G3 Science Physics Course check

Learning objectives

• state that there are positive and negative charges and that charge is measured in coulombs
• state that unlike charges attract and like charges repel
• describe internal energy as an energy store that is made up of the total kinetic energy associated with the random motion of the particles and the total potential energy between the particles in the system
• apply the principle of moments to new situations or to solve related problems
• show an understanding that the weight of a body may be taken as acting at a single point known as its centre of gravity
• describe melting/solidification and boiling/condensation as processes of energy transfer without a change in temperature
• Apply charge equals current multiplied by time
• Distinguish conventional current from electron flow
• State that source e.m.f. is measured in volts
• Define component potential difference as work done per unit charge
• State current as rate of charge flow measured in amperes
• Apply resistance equals potential difference divided by current
• State resistance as potential difference divided by current
• Apply wire-resistance proportionalities for length and cross-sectional area
• Apply current conservation at parallel junctions
• Apply equal potential difference across parallel branches
• Calculate effective resistance in parallel
• Calculate effective resistance in series
• Apply the same-current rule in series circuits
• Apply the potential-difference sum in series circuits
• Recognise and interpret circuit symbols for cells, batteries, switches, lamps, LEDs, resistors, fuses, ammeters and voltmeters
• Draw circuit diagrams with cells, batteries, switches, lamps, LEDs, fixed and variable resistors, fuses, ammeters and voltmeters
• Solve whole-circuit problems using consistent quantities
• Identify action–reaction pairs on interacting bodies
• Describe the effect of balanced and unbalanced forces on a body
• Describe ways a force may change motion
• Draw free-body diagrams for force systems in at most two dimensions
• Explain the effects of friction on motion
• Apply resultant force = mass × acceleration
• Explain the turning effect on a current-carrying coil
• Describe experiments showing the force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field
• Relate current magnitude and direction to magnetic field
• Use Fleming’s left-hand rule
• Predict force reversal when current or field reverses
• Interpret the field pattern around a current-carrying solenoid
• Draw the magnetic field pattern around a current-carrying solenoid
• Interpret the field pattern around a straight current-carrying wire
• Draw the magnetic field pattern around a straight current-carrying wire
• Describe hazardous heating effects of electromagnetic over-exposure
• Describe hazardous ionising effects on living cells and tissue
• Order the seven electromagnetic-spectrum regions
• State that all electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in vacuum
• State that all electromagnetic waves are transverse
• State typical uses of gamma rays
• State typical uses of infrared
• State typical uses of microwaves
• State typical uses of radio waves
• State typical uses of ultraviolet
• State typical uses of visible light
• State typical uses of X-rays
• Relate spectrum order to wavelength and frequency
• State and apply the principle of conservation of energy
• Recall and apply Ep = mgh near the Earth's surface in new situations
• Recall and apply Ek = ½mv² in new situations
• Recall and apply power = energy transfer / time taken
• Recognise kinetic, potential, nuclear and internal energy stores
• Describe electrical energy transfer by an electric current
• Describe energy transfer by heating due to a temperature difference
• Describe mechanical energy transfer by a force acting over a distance
• Describe energy transfer by electromagnetic and mechanical waves
• Recall and apply work done = force × distance moved in the force direction
• Distinguish contact forces from non-contact forces
• Apply density = mass ÷ volume
• Describe a gravitational field as a region where a mass experiences gravitational force
• Define gravitational field strength as gravitational force per unit mass
• State that mass measures the amount of matter in a body
• Distinguish mass from weight
• Apply pressure = force ÷ area
• Define pressure as force per unit area
• Apply weight = mass × gravitational field strength
• Use amplitude, frequency and wavelength to describe wave motion
• Explain reflected-sound echoes and use them to measure distance
• Explain that waves transfer energy
• Relate sound loudness to amplitude and pitch to frequency
• Explain that wave energy transfer does not transfer matter
• Describe sound using compressions and rarefactions
• Explain sound production by vibration and the need for a medium
• Recall and apply wave speed = frequency × wavelength
• Define and use wave speed and period and interpret wave graphs
• Compare transverse and longitudinal waves and give examples
• Describe wave generation by vibrating sources, ropes and springs
• Describe ripple-tank waves using wavefronts
• Calculate acceleration as change in velocity divided by time taken
• Calculate average speed from total distance and total time
• Plot and interpret a distance–time graph
• Deduce rest, uniform speed and non-uniform speed from a distance–time graph
• Recall constant free-fall acceleration near Earth as approximately 10 m/s²
• Interpret examples of non-uniform acceleration
• State what speed means
• Use area under a speed–time graph to determine distance travelled
• Plot and interpret a speed–time graph for one-direction motion
• Deduce rest, uniform speed and uniform or non-uniform acceleration from a speed–time graph
• State what uniform acceleration means
• State what velocity means, including its direction
• Compare physical properties of solids, liquids and gases
• Explain state properties using particle arrangement, motion, forces and separation
• Relate temperature rise to increased average kinetic energy of particles
• Describe how a thin converging lens acts on a light beam
• Define the focal length of a converging lens
• Describe lens images as real or virtual, magnified or diminished, and upright or inverted
• Apply the law of reflection in constructions, measurements and calculations
• Use the normal, angle of incidence and angle of reflection
• Define refractive index as vacuum light speed divided by medium light speed
• Apply sin i divided by sin r as a constant for a fixed pair of media
• Use the normal, angle of incidence and angle of refraction
• Interpret bar-magnet field patterns
• Draw the magnetic field pattern around a bar magnet and between the poles of two bar magnets
• Determine magnetic-field direction with a compass or bar magnet
• Describe induced magnetism
• State the properties of magnets
• Distinguish temporary and permanent magnets
• Select and justify measuring instruments by range and precision
• Compare orders of magnitude from a typical atom to the Earth
• Represent a physical quantity with a numerical magnitude and unit
• Distinguish scalar and vector quantities and give examples
• Recall the six prescribed SI base quantities and their units
• Use the prescribed SI prefixes from nano to tera
• Calculate electrical energy and cost in kWh
• Apply E = VIt
• Identify the hazard from damaged insulation
• Identify the hazard from damp conditions
• Identify the hazard from overheating cables
• Explain electrical heating in common appliances
• State the meanings and roles of live, neutral and earth
• Explain live-wire placement of switches, fuses and circuit breakers
• Describe the wiring of a mains plug
• Apply P = VI
• Explain how fuses and circuit breakers protect circuits
• Explain why double-insulated appliances do not need an earth wire
• Explain why metal casings are earthed
• Choose and justify an appropriate fuse rating
• Describe alpha, beta-minus and gamma radiation
• State radioactivity applications and hazards
• Describe atomic composition
• Explain background radiation
• Use half-life in tables and decay curves
• Compare ionising effect and penetrating power
• Use and interpret nuclide notation
• Use proton number, nucleon number and isotope
• Explain random and spontaneous nuclear decay
• Determination of the position of the centre of gravity of a plane lamina
• Determination of the density of a liquid, or of a regularly or irregularly shaped solid that sinks in water
• Investigation of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces
• Determination of the value of the acceleration of free fall
• Determination of the position and characteristics of an optical image formed by a plane mirror or a thin converging lens
• Measurements of length, mass, temperature, time interval, volume of liquids/solids and force (e.g. weight) using appropriate instruments
• The principle of moments
• The law of reflection
• The refraction of light through glass blocks
• Determination of the resistance of a circuit component
• Investigation of the factors affecting transfer of energy by thermal processes
• Describe convection in fluids through density changes and bulk motion
• Apply conduction, convection and radiation in everyday systems
• Describe conduction in solids through particle vibration and mobile electrons
• Explain that energy transfer by electromagnetic radiation needs no material medium
• Explain how surface colour, texture, temperature and area affect radiation transfer rate
• Explain heating from higher to lower temperature until thermal equilibrium
• Apply moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot
• State the principle of moments for a body in equilibrium
• Describe a moment as a force's turning effect in everyday examples