Subject
Physics
Ks3 About In Year 7 & 8 all students cover eight physics-related topics (each lasting between two and three weeks), including: P1 – Electrical Circuits (Safe practice, conductors & insulators, resistance, current and ammeter; circuit symbols, models of electricity, series and parallel circuits, fuses & heating effect of an electric current, electricity in the body, the Van de Graaff generator). P2 – Forces and their Effects (Forces and their effects, mass & weight, friction & lubrication, flotation, calculating speed, stopping distance). P3 – Heat Transfer Processes (Temperature & cooling, conductors & insulators, expansion, convection and radiation). P4 – Record Breakers (Calculating speed, calculating acceleration, resultant force, Newton’s 2nd Law, parachutes and terminal speed) P5 – Light (luminosity, absorption and propagation of light, reflection & mirrors, refraction & lenses, the eye, colour) P6 – Sound & Hearing (sources of sound, frequency & amplitude, propagation of sound, soundproofing, the ear, loss of hearing, the decibel meter) P7 – Applying Forces (Fluid friction, terminal speed, calculating pressure, magnets & electromagnets, levers as force multipliers, law of moments) P8 – The Earth in Space (The day, month and year, seasonal variations, eclipses, the Solar System, mass and weight, satellites and their uses) In Year 9 the students start the Key Stage 4 curriculum. Assessment Arrangements Every topic carries its own ‘end of topic test’ which is marked carefully by the teacher. There is an exam at the end of each academic year which addresses all the Science content for Y7 & Y8.