GCSE Physics Topics
50 topics with worked solutions.
Circuit Symbols and Diagrams
Standard circuit symbols and drawing and interpreting circuit diagrams.
Current and Charge
Electric current as flow of charge and the equation Q = It.
Density
Calculating density and measuring it for regular and irregular objects.
Distance-Time Graphs
Interpreting distance-time graphs and calculating speed from gradients.
Electrical Power
Power equations P = VI and P = I squared R, and energy transferred by appliances.
Electromagnets
The magnetic field around a current and how solenoids and electromagnets work.
Energy Resources
Renewable and non-renewable energy resources and their advantages and disadvantages.
Energy Stores and Transfers
The eight energy stores, transfer pathways and conservation of energy.
Forces and Elasticity
Hooke's law, spring constant and elastic potential energy, including the required practical.
Gas Pressure
Particle collisions, pressure-temperature and pressure-volume relationships.
Generators and Transformers
Electromagnetic induction, generators and transformer calculations.
Half-Life
Calculating half-life from data and graphs and predicting activity.
I-V Characteristics
Current-voltage graphs for resistors, filament lamps and diodes.
Internal Energy
Internal energy as the energy of particles and how heating changes it.
Isotopes
Atomic number, mass number and comparing isotopes of an element.
Kinetic and Potential Energy
Calculating kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy.
LDRs and Thermistors
How resistance changes with light and temperature and their circuit applications.
Lenses
Convex and concave lenses, ray diagrams and magnification.
Life Cycle of Stars
How stars form and evolve, from nebula to white dwarf, neutron star or black hole.
Magnets and Magnetic Fields
Permanent and induced magnets and plotting magnetic field patterns.
Mains Electricity
AC and DC, plug wiring, earthing and electrical safety.
Moments, Levers and Gears
The principle of moments and how levers and gears transmit forces.
Momentum
Calculating momentum, conservation of momentum and force as rate of change of momentum.
Newton's Laws of Motion
Newton's three laws and using F = ma in calculations.
Nuclear Fission and Fusion
Chain reactions in fission and the fusion process in stars.
Potential Difference and Resistance
Using V = IR and understanding factors affecting resistance.
Power and Efficiency
Calculating power, useful energy output and efficiency of devices.
Pressure in Fluids
Pressure in liquids and gases, including atmospheric pressure and upthrust.
Radioactive Decay
Alpha, beta and gamma radiation and writing nuclear decay equations.
Red Shift
Red shift as evidence for the expanding universe and the Big Bang.
Reflection and Refraction
Ray diagrams for reflection and refraction at boundaries.
Resultant Forces
Combining forces, free body diagrams and resolving forces.
Scalars and Vectors
Scalar and vector quantities and representing vectors with arrows.
Series and Parallel Circuits
Current, potential difference and resistance rules in series and parallel circuits.
Sound Waves
Sound as a longitudinal wave, hearing range and ultrasound applications.
Specific Heat Capacity
Energy needed to change temperature, including the required practical.
Specific Latent Heat
Energy for changes of state using E = mL.
States of Matter
Particle arrangements in solids, liquids and gases and changes of state.
Static Electricity
Charging by friction, electric fields and explaining static phenomena.
Stopping Distances
Thinking and braking distance and the factors that affect them.
Terminal Velocity
Forces on falling objects and why terminal velocity is reached.
The Atomic Model
Structure of the atom and how the model developed from plum pudding to nuclear.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The seven EM wave groups, their uses and their dangers.
The Motor Effect
Force on a current-carrying wire, Fleming's left-hand rule and F = BIl.
The Solar System
Planets, satellites and orbital motion, including circular orbits.
Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
Comparing wave types with examples including sound and light.
Uses and Dangers of Radiation
Irradiation, contamination and applications of nuclear radiation in medicine and industry.
Velocity-Time Graphs
Finding acceleration from gradients and distance from the area under the graph.
Wave Properties
Amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period and the wave speed equation.
Work Done
Work done as force times distance and its link to energy transfer.