Physics (All topics) End of year exams 2026,

Describe the properties of the three states of matter and explain them using ideas about particles

Solids keep their shape because particles are tightly packed. Liquids flow because particles can slide past each other. Gases spread out because particles are far apart and move fast.

Describe how particles move in solids, liquids and gases, how this changes with temperature and what effects this has

Heating gives particles more energy so they move faster; cooling slows them down. Faster movement can cause expansion.

Explain what density is

Density is how much mass is packed into a certain volume.

Use a formula to calculate density

Density = mass ÷ volume.

Use the particle model to explain density changes at different temperatures

When heated, particles spread out, so density decreases. When cooled, particles move closer, so density increases.

Describe how to measure the volume of regular and irregular objects

Regular: measure dimensions and multiply. Irregular: place in water and measure how much the water level rises.

Explain how chemical changes are different to physical changes, and recall some examples of each type

Chemical changes make new substances (burning, rusting). Physical changes don't (melting, dissolving).

Recall that ice is less dense than water, and why this is unusual

Ice expands when it freezes, so particles are further apart, making it less dense.

Describe what happens to particles during changes of state, in terms of energy and bonds, and why there is no change in temperature while a substance is changing state

Energy goes into breaking or forming bonds, not raising temperature, so temperature stays constant.

Use the particle model to describe the causes of pressure in fluids

Particles collide with surfaces, creating pressure.

Explain why pressure in a fluid increases with depth

More fluid above means more weight pushing down, increasing pressure.

Explain some effects caused by fluid pressure using ideas about forces

Pressure differences create forces, like water jets or air pushing on your ears.

Use the particle model to explain why gas pressure changes with temperature, number of particles and volume

Higher temperature or more particles = more collisions → higher pressure. Bigger volume = fewer collisions → lower pressure.

Use the idea of upthrust to explain why an object does or does not float

An object floats if upthrust is equal to or greater than its weight.

Recall the factors that affect the amount of upthrust on an object

Upthrust depends on the volume of fluid displaced and the fluid's density.

Use ideas about density changes to explain how a hot air balloon flies or how the depth of a submarine is controlled

Hot air balloons rise because warm air is less dense. Submarines change density by taking in or releasing water.

Describe the ways in which the size of drag forces can be changed

Drag increases with speed and surface area; decreases with streamlined shapes.

Describe the causes of air and water resistance

Caused by particles of air or water hitting the object.

Explain why a vehicle needs a force from the engine to keep moving at a constant speed

The engine must balance drag and friction to stop the vehicle slowing down.

Recall the meanings of words that describe materials and how they affect light

transparent lets light through clearly; translucent scatters light; opaque blocks light.

Describe how light travels

light travels in straight lines.

Use the ray model of light, in diagrams, to explain how we see things

light reflects off objects and travels into our eyes.

Describe some similarities and differences between light and sound

both transfer energy but light is much faster and can travel through a vacuum while sound cannot.

Represent rays of light as straight lines with arrows showing the direction of travel

draw straight lines with arrows showing the direction of the light.

Describe some uses of plane mirrors

used in periscopes, bathrooms, and for seeing behind you.

State the meanings of words connected with reflection

the normal is a 90° line to the surface; angle of incidence is the incoming angle; angle of reflection is the outgoing angle.

Describe the difference between specular reflection and scattering

specular reflection gives a clear image; scattering reflects light in many directions so no clear image forms.

Recall the law of reflection and use it to make predictions

angle of incidence equals angle of reflection.

Use ray diagrams to explain the formation of an image in a plane mirror

reflected rays appear to come from behind the mirror, forming a virtual image.

Describe some uses of lenses

lenses are used in glasses, cameras, microscopes and telescopes.

Recall that light travels at different speeds in different materials

light slows down in denser materials like glass or water.

Explain why refraction occurs, and use ray diagrams to describe the refraction of light

refraction happens because light changes speed when entering a new material, causing it to bend.

Describe the effects of convex lenses on parallel beams of light

convex lenses focus parallel rays to a point.

State the meaning of focal length, focus and principal axis and relate the power of a lens to its shape

focus is where rays meet; focal length is the distance to that point; more curved lenses are more powerful.

State the parts of the eye and cameras, and explain their functions

the lens focuses light; the iris/aperture controls light entering; the retina/sensor detects the image.

Describe similarities and differences between eyes and cameras

both focus light to form images; eyes change lens shape while cameras move lenses or use fixed lenses.

Describe the way our eyes detect different colours, and recall the primary and secondary colours of light

cones detect red, green and blue; secondary colours are cyan, magenta and yellow.

Describe how to split light into different colours using a prism, and recall the colours of the spectrum

a prism bends different wavelengths differently, splitting light into red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

Explain how filters can be used to make coloured light

filters absorb some colours and transmit others.

Explain why coloured objects appear coloured and why they look different in light of different colours

objects reflect certain colours and absorb others; if the light source changes, the colour we see changes.

Describe the positions and movements of the Earth, Moon and planets

Earth orbits the Sun, the Moon orbits Earth, and planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths.

Describe some ways of investigating the Solar System

using telescopes, satellites, probes, landers and rovers.

Compare different models of the Solar System, and explain why we use our current model

we use the heliocentric model because evidence shows planets orbit the Sun.

Use a model to explain why we see phases of the Moon

we see different amounts of the Moon's lit side as it orbits Earth.

Describe differences in the seasons

temperature and daylight length change throughout the year.

Use a model to explain the differences in the seasons

Earth's tilt means different areas receive more or less sunlight.

Explain the effect of the Earth's tilt on the energy received from the Sun

tilt changes the angle of sunlight; more direct sunlight gives more energy.

Recall the shape and direction of the magnetic field of a bar magnet

field lines curve from the north pole to the south pole.

Use a plotting compass to show the shape and direction of a magnetic field

compasses placed around a magnet align with the field lines.

Explain how to arrange two magnets so that they attract or repel each other

opposite poles attract; like poles repel.

Describe the Earth's magnetic field and explain why a compass needle points north

Earth acts like a giant magnet and the compass aligns with its magnetic field.

Recall the direction in which gravity acts and the factors that affect it

gravity pulls towards the centre of a mass and depends on mass and distance.

Say what gravitational field strength means

the force acting on each kilogram of mass.

Explain why the weight of an object changes if taken to the Moon but not its mass

mass stays the same but weight changes because gravity is weaker on the Moon.

Recall that planets and natural satellites are kept in orbit by gravity

gravity pulls them towards the object they orbit, keeping them in curved paths.

Describe how mass and distance affect the strength of gravity

more mass means stronger gravity; more distance means weaker gravity.

Use gravitational field strength to calculate weight

weight = mass × gravitational field strength.

Make comparisons using ratios and percentages

ratios and percentages compare quantities fairly.

Explain what Sun, star, galaxy, Universe, constellation mean

the Sun is our star; stars are hot glowing gas; galaxies are groups of stars; the Universe contains everything; constellations are star patterns.

Describe the Milky Way

the Milky Way is our spiral galaxy containing billions of stars.

Compare the relative sizes and distances of objects in space

planets are smaller than stars; stars are smaller than galaxies; galaxies are tiny compared to the Universe.