This section provides knowledge and understanding of temperature, matter, specific heat capacity and specific latent heat with contexts involving heat transfer and change of phase (HSW1, 2, 5, 7).
Experimental work can be carried out to safely investigate specific heat capacity of materials (HSW4). It also provides an opportunity to discuss how Newton’s laws can be used to model the behaviour
of gases (HSW1) and significant opportunities for the analysis and interpretation of data (HSW5).
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement. The PAG assessed in this unit is PAG8 Investigating gases. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 5.1.1. Temperature, 5.1.2 Solids, liquids and gases, 5.1.3 Thermal properties of materials and 5.1.4 Ideal gases (AO1, AO2, AO3).
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There are many examples of objects travelling at constant speed in circles, e.g. planets, artificial satellites, charged particles in a magnetic field, etc. The physics in all these cases can be described and analysed using the ideas developed by Newton. The concepts in this section have applications in many contexts present in other sections of this specification, such as planetary motion in section 5.4.3 (HSW1, 2, 5, 9). This section provides knowledge and understanding of circular motion and important concepts such as centripetal force and acceleration.
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement.There are no associated PAG activities for this unit. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 5.2.1 Kinematics of circular motion and 5.2.2 Centripetal force(AO1, AO2, AO3).
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Oscillatory motion is all around us, with examples including atoms vibrating in a solid, a bridge swaying in the wind, the motion of pistons of a car and the motion of tides. (HSW1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12). This section provides knowledge and understanding of simple harmonic motion, forced oscillations and resonance.
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement. The PAGs assessed in this unit are PAG10 Simple harmonic motion. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 5.3.1 Simple harmonic oscillations and 5.3.2 Energy of a simple harmonic oscillator and 5.3.3 Damping (AO1, AO2, AO3).
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This section provides knowledge and understanding of
stars, Wien’s displacement law, Stefan’s law, Hubble’s law and the Big Bang. Learners have the opportunity to appreciate how scientific ideas of the Big Bang developed over time and how its validity is supported by research and experimental work carried out by the scientific community (HSW2, 7, 8, 11).
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement. The PAG assessed in this unit is PAG5 Investigating Waves. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 5.5.1 Stars, 5.5.2 Electromagnetic radiation from stars and 5.5.3 Cosmology (AO1, AO2, AO3).
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This section introduces the basic properties of capacitors and how they are used in electrical circuits. The use of capacitors as a source of electrical energy is then developed. This section introduces the mathematics of exponential decay, which is also required for the decay of radioactive nuclei in 6.4. This section provides knowledge and understanding of capacitors and exponential decay. Experimental work provides an excellent way to understand the behaviour of capacitors in electrical circuits and the management of safety and risks when using power supplies (HSW4). There are many opportunities for learners to use spreadsheets in the analysis and presentation of data (HSW3). The varied uses of capacitors give the opportunity for the consideration of their use in many practical applications (HSW2, 5, 6, 9).
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement. The PAG assessed in this unit is PAG9 Investigating capacitors. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 6.1.1 Capacitors, 6.1.2 Energy and 6.1.3 Charging and discharging capacitors (AO1, AO2, AO3).
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This section provides knowledge and understanding of Coulomb’s law, uniform electric fields, electric potential and energy.
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement. There are no associated PAGs for this unit. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 6.2.1. Spherical charges, 6.2.2 Coulomb's Law. 6.2.3 Uniform electric field and 6.2.4 Electric potential energy (AO1, AO2, AO3).
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This section provides knowledge and understanding of magnetic fields, motion of charged particles in magnetic fields, Lenz’s law and Faraday’s law. The application of Faraday’s law may be used to demonstrate how science has benefited society with important devices such as generators and transformers. Transformers are used in the transmission of electrical energy using the national grid and are an integral part of many electrical devices in our homes. The application of Lenz’s law allows discussion of the use of scientific knowledge to present a scientific argument (HSW1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12).
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement. There are no associated PAGs for this unit. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 6.3.1. Magnetic fields, 6.3.2 Motion of charged particles and 6.3.3. Electromagnetism (AO1, AO2, AO3)
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This section provides knowledge and understanding of the atom, nucleus, fundamental particles, radioactivity, fission and fusion.
Nuclear power stations provide a significant fraction of the energy needs of many countries. They are expensive; governments have to make difficult decisions when building new ones. The building of nuclear power stations can be used to evaluate the benefits and risks to society (HSW9). Ethical, environmental and decision making issues may also be discussed (HSW10 and HSW12). The development of the atomic model also addresses issues of scientific development and validation (HSW7, 11).
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement. The PAG assessed in this unit is PAG7 Investigating ionising radiation. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 6.4.1 The nuclear atom, 6.4.2 Fundamental particles, 6.4.3 Radioactivity and 6.4.4 Nuclear fission and fusion (AO1, AO2, AO3)
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This section provides knowledge and understanding of X-rays, CAT scans, PET scans and ultrasound scans. This section shows how the developments in medical imaging have led to a number of valuable non-invasive techniques used in hospitals. Not all hospitals in this country are equipped with complex scanners. Learners have the chance to discuss the ethical issues in the treatment of humans and the ways in which society uses science to inform decision making (HSW10 and 12).
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement. There are no associated PAGs for this unit. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 6.5.1 Using Xrays, 6.5.2 Diagnostic methods in medicine and 6.5.3 Using ultrasound (AO1, AO2, AO3)
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This section provides knowledge and understanding of Newton’s law of gravitation, planetary motion and gravitational potential and energy. Newton’s law of gravitation can be used to predict the motion of orbiting satellites, planets and even why some objects in our Solar system have very little atmosphere with the opportunity to analyse evidence and look at causal relationships (HSW1, 2, 5, 7). Geostationary satellites have done much to improve telecommunications around the world. They are expensive; governments and industry have to make difficult decisions when building new ones. Learners have the opportunity to discuss the societal benefits of satellites and the risks they pose when accidents do occur (HSW9, 10).
Practical activities are embedded within the learning outcomes of the course to encourage practical activities in the classroom which contribute to the achievement of the Practical Endorsement. There are no associated PAGs for this unit. After completing this unit, students will sit a 20 minute test covering 5.4.1 Point and spherical masses, 5.4.2 Newton's laws of gravitation, 5.4.3 Planetary motion and 5.4.4 Gravitational and potential energy (AO1, AO2, AO3).
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