GCSE Physics
GCSE Physics
Comprehensive revision notes for GCSE Physics, covering all major exam boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC).
These notes cover the full GCSE Physics specification, from energy and electricity through to forces, waves, and electromagnetism. Each topic page includes key definitions, worked calculations, and exam-style questions to test your understanding. The content is mapped to the national curriculum and organised by topic for easy navigation.
Topics
Topics Covered
- Energy — energy stores and transfers, conservation of energy, specific heat capacity, latent heat, efficiency, renewable and non-renewable resources, national and global energy use
- Electricity — circuit symbols, current, potential difference and resistance, Ohm’s law, series and parallel circuits, power and energy transfer, domestic electricity, the National Grid
- Forces — scalar and vector quantities, Newton’s laws, weight and mass, resultant forces, work done, momentum, stopping distances, elasticity, pressure in fluids
- Waves — transverse and longitudinal waves, wave properties (frequency, wavelength, amplitude), electromagnetic spectrum, reflection and refraction, sound waves, ultrasound
- Magnetism & Electromagnetism — permanent and induced magnets, magnetic fields, electromagnets, the motor effect, electromagnetic induction, transformers, the National Grid
How to Use These Notes
- Start with the topics you find most challenging and work through the notes systematically
- Try to explain each concept back in your own words after reading a section
- Use the topic links above to jump between related concepts when revising
- Combine these notes with past paper practice for the best results
Study Tips
- Memorise the equations not provided on the formula sheet and practise rearranging them before the exam
- Use the “show your working” approach for multi-step calculations — each step can earn a mark even if you make an error later
- Learn the required practical methods (specific heat capacity, resistance, density, IR investigation); questions test both method and analysis
- Practise describing and explaining concepts in full sentences; many marks are for written explanations rather than calculations
- Always include units in your final answer — missing units cost easy marks on calculation questions
- Use analogy and real-world examples to remember abstract concepts (e.g., water flow for current, springs for forces)
- Review the maths skills you need for physics (rearranging formulae, standard form, graph analysis) as they are tested alongside physics knowledge
- Keep a mistake log of questions you get wrong in practice and review it before the exam to avoid repeating the same errors
- Practise converting between units (e.g., kJ to J, cm to m) as unit conversion errors are one of the most common ways to lose marks
Summary
The key principles covered in this topic are linked in the sub-pages above. Focus on understanding the definitions, applying the formulas or frameworks, and evaluating strengths and limitations of each approach.
Worked Examples
Worked examples demonstrating the application of key concepts are covered in the detailed sub-pages linked above.
Common Pitfalls
- Confusing terminology or concepts that appear similar but have distinct meanings.
- Overlooking key assumptions or boundary conditions that limit applicability.