Physics

This chapter introduces the language of motion: speed, velocity and acceleration , the distance–time and velocity–time graphs , and the equations of uniformly accelerated motion . You must b

A force is a push or pull. Forces can change the motion of an object or change its shape . This chapter covers the different types of forces, balanced and unbalanced forces , friction , and

Forces cause acceleration — Newton's second law links force, mass and acceleration ( F = ma ). This chapter also covers terminal velocity , Newton's first and third laws , stopping distances

Momentum is "mass in motion" — a measure of how hard it is to stop a moving object. This chapter covers calculating momentum, the conservation of momentum in collisions and explosions, and t

A force can make an object turn (rotate) as well as move it. The turning effect is called the moment of a force . This chapter covers calculating moments, the principle of moments , levers ,

Mains electricity (230 V AC in the UK) powers homes through live, neutral and earth wires. This chapter covers the three-pin plug , fuses and circuit breakers, the heating effect of current

Electric current is the flow of charge, measured with an ammeter in series ; voltage (potential difference) is the energy given to charge, measured with a voltmeter in parallel . This chapte

Resistance opposes the flow of current — it is the ratio of voltage to current ( V = IR , Ohm's law). This chapter covers resistors in series/parallel, the I–V characteristics of different c

Static electricity is caused by the transfer of electrons (negative charge) between materials. This chapter covers how insulators become charged, the forces between charges, electric fields

A wave transfers energy (not matter) from one place to another. This chapter covers wave terms ( amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period ), the wave equation , transverse vs longitudinal wa

The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is a family of waves that all travel at the same speed in a vacuum (3 × 10⁸ m/s) but have different wavelengths and frequencies . This chapter covers the sp

Light is part of the EM spectrum — it reflects off mirrors, refracts (bends) when changing speed, and can be totally internally reflected in optical fibres. Lenses use refraction to focus li

Sound waves are longitudinal waves (compressions and rarefactions) that need a medium to travel through. This chapter covers how sound travels, pitch, loudness and frequency , the speed of s

Energy can be stored in different ways and transferred between stores. This chapter covers the energy stores (kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic, chemical, thermal, etc.), energy tran

Thermal energy (heat) moves from hot to cold objects by conduction, convection and radiation . This chapter covers the three transfer methods, thermal conductors and insulators , and how hom

Work is done when a force moves an object — it is the same as energy transferred . Power is the rate of doing work (energy per second). This chapter covers work done, power, and gravitationa

Electricity is generated by turning a turbine connected to a generator (electromagnetic induction). The energy to turn the turbine comes from fossil fuels, nuclear fuel or renewable resource

Density is how much mass is packed into a volume; pressure is the force spread over an area. This chapter covers the density equation (and how to measure density), pressure in solids and liq

This chapter explains the particle model of solids, liquids and gases, changes of state , and the behaviour of gases — including Boyle's law (pressure × volume) and the effect of temperature

Magnets have north and south poles ; like poles repel, unlike poles attract. Moving charges create magnetic fields , and current-carrying wires can become electromagnets . This chapter cover

Electric motors turn using the motor effect ; generators and transformers work by electromagnetic induction — creating a current by moving a conductor in a magnetic field. This chapter cover

Atoms contain protons, neutrons and electrons . Some atoms are unstable (radioactive) — their nuclei decay, emitting alpha, beta or gamma radiation. This chapter covers atomic structure, iso

The activity of a radioactive source falls over time as unstable nuclei decay. The half-life measures how quickly this happens. This chapter covers activity, the half-life concept and calcul

Radioactivity is used in medicine (tracers, radiotherapy, sterilisation), industry (thickness gauges, smoke detectors) and archaeology (carbon dating). The choice of isotope depends on its t

Nuclear fission — splitting a large unstable nucleus (uranium/plutonium) to release energy — powers nuclear reactors and weapons. Nuclear fusion — joining small nuclei (hydrogen) — powers th

The Solar System — the Sun and everything orbiting it — is part of the Milky Way galaxy , one of billions of galaxies in the Universe . This chapter covers the structure of the Solar System,

Stars are born from clouds of gas and dust ( nebulas ), shine by nuclear fusion , and eventually run out of fuel and die — becoming white dwarfs, neutron stars or black holes, depending on t

Cosmology is the study of the origin and structure of the Universe. Evidence from red shift (Doppler effect) shows that galaxies are moving away from us — the Universe is expanding — which l