United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 10 Physics
This curriculum explores the fundamental principles governing matter and energy through rigorous mathematical modeling and practical investigation. Students progress from classical mechanics to the complexities of electromagnetism and atomic structure to build a robust foundation for advanced scientific inquiry.
Forces and Motion
An investigation into how objects interact and move through space using Newton's laws and vector analysis.
Differentiating between scalar and vector quantities while mastering distance-time and velocity-time graphs.
Exploring the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration in balanced and unbalanced systems.
Analyzing collisions and explosions using the principle of conservation of momentum.
Energy and Conservation
Examining the transfer, storage, and dissipation of energy within closed and open systems.
Identifying how energy moves between kinetic, gravitational, elastic, and thermal stores.
Measuring the energy required to change the temperature of different substances.
Calculating the rate of energy transfer and the percentage of useful output in machines.
Waves and Information
Investigating the properties of transverse and longitudinal waves and their applications in communication.
Understanding amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and the wave equation.
Analyzing the properties and hazards of the family of electromagnetic waves.
Studying the refraction of light and the formation of images by converging and diverging lenses.
Electricity and Circuits
Mastering the behavior of electric charge, current, and potential difference in various circuit configurations.
Defining the fundamental relationships in electrical circuits using Ohm's Law.
Comparing the distribution of current and potential difference in complex circuit networks.
Understanding AC/DC, the function of the three-pin plug, and electrical safety features.
Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Exploring magnetic fields and the interaction between electricity and magnetism to produce motion.
Mapping magnetic fields and creating temporary magnets using electric currents.
Understanding how a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field experiences a force.
Investigating how moving magnets or changing fields can generate electrical potential.
Particle Model of Matter
Analyzing the properties of solids, liquids, and gases through the lens of kinetic theory and internal energy.
Measuring density and explaining changes of state using the particle arrangement model.
Distinguishing between temperature and internal energy while calculating latent heat of fusion and vaporization.
Exploring the relationship between temperature, pressure, and volume in gas systems.