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Placeholder: Edexcel GCSE Physics Higher Knowledge Questions

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Syllabus

1 Key concepts of physics

1.1 SI units for physical quantities

1.2 Multiples and sub-multiples of units

1.3 Unit conversions

1.4 Significant figures and standard form

2 Motion and forces

2.1 Scalar quantities

2.2 Vector quantities

2.3 Differences between scalars and vectors

2.4 Examples of scalar and vector quantities

2.5 Velocity as speed in a direction

2.6 Speed, distance and time equations

2.7 Interpreting distance–time graphs

2.8 Acceleration equation

2.9 SUVAT equation for uniform acceleration

2.10 Interpreting velocity–time graphs

2.11 Measuring speed in the lab

2.12 Typical everyday speeds

2.13 Acceleration due to gravity and everyday accelerations

2.14 Newton’s first law

2.15 Newton’s second law

2.16 Weight, mass and gravitational field strength

2.17 Measuring weight

2.18 Relationship between weight and gravitational field strength

2.19 Core Practical: force, mass and acceleration

2.20 Circular motion and changing velocity

2.21 Centripetal force

2.22 Inertial mass

2.23 Newton’s third law and momentum conservation

2.24 Momentum and its equation

2.25 Momentum in collisions

2.26 Force and change in momentum

2.27 Measuring human reaction time

2.28 Stopping distance, thinking distance and braking distance

2.29 Factors affecting stopping distance

2.30 Factors affecting reaction time

2.31 Dangers of large decelerations and forces in crashes

2.32P Estimating emergency stopping distances at different speeds

2.33P Braking distance and initial velocity squared

3 Conservation of energy

3.1 Gravitational potential energy equation

3.2 Kinetic energy equation

3.3 Energy transfer diagrams

3.4 Conservation of energy

3.5 Changes in energy stores in different situations

3.6 Energy conservation in closed systems

3.7 Wasted energy and heating of surroundings

3.8 Energy dissipation into less useful stores

3.9 Reducing unwanted energy transfers

3.10 Building insulation and rate of cooling

3.11 Efficiency equation

3.12 Improving efficiency

3.13 Energy resources: renewable and non-renewable

3.14 Patterns and trends in energy resource use

4 Waves

4.1 Waves transferring energy and information

4.2 Evidence that waves, not matter, travel

4.3 Frequency and wavelength

4.4 Amplitude, period, wave velocity and wavefront

4.5 Longitudinal and transverse waves

4.6 Wave speed equations

4.7 Measuring wave speed in air and water

4.8P Calculating depth or distance from wave velocity

4.9P Reflection, refraction, transmission and absorption of waves

4.10 Refraction at boundaries: speed and direction changes

4.11 Wavelength-dependent absorption, transmission and reflection

4.12P Sound–vibration conversion and the human ear

4.13P Ultrasound

4.14P Infrasound

4.15P Uses of ultrasound and infrasound

4.16P Velocity, frequency and wavelength across media

4.17 Core Practical: measuring wave speed, frequency and wavelength

5 Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

5.1P Reflection, refraction and total internal reflection

5.2P Specular and diffuse reflection

5.3P Colour, absorption and filters

5.4P Lens power, focal length and shape

5.5P Ray diagrams for converging and diverging lenses

5.6P Real and virtual images with lenses

5.7 Transverse nature and speed of electromagnetic waves

5.8 Energy transfer by electromagnetic waves

5.9 Core Practical: refraction in glass blocks

5.10 Main groupings of the electromagnetic spectrum

5.11 Wavelength and frequency trends in the EM spectrum

5.12 Visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum

5.13 Wavelength-dependent interactions of EM waves with matter

5.14 Effect of medium on electromagnetic wave velocity

5.15P Emission of radiation and temperature

5.16P Energy balance and constant temperature

5.17P Temperature change when energy balance is unequal

5.18P Earth’s temperature and radiation balance

5.19P Core Practical: surface type and thermal radiation

5.20 Frequency and potential danger of electromagnetic waves

5.21 Harmful effects of different electromagnetic radiations

5.22 Uses of electromagnetic radiation across the spectrum

5.23 Production and detection of radio waves in electrical circuits

5.24 Atomic and nuclear changes as sources and absorbers of radiation

6 Radioactivity

6.1 Atomic structure and nuclear size

6.2 Typical size of atoms and small molecules

6.3 Isotopes, atomic number and mass number notation

6.4 Nuclear charge, isotopes and neutron number

6.5 Relative mass and charge of subatomic particles

6.6 Charge neutrality in atoms

6.7 Electron orbits and energy levels

6.8 Electron transitions and electromagnetic radiation

6.9 Formation of positive ions by electron loss

6.10 Types of nuclear radiation and unstable nuclei

6.11 Ionising nuclear radiations

6.12 Background radiation

6.13 Origins of background radiation from Earth and space

6.14 Detecting and measuring radioactivity

6.15 Nature of alpha, beta and gamma radiation

6.16 Penetration and ionisation of alpha, beta and gamma

6.17 Development of the nuclear model of the atom

6.18 β⁻ decay: neutron to proton and electron

6.19 β⁺ decay: proton to neutron and positron

6.20 Changes to atomic and mass number in nuclear decay

6.21 Gamma emission after nuclear decay

6.22 Balancing nuclear equations for mass and charge

6.23 Decrease in activity of a radioactive source over time

6.24 Unit of activity: the Becquerel

6.25 Definition of half-life

6.26 Random decay and predicting activity using half-life

6.27 Half-life calculations and decay graphs

6.28P Practical uses of radioactivity

6.29 Dangers of ionising radiation and tissue damage

6.30P Half-life, risk and radiation safety

6.31 Radiation safety precautions for patients and staff

6.32 Contamination versus irradiation

6.33P Internal and external radiotherapy for tumours

6.34P Radioisotopes in medical diagnosis (PET and tracers)

6.35P Need for local production of PET isotopes

6.36P Pros and cons of nuclear power for electricity

6.37P Energy from nuclear reactions: fission, fusion and decay

6.38P Nuclear fission of U-235 and chain initiation

6.39P Controlled nuclear chain reactions

6.40P Moderators and control rods in nuclear reactors

6.41P Using reactor heat to generate electricity

6.42P Radioactivity of nuclear fission products

6.43P Nuclear fusion as the energy source for stars

6.44P Differences between nuclear fusion and fission

6.45P Temperature, pressure and electrostatic repulsion in fusion

6.46P Challenges of practical and economic fusion power

7 Astronomy

7.1P Weight and gravitational field strength on different planets

7.2P Components of the Solar System

7.3P Names and order of the eight planets

7.4P Changing models of the Solar System

7.5P Orbits of moons, planets, comets and satellites

7.6P Gravity and changing velocity in circular orbits

7.7P Radius and speed in stable orbits

7.8P Comparing Steady State and Big Bang theories

7.9P Evidence for the Big Bang: red-shift and CMB

7.10P Big Bang as the accepted model of the Universe

7.11P Doppler effect: frequency and wavelength changes

7.12P Red-shift in light from distant galaxies

7.13P Red-shift as evidence for an expanding Universe

7.14P Red-shift in Steady State vs Big Bang models

7.15P CMB radiation and support for the Big Bang

7.16P Life cycle of a Sun-like star

7.17P Gravity–thermal balance in a star’s life cycle

7.18P Life cycle of stars more massive than the Sun

7.19P Observing the Universe and space telescopes

8 Energy – forces doing work

8.1 Energy stores when systems change

8.2 Energy transfer diagrams

8.3 Conservation of energy in closed systems

8.4 Ways to change the energy of a system

8.5 Measuring work done by a force

8.6 Work done equation

8.7 Energy changes from work done by forces

8.8 Gravitational potential energy calculations

8.9 Kinetic energy calculations

8.10 Energy dissipation in system changes

8.11 Wasteful mechanical processes and heating

8.12 Definition and examples of power

8.13 Power equation using work done and time

8.14 Watt as joule per second

8.15 Efficiency equation for energy transfers

9 Forces and their effects

9.1 Types of interactions and force pairs

9.2 Vector and scalar quantities with examples

9.3 Vector diagrams for resultant and equilibrium forces

9.4 Free body force diagrams

9.5 Resultant and balanced forces on objects

9.6P Forces causing rotation

9.7P Moment of a force calculation

9.8P Principle of moments and rotational equilibrium

9.9P Levers and gears transmitting rotational effects

9.10 Reducing unwanted energy transfer with lubrication

10 Electricity and circuits

10.1 Atomic structure: protons, neutrons and electrons

10.2 Standard circuit diagrams and component symbols

10.3 Series and parallel circuits

10.4 Voltmeter connection and measuring potential difference

10.5 Potential difference as energy per unit charge

10.6 Energy transfer equation E = QV

10.7 Ammeter connection and measuring current

10.8 Electric current as rate of charge flow

10.9 Charge equation Q = I t

10.10 Current in closed circuits with a source

10.11 Conservation of current at circuit junctions

10.12 Effect of resistance and variable resistors on current

10.13 Ohm’s law V = I R

10.14 Resistance in series and parallel combinations

10.15 Calculations in series circuits

10.16 Designing series circuits for measurements

10.17 Core Practical: V–I–R relationships and series/parallel circuits

10.18 Current–voltage graphs for different components

10.19 LDR resistance and light intensity

10.20 Thermistor resistance and temperature

10.21 Using circuits to investigate component resistance

10.22 Heating effect of current in resistors

10.23 Energy dissipation due to electrical resistance

10.24 Microscopic explanation of heating in resistors

10.25 Reducing energy loss with low-resistance wiring

10.26 Uses and drawbacks of the heating effect of current

10.27 Energy transfer equation E = I V t

10.28 Power as rate of energy transfer

10.29 Power equation P = E / t

10.30 Power transfer in circuit components

10.31 Electrical power equations P = IV and P = I²R

10.32 Energy transfers in domestic electrical devices

10.33 Direct vs alternating voltage

10.34 Direct current from cells and batteries

10.35 Alternating current and changing direction

10.36 UK domestic mains supply values

10.37 Functions of live and neutral wires

10.38 Earth wire, fuses and circuit breakers

10.39 Why switches and fuses are in the live wire

10.40 Potential differences of live, neutral and earth wires

10.41 Dangers of live-to-earth connections

10.42 Power ratings and energy changes in appliances

Number of questions5

115

Session style

CasualPractise at your own pace.ExamTimed session with stricter conditions.