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GCSE Physics

Unit 1 GCSE Physics

Infrared Radiation – electromagnetic waves, absorb, emit, infra red, PIR

Kinetic Theory – states of matter, solids, liquids, gases

Energy Transfer by heating – Conduction, Convection, Evaporation, Condensation

Rate of Thermal Energy Transfer – temperature difference, shape, dimensions, mass, type of material

Heating and Insulating Buildings – U-values,  specific heat capacity, solar panels

The Efficient Use of Energy–  pay-back time, Sankey diagrams

Energy Transfers & Efficiency – conservation of energy, efficiency calculations

Transferring Electrical Energy – calculating the cost of electricity, joules, watts, kilowatts, kilowatt-hours, total cost

Generating Electricity– Renewable & Nonrenewable Energy, power stations, fossil fuels, coal, oil , gas, nuclear, biomass, biofuels, water, wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar cells

The National Grid – P=VI, step-up & step-down transformers

General Properties of Waves – wave equation, longitudinal waves, transverse waves, electromagnetic waves, mechanical waves, water, sound, light, reflection refraction, diffraction, frequency, wavelength, amplitude

Communication – radio waves, microwaves, infra red, visible light, sound waves, pitch, echoes, normal

Reflection – normal, angle of incidence, angle of reflection

Sound – longitudinal, pitch, frequency, amplitude and echoes

Red Shift – big bang, wavelength, frequency, cosmic microwave background radiation, galaxies, Doppler effect

Unit 2 GCSE Physics

The Effects of Forces – resultant force and motion

Forces & Elasticity – Hooke’s law, spring constant, elastic potential energy

Forces & Motion – F=ma, distance-time graphs, velocity-time graphs, velocity, acceleration

Forces & Braking – friction, stopping distance, thinking distance, breaking distance

Forces & Terminal Velocity – air resistance, weight, mass , gravitational field strength

Forces & Energy – work done, energy, power, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy

Momentum – conservation of momentum

Electrical Circuits – circuit symbols, Ohm’s law, potential difference, current & resistance.

Non-Ohmic Devices – filament lamp, LED, LDR, diode, V-I graphs, current and potential difference in series and parallel circuits.

Household Electricity – cells, batteries, alternating current, direct current, 3 three pin plug, circuit breaker, fuse.

Current, Charge & Power – joules, coulombs, amps, volts, watts.

Atomic Structure – proton, neutron, electron, isotope, atomic number, mass number

Atoms & Radiation – background radiation, alpha, beta, gamma radiation, ionising power

Nuclear Fission – chain reaction, fission

Nuclear Fusion – fusion, stars, star life cycle

Unit 3 GCSE Physics

X-rays – photographic film, charge coupled devices, absorbed, electromagnetic wave, bone fractures

Ultrasound – reflection, prenatal scanning, medical applications

Lenses – refraction, convex lens, concave, lens, principle focus, focal length, refractive index, real image, virtual image, diverging lenses, converging lenses, magnification, ray diagram

The Eye– retina, lens, cornea, pupil, iris, ciliary muscles, suspensory ligaments, long sighted, short sighted, magnifying glass, camera, power, dioptres, converging lens, diverging lens

Other applications using light – total internal reflection, critical angle, refractive index, optical fibres, endoscope, laser, eye surgery

Centre of Mass – stability

Moments – force, perpendicular distance, anticlockwise moments, clockwise moments, levers force multipliers

Hydraulics – pressure, force, area, hydraulic jacks, hydraulic arms, hydraulic car brakes

The Bernoulli Effect – pressure, fluid, speed of flow, aerofoil, aeroplanes, spoilers, spinning ball, lift, down force

The Pendulum – time period, frequency, playground swing

Circular Motion – constant speed, accelerate, velocity, change in direction, centripetal force, mass, speed, radius

The Motor Effect – current, magnetic field, electromagnets, cranes, circuit breakers, loudspeakers, electric bell, relay, Fleming’s left hand rule, electric motor

Electromagnetic Induction – conductor, magnetic field, induces potential difference

Transformers – ac, alternating current, step up transformer, step down transformer, primary coil, secondary coil, iron core

Switch Mode Transformers – high frequency, mobile phone chargers, 50 kHz to 200 kHz

Experimental Skills

Results Tables

Graphs