Before watching this video, you might like to ensure that you have watched and understood the following videos first:
In physics, when we say that work is done, we mean that energy is transferred within a system. When an object does work, it means that energy is transferred away from the object. When work is done on an object, energy is transferred to it.
In this important video, we’ll be looking at what energy is, the various ways in which it can be stored, and how it can be transferred between different types of energy stores. We’ll then go on to look at a number of key energy equations which will be used both in this topic and throughout the entire course.
Before watching this video, please ensure that you have understood the following topics:
The problem with energy is that there’s only so much of the stuff to go round. In this important video, we’ll look at the meaning of the Principle of Conservation of Energy, before going on to describe the various ways in which useful energy can be dissipated from a system and the steps which can be taken to minimise such ‘wasted’ energy.
Later in the video, we’ll look at a few examples on the use of both forms of the equation for the efficiency of an energy transfer, before going on to discuss another practical activity in which the effectiveness of a number of different thermal insulators is investigated.
Please note that this video includes some higher tier-only content.
In this second electromagnetic waves video, we’ll go on to look at each of the seven types of electromagnetic waves in detail – their uses, their potential hazards, and much more. We’ll also talk about one of the practical activities for this part of the course.
Please note that this video includes some higher tier-only content.
Visible light is just one of the types of waves which make up the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. In this video, we’ll look at some of the properties which all EM waves have in common, including the fact they can all be reflected and refracted when they arrive at a boundary between one material and another.
Please note that this video includes some higher tier-only content. The practical activity on the refraction of light is also covered in this video.
We are most familiar with the reflection of light waves – when looking at ourselves in the mirror, for example – but all types of waves can be reflected when they arrive at a boundary between one material and another. Information which is relevant to the practical activity for this part of the course (which is on the reflection of light) is also provided here.
A wave transfers energy from one place to another without a (permanent) motion of the material through which it’s travelling. In this important video, we’ll look at some of the key properties of waves and how they are transmitted through a medium. We’ll also be discussing the physics which is relevant to the practical activity for this part of the course.
Having developed our knowledge of electricity over the past few videos, in this practical activity clip, we’ll be examining some of the factors which affect the resistance of a circuit. In particular, we’ll be looking at experimentally investigating how the resistance of a piece of wire depends on its length, and how the way in which resistors are connected affects their total resistance.
In this video, we’ll look at how the current through a component depends on the potential difference which is applied across it. For some types of components, the current is proportional to the applied potential difference; we call these ohmic conductors. For other components, the behaviour is more complicated. This video ends with an overview of the practical activity for this part of the course.
When two or more forces are applied to an object, its shape can change; this video looks at the physics and (mathematics) which describe how this can happen. It also includes material which is relevant to one of the practical activities for this part of the course which is on investigating the relationship between the force applied to a spring and its extension.
The concept of power (the rate at which energy is transferred in a system) is an important one. In this video, you’ll learn how to perform calculations involving power, before going on to look at a practical activity which is on measuring the specific heat capacity of a material.
Newton’s laws of motion were published towards the end of the 17th century, but are still used today to describe and predict the motion of objects under one or more forces, and continue to be used in fields as diverse as bridge design, biomechanics and space travel.
This video summarise Newton’s first, second and third laws and how they will be tested in your exam, before covered the practical activity for this part of the course which focuses specifically on Newton’s second law.
Please note that this video includes some higher tier-only content.
We already know that heating a substance can both increase its temperature and cause it to change from one state of matter to another. In this video, we’ll look at the equations and experiments which can give us a lot more information about both of these processes. Full details of the practical activity for this part of the course are provided also.
This video introduces the particle model and explains how it can be used to explain the differences in density between various solids, liquids and gases. The correct use of the density equation is explained through a number of examples, and full details of the practical activity for this part of the course are provided also.
