Physics

Help using Oak

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Primary

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Secondary

Who we are

Meet the team

Oak's curricula

Get involved

Contact us

About us

AI experiments

Plan a lesson

Blogs

Webinars

Help

Guidance

Art and design

Computing

Cooking and nutrition

Design and technology

English

Geography

History

Maths

Music

Physical education

Religious education

RSHE (PSHE)

Science

Digital literacy

Financial education

Rule of law

French

Spanish

Expressive arts and design

Literacy

Personal, social and emotional development

Understanding the world

EYFS

Keystages

Citizenship

German

Biology

Chemistry

Citizenship (Core)

Citizenship (GCSE)

Combined science

Computer Science (GCSE)

Computing (Core)

Physical education (Core)

Physical education (GCSE)

Religious education (Core)

Religious education (GCSE)

Edexcel

Eduqas

Edexcel B

Foundation

Higher

Calculating density and measuring volume

Measuring density

Pressure in a fluid

Upthrust

Explaining convection

Explaining pressure changes

In the Energy of moving particles unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn how the movement and nature of different particles transfers energy by conduction, and how specific heat capacity and specific latent heat quantify the effect of heating on the properties of a material.

In the Heating and cooling unit, pupils learnt how the motion of particles in solids, liquids and gases changes when they are heated, how thermal conduction and insulation work and why heating different materials doesn’t always increase their temperatures by the same amount. 

This unit defines density and explores how it varies between states of matter based on atomic arrangement. It covers mass conservation during physical changes, gas behaviour, fluid pressure, buoyancy, and atmospheric pressure, and calculations involving density, mass, and volume relationships.

Particle explanations of density and pressure

Different speeds (v=s/t)

Measuring instantaneous speed practical (v = s ÷ t)

Measuring instantaneous speed analysis (v=s/t)

Displacement and velocity as vectors (v=s/t)

Velocity on a graph (v = s ÷ t)

Calculating from displacement-time graphs (v = s ÷ t)

Acceleration (a = Δv/t)

Measuring acceleration practical (v=s/t, a = Δv/t)

Measuring acceleration analysis (v = s ÷ t, a = Δv ÷ t)

Calculating from velocity-time graphs (a = Δv/t)

Calculating from motion graphs (a=Δv/t and v=s/t)

Motion calculations (a=Δv/t, v²−u²=2as & v=s/t)

In the Energy of moving objects unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn how to calculate the amount of energy of objects have because they are moving, stretched or in a gravitational field; and to calculate energy transfers using knowledge of energy conservation and dissipation.

In the Moving by force unit, pupils learnt how to calculate speed and describe motion using distance-time graphs, apply Newton’s First Law of motion and calculate the amount of energy needed to move an object to a new position.

This unit covers vector-scalar distinctions in displacement, distance, velocity, and speed. It explores speeds, acceleration, motion graphs, and formulas for uniform and non-uniform motion. It also includes understanding circular motion and conducting accurate measurements, and calculations.

Measuring and calculating motion

Electric fields

Moving electric charge

Linking current, potential difference and resistance

Resistance of a wire at a constant temperature

Analysing series circuits

Adding components to a parallel circuit

Analysing parallel circuits

In the Circuit components unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn how the resistance of filament lamps and diodes change with current and about the properties and applications of light dependent resistors and thermistors.

In the Resistance and parallel circuits unit, pupils learnt about electrical resistance and parallel electric circuits.

This unit covers static electricity, electric fields, and current flow in series and parallel circuits. It explains current, resistance, and potential difference relationships and explores diodes, thermistors, and LDRs. The focus is on calculations, experiments, and accurate measurements.

Electric fields and circuit calculations

Transverse waves

Representing transverse waves

Representing longitudinal waves

Oscilloscope

Measuring the speed of water waves from distance and time

Measuring waves on a string

The wave equation

Using the wave speed equations

Measuring water waves in a ripple tank

Measuring the speed of sound in air and solids

In the Electromagnetic waves unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn about the reflection and refraction of light, other types of electromagnetic radiation in the EM spectrum and the helpful and harmful effects of each type of radiation.

In the Waves unit, pupils learnt about the properties and propagation of transverse and longitudinal waves.

This unit covers wave motion, including amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and velocity. It explains transverse and longitudinal waves, reflection, and absorption. The focus is on measuring wave speed, and sound interactions, applying formulas, and conducting accurate experiments.

Measuring waves

Work done (W = F × s)

Power (P = W ÷ t)

Efficiency (in terms of energy and power)

Calculating the energy of a moving object (Ek=½mv²)

The energy of an object in a gravitational field (EP=mgh)

Calculating energy changes (Ek and Ep)

Stretching a spring practical

Stretching a spring analysis (F=ke)

Calculating the energy of a spring (Ee = 1/2 ke²)

In the Forces make things change unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn how to combine forces in two dimensions, how to calculate acceleration from a resultant force and how to calculate forces in collisions and explosions.

In the Measuring and calculating motion unit, pupils learnt how to measure and calculate velocity and acceleration, and how to interpret displacement-time and velocity-time graphs. 

This unit covers energy changes in systems through heating, forces, and electrical work. It includes energy storage, efficiency, and transfer methods like insulation. Emphasis is on calculating energy, conducting experiments, interpreting data, and communicating findings accurately.

Energy of moving objects

Thermal conduction and insulation

Effective insulation

Heating different substances

Calculating specific heat capacity (∆E  = m c ∆θ)

Measuring specific heat capacity

A heating curve for water

Specific latent heat (E = m L)

In the Nuclear physics unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to learn about subatomic particles, unstable nuclei, radioactive decay, ionising radiation and radioactive half-life.

In the Particle explanations of density and pressure unit, pupils learnt how the arrangement and movement of particles in solids, liquids and gases explain density, pressure, floating and convection.

This unit covers energy changes in systems due to heating, forces, and electrical work. It explains reducing energy transfer via insulation, specific heat capacity, and latent heat. Emphasis is on calculations, planning experiments, data interpretation, and evaluating methods.

Energy of moving particles

Measuring the resistance of a filament lamp

Resistance of a hot metal

Measuring the resistance of a diode

Interpreting I–V graphs

Potential divider circuits

LDRs and thermistors

In the Mains electricity unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn about the dangers of mains electricity, how to use mains electricity safely, the equations I=Q/t, V=E/Q and P=IV, and about the transmission of power in the national grid, including transformers.

In the Electric fields and circuit calculations unit, pupils learnt about the properties of electric fields, moving electric charge, and how to analyse series and parallel electrical circuits.

This unit explores current, resistance, and potential difference. It covers circuit design for lamps, diodes, and thermistors, and emphasises planning experiments, data interpretation, and presenting scientific conclusions.

Circuit components

Choose exam board for KS4 Biology

Choose exam board for KS4 Chemistry

Choose exam board for KS4 Combined science

Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)

Choose exam board for KS4 English

Choose exam board for KS4 French

Choose exam board for KS4 Geography

Choose exam board for KS4 German

Choose exam board for KS4 History

Choose tier for KS4 Maths

Choose exam board for KS4 Music

Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)

Choose exam board for KS4 Physics

Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)

Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

Physics

Choose a unit (7)