AQA GCSE Physics Scheme of Work

Covers energy stores and systems, calculations of kinetic, gravitational potential and elastic potential energy, energy changes in systems, specific heat capacity, power, dissipation and thermal insulation, efficiency, and national and global energy resources. Ends with evaluation of renewable and non-renewable resources for electricity generation, transport and heating.

1. 01Energy Stores and Systems4.1.1.1
2. 02Kinetic Energy Calculations4.1.1.2
3. 03Gravitational Potential Energy Calculations4.1.1.2
4. 04Elastic Potential Energy and Spring Extension4.1.1.2Practical
5. 05Energy Changes in Systems4.1.1.3
6. 06Specific Heat Capacity4.1.1.3
7. 07Required Practical 1: Determining specific heat capacity4.1.1.3; 4.3.2.2; Required Practical 1RP
8. 08Power and Energy Transfer Rate4.1.1.4
9. 09Energy Transfers and Dissipation4.1.2.1
10. 10Required Practical 2: Investigating the effectiveness of thermal insulation4.1.2.1; Required Practical 2RP
11. 11Efficiency Calculations4.1.2.2
12. 12National and Global Energy Resources4.1.3

Covers circuit symbols, electrical charge and current, current-resistance-potential difference relationships, I-V characteristics of resistors, lamps and diodes, thermistors and LDRs, series and parallel circuits, direct and alternating potential difference, mains electricity and the three-pin plug, electrical safety devices, power in circuits, energy transfers in appliances, the National Grid, static charge and electric fields.

1. 01Standard Circuit Diagram Symbols4.2.1.1
2. 02Electrical Charge and Current4.2.1.2
3. 03Current, Resistance and Potential Difference4.2.1.3
4. 04Resistors and I–V Characteristics4.2.1.4Practical
5. 05Required Practical 4: I-V characteristics of circuit components8463 4.2.1.4; Required Practical 4RP
6. 06Thermistors and LDRs4.2.1.4
7. 07Required Practical 3: Wire length and series/parallel resistance4.2.1.4; Required Practical 3RP
8. 08Series Circuits4.2.2
9. 09Parallel Circuits4.2.2
10. 10Direct and Alternating Potential Difference4.2.3.1
11. 11Mains Electricity and the Three-Pin Plug4.2.3.2
12. 12Electrical Safety Devices4.2.3.2
13. 13Power in Electrical Circuits4.2.4.1
14. 14Energy Transfers in Electrical Appliances4.2.4.2
15. 15The National Grid4.2.4.3
16. 16Static Charge4.2.5.1
17. 17Electric Fields4.2.5.2

Covers density of solids, liquids and gases with practical determination, changes of state as physical changes, internal energy, specific latent heat and its distinction from specific heat capacity, particle motion in gases, gas pressure and temperature, and (Higher) the effect of changing volume on gas pressure.

1. 01Density of Materials4.3.1.1Practical
2. 02Required Practical 5: Determining the density of solids and liquids4.3.1.1; Required Practical 5RP
3. 03Changes of State4.3.1.2
4. 04Internal Energy4.3.2.1
5. 05Specific Latent Heat4.3.2.3
6. 06Particle Motion in Gases4.3.3.1
7. 07Pressure in Gases4.3.3.2
8. 08Increasing the Pressure of a Gas4.3.3.3HT

Covers the structure of the atom, mass number, atomic number and isotopes, the development of the atomic model from Dalton through Rutherford to Bohr, radioactive decay and nuclear radiation, penetration and ionising properties of alpha, beta and gamma, nuclear equations, half-life and the random nature of decay, contamination versus irradiation, background radiation, uses and hazards of radioactive isotopes, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

1. 01Structure of the Atom4.4.1.1
2. 02Mass Number, Atomic Number and Isotopes4.4.1.2
3. 03Development of the Model of the Atom4.4.1.3
4. 04Radioactive Decay and Nuclear Radiation4.4.2.1
5. 05Properties and Penetration of Nuclear Radiation4.4.2.1
6. 06Nuclear Equations4.4.2.2
7. 07Half-Life and Random Nature of Radioactive Decay4.4.2.3
8. 08Radioactive Contamination and Irradiation4.4.2.4
9. 09Background Radiation4.4.3.1
10. 10Uses and Hazards of Radioactive Isotopes4.4.3.2; 4.4.3.3
11. 11Nuclear Fission4.4.4.1
12. 12Nuclear Fusion4.4.4.2

Covers scalar and vector quantities, contact and non-contact forces, weight and gravitational field strength, resultant forces and free body diagrams, work done, forces and elasticity, moments, levers and gears, pressure in fluids and atmospheric pressure, describing motion (distance-time and velocity-time graphs), Newton's three laws with practical investigation, terminal velocity, forces and braking including stopping distance, and (Higher) momentum and its conservation.

1. 01Scalar and Vector Quantities4.5.1.1
2. 02Contact and Non-Contact Forces4.5.1.2
3. 03Weight and Gravitational Field Strength4.5.1.3
4. 04Resultant Forces and Free Body Diagrams4.5.1.4
5. 05Work Done and Energy Transfer4.5.2
6. 06Forces and Elasticity4.5.3
7. 07Required Practical 6: Force and extension of a spring4.5.3; 4.1.1.2; Required Practical 6RP
8. 08Moments, Levers and Gears4.5.4
9. 09Pressure in Fluids4.5.5.1
10. 10Atmospheric Pressure4.5.5.2
11. 11Describing Motion Along a Line4.5.6.1
12. 12Velocity-Time Graphs and Acceleration Calculations4.5.6.1
13. 13Newton's First Law and Inertia4.5.6.2
14. 14Newton's Second Law and Acceleration4.5.6.2Practical
15. 15Required Practical 7: Force, mass and acceleration4.5.6.2; Required Practical 7RP
16. 16Newton's Third Law and Interaction Pairs4.5.6.2
17. 17Terminal Velocity and Air Resistance4.5.6.2
18. 18Forces and Braking4.5.6.3
19. 19Momentum and Conservation of Momentum4.5.7HT

Covers transverse and longitudinal waves, wave properties and the wave equation with ripple tank practical, reflection of waves, refraction of light, (Higher) sound waves and ultrasound, (Higher) waves for detection and exploration including seismic waves, the electromagnetic spectrum as a continuous family, properties and hazards of electromagnetic waves, their uses and applications, infrared absorption and emission, perfect black bodies and radiation, lenses and ray diagrams, image formation and magnification, and visible light and colour.

1. 01Transverse and Longitudinal Waves4.6.1.1
2. 02Properties of Waves4.6.1.2
3. 03Required Practical 8: Measuring wave properties in a ripple tank and a solid4.6.1.2; Required Practical 8RP
4. 04Reflection of Waves4.6.1.3
5. 05Refraction of Light4.6.1.3Practical
6. 06Required Practical 9: Reflection and refraction of light4.6.1.3; Required Practical 9RP
7. 07Sound Waves and Ultrasound4.6.1.4HT
8. 08Waves for Detection and Exploration4.6.1.5HT
9. 09The Electromagnetic Spectrum4.6.2.1
10. 10Properties of Electromagnetic Waves4.6.2.2; 4.6.2.3
11. 11Uses and Applications of Electromagnetic Waves4.6.2.4
12. 12Required Practical 10: Infrared absorption and emission4.6.3.1; Required Practical 10RP
13. 13Perfect Black Bodies and Radiation4.6.3.2
14. 14Lenses and Ray Diagrams4.6.2.5
15. 15Image Formation and Magnification4.6.2.5
16. 16Visible Light and Colour4.6.2.6

Opens with a circuits recap bridging back to P09.02, then covers permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic fields and field lines, electromagnetism and solenoids with an electromagnet investigation, the motor effect, (Higher) Fleming's left-hand rule and F = BIl with a current balance practical, (Higher) electric motors, (Higher) loudspeakers and headphones, (Higher) electromagnetic induction and the generator effect, (Higher) alternators and dynamos, (Higher) microphones, (Higher) transformers with power and efficiency calculations, and (Higher) National Grid power transmission.

1. 01Circuits Recap for Electromagnetism4.2.1.3; 4.2.1.4
2. 02Permanent and Induced Magnetism4.7.1.1
3. 03Magnetic Fields and Field Lines4.7.1.2
4. 04Electromagnetism and Solenoids4.7.2.1
5. 05Investigating the Strength of an Electromagnet4.7.2.1Practical
6. 06The Motor Effect4.7.2.2HT
7. 07Fleming's Left-Hand Rule and Calculating Motor Effect Forces4.7.2.2HT
8. 08Current Balance: Measuring the Motor Effect Force4.7.2.2PracticalHT
9. 09Electric Motors4.7.2.3PracticalHT
10. 10Loudspeakers and Headphones4.7.2.4PracticalHT
11. 11Electromagnetic Induction and the Generator Effect4.7.3.1HT
12. 12Alternators, Dynamos and Practical Generators4.7.3.2HT
13. 13Microphones and Sound-to-Electrical Energy Conversion4.7.3.3HT
14. 14Transformers and Changing Potential Difference4.7.3.4PracticalHT
15. 15Transformer Power and Efficiency Calculations4.7.3.4HT
16. 16The National Grid and Power Transmission4.7.3.4HT

Covers our Solar System and the Milky Way, the formation of stars from nebulae, main sequence stars and the fusion-gravity equilibrium, the life cycles of stars similar to the Sun and of massive stars, nuclear fusion and the formation of elements in stars, orbital motion and gravitational forces, natural and artificial satellites, red-shift and the expanding Universe, the Big Bang theory, and dark matter and dark energy as open questions.

1. 01Our Solar System and the Milky Way4.8.1.1
2. 02Formation of Stars and Nebulae4.8.1.2
3. 03Main Sequence Stars and Stability4.8.1.2
4. 04Life Cycle of Stars Similar to the Sun4.8.1.2
5. 05Life Cycle of Massive Stars4.8.1.2
6. 06Nuclear Fusion and Element Formation in Stars4.8.1.2
7. 07Orbital Motion and Gravitational Forces4.8.1.3
8. 08Natural and Artificial Satellites4.8.1.3
9. 09Red-Shift and the Expanding Universe4.8.2
10. 10The Big Bang Theory4.8.2
11. 11Dark Matter and Dark Energy4.8.2