G2 Science (Physics)
Build the Physics foundations for the G2 course in syllabus order, with clear explanations, guided examples and focused practice.
Learning goals
- Represent a physical quantity with a numerical magnitude and unit
- Recall the six prescribed SI base quantities and their units
- Use the prescribed SI prefixes from nano to tera
- Compare orders of magnitude from a typical atom to the Earth
- Select and justify measuring instruments by range and precision
- Distinguish scalar and vector quantities and give examples
- State what speed means
- State what velocity means, including its direction
- Calculate average speed from total distance and total time
- Calculate acceleration as change in velocity divided by time taken
- State what uniform acceleration means
- Interpret examples of non-uniform acceleration
- Plot and interpret a distance–time graph
- Plot and interpret a speed–time graph for one-direction motion
- Deduce rest, uniform speed and non-uniform speed from a distance–time graph
- Deduce rest, uniform speed and uniform or non-uniform acceleration from a speed–time graph
- Use area under a speed–time graph to determine distance travelled
- Recall constant free-fall acceleration near Earth as approximately 10 m/s²
- Distinguish contact forces from non-contact forces
- State that mass measures the amount of matter in a body
- Describe a gravitational field as a region where a mass experiences gravitational force
- Define gravitational field strength as gravitational force per unit mass
- Apply weight = mass × gravitational field strength
- Distinguish mass from weight
- Apply density = mass ÷ volume
- Define pressure as force per unit area
- Apply pressure = force ÷ area
- Describe the effect of balanced and unbalanced forces on a body
- Describe ways a force may change motion
- Identify action–reaction pairs on interacting bodies
- Draw free-body diagrams for one-dimensional force systems
- Apply resultant force = mass × acceleration
- Explain the effects of friction on motion
- Recognise kinetic, potential, nuclear and internal energy stores
- Describe mechanical energy transfer by a force acting over a distance
- Describe electrical energy transfer by an electric current
- Describe energy transfer by heating due to a temperature difference
- Describe energy transfer by electromagnetic and mechanical waves
- Recall and apply Ek = ½mv² in new situations
- Recall and apply Ep = mgh near the Earth's surface in new situations
- State and apply the principle of conservation of energy
- Recall and apply work done = force × distance moved in the force direction
- Recall and apply power = energy transfer / time taken
- 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 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
- describe melting/solidification and boiling/condensation as processes of energy transfer without a change in temperature
- Explain heating from higher to lower temperature until thermal equilibrium
- Describe conduction in solids through particle vibration and mobile electrons
- Describe convection in fluids through density changes and bulk motion
- Explain that energy transfer by electromagnetic radiation needs no material medium
- Explain how surface colour, texture, temperature and area affect radiation transfer rate
- Apply conduction, convection and radiation in everyday systems
- Describe wave generation by vibrating sources, ropes and springs
- Describe ripple-tank waves using wavefronts
- Explain that waves transfer energy
- Explain that wave energy transfer does not transfer matter
- Use amplitude, frequency and wavelength to describe wave motion
- Define and use wave speed and period and interpret wave graphs
- Recall and apply wave speed = frequency × wavelength
- Compare transverse and longitudinal waves and give examples
- State that all electromagnetic waves are transverse
- State that all electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in vacuum
- Order the seven electromagnetic-spectrum regions
- Relate spectrum order to wavelength and frequency
- State typical uses of radio waves
- State typical uses of microwaves
- State typical uses of infrared
- State typical uses of visible light
- State typical uses of ultraviolet
- State typical uses of X-rays
- State typical uses of gamma rays
- Describe hazardous heating effects of electromagnetic over-exposure
- Describe hazardous ionising effects on living cells and tissue
- state that there are positive and negative charges and that charge is measured in coulombs
- state that unlike charges attract and like charges repel
- State current as rate of charge flow measured in amperes
- Distinguish conventional current from electron flow
- Apply charge equals current multiplied by time
- State that source e.m.f. is measured in volts
- Define component potential difference as work done per unit charge
- State resistance as potential difference divided by current
- Apply resistance equals potential difference divided by current
- Apply wire-resistance proportionalities for length and cross-sectional area
- 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
- Apply the same-current rule in series circuits
- Apply the potential-difference sum in series circuits
- Apply current conservation at parallel junctions
- Apply equal potential difference across parallel branches
- Calculate effective resistance in series
- Calculate effective resistance in parallel
- Solve whole-circuit problems using consistent quantities
- Explain electrical heating in common appliances
- Apply P = VI
- Apply E = VIt
- Calculate electrical energy and cost in kWh
- Identify the hazard from damaged insulation
- Identify the hazard from overheating cables
- Identify the hazard from damp conditions
- Explain how fuses and circuit breakers protect circuits
- Choose and justify an appropriate fuse rating
- Explain why metal casings are earthed
- Explain why double-insulated appliances do not need an earth wire
- State the meanings and roles of live, neutral and earth
- Describe the wiring of a mains plug
- Explain live-wire placement of switches, fuses and circuit breakers
- Describe atomic composition
- Use proton number, nucleon number and isotope
- Use and interpret nuclide notation
- Explain random and spontaneous nuclear decay
- Describe alpha, beta-minus and gamma radiation
- Compare ionising effect and penetrating power
- Explain background radiation
- Use half-life in tables and decay curves
- State radioactivity applications and hazards
- Measurements of length, mass, temperature, time interval, volume of liquids/solids and force (e.g. weight) using appropriate instruments
- Determination of the density of a liquid, or of a regularly or irregularly shaped solid that sinks in water
- Determination of the value of the acceleration of free fall
- Investigation of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces
- Investigation of the factors affecting transfer of energy by thermal processes
- Determination of the resistance of a circuit component
Start learning
Begin with measurement and follow the numbered roadmap.
Other ways to start
Find my starting point
Check eight ideas across the course and get a focused place to begin.
Measurement and mechanics
Physical quantities, units and measurement
SI quantities, prefixes, scale, instrument choice, scalars and vectors.
Kinematics
Speed, velocity, acceleration and motion graphs for travel in one direction.
Force and pressure
Contact and non-contact forces, mass and weight, gravitational fields, density and pressure.
Dynamics
Balanced and unbalanced forces, action–reaction pairs, one-dimensional free-body diagrams, F = ma and friction.
Energy
Energy stores, transfers, work, power and conservation at G2 Science depth.
Thermal physics
Kinetic particle model of matter
States, particle explanations, temperature, internal energy and constant-temperature changes of state.
Thermal processes
Thermal equilibrium, microscopic conduction, density-driven convection, radiation and everyday applications.
Waves
General properties of waves
Wave motion, wavefronts, energy without matter transfer, wave quantities, v = fλ and wave types.
Electromagnetic spectrum
Common transverse properties, spectrum order, typical uses, and heating and ionising hazards.
Electricity
Electric charge and current
Charge interactions, current, Q = It, e.m.f., potential difference, resistance and wire dimensions.
D.C. circuits
Circuit symbols, series and parallel rules, effective resistance and whole-circuit calculations.
Practical electricity
Electrical heating, power, energy, cost, household hazards, protection and safe mains wiring.
Radioactivity
Radioactivity
Atomic structure, nuclide notation, random decay, radiation properties, background radiation, half-life, applications and hazards.
Practical requirements
Practical requirements
Measure reliably and prepare for the six practical-work groups: measurement, density, free fall, forces, thermal transfer and resistance.
Practice and continue learning
- K223 Physics Paper 1 mock — Answer all 20 Physics multiple-choice questions for the Physics and Chemistry qualification.
- K224 Physics Paper 1 mock — Answer all 20 Physics multiple-choice questions for the Physics and Biology qualification.
- K223 Physics Paper 2 mock — Complete the 22-mark compulsory section, then choose one 8-mark structured question for the Physics and Chemistry qualification.
- K224 Physics Paper 2 mock — Complete the 22-mark compulsory section, then choose one 8-mark structured question for the Physics and Biology qualification.
- Topic checks — Open a roadmap topic for a short check, helpful feedback and another try later.
- Practice browser — Find Physics questions by topic and question type.
About this course
K223 / K224 Physics component · 2027
G2 Science Physics lessons in syllabus order, with complete course coverage, guided practice and clear next steps.
This roadmap covers the shared Physics component used by K223 and K224.
Every syllabus topic has a complete learning route, and the practical requirements have their own lesson and practice.
Reviewed 9 Aug 2026
Questions about this course
Where should I start G2 Science Physics?
Start with the first roadmap topic if this is your first pass. If your class is already further ahead, open that topic and follow its guided practice before moving on.
What should I do when a topic is weak?
Return to the earliest topic you cannot complete independently. Re-read its lessons, try the guided practice, then take the topic check again before continuing.
Do I need to study every topic in order?
Use syllabus order for a first pass because later topics build on earlier skills. During revision, you can jump directly to the earliest weak topic.
Review
Review: G2 Science (Physics)
Cumulative review of previously studied course topics.
About 10 minutes
Review
Review questions from topics you have studied in this course. Use the result to decide what to review; this check does not prove mastery.
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Course and syllabus information
- Course
- SEC G2 Science Physics component
- Edition
- SEC G2 Science Physics component 2027