Description
Our Online IGCSE Physics course is meticulously crafted to allow pupils to delve into the intricacies of the physical world. This online course is ideal for understanding both key theoretical principles and practical skills, serving as a highly valued qualification. Whether you are interested in understanding the basic particles that make up the universe or the forces that hold galaxies together, our IGCSE Physics online course provides a comprehensive overview.
The programme sets an excellent foundation for pupils to advance to A Level Physics, and from there, to a myriad of opportunities in higher education. This IGCSE Physics online qualification equips students with the skills necessary to explore a broad array of career prospects, including fields like engineering, automatisation, and healthcare.
Homework, Assessment and Reporting
Students in our Upper School undertaking the Physics IGCSE online course are expected to complete at least one piece of homework per subject each fortnight at Level 3 and weekly at Level 4. Success in the Upper School is significantly determined by the consistent revising of notes to consolidate learning after each lesson. The importance of crafting revision cards and summarising notes for each topic cannot be overstated; this meticulous approach ensures that students are well-prepared in advance of their final exams at the end of the two-year IGCSE course.
Internal assessments for Level 3 take place in June, while Level 4 internal mock assessments are scheduled for November and March. Comprehensive reports, including grades for attainment and effort along with detailed comments from Success Coaches and the Head Teacher, are issued at the end of the Autumn and Summer terms for Level 3. Level 4 reports follow the mock assessments in the Autumn and Spring terms.
We encourage parents to use their family Teams accounts to maintain an open dialogue with teachers concerning their child’s progress in the IGCSE Physics online course. This continuous communication offers the unique advantage of more detailed tracking and performance analysis, exceeding what is typically possible through an annual parent consultation evening.
Click here to see this year’s Assessment and Reporting schedule
In Physics, the topics are:
- Measurements and units
Numbers and units
A system of units
Measuring length and time
Volume and density
Measuring volume and density
More about mass and density - Forces and motion
Speed, velocity, and acceleration
Motion graphs
Recording motion
Free fall
More motion graphs
Forces in balance
Force, mass and acceleration
Friction
Force, weight, and gravity
Momentum
More about vectors
Moving in circles - Forces and pressure
Forces and turning effects
Centre of mass
More about moments
Stretching and compressing
Pressure
Pressure in liquids
Pressure from the air
Gas pressure and volume
Pressure problems - Forces and energy
Work and energy
Energy transformation
Calculating PE and KE
Efficiency and power
Energy for electricity
Energy resources
How the world gets its energy - Thermal effects
Moving particles
Temperature
Expanding solids and liquids
Heating gases
Thermal conduction
Convection
Thermal radiation
Liquids and vapours
Specific heat capacity
Latent heat - Waves and sounds
Transverse and longitudinal waves
Wave effects
Sound waves
Speed of sound and echoes
Characteristics of sound waves
Ultrasound - Rays and waves
Light rays and waves
Reflection in plane mirrors
Refraction of light
Total internal reflection
Refraction calculations
Lenses
Electromagnetic waves - Electricity
Electric charge
Electric fields
Current in a simple circuit
Potential difference
Resistance
More about resistance factors
Series and parallel circuits
Electrical energy and power
Living with electricity - Magnets and currents
Magnets
Magnetic fields
Magnetic effect of a current
Electromagnets
Magnetic force on a current
Electric motors
Electromagnetic induction
More about induced currents
Generators
Coils and transformers
Power across the country - Atoms and radioactivity
Inside atoms
Nuclear radiation
Radioactive decay
Nuclear energy
Fusion future
Using radioactivity
Atoms and particles - The Earth in space
Sun, Earth, and Moon
The Solar System
Objects in orbit
Sun, stars, and galaxies
The expanding Universe - Practical Physics
Working safely
Planning and preparing
Measuring and recording
Dealing with data
Evaluating and improving
Some experimental investigations
Taking a practical test
These topics will be taught in Years 10 and 11 (CHS Levels 3 and 4) to prepare students for their examinations.
- Recommended (but not compulsory) textbook:
Complete Physics for Cambridge IGCSE, by Stephen Pople, (OUP, Fourth Edition, 2020), ISBN: 9781382005944 - Recommended worksheets: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/physics-revision/igcse-cie/
- Virtual experiments: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/filter?subjects=physics&type=html&sort=alpha&view=grid https://www.walter-fendt.de/html5/phen/ http://www.falstad.com/ripple/
- Stationery etc:
Access to a printer, pencil, ruler, rubber, pen, notebook
Parents are responsible for arranging their child’s examinations at their local registered examination centre. Cambridge Home School students study from every part of the globe and so it is not practical for the school to offer a single venue to sit examinations. Consequently, Cambridge Home School is not registered with Cambridge International Examinations but has partnerships with examination centres registered with Cambridge International Examinations and will support students in locating a suitable venue for sitting their written and practical examinations.
We teach Cambridge IGCSE Physics, syllabus codes 0625 (A*-G) and 0972 (9-1). We recommend sitting Papers 2, 4 (Extended) and 6 (Alternative to practical).
“The conducting of experiments is potentially dangerous and must be supervised by an adult. Cambridge Home School and its teachers do not demand that pupils conduct experiments. Parents and pupils must take the decision whether or not to conduct experiments / dangerous activities and must therefore accept responsibility for any outcomes. Cambridge Home School does not accept responsibility for experiments or any other dangerous activity conducted at the homes of its pupils or in any other place.”
If you are intending to study A Level Physics after IGCSE, we recommend that you spend some time in the summer holidays preparing. Here are some suggested activities:
Movies to watch:
The Theory of Everything (2014) – a biographical drama about the life and work of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking.
Interstellar (2014) – a science fiction film that explores the concept of time dilation, black holes, and the relationship between gravity and time.
The Imitation Game (2014) – a historical drama about the life of Alan Turing, a mathematician and computer scientist who played a pivotal role in cracking Nazi Germany’s Enigma code during World War II.
Hidden Figures (2016) – a biographical drama about the contributions of three African American female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the space race.
The Martian (2015) – a science fiction film about an astronaut stranded on Mars and his efforts to survive and make contact with Earth.
Contact (1997) – a science fiction film based on a novel by Carl Sagan, which explores the themes of extra-terrestrial life, interstellar travel, and the search for meaning in the universe.
Read:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – this comedic science fiction novel follows the adventures of an unwitting human and his alien friend as they travel through space, encountering all sorts of strange and wacky phenomena.
The Martian by Andy Weir – this novel tells the story of an astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars and must use his scientific knowledge and ingenuity to survive.
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton – while this novel is primarily about genetically-engineered dinosaurs running amok, it also explores the science behind genetic engineering and chaos theory.
The Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku – this non-fiction book explores the scientific principles behind concepts like time travel, teleportation, and telekinesis, and explains what makes them currently impossible or potentially feasible in the future.
What does the online IGCSE Physics course aim to achieve?
The online International GCSE Physics course is structured to help pupils grasp the physical world around them. The course offers a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, making it a highly valuable qualification.
What opportunities does the online IGCSE Physics qualification offer for future education?
Successfully completing the International GCSE Physics qualification allows students to progress to A Level Physics, which in turn provides a pathway to further university studies.
What career prospects can be expected after the online IGCSE Physics course?
The Physics course prepares students for various career options such as engineering, automatisation, and healthcare, by equipping them with the necessary skills for either further education or employment.
What are the expectations for homework and assessments in Physics IGCSE online?
For Physics IGCSE online, students in the Upper School are expected to complete at least one homework assignment every fortnight at Level 3, and one each week at Level 4. Students are also advised to revise notes and create revision cards for effective learning. Assessments occur internally at specific times throughout the year.
How are examinations conducted for the online IGCSE Physics class?
Parents are responsible for arranging the examinations for their children at a local registered exam centre. While Cambridge Home School itself is not a registered examination centre, it has partnerships with centres that are, and assists students in finding an appropriate location for their exams.
General points
Assessment, apart from the final International GCSE exams, will be carried out continuously throughout lessons, via homework or short tests.
Practicals will not be possible due to the online nature of teaching, but students are welcome to carry out safe practicals at home. Students are also encouraged to watch videos of practicals online, for example using YouTube. Students will also be encouraged to think scientifically in an everyday context, making them aware of the science around them and how it can help in solving problems.
The teachers
Physics at Cambridge Home School Online is taught by Dr Koos, Dr Mutlu and Mrs Perkins. Click on the names below to find out more about our Physics teachers.