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Scheme of work · Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625

Physics scheme of work

110 lessons in 21 topics, in syllabus order: 82 hours 30 minutes of teaching at 45 minutes a lesson. Set your lessons per week and the week numbers follow. Every lesson links to its pack, every topic to its lab, question bank and notes.

Lesson packs
37 weeks for the course at 3 a weekRemembered in this browser.
At a glance

The course in numbers

Lessons
110, one 45-minute lesson pack each
Teaching time
82 hours 30 minutes
Weeks
37 at 3 lessons a week
Core and Extended
75 Core lessons, 35 Extended (Supplement) lessons
Assessment points
21 topic question banks, assignable in the app
Labs
21 full-screen topic labs to project

How to read it. One row is one 45-minute lesson; its pack holds the plan, worksheet and quiz. The week column counts 3 lessons a week until you change the control above; the sheet you download uses the same numbers. Each topic ends at an assessment point, its question bank, which you can assign in the app for a marked score. The learning intention is the first idea of each lesson in the students' own pages; the traps are the examiner traps those pages pre-empt.

Topic 01

Motion, forces and energy

Weeks 1 to 10

1.1Physical quantities and measurement techniques Core Extended

Week 1
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
11.1Measuring length, volume and timeA ruler can only be read to about half a millimetre.
11.1Scalars and vectorsA vector is drawn as an arrow: its length shows the magnitude and the way it points shows the direction.
11.1Resultant of perpendicular vectorsSet the horizontal and vertical forces below to change the diagonal.
1Assessment pointTopic question bank, 2 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Three habits quietly cost marks here.
  • Because a vector has direction, the sign matters.
  • A 3 N force and a 4 N force at right angles do not give 7 N.

1.2Motion Core Extended

Weeks 2 to 3
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
21.2Speed and velocitySet a constant speed and release the trolley.
21.2Distance-time and speed-time graphsFor a speed that changes, you cannot just multiply the final speed by the total time.
21.2Acceleration of free fallRelease the objects and watch the strobe marks, one for each second.
31.2Acceleration, deceleration and gradientsDrag the start and end points of the line on the graph below.
31.2Terminal velocityRelease the skydiver and watch the two arrows.
3Assessment pointTopic question bank, 10 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Two cars travelling at the same speed in opposite directions have different velocities, because velocity includes direction.
  • When the speed is changing, the distance is not the final speed multiplied by the final time.
  • A common belief is that a falling object accelerates more and more as it drops.

Topic 3Forces Core Extended

Weeks 3 to 6
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
31.3Mass and weightSwitch worlds and watch the two instruments.
41.5.1Resultant forcesSet the forces acting on the block and read off the resultant.
41.5.1Hooke’s lawAdd loads one at a time and watch the extension grow in equal steps, the signature of a proportional relationship.
41.5.1Newton’s second law (F = ma)Set the resultant force and the mass, then launch the trolley and read its acceleration.
51.5.1Circular motionWatch the ball travel around the circle.
51.5.1Friction and dragDrive the object across different surfaces and through the air.
51.5.2MomentsSlide the weights along the beam and watch the moments.
61.5.3Centre of gravityTilt the object and watch the line of action of its weight.
6Assessment pointTopic question bank, 13 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • The most common error here is using mass where a force is needed.
  • The greatest trap is believing an object needs a forward resultant force just to keep moving.
  • The point where the straight line ends is the limit of proportionality.

1.4Density Core

Week 6
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
61.4Density and floatingChange the object and the fluid, then predict.
61.4Measuring densityLower the solid into the measuring cylinder and read the level before and after.
6Assessment pointTopic question bank, 2 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Water is the benchmark, with a density of exactly 1.0 g/cm³.
  • When using a single measuring cylinder, the classic error is dividing the mass by the whole final reading.

1.6Momentum (Extended only) Extended

Week 7
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
71.6Momentum and conservationSet the masses and velocities of two trolleys, then let them collide.
71.6Impulse and forceSet the same change in momentum, then vary the time it takes.
7Assessment pointTopic question bank, 5 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Because momentum is a vector, you must include direction.
  • When a question asks why a safety feature reduces the force, the answer is the time.

1.7Energy, work and power Core Extended

Weeks 7 to 9
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
71.7.1Energy stores and transfersChoose a process and follow the energy as it moves between stores.
81.7.1Kinetic energy (KE = ½mv²)Change the mass and the speed and read the kinetic energy.
81.7.1Gravitational potential energy (ΔPE = mgΔh)Set the mass and lift the object to different heights.
81.7.2Work done (W = Fd)Set the force and the distance, then push the load.
91.7.3Energy resourcesExplore each resource and follow its energy back to where it began.
91.7.3EfficiencyAdjust the input energy and how much is wasted.
91.7.4Power (P = W/t)Set the energy to transfer and the time taken, then run it.
9Assessment pointTopic question bank, 12 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • When energy is "used up", it has not vanished.
  • Square the speed before multiplying, and do it first.
  • Use the change in height, measured vertically, not the distance travelled along a ramp or slope.

1.8Pressure Core Extended

Week 10
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
101.8Pressure (p = F/A) and its applicationsKeep the force fixed and change the area it acts on.
101.8Pressure in liquids (Δp = ρgΔh)Change the depth and the density of the liquid.
10Assessment pointTopic question bank, 3 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Two slips cost marks here.
  • Liquid pressure depends on depth and density, never on the shape or the amount of liquid.
Topic 02

Thermal physics

Weeks 10 to 15

Topic 8Thermal physics Core Extended

Weeks 10 to 15
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
102.1.1States of matter (solid, liquid, gas)Switch between solid, liquid and gas and watch how the particle arrangement and motion change.
112.1.2Brownian motionWatch a large visible grain being knocked about by the unseen molecules of the fluid.
112.1.2Gas pressure and temperatureChange the temperature of a trapped gas and watch how the collisions, and so the pressure, change.
112.1.3Temperature scales (Celsius and kelvin)Move the temperature and watch the Celsius and kelvin readings change together.
122.1.3Boyle’s law (pV = constant)Change the volume of a trapped gas at constant temperature and watch the pressure respond.
122.2.1Thermal expansionRaise the temperature of a solid and watch how its length grows as the particles vibrate more.
122.2.2Specific heat capacity (E = mcΔθ)Change the material, the mass and the energy supplied, and read off the temperature rise.
132.2.3Changes of stateAdd energy steadily and watch the temperature climb, then pause at each change of state.
132.2.3Evaporation and coolingSee the most energetic molecules break free from the surface, leaving slower, cooler ones behind.
132.3.1ConductionHeat one end of a material and watch energy travel along it from the hot end to the cold end.
142.3.2ConvectionHeat a fluid from below and watch the warm fluid rise and the cool fluid sink into a circulating current.
142.3.3Thermal radiationCompare surfaces and temperatures and watch how much infrared radiation each one emits.
142.3.3Energy balance and equilibriumAdjust how much energy flows in and watch the object settle at the temperature where emission matches absorption.
152.3.4Applications of thermal energy transferSwitch the insulating features on and off and watch how each one cuts a different path for energy to escape.
15Assessment pointTopic question bank, 48 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • The particles themselves do not change between states.
  • The visible grain is not moving under its own power.
  • Gas pressure is the result of particles striking the walls, not of the particles simply pressing against them while still.
Topic 03

Waves

Weeks 15 to 21

3.1General properties of waves Core Extended

Weeks 15 to 16
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
153.1Wave features (wavelength, amplitude, frequency)Change the amplitude and frequency and watch the wavelength and period respond.
153.1The wave equation (v = fλ)Adjust the frequency and wavelength and watch the wave speed that results.
163.1Transverse and longitudinal wavesSwitch between a transverse and a longitudinal wave and watch how the particles move relative to the wave.
163.1Reflection, refraction and diffraction of wavesSend waves at a barrier, across a boundary, and through a gap, and watch them reflect, refract and diffract.
163.1Diffraction in depthChange the gap width and the wavelength and watch how much the waves spread beyond the gap.
16Assessment pointTopic question bank, 12 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • A wave transfers energy, not matter: the water, air or rope it travels through stays put on average.
  • Keep the units consistent and rearrange with care.
  • In both types the particles only vibrate about a fixed point; they do not travel along with the wave.

3.2Light Core Extended

Weeks 17 to 19
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
173.2.1Reflection of lightChange the angle of the incoming ray and watch the reflected ray and the angles from the normal.
173.2.2Refraction of lightChange the angle of the incoming ray and watch how it bends as it enters and leaves the block.
173.2.2Total internal reflectionIncrease the angle of incidence inside the glass and watch the refracted ray vanish as the light is reflected back.
183.2.2Refractive indexChange the angle of incidence and read off the angle of refraction to see the refractive index that links them.
183.2.2Optical fibresSend a ray into the fibre and watch it bounce along by total internal reflection, even around a bend.
183.2.3The converging lensMove the object along the bench and watch the rays cross to build a real image, or spread to form a virtual one.
193.2.3Correcting short and long sightSwitch between a short-sighted and long-sighted eye, then add the correcting lens and watch the image sharpen.
193.2.4Dispersion of lightSend white light into the prism and watch it split into its colours, with red bent least and violet most.
19Assessment pointTopic question bank, 28 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Always measure the angles from the normal, the line perpendicular to the mirror, not from the mirror surface.
  • A ray travelling along the normal does not bend, even though it does change speed.
  • Total internal reflection only happens when light travels from a denser to a less dense medium, such as glass to air, and only when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.

3.3Electromagnetic spectrum Core Extended

Weeks 19 to 20
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
193.3The electromagnetic spectrumMove along the bands from radio to gamma and watch the wavelength shorten and the frequency climb.
203.3Harmful effects of EM radiationChoose a band and watch how it interacts with cells, gently for low frequencies and damagingly for the high frequency end.
203.3Digital and analogue signalsTurn up the noise and watch the analogue trace get permanently messy while the digital one is cleaned at the threshold and rebuilt.
20Assessment pointTopic question bank, 8 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Every electromagnetic wave travels at the same speed in a vacuum, whatever its frequency.
  • It is the high frequency end of the spectrum, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays, that is the most dangerous, because the energy carried rises with frequency.
  • Both analogue and digital signals pick up noise as they travel.

3.4Sound Core Extended

Weeks 20 to 21
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
203.4Sound as a longitudinal waveSee the loudspeaker push the air into compressions and rarefactions, and notice that each particle only vibrates on the spot.
213.4Speed of sound and echoesSet the distance to the wall and watch the pulse travel out and return, with the stopwatch climbing to the echo time.
213.4Loudness and pitchAdjust amplitude and frequency to match a target wave, and watch how each control changes a different feature.
213.4UltrasoundMove the flaw deeper and watch the echo arrive later on the A-scan trace, with the gate marking the target depth.
21Assessment pointTopic question bank, 11 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Sound is longitudinal, not transverse.
  • In an echo the sound makes a round trip, so use twice the distance to the surface.
  • Amplitude controls loudness and frequency controls pitch, and they are independent.
Topic 04

Electricity and magnetism

Weeks 22 to 30

4.1Simple phenomena of magnetism Core

Week 22
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
224.1Magnetic poles and forcesBring poles together and apart, and watch whether they attract or repel.
224.1Magnetic materials, soft and hardCompare how soft iron and hard steel hold or lose their magnetism.
224.1Magnetic fields and field linesMove the compass around the magnet and watch the needle line up with the field at each point.
22Assessment pointTopic question bank, 4 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Repulsion is the only certain test that a material is magnetised.
  • Magnetically soft does not mean physically soft.
  • Outside the magnet the arrows on the field lines point from north to south.

4.2Electrical quantities Core Extended

Weeks 23 to 25
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
234.2.1Electric chargeTransfer electrons between objects and watch the charges attract or repel.
234.2.1Electric fieldsPlace charges and plates and watch the field lines and the force on a small positive test charge.
234.2.2Electric currentConnect the ammeter in series so the whole current flows through it.
244.2.2Current as charge flow (I = Q / t)Vary the current and time and read off the charge that has flowed.
244.2.3EMF and potential differenceConnect a voltmeter across the source and across components to compare the energy per charge.
244.2.4Resistance (R = V / I)Change the p.d. across a resistor and watch the current and the resistance ratio.
254.2.4Current-voltage graphsTrace the graph for a mystery component and decide what it is from the shape.
254.2.5Electrical power and energySet the current and voltage and watch the power, then the energy build up over time.
254.2.5Kilowatt-hours and the cost of electricitySet an appliance power and running time and watch the kilowatt-hours and the cost add up.
25Assessment pointTopic question bank, 22 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • It is electrons that move, not positive charge.
  • Field lines show the direction of the force on a positive charge, so they leave a positive charge and enter a negative one.
  • An ammeter is connected in series, not parallel, so the whole current passes through it.

4.3Electric circuits Core Extended

Weeks 26 to 27
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
264.3.1Circuit symbols and componentsMatch each symbol to its component and see how the input transducers respond.
264.3.2Series circuitsAdd resistors in series and watch the current stay equal everywhere while the voltage shares out.
264.3.2Parallel circuitsAdd branches and watch the current divide while each branch keeps the full voltage.
274.3.3Potential dividersChange the two resistances and watch how the output voltage tracks their ratio.
27Assessment pointTopic question bank, 13 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • An LDR has a high resistance in the dark and a low resistance in bright light.
  • In series the current is the same all the way round, it is not shared.
  • In parallel each branch gets the full supply voltage, the voltage is not shared.

4.4Electrical safety Core

Week 27
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
274.4Electrical hazardsInspect a room and identify what makes each situation dangerous.
274.4The mains circuit, fuses and earthingConnect the live, neutral and earth to their correct terminals and see how a fault is made safe.
27Assessment pointTopic question bank, 3 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Water and damp conditions are dangerous because they lower resistance and let current pass through the body more easily.
  • The fuse and switch go in the live wire, so the appliance is cut off from the supply when they break.

4.5Electromagnetic effects Core Extended

Weeks 28 to 30
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
284.5.1Electromagnetic inductionMove a magnet in and out of a coil and see the induced e.m.f. respond to the speed and direction.
284.5.2The A.C. generatorRotate the coil and watch the alternating e.m.f. trace out its sine shape.
284.5.3The magnetic effect of a currentTurn the current on and off and watch the electromagnet field appear and vanish.
294.5.4The motor effectSend current through the wire in the field and see which way the force pushes it.
294.5.5The D.C. motorWatch the forces turn the coil and the commutator flip the current each half turn.
294.5.6TransformersChange the turns on each coil and watch the secondary voltage step up or down.
304.5.6Transformer equations and transmissionChange the turns ratio and watch the secondary voltage and current follow the equations.
30Assessment pointTopic question bank, 16 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • An e.m.f. is induced only while the field through the coil is changing.
  • An a.c. generator uses slip rings, not a split-ring commutator.
  • An electromagnet works only while the current flows, which is exactly why it is useful: the magnetism can be switched on and off.
Topic 05

Nuclear physics

Weeks 30 to 34

5.1The nuclear model of the atom Core Extended

Weeks 30 to 31
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
305.1.1Atomic structureExplore the nucleus and the orbiting electrons, and see how little of the atom is actually filled.
305.1.1The alpha-scattering experimentFire alpha particles at the foil and see how most pass through while a rare few rebound.
315.1.2Protons, neutrons and nuclide notationChange the proton and neutron counts and watch the nuclide notation update.
315.1.2IsotopesKeep the protons fixed and change the neutrons to move between isotopes of the same element.
315.1.2Nuclear fission and fusionTrigger a fission split and a fusion join, and watch the energy released by each.
31Assessment pointTopic question bank, 17 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Nearly all the mass of an atom is in the nucleus, even though the nucleus is thousands of times smaller than the atom.
  • The rare alpha particles that bounce almost straight back are the key evidence.
  • The bottom number is the proton number Z and the top number is the nucleon number A.

5.2Radioactivity Core Extended

Weeks 32 to 34
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
325.2.1Background radiationSee the steady count from background radiation and how a nearby source adds to it.
325.2.2Alpha, beta and gamma radiationPut paper, aluminium and lead in the path and see which radiation gets through.
325.2.2Deflection of radiation in fieldsPass each radiation through a field and watch which way, and how much, it bends.
335.2.3Radioactive decay equationsTrigger alpha and beta decays and see how the nucleon and proton numbers shift.
335.2.4Half-lifeWatch the activity fall to a half, then a quarter, then an eighth, one half-life at a time.
335.2.4Applications of radioactivityPick the radiation and half-life for each application and see why it fits.
345.2.5Safety with ionising radiationAdjust distance, time and shielding and see how each lowers the radiation dose.
34Assessment pointTopic question bank, 22 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • Background radiation is present everywhere, so when measuring a source you must subtract the background count rate to get the true reading.
  • Ionising power and penetrating power run in opposite orders.
  • Gamma is undeflected because it carries no charge.
Topic 06

Space physics

Weeks 34 to 37

6.1The Earth and the Solar System Core Extended

Weeks 34 to 35
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
346.1.1The Earth, day, night and seasonsSpin the Earth and orbit it round the Sun, and watch day, night and the seasons appear.
346.1.1Orbital speedChange the orbital radius and period and watch the orbital speed that results.
356.1.2The Solar SystemMove out from the Sun past the rocky planets, the asteroid belt and the gas giants.
356.1.2Formation of the Solar SystemLet gravity pull the cloud together and watch the Sun and planets take shape.
356.1.2Elliptical orbits and energyFollow a comet round its elliptical orbit and watch its speed change with distance.
35Assessment pointTopic question bank, 15 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis, not by the Earth being nearer to or further from the Sun.
  • Use the full circumference 2 pi r, not just the radius, and keep r in metres and T in seconds.
  • The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter, separating the rocky inner planets from the gas giants.

6.2Stars and the Universe Core Extended

Weeks 36 to 37
WeekRefLessonLearning intention
366.2.1The Sun as a starSee the Sun as a star powered by fusion in its core.
366.2.2Galaxies and light-yearsSee the Milky Way and how far apart its stars are in light-years.
366.2.2The life cycle of a starWatch a star form, live, and end in one of two ways depending on its mass.
376.2.3Redshift and the Big BangSee light from receding galaxies shifted toward the red, more so for the most distant.
376.2.3The cosmic microwave backgroundDetect the microwave background coming evenly from every direction in space.
37Assessment pointTopic question bank, 15 multiple-choice questions: print or review, or assign in the app for a marked score.
Examiner traps to pre-empt:
  • The Sun shines by nuclear fusion, joining hydrogen nuclei into helium, not by burning like a fire.
  • A light-year is a distance, not a time.
  • How a star ends depends on its mass.
Also for this course

Beyond the scheme

Original work by the TheLucidSTEM team. Week numbers assume 3 lessons a week unless you change the control; the download carries the numbers shown.