Specification points

Edexcel GCSE Physics 1PH0

311 points in 15 topics, with Edexcel's codes and titles.

Codes and titles are read by a script from Edexcel's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: Edexcel’s specification.

1 Key concepts of physics

1.1 SI units
1.2 Multiples and sub-multiples of units
1.3 Converting between units
1.4 Significant figures and standard form

2 Motion and forces

2.1 Scalar quantities
2.2 Vector quantities
2.3 Vectors and scalars compared
2.4 Examples of vector and scalar quantities
2.5 Velocity as speed in a direction
2.6 Speed, distance and time
2.7 Distance-time graphs
2.8 Acceleration
2.9 Equation for uniform acceleration
2.10 Velocity-time graphs
2.11 Laboratory methods for measuring speed
2.12 Typical everyday speeds
2.13 Acceleration in free fall
2.14 Newton's first law
2.15 Newton's second law
2.16 Weight, mass and gravitational field strength
2.17 Measuring weight
2.18 Weight and gravitational field strength
2.19 Core practical: force, mass and acceleration
2.20 Changing velocity in circular motion
2.21 Centripetal force
2.22 Inertial mass
2.23 Newton's third law
2.24 Momentum
2.25 Momentum in collisions
2.26 Force as rate of change of momentum
2.27 Measuring reaction times
2.28 Thinking and braking distance
2.29 Factors affecting stopping distance
2.30 Factors affecting reaction time
2.31 Dangers of large decelerations
2.32P Emergency stopping distance and speed
2.33P Braking distance and initial velocity squared

3 Conservation of energy

3.1 Change in gravitational potential energy
3.2 Kinetic energy
3.3 Energy transfer diagrams
3.4 Meaning of conservation of energy
3.5 Changes in energy stores
3.6 No net energy change in a closed system
3.7 Wasteful mechanical processes
3.8 Energy dissipation
3.9 Reducing unwanted energy transfers
3.10 Wall thickness, conductivity and cooling
3.11 Efficiency
3.12 Increasing efficiency
3.13 Energy resources
3.14 Patterns and trends in energy use

4 Waves

4.1 Waves transferring energy and information
4.2 Evidence that waves, not matter, travel
4.3 Frequency and wavelength
4.4 Amplitude, period, wave velocity and wavefront
4.5 Longitudinal and transverse waves
4.6 Wave speed equations
4.7 Measuring speed of sound and water ripples
4.8P Calculating depth or distance from wave velocity
4.9P Waves at material interfaces
4.10 Refraction at a boundary
4.11 Wavelength-dependent behaviour of materials
4.12P Sound waves and vibrations in solids
4.13P Ultrasound
4.14P Infrasound
4.15P Uses of ultrasound and infrasound
4.16P Sound waves changing medium
4.17 Core practical: measuring waves in a solid and a fluid

5 Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

5.1P Reflection, refraction and total internal reflection
5.2P Specular and diffuse reflection
5.3P Colour, absorption and filters
5.4P Power of a lens
5.5P Converging and diverging lenses
5.6P Real and virtual images from lenses
5.7 Electromagnetic waves as transverse waves
5.8 Electromagnetic waves transferring energy
5.9 Core practical: refraction in glass blocks
5.10 Groups of the electromagnetic spectrum
5.11 The continuous electromagnetic spectrum
5.12 Limited range of the eye
5.13 Materials and electromagnetic waves
5.14 Different velocities in different substances
5.15P Emission of radiation and temperature
5.16P Constant temperature and radiation balance
5.17P Imbalance of radiated and absorbed power
5.18P Radiation balance and Earth's temperature
5.19P Core practical: surfaces and thermal radiation
5.20 Danger increasing with frequency
5.21 Harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation
5.22 Uses of electromagnetic radiation
5.23 Radio waves and electrical oscillations
5.24 Changes in atoms and nuclei and radiation

6 Radioactivity

6.1 Structure of the atom
6.2 Size of atoms and small molecules
6.3 Nuclei of isotopes
6.4 Nuclear charge and isotopes
6.5 Relative masses and charges of particles
6.6 Neutral atoms
6.7 Electron orbits
6.8 Electrons changing orbit
6.9 Positive ions from losing electrons
6.10 Radiation from unstable nuclei
6.11 Ionising radiations
6.12 Background radiation
6.13 Sources of background radiation
6.14 Detecting radioactivity
6.15 Nature of alpha, beta and gamma radiation
6.16 Penetration and ionisation of alpha, beta and gamma
6.17 Development of the atomic model
6.18 Beta minus decay
6.19 Beta plus decay
6.20 Effects of decay on atomic and mass numbers
6.21 Gamma emission after decay
6.22 Balancing nuclear equations
6.23 Decrease in activity over time
6.24 The becquerel
6.25 Half-life
6.26 Random decay and predictable half-life
6.27 Half-life calculations
6.28P Uses of radioactivity
6.29 Dangers of ionising radiation
6.30P Half-life and radiation dangers
6.31 Radiation safety precautions
6.32 Contamination and irradiation
6.33P Internal and external radiotherapy
6.34P Radioactive substances in medical diagnosis
6.35P Producing PET isotopes nearby
6.36P Nuclear power: advantages and disadvantages
6.37P Nuclear reactions as energy sources
6.38P Fission of uranium-235
6.39P Controlled chain reactions
6.40P Moderators and control rods
6.41P Generating electricity in a nuclear power station
6.42P Radioactive fission products
6.43P Nuclear fusion
6.44P Fusion and fission compared
6.45P Why fusion needs high temperatures and pressures
6.46P Difficulty of practical fusion power

8 Energy – forces doing work

8.1 Changes in energy stores
8.2 Energy transfer diagrams
8.3 No net energy change in a closed system
8.4 Ways of changing a system's energy
8.5 Measuring work done
8.6 Work done equation
8.7 Energy changes from work done by forces
8.8 Change in gravitational potential energy
8.9 Kinetic energy
8.10 Energy dissipation
8.11 Wasteful mechanical processes
8.12 Power as rate of energy transfer
8.13 Power equation
8.14 The watt
8.15 Efficiency

9 Forces and their effects

9.1 Contact and non-contact forces
9.2 Vectors and scalars with examples
9.3 Vector diagrams of forces
9.4 Free body force diagrams
9.5 Resultant forces and equilibrium
9.6P Forces causing rotation
9.7P Moment of a force
9.8P Principle of moments
9.9P Levers and gears
9.10 Reducing energy transfer by lubrication

10 Electricity and circuits

10.1 Protons, neutrons and electrons
10.2 Circuit diagrams and symbols
10.3 Series and parallel circuits
10.4 Using a voltmeter
10.5 Potential difference as energy per charge
10.6 Energy, charge and potential difference
10.7 Using an ammeter
10.8 Current as rate of flow of charge
10.9 Charge, current and time
10.10 Current in a closed circuit
10.11 Current at junctions
10.12 Resistance and current; variable resistors
10.13 Potential difference, current and resistance
10.14 Resistors in series and parallel
10.15 Calculations in series circuits
10.16 Series circuits for testing and measuring
10.17 Core practical: current, potential difference and resistance
10.18 Current-potential difference graphs for devices
10.19 Light-dependent resistors
10.20 Thermistors
10.21 Circuits to explore resistance of devices
10.22 Heating effect in resistors
10.23 Electrical energy dissipated as thermal energy
10.24 Electron-ion collisions and heating
10.25 Low resistance wires reducing energy loss
10.26 Heating effect: advantages and disadvantages
10.27 Energy transferred by current
10.28 Power in watts
10.29 Power, energy and time
10.30 Power, potential difference and current
10.31 Electrical power equations
10.32 Energy transfers in domestic devices
10.33 Direct and alternating voltage
10.34 Direct current
10.35 Alternating current
10.36 UK domestic supply
10.37 Live and neutral wires
10.38 Earth wire, fuses and circuit breakers
10.39 Switches and fuses in the live wire
10.40 Potential differences of mains wires
10.41 Dangers of connecting live wire to earth
10.42 Power ratings of domestic appliances

11 Static electricity

11.1P Charging insulators by friction
11.2P Positive and negative charge by electron transfer
11.3P Attraction and repulsion of charges
11.4P Everyday electrostatic phenomena
11.5P Earthing
11.6P Uses of electrostatic charges
11.7P Dangers of sparking and earthing
11.8P Electric fields
11.9P Shape of electric fields
11.10P Electric fields and static electricity

12 Magnetism and the motor effect

12.1 Magnetic poles
12.2 Uses of magnetic materials
12.3 Permanent and induced magnets
12.4 Magnetic fields of bar magnets
12.5 Plotting compasses and magnetic fields
12.6 Evidence for the Earth's magnetic core
12.7 Magnetic field around a straight conductor
12.8 Strength of the field around a conductor
12.9 Magnetic field of a solenoid
12.10 Force on a current-carrying conductor near a magnet
12.11 Magnetic forces from interacting fields
12.12 Fleming's left-hand rule
12.13 Force on a conductor in a magnetic field
12.14P Electric motors

13 Electromagnetic induction

13.1P Generating current by electromagnetic induction
13.2 Factors affecting induced potential difference
13.3P Alternators and dynamos
13.4P Microphones and loudspeakers
13.5 Transformers inducing current
13.6 Transformers changing voltage
13.7P Transformer turns ratio
13.8 High-voltage transmission in the national grid
13.9 Step-up and step-down transformers
13.10 Transformer power equation
13.11P Advantages of high-voltage transmission

15 Forces and matter

15.1 Forces needed to deform objects
15.2 Elastic and inelastic distortion
15.3 Spring constant
15.4 Energy stored in a stretched spring
15.5 Linear and non-linear force-extension
15.6 Core practical: extension of a spring
15.7P Atmospheric pressure and height
15.8P Pressure in fluids
15.9P Fluid pressure acting normal to surfaces
15.10P Pressure, force and area
15.11P Pressure equation
15.12P Fluid pressure, depth and density
15.13P Why liquid pressure varies with depth
15.14P Calculating pressure in liquids
15.15P Upthrust
15.16P Upthrust and displaced fluid
15.17P Floating and sinking