INDEX of Doc Brown's
School PHYSICS Revision Study Notes for students aged ~14-16: GCSE and IGCSE
level (~US grade 9-10 level)
INDEX of GCSE level physics notes
GCSE physics specification help link section
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My physics
exam revision notes links
are grouped under:
(Most links below
lead to a sub-index of multiple pages on the topic listed)
(Some
revision notes are suitable for UK KS3 level Science-Physics ~US grades 6-8)
Energy - types,
sources, uses
Thermal
energy: conduction, convection, radiation, specific heat
Electricity and magnetism
States of
matter: properties of gases, liquids, solids
Waves:
electromagnetic radiation, optics, sound, astronomy, stars
Atomic
structure and radioactivity - nuclear physics
Forces: types,
examples, calculations
Motion: Newton's
Laws, associated forces, applications, calculations
Appendix 1
Units
Appendix 2
Numbers !!!
Help links for GCSE Combined Science and Physics courses
Energy resources,
energy
transfers, work done and electrical power supply
Types of energy & stores - examples compared/explained, calculations of
mechanical work done & power
(4 main parts plus 10 sub-parts on
types of energy and types of energy stores)
Chemical
energy stores *
Elastic
potential energy stores and calculations
Electrical
& electrostatic energy stores *
Gravitational potential
energy and calculations
Kinetic
energy stores
and calculations *
Nuclear
energy store
Thermal
energy stores *
Light energy *
Sound energy *
Magnetic
energy stores
Conservation of energy,
energy transfers-conversions, efficiency - calculations and
Sankey diagrams
See also
Methods of reducing heat transfer eg in a house, insulating properties of materials
Energy resources: uses, survey, trends,
comparing renewables, non-renewables, generating electricity
Renewable energy (1) Wind power and
solar power, advantages and disadvantages
Renewable energy (2) Hydroelectric power and
geothermal power,
advantages and disadvantages
Renewable energy (3) Wave power and tidal barrage power,
advantages and disadvantages
See also
Renewable energy - biomass - biofuels & alternative fuels,
hydrogen, biogas, biodiesel
Greenhouse
effect, global warming, climate change,
carbon footprint from fossil fuel burning
Absorption
& emission of radiation - temperature & surface factors including global warming
The Usefulness of Electricity
and
The 'National Grid' power supply, mention of small
scale supplies, transformers
energy pages 5
and 6 spare
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
Thermal ('heat')
energy
transfer: Explaining physical changes
& physical properties using particle models
Much of this
is to do with thermal energy ('heat')
transfers from one store to another
1.
Introduction to heat transfer - conduction
(and thermal conductivity),
convection and radiation
2.
Specific heat capacity: how to determine it, use of data,
calculations and thermal energy stores
3.
More on reducing heat transfer eg in a house
and investigating insulating properties of materials
4.
Particle theory models: gases, liquid, solid, internal energy, heat transfer in state changes,
latent heat
5.
The density of materials (including measurements) and the particle model of matter
See also
Energy transfer and efficiency - calculations and
Sankey diagrams (= energy section 7)
Absorption
& emission of radiation by
materials - temperature & surface factors including global warming
and
Global warming, climate change,
reducing our carbon footprint from fossil fuel burning
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
Electricity and
magnetism revision
notes index
1.
Electricity in the home, safety-fuses, energy transfer, costs
& calculations, P = IV = I2R,
E = Pt
2. Electrical circuits
& symbols, drawing/interpretation, parallel
circuits, series circuits explained
3. Ohm's Law, investigations of
resistance, I-V graphs, calculations V = IR, Q = It, E = QV
4. Circuit devices and how are they used explained (e.g. thermistor, LED, LDR, diode)
5. Comparing series and parallel circuits,
circuit diagrams, I, V and R measurements, calculations
6. The 'National Grid' power supply, environmental
issues, uses of transformers
7.
Comparison of renewable/non-renewable methods of generating electricity
(= energy Part 1)
8. Static electricity and electric fields, uses
and dangers of static electricity
9.
Magnetism
- magnetic materials - temporary (induced) and permanent magnets - uses
10.
Electromagnetism, solenoid coils, uses of electromagnets
11. Motor effect of an electric current,
electric motor, loudspeaker, Fleming's left-hand rule, F = BIL
12.
Generator effect, applications e.g. generators
generating electricity and microphone
electricity 7 page spare
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
States of matter,
state changes and gas laws revision notes index
Particle models of gases–liquids–solids, explaining properties, state changes
(chemistry notes)
Particle theory models, internal energy, heat transfer in state changes and
latent heat and particle motion in gases
and gas pressure
(written more from a GCSE 'physics' point of view
(= heat Part 4 page)
P-V-T pressure-volume-temperature gas
laws and calculations (revision notes for physicists or chemists!)
The density of materials and the particle model of matter
(= heat Part 5 page)
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
WAVES - electromagnetic radiation, sound, optics-lenses, light
and astronomy
General
introduction to the types and properties of waves, ripple tank expts, how to do
wave calculations
Illuminated & self-luminous objects, reflection, visible light,
ray box experiments, ray diagrams, mirror uses
Refraction and diffraction, the visible light
spectrum, prism investigations, ray diagrams explained
Electromagnetic spectrum,
sources, types, properties, uses (including medical) and dangers
Absorption
& emission of radiation by
materials - temperature & surface factors including global warming
See also
Global warming, climate change,
reducing our carbon footprint from fossil fuel burning
Optics - types of lenses (convex, concave, uses),
experiments and ray
diagrams, correction of eye defects
The visible spectrum of colour, light filters and
explaining the colour of objects
Sound waves, properties explained, speed measure,
uses of sound, ultrasound, infrasound, earthquakes
The Structure of the Earth, crust, mantle, core and earthquake waves (seismic wave
analysis)
Astronomy - solar system, planets, moons, stars, galaxies and
use of telescopes and satellites
The life cycle of stars - mainly worked out from emitted
electromagnetic radiation
Cosmology:
Big Bang Theory of the Universe, red-shift, microwave background radiation
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
Atomic structure, radioactivity,
ionising radiations - properties and uses
0.
Atomic structure, history, definitions,
examples and explanations including isotopes
(GCSE chemistry)
1.
Atomic
structure and fundamental particle knowledge needed to understand radioactivity
(GCSE physics)
2.
What
is Radioactivity? Why does it happen? Three types of atomic-nuclear-ionising radiation
3.
Detection of
radioactivity, its measurement
and radiation dose units,
ionising
radiation sources
- radioactive materials, background radiation
4.
Alpha, beta & gamma radiation - properties of 3 types of radioactive
nuclear emission & symbols
,dangers of radioactive emissions - health and safety issues and ionising radiation
5.
Uses of radioactive isotopes emitting alpha, beta (+/–) or gamma radiation in
industry and medicine
6.
The half-life of a radioisotope - how
long does material remain radioactive? implications!, uses of decay data and half-life values
-
archaeological radiocarbon dating, dating ancient rocks
7.
What
actually happens to the nucleus in alpha and beta radioactive decay and why? nuclear
equations!, the
production of radioisotopes - artificial sources of radioactive-isotopes,
cyclotron
8.
Nuclear
fusion reactions and the formation of 'heavy elements' by bombardment techniques
9.
Nuclear Fission Reactions, nuclear power
as an energy resource
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
Forces
1. What are contact forces &
non-contact forces?, scalar & vector quantities, free body force diagrams
2. Mass and the effect of gravity force on it - weight, (mention of work done,
GPE and circular motion, centre of mass)
3. Calculating resultant forces using vector
diagrams, also includes work done calculations
4.
Elasticity and energy stored in a spring, experimental investigations and
calculations
5. Turning forces & moments - spanners
to wheelbarrows, levers, gears & equilibrium situations
6. Pressure P
= F/A calculations in various solid situations, pressure in fluids and hydraulic
systems
7. Pressure & upthrust in
fluids, why objects float/sink?
Variation of atmospheric pressure with
height
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
Motion and associated forces, including Newton's Laws of
Motion
1. Speed and velocity - the relationship between
distance and time, distance-time graphs
2. Acceleration, velocity-time graph interpretation and calculations,
problem solving
3. Acceleration,
friction, drag effects and terminal velocity experiments, falling object
experiments
4. Newton's First, Second and Third Laws of
Motion, inertia and F = ma calculations
5. Reaction times,
vehicle stopping distances, safety
aspects.
calculations including F = ma
6. Elastic and non-elastic collisions, momentum
calculations and Newton's 2nd law of
motion
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
KS3 PHYSICS SCIENCE QUIZZES
prior to GCSE level courses
QUIZ on "Types of energy stores, resources, energy transfers
QUIZ on "Electricity and magnetism"
QUIZ on "Forces and their effects and motion - speed, acceleration"
QUIZ on "The Earth, gravity, weight, our solar system,
space beyond"
QUIZ on "Heating,
cooling, state changes, thermal energy transfer"
QUIZ on "WAVES - light and sound"
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
Appendix 1 - UNITS
Most GCSE physics courses will expect you
to know and be able to use the following units
Be able to recall and use the
following SI units:
metre, unit symbol: m;
kilogram, unit symbol: kg; second, unit symbol:
s
ampere, unit symbol: A;
kelvin, unit symbol: K; mole, unit symbol: mol;
AND some derived units with
special names: name unit abbreviation:
Frequency, hertz Hz,
Force, newton N, Energy, joule J, Power, watt W,
Pressure, pascal
Pa, Electric charge, coulomb C
Electric potential difference,
volt V, Electric resistance, ohm Ω,
Magnetic flux density, tesla
T
Be able to recall and use
multiples and sub-multiples of units, including using, with prefix
letter:
giga (G, 109), mega (M,
106), kilo (k, 103),
centi (c, 10-2),
milli (m, 10-3), micro (μ,
10-6) and nano (n, 10-9)
Be able to convert between
different units, including hours to seconds.
Be able to use significant
figures and standard form where appropriate
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
Appendix 2 The
numbers game! Using
numerical equivalents
e.g.: 1
µm
≡
10-6 m, 1 nm
≡ 1.0 x 10-9 m, 1 mm
≡ 1.0 x 10-3 m, 1 cm
≡ 1.0 x 10-2 m,
1 m
≡ 1.0 x 106
µm, 1 m
≡
1.0 x 109 nm, 1 mm
≡
1.0 x 103 µm, 1 cm
≡
1.0 x 104 µm, 1 m
≡
1.0 x 106 µm (etc.!)
Numerical
prefixes you
should know
for your gcse science-physics courses
10n |
Prefix |
10n |
Prefix |
1024 |
yotta |
10-1 |
deci (d) |
1021 |
zetta |
10-2 |
centi (c) |
1018 |
exa |
10-3 |
milli (m) |
1015 |
peta |
10-6 |
micro (µ) |
1012 |
tera (T) |
10-9 |
nano (n) |
109 |
giga (G) |
10-12 |
pico (p) |
106 |
mega (M) |
10-15 |
femto |
103 |
kilo (k) |
10-18 |
atto |
100 |
(none) |
10-21 |
zepto |
Another numbers game that can cost you marks in an exam!
Significant figures
and what is legitimate to quote for a final numerical answer
Since many sections of physics involve calculations, significant
figure quotation should follow the rule:
Significant figures (s.f.) is the limit of numerical accuracy
you can be sure of e.g.
If the data numbers in a question are 20, 25, 0.125, 678, 1.234, you can only
quote the final answer to the nearest 2 sf - dictated by the 20 (only quoted to
2 s.f.) even though other data is quoted to 3 or 4 significant figures..
If the question data said 20.0, you could still only quote the
final answer to 2 s.f. because of the 25.
If the question data said 20.0 and 25.1, you could then quote
the final answer to 3 s.f.
Any intermediate working is not governed by this convention,
only the final answer to a specific calculation.
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
LINKS for my revision pages for
the GCSE 9-1 science-physics courses
Revision Summaries for the new GCSE PHYSICS/combined science physics courses
MAKE SURE
YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE DOING SEPARATE SCIENCES OR COMBINED SCIENCES
AQA GCSE Physics 8463
1st Paper Topics 1-4 or
Combined Science
Trilogy Physics 1 Topics 18-21
AQA GCSE Physics 8463
2nd Paper Topics 5-8 or
Combined Science
Trilogy Physics 2 Topics 22-24
Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Physics
1st Paper
Topics 1-7 or
Combined Science
Physics 2 Topics 1-8
Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Physics
2nd Paper
Topics 1, 8-15 or
Combined Science
Physics 2 Topics 1, 8-10, 12-15
OCR (9-1)
Gateway Science GCSE Physics A
1st Paper
Topics P1-4 or
Comb. Science
A physics 1 Topics P1-4
OCR (9-1)
Gateway Science GCSE Physics A 2nd Paper
Topics P5-8 or
Comb. Science
A
physics 1 Topics P5-8
OCR (9-1)
21st
Century Science GCSE Physics B
Chapters
P1-3 Chapters P1-3 or
GCSE Comb. Sci. B
physics
OCR (9-1)
21st Century
Science GCSE Physics B
Chapters
P4-6 Chapters P4-6 or
GCSE Comb. Sci. B
physics
TOP OF PAGE and
sub-index
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Physics Doc Brown's school physics revision notes: GCSE physics,
IGCSE physics, O level physics, ~US grades 8, 9 and 10 school
science courses or equivalent for ~14-16 year old students of physics, I've written GCSE physics
exam revision notes for AQA GCSE physics, Edexcel GCSE physics, OCR (gateway
science physics and 21st Century Science physics) exam board specifications.
▲►▼◄{ } ǁǁǁ llll ⅓ ⅔ ∑ ∆ • ↑ ↓ Σ √
λ
–
– θ ρ ±
∆ σ π α
β– β+ γ Ω × π ½ ¾ ¼ ∕
÷
+ = < << >> > ~
π
σ © Δ
≡
µ
≈ π ← → ↑ ↓ ↔ ↕ Σ √
λ
– θ ρ ±
∆ ϱ σ π α
β– β+ γ Ω × π ½ ¾ ¼ ∕
÷
+ = < << >> > ~
σ © Δ
© Doc Brown
≡
µ
÷ \ ± ¯
v = f x λ * f = v / λ * λ = v / f
s = d / t * t = d / s * d = s x t
F = ma * m = F / a * a = F / m
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