GCSE Physics Summary of changes

Summary of changes

This resource outlines the main changes that have been made to the assessment and subject content from our previous GCSE Physics (4403) to the new specification (8463).

Our new specifications have been developed in line with the regulatory requirements provided by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual.

4.1 Forces

4.1.1 Forces and their interactions

Section

Previous GCSE Physics

What’s changed

Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3

4.1.1.1 Scalar and vector quantities

New topic.

4.1.1.2 Contact and non-contact forces

New topic.

4.1.1.3 Gravity P2.1.4d Gravitational force

New:

definition of force of gravity

definition of centre of mass

proportionality of weight and mass.

4.1.1.4 Resultant forces

P2.1.1b, c Resultant forces

New:

free body diagrams

component forces

vector diagrams.

Most content is Higher Tier only.

N/A P3.2.1a, b, c, d, e Centre of

This content is no longer present in the new specification.

mass

4.1.2 Work done and energy transfer

Section


What’s changed


4.1.2 Work done and energy transfer

P2.2.1a, b, c, d Forces and energy

New: definition of joule.

4.1.3 Forces and elasticity

Section


What’s changed


4.1.3 Forces and elasticity

P2.1.5a, b, c, d Forces and elasticity

New: equation

𝐸𝑒 = 1

2 𝑘 𝑒2

4.1.4 Moments, levers and gears (physics only)

Section


What’s changed


4.1.4 Moments, levers and gears

P3.2.2a, b, c, d, e Moments

New: gears.

Content no longer Higher Tier only.

N/A P3.2.2f Moments


4.1.5 Pressure and pressure differences in fluids (physics only)

Section


What’s changed


4.1.5.1 Pressure in a fluid

4.1.5.1.1 Pressure in a fluid 1

4.1.5.1.2 Pressure in a fluid 2

P3.2.3c Hydraulics

New:

pressure in a column of liquid

differences in pressure in liquids

floating and sinking.

Content of Pressure in a fluid 2 is Higher Tier only.

4.1.5.2 Atmospheric pressure

New topic.

N/A P3.2.3a, b Hydraulics


4.1.6 Forces and motion

4.1.6.1 Describing motion along a line

Section


What’s changed


4.1.6.1.1 Distance and displacement

New: definitions of distance and displacement.

4.1.6.1.2 Speed P3.1.2c Ultrasound

New:

scalar quantity

typical values of speeds

distance travelled in a specific time.

4.1.6.1.3 Velocity

P2.1.2d Forces and motion

New: velocity changes in circular motion

Velocity changes in circular motion is Higher Tier only.

4.1.6.1.4 The distance–time relationship

P2.1.2b, c Forces and motion

Determining acceleration by drawing a tangent and measuring gradient is Higher Tier only.

4.1.6.1.5 Acceleration

P2.1.2e, f, g, h Forces and motion

P2.1.4b, c Forces and terminal velocity

New: 𝑣2 – 𝑢2 = 2 𝑎 𝑠 .

N/A P2.1.4a Forces and terminal velocity


4.1.6.2 Forces, accelerations and Newton’s Laws of motion

Section


What’s changed


4.1.6.2.1 Newton’s First Law

P2.1.1d, e Resultant forces

P2.1.3a Forces and braking

New: inertia.

Some content is Higher Tier only.

4.1.6.2.2 Newton’s Second Law

P2.1.2a Forces and motion

New: inertial mass.


4.1.6.2.3 Newton’s Third Law

P2.1.1a Resultant forces

N/A P3.2.4a, b, c Circular motion


4.1.6.3 Forces and braking

Section


What’s changed


4.1.6.3.1 Stopping distance

P2.1.3b, c Forces and braking

Some content is physics only.

4.1.6.3.2 Reaction time

P2.1.3d Forces and braking

New: typical values for reaction times.

4.1.6.3.3 Factors affecting braking distance 1

P2.1.3f Forces and braking

4.1.6.3.4 Factors affecting braking distance 2

P2.1.3e Forces and braking

New: relation between speed, braking force and deceleration.


4.1.7 Momentum

Section


What’s changed


4.1.7.1 Momentum is a property of moving objects

P2.2.2a Momentum

Higher Tier only.

4.1.7.2 Conservation of momentum

P2.2.2b Momentum

Higher Tier only.

4.1.7.3 Changes in momentum (physics only)

New topic.

Higher Tier only.

4.2 Energy

4.2.1 Energy changes in a system and the ways energy is stored before

and after such changes

Section


What’s changed


4.2.1.1 Energy stores and systems

New topic.

4.2.1.2 Changes in energy

P2.2.1f, g Forces and energy

New: elastic potential

energy, 𝐸𝑒 = 1

2 𝑘 𝑒2.

4.2.1.3 Energy changes in systems

New topic.

4.2.1.4 Work P2.2.1a, b Forces and energy

4.2.1.5 Power P2.2.1e Forces and energy

New: 𝑃 =

𝑊

𝑡.

4.2.2 Conservation and dissipation of energy

Section


What’s changed


4.2.2.1 Energy transfers in a system

P1.2.1a, b, c Energy transfers and efficiency

New:

rate of energy transfer

preventing unwanted energy transfers.

4.2.2.2 Efficiency

P1.2.1d Energy transfers and efficiency

4.2.3 National and global energy resources

Section


What’s changed


4.2.3 National and global energy resources

Content drawn from 1.4.1 Generating electricity.

New:

knowledge of the main energy resources on Earth

distinction between renewable and non-renewable energy resources.

4.3 Waves

4.3.1 Waves in air, fluids and solids

Section


What’s changed


4.3.1.1 Transverse and longitudinal waves

P1.5.1a, b, c, f General properties of waves

New: evidence for wave moving.

4.3.1.2 Properties of waves

P1.5.1i, j General properties of waves

New:

definitions

period formula:

𝑇 = 1

𝑓

4.3.1.3 Reflection of waves (physics only)

P1.5.1g General properties of waves

New: waves can be absorbed or transmitted at the boundary between two different materials.

Diffraction and refraction no longer present in specification.

4.3.1.4 Sound waves (physics only)

New topic.

Higher Tier only.

4.3.1.5 Waves for detection and exploration (physics only)

P3.1.2a, b, d Ultrasound

New:

seismic waves

echo sounding.

N/A P1.5.1h General properties of waves


4.3.2 Electromagnetic waves

Section


What’s changed


4.3.2.1 Types of electromagnetic waves

P1.5.1c, d, e General properties of waves

New: EM waves

transfer energy from source to absorber.

4.3.2.2 Properties of electromagnetic waves 1

New topic.


4.3.2.3 Properties of electromagnetic waves 2

New topic.

Radio waves Higher Tier only.

4.3.2.4 Uses and applications of electromagnetic waves

P1.5.1k General properties of waves

P3.1.1a, b X-rays

New:

infrared for cooking/cameras

ultraviolet for lamps/tanning.

4.3.2.5 Lenses (physics only)

P3.1.3b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i Lenses

P3.1 Medical applications of physics (introduction)

4.3.2.6 Visible light (physics only)

New topic.

N/A P1.5.2a, b, c Reflection

P1.5.3a, b, c Sound

P3.1.1c X-rays

P3.1.3a Lenses

P3.1.4 a, b, c, d, e, f, g The eye

P3.1.5a, b, c Other applications using light


4.3.3 Black body radiation (physics only)

Section


What’s changed


4.3.3.1

Emission and

absorption of

infrared

radiation

P1.1.1a, b Infrared radiation

New: definition of black body.

4.3.3.2 Perfect black bodies and radiation

New topic.


N/A P1.1.1c, d, e Infrared radiation


4.4 Electricity

4.4.1 Current, potential difference and resistance

Section Previous GCSE Physics What’s changed


4.4.1.1 Standard circuit diagram symbols

P2.3.2c Electrical circuits

4.4.1.2 Electrical charge and current

P2.3.2a Electrical circuits

4.4.1.3 Current, resistance and potential difference

P2.3.2f, g, h, i Electrical circuits

4.4.1.4 Resistors

P2.3.2d, e, f, m, n, p, q Electrical circuits

New:

applications of thermistors

applications of LDRs.

N/A P2.3.2b, j, o Electrical circuits


4.4.2 Series and parallel circuits

Section


What’s changed


4.4.2 Series and parallel circuits

P2.3.2k, l Electrical circuits

New: equation

𝑅total = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2.

4.4.3 Domestic uses and safety

Section


What’s changed


4.4.3.1 Direct and alternating current

P2.4.1a, b, c Household electricity

4.4.3.2 Mains electricity

P2.4.1d, e, f Household electricity

New: detail on function of Earth, live and neutral wire.

4.4.3.3 Insulation, fuses and circuit breakers (physics only)

P2.4.1g, h, i, j, k Household electricity

4.4.4 Energy transfers

Section


What’s changed


4.4.4.1 Power P2.4.2c Current, charge and power

New: equation 𝑃 = 𝐼2 𝑅

4.4.4.2 Energy transfers in everyday appliances

P1.3.1a, b, c Transferring electrical energy

P2.4.2d Current, charge and power

Content no longer Higher Tier only.

4.4.4.3 The National Grid

P1.4.2a, b, c The National Grid

N/A P1.3.1d Transferring electrical energy

P1.4.1a, b, c, d, e, f Generating electricity

P2.4.2a, b Current, charge and power


4.4.5 Static electricity (physics only)

Section


What’s changed


4.4.5.1 Static charge

P2.3.1a, b, c, d Static electricity

New: sparking

4.4.5.2 Electric fields

New topic

N/A P2.3.1e Static electricity


4.5 Magnetism and electromagnetism

4.5.1 Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields

Section


What’s changed


4.5.1.1 Poles of a magnet

New topic.

4.5.1.2 Magnetic fields

New topic.

4.5.2 The motor effect

Section


What’s changed


4.5.2.1 Electromagnetism

P3.3.1a The motor effect

New: information on solenoids.

4.5.2.2 Fleming’s left-hand rule

P3.3.1e The motor effect

New: concept of magnetic flux density,

equation 𝐹 = 𝐵 𝐼 𝐿

Higher Tier only.

4.5.2.3 Electric motors

P3.3.1b The motor effect

Higher Tier only.

4.5.2.4 Loudspeakers (physics only)

New topic.

Higher Tier only.

4.5.3 Induced potential, transformers and the National Grid (physics

only)

Section


What’s changed


4.5.3.1 Induced potential

P3.3.1c The motor effect

P3.3.2a Transformers

Higher Tier only.

4.5.3.2 Uses of the generator effect

New topic.

Higher Tier only.

4.5.3.3 Microphones

New topic.

4.5.3.4 Transformers

P3.3.2a, b, c, d, g, h Transformers

Higher Tier only.

N/A P3.3.1d The motor effect

P3.3.2b, e, f, I, j, k Transformers


4.6 Particle model of matter

4.6.1 Changes of state and the particle model

Section


What’s changed


4.6.1.1 Density of materials

New topic.

4.6.1.2 Changes of state

P1.1.2a, b Kinetic theory

New: conservation of mass in state change.

4.6.2 Internal energy and energy transfers

Section


What’s changed


4.6.2.1 Internal energy

P1.1.3a Energy transfer by heating

New: concept of energy stores and systems.

4.6.2.2 Temperature changes in a system and specific heat capacity

P1.1.4d Heating and insulating buildings

New: distinction between specific heat capacity and latent heat.

4.6.2.3 Changes of heat and specific latent heat

New topic.

N/A P1.1.3b, c, d Energy transfer by heating

P1.1.4 a, b, c Heating and insulating buildings


4.6.3 Particle model and pressure

Section


What’s changed


4.6.3.1 Particle motion in gases

New topic.

4.6.3.2 Pressure in gases (physics only)

New topic.

4.6.3.3 Increasing the pressure of a gas (physics only)

New topic.

4.7 Atomic structure

3.7.1 Atoms and isotopes

Section


What’s changed


4.7.1.1 The structure of an atom (common content with chemistry)

P2.5.1a, b Atomic structure

New: relative dimension of nuclear radius compared to the whole atom.

4.7.1.2 Mass number, atomic number and isotopes (common content with chemistry)

P2.5.1c, d, e Atomic structure

New:

way of representing atoms

isotopes.

4.7.1.3 The development of the model of the atom (common content with chemistry)

New topic.

4.7.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation

Section


What’s changed


4.7.2.1 Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation

P2.5.2a, c, e Atoms and radiation

New:

nuclei of atoms give out ionising radiation as they change to become more stable

definition of Becquerel

definition of count rate

extension of information on penetrating properties.

4.7.2.2 Nuclear equations

P2.5.2d Atoms and radiation

4.7.2.3 Half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay

P2.5.2h Atoms and radiation

New: randomness of radioactive decay.


4.7.2.4 Radioactive contamination

P2.5.2g Atoms and radiation

New:

definitions of contamination and irradiation

precautions against nuclear radiation.

N/A P2.5.2f Atoms and radiation


4.7.3 Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background

radiation (physics only)

Section


What’s changed


4.7.3.1 Background radiation

P2.5.2b Atoms and radiation

4.7.3.2 Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes

New topic.

4.7.3.3 Uses of nuclear radiation

New topic.

4.7.4 Nuclear fission and fusion (physics only)

Section


What’s changed


4.7.4.1 Nuclear fission

P2.6.1a, b, c, d, e Nuclear fission

4.7.4.2 Nuclear fusion

P2.6.2a Nuclear fusion

4.8 Space physics (physics only)

4.8.1 Solar system; stability of orbital motions; satellites (physics only)

Section


What’s changed


4.8.1.1 Our solar system

P2.6.2c, d Nuclear fusion

New:

the solar system

direct reference to our sun.

4.8.1.2 The life cycle of a star

P2.6.2e, f Nuclear fusion

4.8.1.3 Orbital motion, natural and artificial satellites

New topic.


N/A P2.6.2b Nuclear fusion


4.8.2 Red-shift (physics only)

Section


What’s changed


4.8.2 Red-shift P1.5.4b, c Red-shift

N/A P1.5.4a, d, e Red shift


Documents

GCSE Physics Summary of changes