Board Works KS4 Physics Contents

KS4 Physics Contents August 2005

1 of 12 © Boardworks Ltd 2005.

Electricity and Magnetism Mains Electricity This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• the difference between direct current (d.c.) and alternating current (a.c.); • the functions of the live, neutral and earth wires in the domestic mains supply; • how electrical plugs should be wired correctly; • the use of insulation, earthing, fuses and circuit breakers to protect users of electrical equipment; • how measurements of energy transferred are used to calculate the costs of using

common domestic appliances. Mains Electricity contains 40 slides, which include 8 Flash activities:

• interactive animation to create different ac signals in which the user can control the magnitude of the peak-to-peak, frequency and y-shift variables;

• identifying which appliances use alternating current and which use direct current; • identifying the materials used for different parts of a plug and which property makes that

material useful; • true-or-false quiz based on statements about wiring a plug; • choosing which fuse to use in different devices; • numerical problems about electricity costs based on the relationship between electrical

energy, power and time; • anagrams based on keywords in the presentation; • multiple-choice review of the presentation.

Static Electricity This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about common electrostatic phenomena, in terms of the movement of electrons; • how an insulating material can be charged by friction; • about forces of attraction between positive and negative charges, and forces of repulsion

between like charges; • the uses and potential dangers of electrostatic charges generated in everyday situations; • about electric current as the flow of charge carried by free electrons during electrolysis; • the quantitative relationship between steady current, charge and time.

Static Electricity contains 45 slides, which include 12 Flash activities:

• animation showing the movement of electrons from a cloth to a polythene rod; • animation showing the movement of electrons from an acetate rod to a cloth; • true-or-false quiz based on statements about static charge; • interactive animation to investigate the forces between positive and negative charges; • identifying when positive and negative charges attract and repel; • interactive animation to show how a photocopier works; • ordering the sequence of events in a photocopier; • true-or-false quiz based on statements about changing the rate of electrolysis; • interactive formula triangle for energy = charge x voltage; • numerical problems based on two formulae involving charge; • anagrams based on keywords in the presentation; • multiple-choice review of the presentation.



Electricity and Magnetism Resistance and Power This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• that resistors are heated when charge flows through them; • the qualitative effect of changing resistance on the current in a circuit; • the quantitative relationship between resistance, voltage and current; • how current varies with voltage in a range of devices; • the quantitative relationship between power, voltage and current.

Resistance and Power contains 39 slides, which include 7 Flash activities:

• animation showing the motion of atoms and electrons in a wire which carries a current; • true-or-false quiz based on statements about resistance; • interactive formula triangle for Ohm’s law, voltage = current x resistance. • numerical problems based on the relationship between resistance, voltage and current; • numerical problems based on the relationship between power, voltage and current; • anagrams based on keywords in the presentation; • multiple-choice review of the presentation.

Simple Circuits This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• how to construct a circuit and the symbols used in circuit diagrams; • the difference between the direction of flow of conventional current and the flow of electrons; • how to construct series and parallel circuits, and how to measure current and voltage.

Simple Circuits contains 26 slides, which include 5 Flash activities:

• animation showing the motion of atoms and electrons in a wire which carries a current; • animated circuit diagram showing the direction of flow of conventional current around a circuit; • animated circuit diagram showing the direction of flow of electrons around a circuit; • interactive experiment using components to build series circuits and investigate voltage; • interactive experiment using components to build parallel circuits and investigate voltage.

Electronic Systems This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about the different types of logic gates; • how different combinations of input affect the output from logic gates.

Electronic Systems contains 14 slides.



Electricity and Magnetism Electromagnetism This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about magnetic fields as regions of space where magnetic materials experience forces; • that like magnetic poles repel and unlike poles attract; • how electromagnets are made and produce a magnetic field pattern similar to a bar magnet.

Electromagnetism contains 19 slides, which include 1 Flash activity:

• interactive circuit diagram to show how a coil of wire can act like a bar magnet. Uses of Electromagnetism This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• how electromagnets are used in devices such as relays and switches; • that a force is exerted on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field and used in a simple motor; • how simple ac generators and transformers work; • the relationship between the voltages across the coils in a transformer and the numbers of turns.

Uses of electromagnetism contains 32 slides, which include 3 Flash activities:

• animated circuit diagram to show how a loudspeaker vibrates and creates sound; • animation of the force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field in different set-ups; • animated circuit diagram to show electromagnetic induction.



Forces Forces This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• the different effects of a force and the different types of force; • that the weight of an object is due to gravitational attraction between its mass and the Earth’s; • that unbalanced forces change the speed or direction of movement of objects; • that balanced forces produce no change in the movement of an object; • ways in which frictional forces affect motion.

Forces contains 28 slides, which include 5 Flash activities:

• animation showing the different effects that a force can have; • animation of a ship being loaded with cargo to consider the different forces acting on the vessel; • exercise to demonstrate the effect of unbalanced forces on a stationary object; • animated illustration of hands rubbing together to consider the effects of frictional forces; • exercise to demonstrate the effect of frictional forces on a stationary object.

Further Forces This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about the meanings of elastic, plastic, tension and compression in terms of forces; • about the relationship between the load on a spring and its extension; • the quantitative relationship between force, mass and acceleration; • the principle of moments and its application to situations involving one pivot; • the quantitative relationship between force, area and pressure.

Further Forces contains 33 slides, which include 5 Flash activities:

• animation showing the effect of a force on a ‘plastic’ object; • animation showing the effect of a force on an ‘elastic’ object; • animation to illustrate the relationship between force, mass and acceleration; • drag and drop exercise to make a seesaw balance using the principle of moments; • interactive experiment to demonstrate hydraulics.

Speed and Acceleration This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about factors affecting vehicle stopping distances; • how distance, time and speed can be determined and represented graphically; • that acceleration is change in velocity per unit time.

Speed and Acceleration contains 34 slides, which include 2 Flash activities:

• animated dashboard to illustrate the relationship between distance, time and speed; • interactive formula triangle for distance = speed x time.



Waves Wave Character This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• that waves transfer energy without transferring matter; • the characteristics and examples of transverse and longitudinal waves; • the meaning of the frequency, wavelength and amplitude of a wave; • the quantitative relationship between the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave.

Wave Character contains 23 slides, which include 1 Flash activity:

• interactive animation to demonstrate and investigate amplitude, wavelength and frequency, in which the user can control the magnitude of these variables.

Sound This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• how sound travels and how fast it travels through different media, including a vacuum; • about the reflection of sound waves and echoes; • how amplitude affects volume and frequency affects pitch; • how the ear hears sound; • that people and animals can have different hearing ranges; • about the decibel scale and when sound is dangerous; • about ultrasound waves and how they are used.

Sound contains 44 slides, which include 4 Flash activities:

• drag and drop exercise to compare the speed of sound through different substances; • interactive animation to demonstrate and investigate amplitude, wavelength and frequency, in

which the user can control the magnitude of these variables; • animation to show how a sound wave travels through the ear to the brain; • multiple-choice review of the unit.



Waves Reflection This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• that light travels in a straight line at a finite speed in a uniform medium; • that non-luminous objects are seen because light scattered from them enters the eye; • how light is reflected at plane surfaces; • that images are laterally inverted when reflected in a plane mirror; • that the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection are equal; • how a periscope works; • how light is reflected at curved surfaces.

Reflection contains 34 slides. Refraction This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• how light is refracted at the boundary between two different materials; • the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction; • how the speed of light changes when light is refracted and the calculation of refractive index; • about the refraction of light through lenses and how focal length is affected.

Refraction contains 43 slides, which include 2 Flash activities:

• animated ray box experiment showing the refraction of light at the air/glass boundary; • animated ray box experiment showing the refraction of light though a glass block.

Dispersion and Electromagnetic Radiation This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• that white light can be dispersed to give a range of colours; • that the electromagnetic spectrum includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light,

ultraviolet waves, X-rays and gamma rays; • some uses and potential dangers of microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays.

Dispersion contains 28 slides, which include 2 Flash activities:

• interactive animation to demonstrate the relationship between colour, wavelength and amplitude; • drag and drop exercise to label the positions of waves on the electromagnetic spectrum.



Waves Total Internal Reflection and Communication This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about total internal reflection and the effect of refractive index on critical angle; • how information can be transmitted along optical fibres; • the difference between analogue and digital signals and how more data can be transmitted.

Total Internal Reflection and Communication contains 17 slides, which include 1 Flash activity:

• animated ray box experiment showing the refraction of light though a semi-circular glass block. Diffraction, Interference and Resonance This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• that diffraction is the spreading of waves as they pass through a gap or round a barrier; • about constructive and destructive interference and interference effects caused by diffraction; • that resonance is the vibration of an object at its natural frequency; • how the natural frequency of a string can be altered; • that the waves produced when a string vibrates are standing waves.

Diffraction, Interference and Resonance contains 30 slides, which include 4 Flash activities:

• true-or-false quiz based on statements about waves, diffraction and interference; • identifying how the natural frequency of a string is affected by different factors; • anagrams based on keywords in the presentation; • multiple-choice review of the presentation.



Energy Types of Energy This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about the different types of energy, including nuclear, light, sound, heat, electrical, elastic chemical, gravitational and kinetic;

• the formula for the kinetic energy of a moving object. Types of Energy contains 28 slides, which include 2 Flash activities:

• animation to show the principle of nuclear fusion; • animation to show the principle of nuclear fission.

Heat Transfer This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• that energy is transferred from hotter to colder objects; • how insulation is used to reduce transfer of energy from hotter to colder objects; • how energy is transferred by the movement of particles in conduction and convection; • that energy is transferred directly by infrared radiation.

Heat Transfer contains 31 slides, which include 8 Flash activities:

• animation showing how heat is conducted by atoms in a graphite rod; • identifying which insulating materials use trapped air and which do not; • animation showing convection in a heated pan of water; • animation showing convection at the seaside; • completing sentences about conduction and convection using words from drop-down menus; • true-or-false quiz based on statements about infrared radiation; • anagrams based on keywords in the presentation; • multiple-choice review of the presentation.



Energy Energy Resources This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• that the Sun is the ultimate source of most of the Earth's energy resources; • the distinction between renewable and non-renewable resources; • about non-renewable energy resources; • how electricity is generated by the use of non-renewable fuels; • about the advantages and disadvantages of non-renewable fuels in electricity production.

Energy Resources contains 35 slides, which include 10 Flash activities:

• identifying energy resources as renewable or non-renewable; • animation to show how coal is formed; • animation to show how oil and gas are formed; • animation to show how a coal or oil power station works; • identifying the energy changes that take place in a power station; • identifying the order of processes in a coal power station; • animation about the greenhouse effect; • anagrams based on keywords in the presentation; • completing sentences about energy resources; • multiple-choice review of the presentation.

Energy Transfers This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• ways in which energy can be usefully transferred and stored; • the ways in which energy can be wasted in different systems; • that energy is always conserved, but it may be dissipated, reducing its availability as a resource; • about the efficient use of energy and the efficiency of electrical equipment.

Energy Transfers contains 33 slides, which include 7 Flash activities:

• identifying energy transfers in different objects or situations; • identifying energy transfers involved in the journey of Gerald the Human Cannonball; • identifying which type of energy is wasted by different electrical devices; • problems about energy efficiency which involve using the formula for efficiency; • anagrams based on keywords in the presentation; • completing sentences about energy transfers; • multiple-choice review of the presentation.



Energy Renewable Energy This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• that the Sun is the ultimate source of most of the Earth's energy resources; • about the variety of renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, waves, biomass,

geothermal and hydroelectric; • that electricity is generated by means of a variety of renewable energy resources; • about the environmental implications of generating energy from renewable resources.

Renewable Energy contains 18 slides. Particles and Energy This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• how the kinetic energy of gaseous particles is affected by temperature; • the relationship between pressure and the temperature of gaseous particles; • that the energy produced in a nuclear reaction is related to the mass that is converted into

energy and the speed of light; • how an electron gun works; • how to calculate the kinetic energy of an electron beam.

Particles and Energy contains 24 slides, which include 2 Flash activities:

• interactive animation showing gaseous particles in a piston and how their motion is affected by temperature and how the pressure generated is affected by volume;

• interactive formula triangle for the kinetic energy of electrons = charge x voltage. Energy in the Home This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about different ways that energy is used in the home; • about the different methods that can be used to reduce heat losses in houses; • about the economic considerations when insulating a house; • why vacuum flasks are good at keeping things hot or cold.

Energy in the Home contains 30 slides, which include 7 Flash activities:

• labelling a pie-chart showing the distribution of energy used in the home; • selecting the level of insulation of a house to see the effect on the energy lost and the fuel bill; • true-or-false quiz based on statements about insulation and heat loss; • identifying the type of heat transfer that different methods of insulation prevent; • arranging different insulators in order of cost-effectiveness; • anagrams based on keywords in the presentation; • multiple-choice review of the presentation.



Radioactivity Radioactivity This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about some sources of the ionizing radiation found in all environments that cause background radiation;

• about the importance of safety when handling radioactive sources; • about the penetrating power of different radioactive sources; • the characteristics of alpha and beta particles and of gamma radiation; • some uses of radioactivity, including sterilization, radiotherapy, leak detection and

thickness control; • that there are different methods of detecting radiation, including photographic film,

a Geiger-Muller tube, a spark detector and a cloud chamber.

Radioactivity contains 34 slides, which include 1 Flash activity:

• drag and drop exercise to test understanding of the uses of radioactivity. Radioactive Decay This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• about Rutherford’s experiments into atomic structure and the origins of radioactivity; • that radioactivity arises from the breakdown of an unstable nucleus; • the characteristics of alpha and beta particles and of gamma radiation; • the meaning of the term 'half-life'; • some uses of radioactivity, including radioactive dating of rocks and nuclear power.

Radioactive Decay contains 29 slides.



Earth and Beyond Earth’s Structure This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• that the Earth's outermost layer is composed of plates in relative motion; • that plate tectonic processes result in the formation, deformation and recycling of rocks; • that longitudinal and transverse earthquake waves are transmitted through the Earth,

and how they travel through the Earth's layered structure; • about the ideas and evidence for continental drift theory.

Earth’s Structure contains 24 slides, which include 6 Flash activities:

• animation to show movement at a conservative plate boundary; • animation to show how an a earthquake happens when plates become locked at a

plate boundary; • animation to show movement at a destructive plate boundary; • animated diagram to show how seismic waves connect the focus and epicentre of an

earthquake; • animation to show seafloor spreading when plates move apart at a plate boundary; • animation to show plate tectonics and the stages of continental drift.

Earth and Beyond This interactive presentation is designed to teach:

• the relative positions and sizes of planets, stars and other bodies in the universe, including comets, meteors, galaxies and black holes;

• how stars evolve over a long timescale; • that gravity acts as a force throughout the universe; • about the use of artificial satellites and probes to observe the Earth and to explore the

solar system; • about some ideas used to explain the origin and evolution of the universe; • about the search for evidence of life elsewhere in the universe.

Earth and Beyond contains 34 slides.

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Board Works KS4 Physics Contents