KS4 PHYSICS

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1. Electricity and magnetism

energy and potentialdifference in circuits

a how to measure current in series and parallel circuits;

b that energy is transferred from batteries and other sources to other components in electrical circuits;

c that resistors are heated when charge flows through them;

d the qualitative effect of changing resistance on the current in a circuit;

e how to make simple measurements of voltage;

f the quantitative relationship between resistance, voltage and current;

g how current varies with voltage in a range of devices, including resistors, filament bulbs, diodes, light-dependent resistors (LDRs) and thermistors;

h that voltage is the energy transferred per unit charge;

i the quantitative relationship between power, voltage and current;

mains electricity

j the difference between direct current (d.c.) and alternating current (a.c.);

k the functions of the live, neutral and earth wires in the domestic mains supply, and the use of insulation, earthing, fuses and circuit breakers to protect users of electrical equipment;

l that electrical heating is used in a variety of ways in domestic contexts;

m how measurements of energy transferred are used to calculate the costs of using common domestic appliances;

electric charge

n about common electrostatic phenomena, in terms of the movement of electrons;

o the dangers and uses of electrostatic charges generated in everyday situations;

p the quantitative relationship between steady current, charge and time;

q about electric current as the flow of free electrons in metals or of ions during electrolysis;

electromagnetic forces

r that like magnetic poles repel and unlike magnetic poles attract;

s that a force is exerted on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field and the application of this effect in simple electric motors;

electromagnetic induction

t that a voltage is induced when a conductor cuts magnetic field lines and when the magnetic field through a coil changes;

u how simple a.c. generators and transformers work;

v the quantitative relationship between the voltages across the coils in a transformer and the numbers of turns in them;

w how electricity is generated and transmitted.

2. Forces and motion

force and acceleration

a how distance, time and speed can be determined and represented graphically;

b about factors affecting vehicle stopping distances;

c the difference between speed and velocity;

d about acceleration as change in velocity per unit time;

e that balanced forces do not alter the velocity of a moving object;

f the quantitative relationship between force, mass and acceleration;

g that when two bodies interact, the forces they exert on each other are equal and opposite;

force and non-uniformmotion

h the forces acting on falling objects;

i why falling objects may reach a terminal velocity;

force and pressure on solids, liquids and gases

j how extension varies with applied force for a range of materials;

k how liquids behave under pressure, including simple everyday applications of hydraulics;

l how the volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature is related to pressure.

3. Waves

characteristics of waves

a that light and sound can be reflected, refracted and diffracted;

b the conditions for total internal reflection and its use in optical fibres;

c about longitudinal and transverse waves in ropes, springs and water;

d that waves can be reflected, refracted and diffracted;

e the meaning of frequency, wavelength and amplitude of a wave;

f the quantitative relationship between the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave;

g that waves transfer energy without transferring matter;

the electromagnetic spectrum

h that the electromagnetic spectrum includes radio waves, microwaves, infra-red, visible light, ultraviolet waves, X-rays and gamma-rays;

i some uses and dangers of microwaves, infra-red and ultraviolet waves in domestic situations;

j some uses of radio waves, microwaves, infra-red and visible light in communications;

k some uses of X-rays and gamma-rays in medicine;

sound and ultrasound

l about sound and ultrasound waves, and some medical and other uses of ultrasound;

seismic waves

m that longitudinal and transverse waves are transmitted through the Earth, producing wave records that provide evidence for the Earth`s layered structure.

4. The Earth and beyond

the solar system and the wider Universe

a the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, Sun, planets and other bodies in the Universe;

b that gravitational forces determine the movements of planets, moons, comets and satellites;

c how stars evolve over a long time-scale;

d about some ideas used to explain the evolution of the Universe into its present state.

5. Energy resources and energy transfer

energy transfer

a that differences in temperature can lead to transfer of energy;

b how energy is transferred by the movement of particles in conduction, convection and evaporation;

c how energy is transferred by radiation;

d that insulation can reduce transfer of energy from hotter to colder objects, and how insulation is used in domestic contexts;

e the meaning of energy efficiency and the need for economical use of energy resources;

work, power and energy

f the quantitative relationship between force and work;

g to calculate power in terms of the rate of working or of transferring energy;

h the quantitative links between kinetic energy, potential energy and work.

6. Radioactivity

a that radioactivity arises from the breakdown of an unstable nucleus;

b that there is background radioactivity;

c that there are three main types of radioactive emission, with different penetrating powers;

d the nature of alpha and beta particles and of gamma radiation;

e the meaning of the term 'half-life';

f the beneficial and harmful effects of radiation on matter and living organisms;

g some uses of radioactivity, including the radioactive dating of rock

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