GCSE Physics

Who this is for

Students taking Separate (Triple) Physics or the physics half of Combined Science, on any major board. Particularly useful if you can do the calculations but freeze on the longer written questions.

What we cover

• Energy — stores and transfers, efficiency, specific heat capacity, power
• Electricity — circuits, V = IR, series and parallel, the mains supply, static
• Particle model — density, states of matter, internal energy, gas pressure
• Atomic structure — radioactivity, half-life, nuclear equations, fission and fusion
• Forces — resultants, moments, Hooke’s law, motion graphs, stopping distances, momentum
• Waves — the wave equation, reflection and refraction, the EM spectrum, sound
• Magnetism — fields, the motor effect, transformers, the National Grid
• Required practicals — every one, including the specific detail examiners want

How I teach it

Physics questions almost always come down to one question: what’s conserved here, and what’s changing? Once you’re in the habit of asking that, the equation you need becomes obvious rather than something you hunt for.

For the six-mark extended responses we work on structure explicitly — these are marked against a levels-based scheme, and a well-organised answer with three clear points beats a rambling one with five.