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