GCSE Physics
Overview
GCSE Physics helps students understand the laws that govern energy, motion, and the universe. Across AQA and Edexcel, students build analytical thinking and mathematical fluency — essential for STEM pathways and everyday problem-solving.
Core Themes Across AQA & Edexcel
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Energy stores and transfers
Work, power, and efficiency
Renewable vs. non-renewable resources
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Current, voltage, resistance, and power
Series and parallel circuits
Domestic electricity and safety
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States of matter and density
Internal energy and changes of state
Gas pressure and temperature relationships
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Atomic models and isotopes
Radioactive decay and half-life
Nuclear radiation: uses and risks
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Contact and non-contact forces
Newton’s laws of motion
Momentum, pressure, and elasticity
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Properties of transverse and longitudinal waves
Sound, light, and electromagnetic spectrum
Reflection, refraction, and wave interactions
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Magnetic fields and electromagnets
The motor effect and transformers
Magnetic forces and applications
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Life cycle of stars
Orbital motion and satellites
Expansion of the universe
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Using equations and interpreting graphs
Designing experiments and analysing results
Applying physics to real-world scenarios