Subject · GCSE and A level
Physics
Which schools in England make Physics a big part of the curriculum, and where results are strongest. Entries and grades from the 2025 performance tables.
What the data says
Physics GCSE was taken in 3,479 schools in England in 2025, with 159,667 entries — about 23% of the Year 11 cohort.
Nationally 46% of entries achieved grade 7 or above. The tables below show the schools where the largest share of pupils take the subject, and where grades are highest (schools with at least 20 entries).
At St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School (Bromley) 100% of the year group took Physics.
At A level, Physics was offered in 2,336 schools and colleges, with 36,664 entries — roughly 12% of A level students.
GCSE: schools with the highest share of grades 7–9
Schools with at least 20 entries. England: 46% of entries graded 7–9. High grades often reflect who is admitted (selective and independent schools) as much as teaching.
| # | School | Local authority | Entries | Cohort | Share | Grades 7–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilson's School | Sutton | 180 | 186 | 97% | 100% |
| 2 | Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet | Barnet | 171 | 193 | 89% | 100% |
| 3 | Salesian School, Chertsey | Surrey | 53 | 276 | 19% | 100% |
| 4 | West London Free School | Hammersmith and Fulham | 32 | 134 | 24% | 100% |
| 5 | Mossbourne Community Academy | Hackney | 30 | 206 | 15% | 100% |
| 6 | Jane Austen College | Norfolk | 29 | 176 | 16% | 100% |
| 7 | Eden Boys' School, Birmingham | Birmingham | 27 | 122 | 22% | 100% |
| 8 | Avanti Fields School | Leicester | 27 | 184 | 15% | 100% |
| 9 | The St Thomas the Apostle College | Southwark | 26 | 161 | 16% | 100% |
| 10 | Gordon's School | Surrey | 26 | 127 | 20% | 100% |
| 11 | Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham East | Birmingham | 26 | 123 | 21% | 100% |
| 12 | Sandringham School | Hertfordshire | 91 | 236 | 39% | 99% |
| 13 | Brighton College | Brighton and Hove | 147 | 217 | 68% | 99% |
| 14 | The Henrietta Barnett School | Barnet | 104 | 104 | 100% | 98% |
| 15 | Hethersett Academy | Norfolk | 45 | 223 | 20% | 98% |
| 16 | The Swan School | Oxfordshire | 41 | 120 | 34% | 98% |
| 17 | St Edmund's College | Hertfordshire | 40 | 103 | 39% | 98% |
| 18 | Dartford Grammar School | Kent | 159 | 179 | 89% | 97% |
| 19 | Radley College | Oxfordshire | 74 | 154 | 48% | 97% |
| 20 | St Helen and St Katharine | Oxfordshire | 74 | 98 | 76% | 97% |
| 21 | Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School | Blackburn with Darwen | 32 | 124 | 26% | 97% |
| 22 | The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School | Kensington and Chelsea | 32 | 126 | 25% | 97% |
| 23 | Blackheath High School GDST | Greenwich | 31 | 88 | 35% | 97% |
| 24 | King Edward VI School | Warwickshire | 90 | 90 | 100% | 97% |
| 25 | Reading School | Reading | 149 | 149 | 100% | 97% |
| 26 | St George's Catholic School | Westminster | 28 | 169 | 17% | 96% |
| 27 | St Oscar Romero Catholic School | West Sussex | 27 | 195 | 14% | 96% |
| 28 | Chesterton Community College | Cambridgeshire | 80 | 190 | 42% | 96% |
| 29 | Chiltern Academy | Luton | 26 | 231 | 11% | 96% |
| 30 | Prendergast Ladywell School | Lewisham | 26 | 176 | 15% | 96% |
| 31 | Mayfield School | East Sussex | 24 | 62 | 39% | 96% |
| 32 | The Holt School | Wokingham | 47 | 240 | 20% | 96% |
| 33 | Belmont Community School | County Durham | 23 | 142 | 16% | 96% |
| 34 | Ashford School | Kent | 23 | 79 | 29% | 96% |
| 35 | Winton Academy | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 23 | 173 | 13% | 96% |
| 36 | Hasmonean High School for Boys | Barnet | 20 | 111 | 18% | 95% |
| 37 | Tiffin School | Kingston upon Thames | 151 | 180 | 84% | 95% |
| 38 | St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School | Bromley | 128 | 128 | 100% | 95% |
| 39 | Ark Pioneer Academy | Barnet | 53 | 177 | 30% | 94% |
| 40 | Alleyn's School | Southwark | 140 | 155 | 90% | 94% |
A level: schools and colleges where the largest share of students take Physics
Entries as a share of A level students (at least 30 A level students and 10 entries). England: 12% of A level students.
What pupils learn in Physics, stage by stage
England has no national year-by-year syllabus: exam boards and schools set the order within each stage. These are the statutory blocks from the Department for Education, so a parent can see what a child meets in Years 7–9, what every GCSE candidate must cover, and what waits in the sixth form.
Years 7–9Key Stage 3
not offered as a separate subjectYears 10–11GCSE
178learning outcomes · statutory GCSE subject content; Higher-tier-only outcomes are markedYear 12A level, typically first year
40learning outcomes · content also examined at ASYear 13A level, second year
27learning outcomes · A level-only contentWhat GCSE Physics teaches · Years 10–11
178 learning outcomes from the Department for Education’s statutory subject content, grouped by topic. Each outcome belongs to one of twelve fields of knowledge used across startfrom.today: Natural Sciences (99), Mathematics & Statistics (50), Engineering & Manufacturing (17), Health & Safety (9) and others. Exam boards add detail on top of these; the outcomes themselves are the same whichever board a school uses.
Energy19
- calculate the kinetic energy associated with a moving body — kinetic energy
- calculate the energy stored in a stretched spring — elastic potential energy
- calculate the potential energy of an object raised above ground level — gravitational potential energy
- calculate energy changes when a system is heated — energy change, specific heat capacity
- calculate energy changes due to work done by forces — energy transfer, work done
- calculate energy changes due to work done when a current flows — electrical work, energy transfer
- explain power as the rate at which energy is transferred — energy transfer rate, power
- describe changes in the way energy is stored when a system changes — energy store, system change
- describe the relationship between power ratings and energy changes in domestic appliances — domestic appliance, power rating
- describe that a closed system has no net change in total energy — closed system, conservation of energy
- describe how energy is dissipated in system changes — energy dissipation
- explain ways of reducing unwanted energy transfer, including lubrication and insulation — lubrication, thermal insulation
- describe how wall thickness and thermal conductivity affect a building's cooling rate — rate of cooling, thermal conductivity
- calculate energy efficiency for an energy transfer — energy efficiency
- describe ways to increase the efficiency of an energy transfer — efficiency improvement
- describe the main energy sources available for use on Earth — energy resource, fossil fuel
- distinguish between renewable and non-renewable energy sources — non-renewable energy, renewable energy
- explain patterns and trends in the use of energy resources — energy resource trend
- apply equations to calculate energy changes in mechanical and electrical processes — energy equation, mechanical process
Forces45
- recall ways objects interact, including gravity, electrostatics, magnetism and contact — contact force, force interaction
- represent forces between interacting objects as vectors — force vector
- define weight and describe how it is measured — gravitational field strength, weight
- describe the relationship between weight and gravitational field strength — gravitational field strength, weight
- describe the forces acting on an isolated object using free body diagrams — free body diagram, resultant force
- describe balanced forces as the special case where the resultant force is zero — balanced force, resultant force
- explain that more than one force is needed to stretch, bend or compress an object — deforming force
- describe the difference between elastic and inelastic distortion — elastic distortion, inelastic distortion
- calculate the work done in stretching an object — spring extension, work done
- describe the relationship between force and extension for a spring — force-extension relationship, spring
- describe the difference between linear and non-linear force-extension relationships — linear relationship, non-linear relationship
- calculate a spring constant in linear cases — spring constant
- use the relationship between work done, force and distance to describe energy transfer — energy transfer, work done
- use the relationship between force, pressure and area in fluids — area, force, pressure
- describe a simple model of the Earth's atmosphere and atmospheric pressure — atmospheric pressure
- explain why atmospheric pressure varies with height — altitude, atmospheric pressure
- explain why pressure in a liquid varies with depth and density — density, depth, liquid pressure
- explain how liquid pressure leads to an upward force on a submerged object — submerged object, upthrust
- describe the factors which influence floating and sinking — floating, sinking
- define and calculate the moment of a force — moment of a force
- explain how levers and gears transmit the rotational effects of forces — gear, lever
- use vector diagrams to illustrate resolution of forces and equilibrium — equilibrium, vector diagram
- calculate stored energy and energy transfers, converting between newton-metres and joules — energy transfer, unit conversion
- calculate the difference in pressure at different depths in a liquid — liquid pressure calculation
- explain the vector-scalar distinction for displacement, distance, velocity and speed — scalar, vector
- recall typical speeds encountered in everyday experience — typical speed
- estimate the magnitudes of everyday accelerations — acceleration estimation
- explain that circular orbital motion involves constant speed but changing velocity — circular motion, velocity
- measure distances and times to calculate speeds and accelerations — acceleration calculation, speed calculation
- apply Newton's First Law to explain motion at uniform or changing velocity — newton's first law
- apply Newton's Second Law to calculate forces, masses and accelerations — newton's second law
- explain inertial mass as the ratio of force over acceleration — inertial mass
- apply Newton's Third Law to examples of equilibrium situations — newton's third law
- define momentum and describe examples of momentum in collisions — collision, momentum
- explain methods of measuring human reaction times — reaction time measurement
- explain factors affecting the stopping distance of road vehicles — road safety, stopping distance
- explain the dangers caused by large decelerations — deceleration, road safety
- estimate the forces involved in typical road transport situations — force estimation, road transport
- use ratios and proportional reasoning to convert units and compute rates — proportional reasoning, unit conversion
- interpret distance-time and velocity-time graphs — distance-time graph, velocity-time graph
- interpret enclosed areas in velocity-time graphs — area under graph, velocity-time graph
- apply formulae relating distance, time and speed for uniform and non-uniform motion — speed formula, uniform motion
- estimate how stopping distance varies over a range of typical speeds — speed, stopping distance
- apply formulae relating force, mass and gravitational field strength — force formula, gravitational field strength
- apply formulae relating force, mass, velocity and acceleration — acceleration, force formula
Waves29
- describe wave motion in terms of amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period — amplitude, frequency, period, wavelength
- define wavelength and frequency and apply the wave speed relationship — wave speed equation
- describe the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves — longitudinal wave, transverse wave
- describe how ripples on water are transverse waves and sound waves are longitudinal — sound wave, water wave
- describe evidence that it is the wave, not the medium, that travels — medium, wave propagation
- describe reflection, transmission and absorption of waves at material interfaces — absorption, reflection, transmission
- describe processes converting sound waves into vibrations in solids — sound wave, vibration
- explain why wave conversion processes work only over a limited frequency range — frequency range, human audition
- explain how differences in wave velocity and reflection enable detection and exploration — medical imaging, wave detection
- recall that light is an electromagnetic wave — electromagnetic wave, light
- describe electromagnetic waves as transverse waves travelling at the same velocity — electromagnetic spectrum, wave velocity
- explain that electromagnetic waves transfer energy from source to absorber — electromagnetic wave, energy transfer
- describe the main groupings of the electromagnetic spectrum — electromagnetic spectrum
- describe that our eyes can only detect a limited range of the electromagnetic spectrum — human eye, visible light
- recall that substances absorb, transmit, refract or reflect waves depending on wavelength — absorption, reflection, refraction
- explain how differences in wave velocity in substances relate to some wave effects — refraction, wave velocity
- recall that radio waves can be produced by or induce oscillations in electrical circuits — electrical oscillation, radio wave
- recall that changes in atoms and nuclei can generate and absorb electromagnetic radiation — electromagnetic radiation, nuclear radiation
- give examples of practical uses of electromagnetic waves across the spectrum — electromagnetic wave application
- describe hazardous effects of ultra-violet, X-ray and gamma radiation on human tissue — ionising radiation, tissue damage
- use ray diagrams to illustrate reflection and refraction — ray diagram, refraction
- describe similarities and differences between convex and concave lenses — concave lens, convex lens
- explain how colour relates to differential absorption, transmission and reflection — absorption, colour, reflection
- explain that all bodies emit radiation depending on their temperature — black body radiation, temperature
- explain how a body's temperature relates to the balance of absorbed and emitted radiation — radiative balance, temperature
- apply formulae relating velocity, frequency and wavelength — wave equation
- show how velocity, frequency and wavelength change when a wave transmits between media — medium change, wave transmission
- apply relationships between frequency and wavelength across the electromagnetic spectrum — electromagnetic spectrum, wave equation
- construct ray diagrams to illustrate reflection and refraction — ray diagram construction
Electricity25
- recall that current is a rate of flow of charge — charge flow, electric current
- recall that current has the same value at any point in a single closed loop — current, series circuit
- use the relationship between charge, current and time — charge equation
- recall that current depends on resistance and potential difference — current, potential difference, resistance
- apply the relationship between current, resistance and potential difference — ohm's law
- explain that resistance can be constant or variable for different components — resistor, variable resistance
- explain the design and use of circuits to explore lamps, diodes, thermistors and LDRs — diode, ldr, thermistor
- describe the difference between series and parallel circuits — parallel circuit, series circuit
- explain why resistance increases in series and decreases in parallel circuits — parallel resistance, series resistance
- calculate currents, potential differences and resistances in series circuits — series circuit calculation
- represent circuits using conventional symbols for common circuit elements — circuit symbol
- recall that UK domestic supply is a.c. at 50Hz and about 230 volts — alternating current, domestic supply
- explain the difference between direct and alternating voltage — alternating current, direct current
- recall the functions of the live, neutral and earth mains wires — earth wire, live wire, neutral wire
- explain why a live wire may be dangerous even when a switch is open — electrical safety, live wire
- explain the dangers of connecting the live wire to earth — earthing, electrical hazard
- explain how power transfer in a circuit relates to potential difference and current — electrical power, potential difference
- describe how energy is transferred from batteries and mains to motors or heating devices — domestic device, energy transfer
- recall that the national grid transfers electrical power at high voltage — high voltage transmission, national grid
- explain why high-voltage transmission is an efficient way to transfer energy — national grid, transmission efficiency
- describe the production of static electricity by rubbing surfaces — friction, static electricity
- explain how electron transfer between objects causes static electricity — electron transfer, static charge
- explain the concept of an electric field and its role in static electricity — electric field, static electricity
- apply equations relating potential difference, current, charge, resistance and power — circuit calculation, electrical equation
- use graphs to determine whether circuit elements are linear or non-linear — linear component, non-linear component
Magnetism and electromagnetism19
- describe attraction and repulsion between magnetic poles — attraction and repulsion, magnetic pole
- describe the difference between permanent and induced magnets — induced magnet, permanent magnet
- describe the characteristics of a magnetic field, including strength and direction — magnetic field
- explain how a magnetic compass shows that the Earth's core is magnetic — earth's core, magnetic compass
- describe how a current creates a magnetic effect around a conducting wire — current-carrying wire, magnetic field
- recall that field strength depends on current and distance from the conductor — magnetic field strength
- explain how a solenoid enhances the magnetic effect — solenoid
- describe how a magnet and current-carrying conductor exert a force on each other — motor effect
- use Fleming's left-hand rule to relate force, current and magnetic field directions — fleming's left-hand rule
- apply the equation linking force, magnetic flux density, current and conductor length — motor effect equation
- explain how the motor effect causes rotation in electric motors — electric motor, motor effect
- recall that a changing magnetic field induces a potential difference across a conductor — electromagnetic induction
- explain how electromagnetic induction is used in an alternator to generate a.c. — alternating current, alternator
- explain how electromagnetic induction is used in a dynamo to generate d.c. — direct current, dynamo
- explain how alternating current in one circuit induces a current in a transformer — mutual induction, transformer
- explain how the ratio of turns in a transformer relates to potential difference — transformer turns ratio
- explain how a microphone converts sound pressure variations into electrical current — microphone, sound to electrical signal
- explain how a loudspeaker converts electrical current into sound — loudspeaker
- apply equations linking transformer turns, currents and power transfer — power transfer, transformer equation
Particle model of matter12
- define density and explain differences in density between states of matter — density, state of matter
- describe how mass is conserved when substances change state — change of state, conservation of mass
- distinguish physical changes of state from chemical changes — chemical change, physical change
- describe how heating a system changes stored energy and temperature or state — heating, internal energy
- define specific heat capacity and distinguish it from specific latent heat — specific heat capacity, specific latent heat
- explain how the motion of gas molecules relates to temperature and pressure — gas particle motion, pressure
- recall that gases can be compressed or expanded by pressure changes — gas compression, gas expansion
- explain how increasing the volume of a gas at constant temperature decreases pressure — gas pressure, volume relationship
- explain how doing work on a gas can increase its temperature — temperature increase, work on a gas
- apply the relationship between density, mass and volume — density equation
- calculate energy change using specific heat capacity and mass — specific heat capacity calculation
- calculate energy change using specific latent heat and mass — specific latent heat calculation
Atomic structure21
- describe the atom as a nucleus surrounded by electrons, with most mass in the nucleus — atomic structure, nuclear atom
- recall the typical size of atoms and small molecules in physics contexts — atomic size, order of magnitude
- describe how the atomic model has changed over time in physics contexts — atomic model history
- recall that atomic nuclei contain protons and neutrons with a characteristic charge — neutron, nucleus, proton
- explain how isotopes differ in nuclear mass due to different neutron numbers — isotope, neutron number
- relate differences between isotopes to their conventional notation — atomic number, isotope notation
- recall that electrons are arranged at different distances from the nucleus — electron shell
- explain how electron arrangement changes with absorption or emission of radiation — electron transition, radiation
- explain that atoms become ions by losing outer electrons — electron loss, ionisation
- recall that unstable nuclei may emit alpha, beta or neutron radiation and gamma rays — alpha particle, beta particle, gamma ray
- relate radioactive emissions to changes in the mass or charge of the nucleus — nuclear charge, radioactive decay
- use names and symbols of nuclei and particles to write balanced decay equations — nuclear equation, radioactive decay
- explain the concept of half-life and its relation to random radioactive decay — half-life, random decay
- recall differences in penetration properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiation — ionising radiation, penetrating power
- compare the hazards of contamination and irradiation — contamination, irradiation
- explain why radioactive hazards differ according to half-life — half-life, radioactive hazard
- describe uses of nuclear radiation for exploring and treating internal organs — medical imaging, radiotherapy
- recall that unstable nuclei may split, releasing radiation and enabling chain reactions — chain reaction, nuclear fission
- describe the process of nuclear fusion and mass-energy conversion — mass-energy conversion, nuclear fusion
- balance equations representing alpha, beta or gamma radiation — nuclear equation balancing
- calculate the decline in radioactive emission after a number of half-lives — half-life calculation
Space physics8
- recall the main features of the solar system, including planets, moons and satellites — satellite, solar system
- explain how gravity changes a planet's velocity but not its speed in a circular orbit — circular orbit, gravity
- explain how orbital radius must change if orbital speed changes for a stable orbit — orbital radius, stable orbit
- explain how the Sun formed from dust and gas drawn together by gravity — gravity, star formation
- explain the equilibrium between gravitational collapse and fusion energy in a star — fusion energy, stellar equilibrium
- explain the red-shift of light from receding galaxies — receding galaxy, red-shift
- explain how galaxy red-shift is evidence for an expanding universe — expanding universe, red-shift evidence
- explain the link between red-shift evidence and the Big Bang model — big bang model, cosmological evidence
Source: DfE GCSE single science subject content (2015, Open Government Licence v3.0. Outcomes are split into single actions and rewritten only where the original bundled several; wording otherwise follows the DfE text. Methodology.
What A level Physics teaches · Years 12–13
67 learning outcomes from the Department for Education’s statutory subject content, grouped by topic. Each outcome belongs to one of twelve fields of knowledge used across startfrom.today: Natural Sciences (38), Mathematics & Statistics (29). Exam boards add detail on top of these; the outcomes themselves are the same whichever board a school uses.
Foundations of physics4
- apply SI units and their prefixes in physical calculationsYear 12 · AS — si unit, unit prefixes
- apply Newton's laws of motion to explain the motion of objectsYear 12 · AS — newton's laws of motion
- estimate physical quantities using appropriate approximationsYear 12 · AS — estimation, physical quantities
- evaluate the limitations of physical measurementsYear 12 · AS — experimental uncertainty, measurement limitations
Vectors and scalars4
- distinguish between vector and scalar quantitiesYear 12 · AS — scalar quantity, vector quantity
- resolve a vector into two components at right anglesYear 12 · AS — vector resolution
- apply the addition rule for two vectorsYear 12 · AS — vector addition
- calculate the resultant of two perpendicular vectorsYear 12 · AS — perpendicular vectors, resultant vector
Mechanics16
- use kinematic equations in one dimension for constant velocity or accelerationYear 12 · AS — constant acceleration, kinematic equations
- represent accelerated motion graphicallyYear 12 · AS — motion graphs
- interpret velocity-time and displacement-time graphsYear 12 · AS — displacement-time graph, velocity-time graph
- apply F = ma to situations where mass is constantYear 12 · AS — newton's second law
- solve problems involving one- and two-dimensional motion under a constant forceYear 12 · AS — constant force, two-dimensional motion
- explain the independent effect of perpendicular components in projectile motionYear 12 · AS — independence of components, projectile motion
- calculate work done by a constant force not along the line of motionYear 12 · AS — constant force, work done
- calculate exchanges between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energyYear 12 · AS — gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy
- apply the principle of conservation of energy to mechanical systemsYear 12 · AS — conservation of energy
- define momentumYear 12 · AS — momentum
- apply the principle of conservation of momentumYear 12 · AS — conservation of momentum
- calculate momentum in one-dimensional collision problemsYear 12 · AS — momentum calculation, one-dimensional collisions
- use radian measure of angle and angular velocityYear 13 — angular velocity, radian measure
- apply F = mv^2/r = mrω^2 to motion in a circle at constant speedYear 13 — centripetal force, circular motion
- explain simple harmonic motionYear 13 — simple harmonic motion
- apply the equation a = -ω²x and its solution x = A cos ωt to oscillating systemsYear 13 — simple harmonic motion equations
Mechanical properties of matter2
- explain stress, strain and the Young modulusYear 12 · AS — strain, stress, young modulus
- interpret force-extension graphs and calculate the energy storedYear 12 · AS — elastic energy, force-extension graph
Electric circuits12
- define electric current as the rate of flow of chargeYear 12 · AS — charge flow, electric current
- define emf and the concept of internal resistanceYear 12 · AS — emf, internal resistance
- explain potential difference in terms of energy transferYear 12 · AS — energy transfer, potential difference
- define resistance and resistivityYear 12 · AS — resistance, resistivity
- apply Ohm's law to circuit calculationsYear 12 · AS — ohm's law
- apply conservation of charge and energy to electric circuitsYear 12 · AS — conservation of charge, conservation of energy
- calculate currents, voltages and resistances in series and parallel circuitsYear 12 · AS — parallel circuit, series circuit
- calculate power dissipated in a circuitYear 12 · AS — power dissipation
- explain the operation of a potential divider circuitYear 12 · AS — potential divider
- define capacitanceYear 13 — capacitance
- calculate the energy stored in a capacitorYear 13 — capacitor energy
- interpret charge and discharge curves of a capacitor quantitativelyYear 13 — capacitor charge curve, capacitor discharge curve
Waves3
- explain polarisation and diffraction of waves qualitativelyYear 12 · AS — diffraction, polarisation
- explain path difference, phase and coherence in relation to interferenceYear 12 · AS — coherence, interference, path difference, phase
- interpret superposition and stationary waves graphicallyYear 12 · AS — stationary waves, superposition
Matter5
- apply the ideal gas equation pV = NkTYear 13 — ideal gas law
- explain absolute zeroYear 13 — absolute zero
- explain the relationship between temperature and average molecular kinetic energyYear 13 — molecular kinetic energy, temperature
- explain the concept of internal energyYear 13 — internal energy
- calculate the energy required for a temperature change using energy = mcΔθYear 13 — specific heat capacity, temperature change
Quantum and nuclear physics11
- explain the photon model of light to account for observable phenomenaYear 12 · AS — photon model
- evaluate evidence supporting the photon model of lightYear 12 · AS — experimental evidence, photon model
- explain wave-particle duality and particle diffractionYear 12 · AS — particle diffraction, wave-particle duality
- explain how emission type relates to penetration and range in radioactive decayYear 12 · AS — alpha decay, beta decay, gamma decay
- evaluate the evidence for the existence of the nucleusYear 12 · AS — nuclear model of the atom, rutherford scattering
- explain the activity of radioactive sources and the concept of half-lifeYear 12 · AS — half-life, radioactive activity
- model radioactive decay using a constant decay probability leading to exponential decayYear 13 — decay constant, exponential decay
- explain the nuclear changes that occur during radioactive decayYear 13 — nuclear decay, transmutation
- distinguish nuclear fission from nuclear fusionYear 13 — nuclear fission, nuclear fusion
- apply E = mc² to nuclear processesYear 13 — mass-energy equivalence
- calculate the energy change from the mass difference in a nuclear processYear 13 — mass defect, nuclear energy calculation
Fields10
- define a force fieldYear 13 — force field
- apply the inverse square law to gravitational fields for point or spherical massesYear 13 — gravitational field, inverse square law
- apply the inverse square law to electric fields for point or spherical charges in a vacuumYear 13 — electric field, inverse square law
- calculate changes in electric and gravitational potential energy using field potentialYear 13 — electric potential, gravitational potential
- explain a uniform electric fieldYear 13 — uniform electric field
- compare similarities and differences between electric and gravitational fieldsYear 13 — electric field, gravitational field
- calculate the force on a current-carrying wire and a moving charge in a magnetic fieldYear 13 — current-carrying wire, magnetic force, moving charge
- define magnetic flux and electromagnetic inductionYear 13 — electromagnetic induction, magnetic flux
- apply Faraday's and Lenz's laws to electromagnetic inductionYear 13 — faraday's law, lenz's law
- explain that emf equals the rate of change of magnetic flux linkageYear 13 — emf, flux linkage
Source: DfE GCE AS and A level science subject content (2014), Open Government Licence v3.0. Outcomes are split into single actions and rewritten only where the original bundled several; wording otherwise follows the DfE text. Methodology.