Physics Specification

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Topic 1: Forces and Motion

(a) Units

  • 1.1 Use the following units:
    • kilogram (kg)
    • metre (m)
    • metre/second (m/s)
    • metre/second² (m/s²)
    • newton (N)
    • second (s)
    • newton/kilogram (N/kg)

(b) Movement and Position

  • 1.3 Plot and explain distance-time graphs
  • 1.4 Know and use relationship: average speed = distance moved / time taken
  • PRACTICAL: Investigate motion of everyday objects
  • 1.6 Know and use relationship: acceleration = change in velocity / time taken a = (v − u) / t
  • 1.7 Plot and explain velocity-time graphs
  • 1.8 Determine acceleration from gradient of velocity-time graph
  • 1.9 Determine distance travelled from area between velocity-time graph and time axis
  • 1.10 Use relationship: v² = u² + (2 × a × s)

(c) Forces, Movement, Shape and Momentum

  • 1.11 Describe effects of forces:
    • Changes in speed
    • Changes in shape
    • Changes in direction
  • 1.12 Identify different types of force:
    • Gravitational
    • Electrostatic
  • 1.13 Understand how vector quantities differ from scalar quantities
  • 1.14 Understand force is vector quantity
  • 1.15 Calculate resultant force of forces along a line
  • 1.16 Know friction is force that opposes motion
  • 1.17 Know and use relationship: force = mass × acceleration F = m × a
  • 1.18 Know and use relationship: weight = mass × gravitational field strength W = m × g
  • 1.19 Know stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance
  • 1.20 Describe factors affecting vehicle stopping distance:
    • Speed
    • Mass
    • Road condition
    • Reaction time
  • 1.21 Describe forces on falling objects and explain terminal velocity
  • PRACTICAL: Investigate how extension varies with applied force for:
    • Helical springs
    • Metal wires
    • Rubber bands
  • 1.23 Know initial linear region of force-extension graph associated with Hooke's law
  • 1.24 Describe elastic behaviour as ability to recover original shape

Topic 2: Electricity

(a) Units

  • 2.1 Use the following units:
    • ampere (A)
    • coulomb (C)
    • joule (J)
    • ohm (Ω)
    • second (s)
    • volt (V)
    • watt (W)

(b) Mains Electricity

  • 2.2 Understand how these protect device/user:
    • Insulation
    • Double insulation
    • Earthing
    • Fuses
    • Circuit breakers
  • 2.3 Understand why current in resistor results in:
    • Electrical transfer of energy
    • Increase in temperature
    • Uses in domestic contexts
  • 2.4 Know and use relationship: power = current × voltage P = I × V
  • 2.5 Use relationship: energy transferred = current × voltage × time E = I × V × t
  • 2.6 Know difference between:
    • AC (mains electricity)
    • DC (cell/battery)

(c) Energy and Voltage in Circuits

  • 2.7 Explain why series or parallel circuit more appropriate for applications
  • 2.8 Understand how current in series circuit depends on voltage and components
  • 2.9 Describe how current varies with voltage in:
    • Wires
    • Resistors
    • Metal filament lamps
    • Diodes
  • 2.10 Describe qualitative effect of changing resistance on current
  • 2.11 Describe qualitative variation of resistance of:
    • LDRs with illumination
    • Thermistors with temperature
  • 2.12 Know lamps and LEDs can indicate presence of current
  • 2.13 Know and use relationship: voltage = current × resistance V = I × R
  • 2.14 Know current is rate of flow of charge
  • 2.15 Know and use relationship: charge = current × time Q = I × t
  • 2.16 Know electric current in solid metallic conductors is flow of negatively charged electrons
  • 2.17 Understand why current is conserved at junction
  • 2.18 Know voltage across components in parallel is same
  • 2.19 Calculate currents, voltages and resistances of two resistive components in series
  • 2.20 Know:
    • Voltage is energy transferred per unit charge
    • Volt is joule per coulomb
  • 2.21 Know and use relationship: energy transferred = charge × voltage E = Q × V

Topic 3: Waves

(a) Units

  • 3.1 Use the following units:
    • degree (°)
    • hertz (Hz)
    • metre (m)
    • metre/second (m/s)
    • second (s)

(b) Properties of Waves

  • 3.2 Explain difference between longitudinal and transverse waves
  • 3.3 Know definitions of:
    • Amplitude
    • Wavefront
    • Frequency
    • Wavelength
    • Period
  • 3.4 Know waves transfer energy and information without transferring matter
  • 3.5 Know and use relationship: wave speed = frequency × wavelength v = f × λ
  • 3.6 Use relationship: frequency = 1 / time period f = 1 / T
  • 3.7 Use relationships for sound and electromagnetic waves
  • 3.8 Explain Doppler effect
  • 3.9 Explain all waves can be reflected and refracted

(c) The Electromagnetic Spectrum

  • 3.10 Know light is part of continuous electromagnetic spectrum:
    • Radio
    • Microwave
    • Infrared
    • Visible
    • Ultraviolet
    • X-ray
    • Gamma ray All travel at same speed in free space
  • 3.11 Know order in terms of:
    • Decreasing wavelength
    • Increasing frequency
    • Including colours of visible spectrum
  • 3.12 Explain uses of electromagnetic radiations:
    • Radio waves: broadcasting and communications
    • Microwaves: cooking and satellite transmissions
    • Infrared: heaters and night vision equipment
    • Visible light: optical fibres and photography
    • Ultraviolet: fluorescent lamps
    • X-rays: medical applications
    • Gamma rays: sterilising food and medical equipment
  • 3.13 Explain detrimental effects of excessive exposure:
    • Microwaves: internal heating of body tissue
    • Infrared: skin burns
    • Ultraviolet: damage to surface cells and blindness
    • Gamma rays: cancer, mutation Describe simple protective measures

(d) Light and Sound

  • 3.14 Know light waves are transverse and can be reflected and refracted
  • 3.15 Use law of reflection (angle of incidence = angle of reflection)
  • 3.16 Draw ray diagrams for reflection and refraction
  • PRACTICAL: Investigate refraction using:
    • Rectangular blocks
    • Semi-circular blocks
    • Triangular prisms
  • 3.18 Know and use relationship: n = sin i / sin r
  • PRACTICAL: Investigate refractive index of glass
  • 3.20 Describe role of total internal reflection in:
    • Optical fibres
    • Prisms
  • 3.21 Explain meaning of critical angle c
  • 3.22 Know and use relationship: n = 1 / sin c
  • 3.23 Know sound waves are longitudinal waves which can be reflected and refracted

Topic 4: Energy Resources and Energy Transfers

(a) Units

  • 4.1 Use the following units:
    • kilogram (kg)
    • joule (J)
    • metre (m)
    • metre/second (m/s)
    • metre/second² (m/s²)
    • newton (N)
    • second (s)
    • watt (W)

(b) Energy Transfers

  • 4.2 Describe energy transfers involving:

Energy stores:

  • Chemical
  • Kinetic
  • Gravitational
  • Elastic
  • Thermal
  • Magnetic
  • Electrostatic
  • Nuclear

Energy transfers:

  • Mechanically
  • Electrically
  • By heating
  • By radiation (light and sound)
  • 4.3 Use principle of conservation of energy
  • 4.4 Know and use relationship: efficiency = (useful energy output / total energy output) × 100%
  • 4.5 Describe variety of devices and situations using Sankey diagrams
  • 4.6 Describe how thermal energy transfer may take place by:
    • Conduction
    • Convection
    • Radiation
  • 4.7 Explain role of convection in everyday phenomena
  • 4.8 Explain how emission and absorption of radiation related to surface and temperature
  • PRACTICAL: Investigate thermal energy transfer by conduction, convection and radiation
  • 4.10 Explain ways of reducing unwanted energy transfer

(c) Work and Power

  • 4.11 Know and use relationship: work done = force × distance moved W = F × d
  • 4.12 Know work done equals energy transferred
  • 4.13 Know and use relationship: gravitational potential energy = mass × gravitational field strength × height GPE = m × g × h
  • 4.14 Know and use relationship: kinetic energy = ½ × mass × speed² KE = ½ × m × v²
  • 4.15 Understand conservation of energy links GPE, KE and work
  • 4.16 Describe power as rate of transfer of energy or rate of doing work
  • 4.17 Use relationship: power = work done / time taken P = W / t

Topic 5: Solids, Liquids and Gases

(a) Units

  • 5.1 Use the following units:
    • degree Celsius (°C)
    • Kelvin (K)
    • joule (J)
    • kilogram (kg)
    • kilogram/metre³ (kg/m³)
    • metre (m)
    • metre² (m²)
    • metre³ (m³)
    • metre/second (m/s)
    • metre/second² (m/s²)
    • newton (N)
    • pascal (Pa)

(b) Density and Pressure

  • 5.3 Know and use relationship: density = mass / volume ρ = m / V
  • PRACTICAL: Investigate density using direct measurements
  • 5.5 Know and use relationship: pressure = force / area p = F / A
  • 5.6 Understand pressure at point in gas or liquid acts equally in all directions
  • 5.7 Know and use relationship: pressure difference = height × density × gravitational field strength p = h × ρ × g

(c) Ideal Gas Molecules

  • 5.15 Explain how molecules in gas:
    • Have random motion
    • Exert force and pressure on container walls
  • 5.16 Understand why there is absolute zero of temperature (−273°C)
  • 5.17 Describe Kelvin scale and convert between Kelvin and Celsius
  • 5.18 Understand why increase in temperature increases average speed of gas molecules
  • 5.19 Know Kelvin temperature proportional to average kinetic energy of molecules
  • 5.20 Explain qualitative relationship between:
    • Pressure and volume at constant temperature
    • Pressure and Kelvin temperature at constant volume
  • 5.21 Use relationship: p₁/T₁ = p₂/T₂ (fixed mass of gas at constant volume)
  • 5.22 Use relationship: p₁V₁ = p₂V₂ (fixed mass of gas at constant temperature)

Topic 6: Magnetism and Electromagnetism

(a) Units

  • 6.1 Use the following units:
    • ampere (A)
    • volt (V)
    • watt (W)

(b) Magnetism

  • 6.2 Know magnets:
    • Repel and attract other magnets
    • Attract magnetic substances
  • 6.3 Describe properties of magnetically hard and soft materials
  • 6.4 Understand term 'magnetic field line'
  • 6.5 Know magnetism is induced in some materials in magnetic field
  • PRACTICAL: Investigate magnetic field pattern for:
    • Permanent bar magnet
    • Between two bar magnets
  • 6.7 Describe how to use two permanent magnets to produce uniform magnetic field

(c) Electromagnetism

  • 6.8 Know electric current in conductor produces magnetic field around it
  • 6.12 Understand why force is exerted on current-carrying wire in magnetic field and applications in:
    • DC electric motors
    • Loudspeakers
  • 6.13 Use left-hand rule to predict direction of force
  • 6.14 Describe how force changes with:
    • Magnitude of field
    • Direction of field
    • Magnitude of current
    • Direction of current

(d) Electromagnetic Induction

  • 6.15 Know voltage is induced when:
    • Conductor/coil moves through magnetic field
    • Magnetic field changes through conductor/coil Describe factors affecting induced voltage
  • 6.16 Describe generation of electricity by:
    • Rotation of magnet within coil
    • Rotation of coil within magnetic field Describe factors affecting induced voltage

Topic 7: Radioactivity and Particles

(a) Units

  • 7.1 Use the following units:
    • becquerel (Bq)
    • centimetre (cm)
    • hour (h)
    • minute (min)
    • second (s)

(b) Radioactivity

  • 7.2 Describe structure of atom and use symbols (e.g., ¹⁴₆C)
  • 7.3 Know the terms:
    • Atomic (proton) number
    • Mass (nucleon) number
    • Isotope
  • 7.4 Know alpha (α), beta (β⁻) and gamma (γ) are:
    • Ionising radiations
    • Emitted from unstable nuclei
    • Emitted in random process
  • 7.5 Describe nature of α, β⁻ and γ rays in terms of:
    • Penetrating power
    • Ability to ionise
  • PRACTICAL: Investigate penetration powers of different types of radiation
  • 7.7 Describe effects on atomic and mass numbers of emission of:
    • Alpha
    • Beta
    • Gamma
    • Neutron radiation
  • 7.8 Understand how to balance nuclear equations
  • 7.9 Know photographic film or Geiger-Müller detector can detect ionising radiations
  • 7.10 Explain sources of background radiation from Earth and space
  • 7.11 Know activity of radioactive source:
    • Decreases over time
    • Measured in becquerels
  • 7.12 Know definition of 'half-life' and that it differs for different isotopes
  • 7.13 Use concept of half-life in calculations including graphical methods
  • 7.14 Describe uses of radioactivity in industry and medicine
  • 7.15 Describe difference between contamination and irradiation
  • 7.16 Describe dangers of ionising radiations:
    • Can cause mutations
    • Can damage cells and tissue
    • Problems from radioactive waste disposal
    • How associated risks can be reduced

(c) Fission and Fusion

  • 7.17 Know nuclear reactions can be source of energy:
    • Fission
    • Fusion
    • Radioactive decay
  • 7.18 Understand fission of U-235:
    • Split by collision with neutron
    • Releases energy as kinetic energy of fission products
  • 7.19 Know fission of U-235 produces:
    • Two radioactive daughter nuclei
    • Small number of neutrons
  • 7.20 Describe how chain reaction can be set up
  • 7.21 Describe role of:
    • Control rods
    • Moderator in fission process
  • 7.22 Understand role of shielding around nuclear reactor
  • 7.23 Explain difference between nuclear fusion and fission
  • 7.24 Describe nuclear fusion:
    • Creation of larger nuclei from smaller nuclei
    • Loss of mass
    • Release of energy
  • 7.25 Know fusion is energy source for stars
  • 7.26 Explain why fusion doesn't happen at low temperatures/pressures (electrostatic repulsion)

Topic 8: Astrophysics

(a) Units

  • 8.1 Use the following units:
    • kilogram (kg)
    • metre (m)
    • metre/second (m/s)
    • metre/second² (m/s²)
    • newton (N)
    • second (s)
    • newton/kilogram (N/kg)

(b) Motion in the Universe

  • 8.2 Know that:
    • Universe is collection of billions of galaxies
    • Galaxy is collection of billions of stars
    • Our solar system is in Milky Way galaxy
  • 8.3 Understand why gravitational field strength (g) varies and is different on:
    • Other planets
    • Moon compared to Earth
  • 8.4 Explain gravitational force causes:
    • Moons to orbit planets
    • Planets to orbit Sun
    • Artificial satellites to orbit Earth
    • Comets to orbit Sun
  • 8.5 Describe differences in orbits of:
    • Comets
    • Moons
    • Planets
  • 8.6 Use relationship: orbital speed = (2 × π × orbital radius) / time period v = (2 × π × r) / T

(c) Stellar Evolution

  • 8.7 Understand how stars classified according to colour
  • 8.8 Know star's colour related to temperature
  • 8.9 Describe evolution of stars similar mass to Sun:
    • Nebula
    • Star (main sequence)
    • Red giant
    • White dwarf
  • 8.10 Describe evolution of stars with mass larger than Sun