Physics

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This subtopic covers the fundamental principles of wave behaviour, including reflection, refraction, diffraction, and superposition. Students explore practical applications such as interference patterns and standing waves. Mastery of this content is essential for understanding light, sound, and other periodic phenomena in physics.

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Measurements and their errors

This topic covers the fundamental principles of measurement in physics, including the use of SI base units and prefixes. It also focuses on the analysis of experimental data, specifically addressing the nature of random and systematic errors, the calculation of uncertainties, and the graphical treatment of data.

Medical physics

This topic explores the application of physical principles to medical diagnostics and sensory systems. It covers the physics of the eye and ear, various medical imaging techniques including ultrasound, X-rays, CT scans, and magnetic resonance, as well as the use of radionuclides in imaging and therapy.

Engineering physics

This topic explores rotational dynamics and thermodynamics, extending core physics concepts into engineering applications. It covers rotational motion, flywheels, engine cycles, and the laws of thermodynamics, emphasizing conceptual understanding and application in novel contexts.

Turning points in physics

This topic explores the historical and conceptual paradigm shifts in physics, focusing on the discovery of the electron, wave-particle duality, and special relativity. It examines how experimental evidence challenged classical theories, leading to modern understandings of matter, light, and space-time.

Electronics

This topic explores modern electronic technologies as an extension of core electricity principles. It covers discrete semiconductor devices, analogue and digital signal processing, and the fundamental principles of data communication systems.

Particles and radiation

This topic introduces the fundamental properties of matter, electromagnetic radiation, and quantum phenomena. It covers the constituents of the atom, particle interactions, classification of particles, and the wave-particle duality of matter and radiation.

Waves

This topic extends GCSE wave phenomena by developing knowledge of the characteristics, properties, and applications of travelling and stationary waves. It covers key concepts including refraction, diffraction, superposition, and interference, providing a foundation for understanding wave behaviour in various physical contexts.

Mechanics and materials

This topic covers the fundamental principles of mechanics and the bulk properties of materials. It includes the study of vectors, forces, moments, motion in a straight line, projectile motion, Newton's laws, momentum, work, energy, power, and the mechanical properties of solids such as density, Hooke's law, and the Young modulus.

Electricity

This topic covers the fundamental principles of current electricity, including the relationships between current, potential difference, and resistance. It extends to circuit analysis, including series and parallel configurations, potential dividers, and the effects of internal resistance, providing a foundation for understanding electrical power and energy transfer.

Further mechanics and thermal physics

This topic advances the study of mechanics and thermal physics by introducing circular motion, simple harmonic motion, and the thermal properties of matter. It explores the behavior of ideal gases through kinetic theory and examines the energy transfer processes involved in heating and phase changes.

Fields and their consequences

This topic explores the unifying concept of force fields, covering gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields. It examines the properties of these fields, their mathematical representations, and their practical consequences, including planetary orbits, capacitance, and electromagnetic induction.

Nuclear physics

This topic explores the properties of the nucleus, the nature of radioactive decay, and the relationship between mass and energy. It provides the physical foundation for understanding nuclear power production, including fission, fusion, and the safety aspects of nuclear energy.

Astrophysics

This topic applies fundamental physical principles to the study of the Universe, focusing on the behavior of distant objects and the methods used to gather information about them. It covers the physics of astronomical telescopes, the classification of stars using luminosity and temperature, stellar evolution, and cosmological concepts including the Doppler effect, Hubble's law, and the detection of exoplanets.