Topic	Foundation tier	Higher tier
Energy resources Yr 8	The Sun is the original source of most of the Earth's energy resources Process by which energy is transferred from the Sun to coal Process by which energy is transferred from the Sun to wind	§
Renewable energy resources Yr 8	Renewable energy resources are those which are not finite, limited to (i) biomass, especially wood (ii) food supplies (iii) solar power (iv) hydro-electric (v) tidal (vi) wave power (vii) wind power	§
Non-renewable energy resources Yr 8	Non-renewable energy resources as those which are finite, limited to (i) coal (ii) oil (iii) natural gas (iv) nuclear fuels	§
Conservation Yr 8	1. You should know that most current energy resources are finite (i.e. will run out) 2. You should know about the environmental problems associated with the use of fossil fuels and nuclear fuels. 3. Advantages /disadvantages of each energy resource for generation of electricity.	§
Energy transfers Yr 8	Energy transfers involving the transfer of energy to and from the following forms (i) chemical (ii) elastic/strain (iii) electrical (iv) gravitational (v) heat/internal/thermal (vi) infrared radiation (vii) kinetic (viii) light (ix) nuclear (x) sound	§
Work and energy Yr 9	Transfer of energy is the result of work done. The joule (J) as the unit of energy and of work You should be able to recall and use of the quantitative relationships (i) energy transferred (J) = work done (J) (ii) work done = force x distance moved in the direction of the force	questions on Work & power§
Efficiency Yr 9	1. In energy transfer the useful energy output is always less than the energy input 2. Efficiency = useful energy output/ total energy input 3. Application to devices that transfer energy, including (i) tungsten filament light bulb (ii) low energy light bulbs (iii) electric kettles (iv) electric motors	§
Thermal energy Yr 9	1. Thermal energy is a transfer of energy as a result of differences in temperature. 2. Thermal energy flows from hot to cold 3. The degree Celsius (°C) as the unit of temperature 4. The Joule (J) is the unit of thermal energy	§
Conduction Yr 9	Conduction of heat energy is the result of the vibration of particles in a solid. Metals are good conductors of thermal energy Non-metallic substances, including trapped air, are poor conductors of thermal energy	Metals are specially good conductors of thermal energy because they have free electrons which move through the metal quickly transferring energy to the atoms through collisions. Questions on Thermal energy transfer
Convection Yr 9	Convection is the movement of more energetic particles in liquids and gases. The cause of convection currents in liquids and gases is changes in density, resulting in ocean currents and winds.	§
Radiation Yr 9	Radiation is the transfer of energy by infrared radiation which can pass through a vacuum and be reflected Factors affecting absorption and emission of radiation, limited to (i) temperature (ii) surface conditions (shiny v. matt & light v. dark)	§
Reducing heat losses Yr 9	Use of devices to reduce energy transfer from hotter objects to colder objects, limited to (i) vacuum flask (ii) clothing (iii) bedding (iv) cavity wall insulation (v) loft insulation (vi) double glazing (vii) thick curtains	§
Kinetic energy Yr 10	1. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion You should know that the speed and hence the kinetic energy of a car affects its stopping distance 2. You must be able to use the quantitative relationship k.e. = 1/2 m v2 where m is the mass(in kg) of the moving object and v its velocity (in m/s)	questions on k.e. & g.p.e§
Gravitational potential energy Yr 10	Gravitational potential energy (g.p.e.) is energy due to position You must be able to use the quantitative relationship Æg.p.e.= m g Æh where m is the mass(in kg) of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity (in m/s2) and Æh is the change in height (in m) when the object moves vertically up or down.	§
Power Yr 10	Power is the rate of doing work The Watt (W) as the unit of power You should be able to use the quantitative relationship in either of these forms: Power = Work done / time taken or Power = (Force x distance) / time taken	questions on Work & power §
Using energy resources Yr 11	Principles of using energy resources in the production of electricity, limited to (i) solar panels (ii) pumped storage reservoirs (iii) tidal barrages (iv) wave machines (v) wind turbines (vi) gas / coal and oil power stations (vii) nuclear power stations [You will not be expected to give technical details of power generating plants]	§

GCSE syllabus: electricity

GCSE syllabus: waves

GCSE syllabus: electromagnetism

GCSE syllabus: radioactivity

GCSE syllabus: astronomy

Physics home page

About GCSE

About A level

Emanuel School, London SW11 !HS

All text and diagrams copyright of J.C.Naylor