 Nuclear decay and nuclear energy

• Balancing fission and fusion equations
• Containment in fission and fusion reactorsFoundation
• Fission products and half-lives
• Induced fission of U-235
• Moderator and control rods in fission reactor
• Nuclear fusion of light nuclei