Science 2026

SCIENCE OF THE ROAD

SI Units - the universal language for measurements used by scientists and engineers around the world.

Quantity

Unit

Symbol

distance

metre

m

time

seconds

s

mass

kilograms

kg

temperature

kelvin

K

amount of substance

mole

mol

distance - how far an object has travelled (e.g. - the total path length traveled)

displacement - where the object is relative to its starting points (e.g. straight-line, directional distance)

speed - a measure of how fast something is moving

rate of change of a distance with respect to time

formula - speed = distance/time

velocity - the speed of something in a given direction

rate of change of a displacement with respect to time

formula - velocity = displacement/time

acceleration - is the rate of change of velocity

positive acceleration - acceleration that increases an object’s speed.

negative acceleration (deceleration) - acceleration that decreases an object’s speed.

formula - acceleration = velocity/time

vector - a quantity having direction and magnitude

scalar - a quantity that only has magnitude

gradient - the steepness of the graph

distance-time graph - a graph showing how the distance travelled by an object changes over time

speed-time graph - a graph showing how the speed of an object changes over time.

velocity-time graph - a graph showing how the velocity of an object changes over time

instantaneous speed - the magnitude of an object's velocity at a specific, precise moment in time

average speed - the total distance an object travels divided by the total time it takes to cover that distance

inertia - the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion

Newton’s Law of Motion

Newton’s First Law (Law of Inertia) - an object remains at rest or moves at a constant speed in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force.

Newton’s Second Law (Law of Acceleration) - the acceleration of an object depends on its mass and the net force applied.

Newton’s Third Law (Law of Action-Reaction) - for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Convert km/h into m/s = divide by 3.6

Convert m/s into km/h = multiply by 3.6

A CHEMICAL WORLD - YEAR 10

Atomic Structure (prior knowledge)

proton - positive charge (+), found in the nucleus

neutron - neutral charge (0), found in the nucleus

electron - negative charge (−), orbits the nucleus

atomic number - number of protons in an atom (defines the element)

mass number - number of protons + neutrons

ion - an atom that has lost or gained electrons (positive or negative charge)

isotope - atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons

neutral atom - equal number of protons and electrons

cation - positive ions formed when electrons are lost

anion - negative ions formed when electrons are gained

valence electrons - electrons in the outer shell involved in bonding

Chemical Reactions

chemical reaction - process where reactants change into new substances called products

reactants - substances present before a reaction

products - substances formed after a reaction

chemical change - change that forms new substances

signs of chemical change -

colour change

gas produced

precipitate formed

temperature change

light or smell produced

Law of Conservation of Mass - matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction

rearranging atoms - atoms are reorganised during reactions; they are not made or destroyed

Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions

exothermic reaction - reaction that releases energy to surroundings

temperature increases

endothermic reaction - reaction that absorbs energy from surroundings

temperature decreases

reaction rate - speed of a chemical reaction

fast reaction - reaction occurring quickly

slow reaction - reaction occurring over a long time

collision theory - reactant particles need to collide with enough energy and in the correct orientation for a chemical reaction to occur

activation energy - minimum energy needed for a reaction to occur

temperature - the speed of particles in a substance

higher temperature → particles move faster → more collisions → faster reaction

surface area - the total measurement of all exposed outer surfaces of a 3D object

larger surface area → more exposed particles → faster reaction

concentration - the measure of the amount of a substance dissolved in a given amount of another substance

higher concentration → particles closer together → more collisions → faster reaction

catalyst - substance that speeds up a reaction without being used up

enzyme - biological catalysts in living organisms

GENETICS

Human Reproduction