AQA GCSE Physics revision notes

Examined in Paper 1

4.1.1 Energy changes in a system

4.1.1.1 Energy stores and systems 4.1.1.2 Changes in energy 4.1.1.3 Energy changes in systems 4.1.1.4 Power

4.1.2 Conservation and dissipation of energy

4.1.2.1 Energy transfers in a system 4.1.2.2 Efficiency

4.1.3 National and global energy resources

4.1.3 Energy resources

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Energy: self-marking topic test

Examined in Paper 1

4.2.1 Current, potential difference & resistance

4.2.1.1–4.2.1.3 Circuit symbols, current, potential difference and resistance 4.2.1.3–4.2.1.4 Required practicals: resistance of a wire, I–V graphs and sensors

4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits

4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits, with calculations

4.2.3 Domestic uses and safety

4.2.3 Domestic uses and safety

4.2.4 Energy transfers

4.2.4.1–4.2.4.2 Power and energy transfers in appliances 4.2.4.3 The National Grid

4.2.5 Static electricity physics only

4.2.5 Static electricity and electric fields

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Electricity: self-marking topic test combined + triple

Examined in Paper 1

4.3.1 Changes of state and the particle model

4.3.1 Density and changes of state

4.3.2 Internal energy and energy transfers

4.3.2 Internal energy, specific heat capacity and latent heat

4.3.3 Particle model and pressure physics only

4.3.3 Particle motion in gases

Examined in Paper 1

4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes

4.4.1.1 & 4.4.1.2 The structure of an atom, isotopes and ions 4.4.1.3 The development of the model of the atom

4.4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation

4.4.2.1 Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation 4.4.2.2 Nuclear equations 4.4.2.3 Half-lives and the random nature of decay 4.4.2.4 Radioactive contamination

4.4.3 – 4.4.4 physics only

4.4.3.1 Background radiation 4.4.3.3 Uses of nuclear radiation 4.4.4 Nuclear fission and fusion

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Atomic Structure: self-marking topic test includes physics only

Examined in Paper 2

4.5.1 – 4.5.3 Forces, work and elasticity

4.5.1.1 Scalar and vector quantities 4.5.1.2 – 4.5.1.4 Balanced and unbalanced forces, resultant force and weight 4.5.1.4 Vector diagrams: resultant force and components higher tier 4.5.3 Forces and elasticity: Hooke’s law and the spring practical

4.5.4 – 4.5.5 physics only

4.5.4 Moments, levers and gears 4.5.5 Pressure in fluids

4.5.6 – 4.5.7 Motion and momentum

4.5.6.1 Motion formulas and graphs 4.5.6.1.5 Terminal velocity 4.5.6.2 Newton’s first and second laws, F = m a (required practical) 4.5.6.2.3 Newton's third law 4.5.6.3 Stopping distance 4.5.7 Momentum higher tier

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Forces and Motion: self-marking topic test higher tier

Examined in Paper 2

4.6.1 Waves in air, fluids and solids

4.6.1.1 – 4.6.1.2 Transverse and longitudinal waves: amplitude, wavelength, period and frequency 4.6.1.2 Wave speed: v = f λ and v = s ÷ t Required practicals 8 and 10: ripple tank, waves in a solid and infrared from surfaces 4.6.1.3 Reflection of waves: ray diagrams, mirror images, specular and diffuse physics only 4.6.1.4 – 4.6.1.5 Sound and ultrasound: hearing, echoes and finding distances physics only 4.6.1.5 Seismic waves: P-waves, S-waves and the Earth's core physics only

4.6.2 Electromagnetic waves

4.6.2.1 – 4.6.2.4 The electromagnetic spectrum: order, uses and hazards 4.6.1.3 · 4.6.2.5 Refraction and lenses: ray diagrams physics only 4.6.2.6 Visible light, colour and filters physics only

4.6.3 Black body radiation physics only

4.6.3.1 – 4.6.3.2 Black body radiation and the Earth's temperature

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Waves: self-marking topic test combined + triple

Examined in Paper 2

4.7.1 Permanent and induced magnetism

4.7.1.1 – 4.7.1.2 Magnets, magnetic fields and induced magnets

4.7.2 The motor effect

4.7.2.1 Electromagnets: the field round a wire and a solenoid; bell, relay and circuit breaker devices: physics only 4.7.2.2 Fleming's left-hand rule and F = B I l F = B I l: higher tier 4.7.2.3 – 4.7.2.4 The motor effect: electric motors and loudspeakers

4.7.3 Induced potential physics only

4.7.3.1 Electromagnetic induction (the generator effect) 4.7.3.2 – 4.7.3.3 The generator effect: alternators, dynamos and microphones 4.7.3.4 Transformers: step-up, step-down and the transformer equations equations: physics only

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Magnetism and Electromagnetism: self-marking topic test combined + triple

Examined in Paper 2

4.8.1 Solar system and orbital motion

4.8.1 The solar system, life cycle of a star and orbits

4.8.2 Red-shift

4.8.2 Red-shift and the Big Bang