Skip to content
Browse by Grade: Year 10

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.

6 units·59 topics·Ages 14-15

01Forces and Motion

15 topics·Autumn Term

An investigation into how objects interact and move through space using Newton's laws and vector analysis.

Scalar and Vector Quantities

Students will differentiate between scalar and vector quantities, identifying examples and their applications in physics.

Think-Pair-ShareConcept Mapping
Distance, Displacement, Speed, Velocity

Students will define and calculate distance, displacement, speed, and velocity, understanding their relationships.

Problem-Based LearningCollaborative Problem-Solving
Acceleration and Kinematic Equations

Students will calculate acceleration and apply kinematic equations to solve problems involving constant acceleration.

Inquiry CircleSimulation Game
Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs

Students will interpret and draw distance-time and velocity-time graphs, extracting information about motion.

Case Study AnalysisStations Rotation
Forces and Free Body Diagrams

Students will identify different types of forces and draw free body diagrams to represent forces acting on an object.

Concept MappingThink-Pair-Share
Newton's First Law: Inertia

Students will explore Newton's First Law of Motion, understanding inertia and its implications.

Simulation GameCase Study Analysis
Newton's Second Law: F=ma

Students will apply Newton's Second Law to calculate force, mass, and acceleration in various scenarios.

Inquiry CircleProblem-Based Learning
Newton's Third Law: Action-Reaction

Students will identify action-reaction pairs and explain their role in interactions between objects.

Collaborative Problem-SolvingRole Play
Weight and Mass

Students will differentiate between mass and weight, understanding their relationship and how they are measured.

Think-Pair-ShareProblem-Based Learning
Terminal Velocity and Drag

Students will explain the concept of terminal velocity and the factors affecting drag forces.

Simulation GameCase Study Analysis
Momentum and Impulse

Students will define momentum and impulse, and apply the impulse-momentum theorem.

Simulation GameProblem-Based Learning
Conservation of Momentum

Students will apply the principle of conservation of momentum to analyze collisions and explosions.

Inquiry CircleCollaborative Problem-Solving
Stopping Distance and Road Safety

Students will analyze factors affecting stopping distance and relate them to road safety.

Decision MatrixCase Study Analysis
Moments and Levers

Students will define moments and apply the principle of moments to solve problems involving levers and equilibrium.

Problem-Based LearningSimulation Game
Centre of Mass and Stability

Students will understand the concept of centre of mass and its role in an object's stability.

Inquiry CircleExperiential Learning

02Energy and Conservation

9 topics·Autumn Term

Examining the transfer, storage, and dissipation of energy within closed and open systems.

Forms of Energy and Energy Stores

Students will identify and describe different forms of energy and how energy is stored in various systems.

Concept MappingGallery Walk
Energy Transfers and Work Done

Students will explain how energy is transferred by heating, waves, electricity, and forces (work done).

Think-Pair-ShareProblem-Based Learning
Conservation of Energy Principle

Students will apply the principle of conservation of energy to various physical systems.

Inquiry CircleCase Study Analysis
Calculating Energy Changes

Students will calculate changes in kinetic, gravitational potential, and elastic potential energy.

Collaborative Problem-SolvingStations Rotation
Specific Heat Capacity Calculations

Students will perform calculations involving specific heat capacity to determine energy changes or temperature changes.

Inquiry CircleProblem-Based Learning
Thermal Insulation and Energy Transfer

Students will investigate methods of reducing unwanted energy transfers, focusing on thermal insulation.

Case Study AnalysisDecision Matrix
Defining Power and its Units

Students will define power as the rate of energy transfer and perform related calculations.

Think-Pair-ShareCollaborative Problem-Solving
Calculating Efficiency

Students will calculate the efficiency of energy transfers and discuss ways to improve it.

Decision MatrixProblem-Based Learning
Renewable Energy Sources

Students will explore various renewable energy sources, their advantages, and disadvantages.

Expert PanelFormal Debate

03Waves and Information

10 topics·Autumn Term

Investigating the properties of transverse and longitudinal waves and their applications in communication.

Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

Students will differentiate between transverse and longitudinal waves, identifying examples of each.

Simulation GameGallery Walk
Wave Characteristics: Amplitude, Wavelength, Frequency

Students will define and measure amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period of waves.

Inquiry CircleStations Rotation
The Wave Equation and Wave Speed

Students will apply the wave equation to calculate wave speed, frequency, or wavelength.

Problem-Based LearningCollaborative Problem-Solving
Reflection, Refraction, Diffraction

Students will describe and explain the phenomena of reflection, refraction, and diffraction of waves.

Simulation GameGallery Walk
The Electromagnetic Spectrum Overview

Students will identify the different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and their common properties.

Concept MappingThink-Pair-Share
Uses and Hazards of EM Waves

Students will investigate the practical applications and potential dangers of different EM waves.

Case Study AnalysisExpert Panel
Light and the Eye

Students will explore the properties of visible light and how the human eye perceives it.

Inquiry CircleStations Rotation
Refraction and Snell's Law

Students will apply Snell's Law to calculate angles of incidence and refraction for light passing through different media.

Simulation GameProblem-Based Learning
Converging and Diverging Lenses

Students will describe the properties of converging and diverging lenses and draw ray diagrams for image formation.

Gallery WalkCollaborative Problem-Solving
Sound Waves and Their Properties

Students will explore the nature of sound waves, including their production, transmission, and characteristics.

Inquiry CircleExperiential Learning

04Electricity and Circuits

10 topics·Spring Term

Mastering the behavior of electric charge, current, and potential difference in various circuit configurations.

Static Electricity and Charge

Students will explain static electricity, charging by friction, and the forces between charges.

Inquiry CircleSimulation Game
Electric Current and Charge Flow

Students will define electric current as the rate of flow of charge and perform related calculations.

Think-Pair-ShareProblem-Based Learning
Potential Difference (Voltage)

Students will define potential difference and its role in driving current through a circuit.

Concept MappingCollaborative Problem-Solving
Resistance and Ohm's Law

Students will define resistance and apply Ohm's Law to calculate current, voltage, or resistance.

Inquiry CircleDecision Matrix
I-V Characteristics of Components

Students will investigate and interpret the current-voltage characteristics of ohmic and non-ohmic components.

Stations RotationSimulation Game
Series Circuits Analysis

Students will analyze series circuits, calculating total resistance, current, and voltage distribution.

Problem-Based LearningCollaborative Problem-Solving
Parallel Circuits Analysis

Students will analyze parallel circuits, calculating total resistance, current, and voltage distribution.

Stations RotationSimulation Game
Electrical Power and Energy Transfer

Students will calculate electrical power and the energy transferred by electrical appliances.

Decision MatrixCase Study Analysis
AC and DC Current

Students will differentiate between alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) and their applications.

Think-Pair-ShareExpert Panel
Mains Electricity and Safety

Students will understand the features of mains electricity, including the three-pin plug and safety devices.

Case Study AnalysisPeer Teaching

05Magnetism and Electromagnetism

6 topics·Spring Term

Exploring magnetic fields and the interaction between electricity and magnetism to produce motion.

Permanent Magnets and Magnetic Fields

Students will describe the properties of permanent magnets and map magnetic field patterns.

Gallery WalkInquiry Circle
Electromagnets and Their Applications

Students will investigate how electric currents create magnetic fields and the uses of electromagnets.

Case Study AnalysisProblem-Based Learning
The Motor Effect and Fleming's Left-Hand Rule

Students will explain the motor effect and use Fleming's Left-Hand Rule to determine force direction.

Simulation GamePeer Teaching
Electric Motors

Students will understand the working principle of a simple DC electric motor.

Inquiry CircleCollaborative Problem-Solving
Electromagnetic Induction and Generators

Students will explain electromagnetic induction and the working of simple generators.

Simulation GameConcept Mapping
Transformers and Power Transmission

Students will understand the function of transformers in changing voltage and their role in power transmission.

Case Study AnalysisProblem-Based Learning

06Particle Model of Matter

9 topics·Summer Term

Analyzing the properties of solids, liquids, and gases through the lens of kinetic theory and internal energy.

States of Matter and Particle Arrangement

Students will describe the arrangement and motion of particles in solids, liquids, and gases.

Gallery WalkConcept Mapping
Density Calculations

Students will calculate the density of regular and irregular solids and liquids.

Inquiry CircleStations Rotation
Changes of State

Students will explain changes of state in terms of particle theory and energy changes.

Simulation GameThink-Pair-Share
Internal Energy and Temperature

Students will distinguish between internal energy and temperature, relating them to particle kinetic and potential energy.

Concept MappingSocratic Seminar
Latent Heat of Fusion and Vaporization

Students will define latent heat and calculate the energy required for changes of state.

Problem-Based LearningDecision Matrix
Gas Pressure and Temperature

Students will explain gas pressure in terms of particle collisions and its relationship with temperature.

Simulation GameInquiry Circle
Boyle's Law: Pressure and Volume

Students will apply Boyle's Law to solve problems involving the inverse relationship between pressure and volume of a gas.

Case Study AnalysisProblem-Based Learning
Pressure in Liquids and Atmospheric Pressure

Students will calculate pressure in liquids and understand the concept of atmospheric pressure.

Collaborative Problem-SolvingThink-Pair-Share
Evaporation and Condensation

Students will explain evaporation and condensation in terms of particle escape and capture.

Simulation GameInquiry Circle