Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1)
Video lessons · IGCSE Physics revision notes · IGCSE Physics past papers
Every topic of Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1) in short video lessons with worked calculations, diagrams, clear revision notes and all past papers with mark schemes.
The first 5 lessons of every chapter are free.
1 Movement and position
- Average speed, distance and time
- Distance-time graphs
- Practical: investigating the motion of everyday objects
- Acceleration
- Velocity-time graphs
- Distance travelled from a velocity-time graph
- Using v² = u² + 2as
- Motion graphs: putting it together
2 Forces and shape
- What forces do and the types of force
- Scalar and vector quantities
- Resultant forces and free-body diagrams
- Friction and drag
- Practical: stretching springs, wires and rubber bands
- Force-extension graphs and Hooke's law
3 Forces and movement
- Force, mass and acceleration
- Mass and weight
- Stopping distance: thinking and braking
- What affects stopping distance
- Falling objects and terminal velocity
- The skydiver: opening the parachute
4 Momentum
- Momentum
- Conservation of momentum in collisions
- Explosions and recoil
- Force and the rate of change of momentum
- Momentum and safety features
- Newton's third law
5 The turning effect of forces
- Moments
- Centre of gravity and stability
- The principle of moments
- Forces on a beam supported at both ends
6 Mains electricity
- Alternating and direct current
- Fuses and earthing
- Insulation, double insulation and circuit breakers
- Why a current heats a resistor
- Electrical power and choosing a fuse
- Energy transferred by an appliance
7 Current and voltage in circuits
- Current is the rate of flow of charge
- Circuit symbols, ammeters and voltmeters
- Current in series and parallel circuits
- Voltage in series and parallel circuits
- Voltage: energy per unit charge
- Series or parallel: which and why
8 Electrical resistance
- Resistance and V = I × R
- Current-voltage graphs for components
- Practical: investigating how current varies with voltage
- Light-dependent resistors and thermistors
- Calculating current, voltage and resistance in a series circuit
- Adding resistors: series against parallel
- Electricity calculations: choosing the right equation
9 Electric charge
- Electrical conductors and insulators
- Charging by friction
- Forces between charges and electrostatic effects
- Dangers of static electricity
- Uses of static electricity
10 Properties of waves
- Transverse and longitudinal waves
- Amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period and wavefronts
- The wave equation v = f × λ
- Frequency and time period
- Reflection and refraction of waves
- The Doppler effect
11 The electromagnetic spectrum
- The electromagnetic spectrum
- Uses of radio waves, microwaves and infrared
- Uses of visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays
- Dangers of electromagnetic radiation and protection
12 Light waves
- Reflection of light and plane mirrors
- Refraction of light
- Practical: refraction in blocks and prisms
- Refractive index: n = sin i / sin r
- Practical: measuring the refractive index of glass
- Critical angle and total internal reflection
- Total internal reflection in optical fibres and prisms
13 Sound
- Sound waves and human hearing
- Practical: measuring the speed of sound in air
- Displaying a sound wave with a microphone and oscilloscope
- Pitch and loudness
14 Energy transfers
15 Thermal energy
- Conduction
- Convection and convection currents
- Thermal radiation: emission and absorption
- Practical: investigating conduction, convection and radiation
- Reducing unwanted energy transfer
16 Work and power
- Work done and energy transferred
- Gravitational potential energy
- Kinetic energy
- Linking GPE, KE and work
- Power
17 Energy resources and electricity generation
- Generating electricity: fossil fuels and nuclear power
- Wind and water power
- Geothermal energy, solar heating and solar cells
- Advantages and disadvantages of energy resources
18 Density and pressure
- Density
- Practical: measuring density
- Pressure
- Pressure in liquids and gases
- Calculating pressure in a liquid
19 Solids, liquids and gases
- Particles in solids, liquids and gases
- Changes of state: melting, evaporating and boiling
- Practical: a temperature-time graph for a change of state
- Specific heat capacity
- Practical: measuring specific heat capacity
- Gas pressure and molecules
- Absolute zero and the Kelvin scale
- Temperature and the speed of gas molecules
- Pressure and temperature of a gas
- Pressure and volume of a gas
20 Magnetism and electromagnetism
- Magnets and magnetic materials
- Magnetically hard and soft materials
- Magnetic fields and field lines
- Making a uniform magnetic field
- The magnetic field around a wire
- Coils, solenoids and electromagnets
- The force on a charged particle in a magnetic field
21 Electric motors and electromagnetic induction
- The motor effect
- Fleming's left-hand rule
- The simple d.c. electric motor
- The loudspeaker
- Electromagnetic induction
- Generating electricity: the a.c. generator
- Transformers
- Transformer calculations
- Transmitting electricity: why the voltage is stepped up
22 Atoms and radioactivity
- The structure of the atom
- Atomic number, mass number and isotopes
- Alpha, beta and gamma radiation
- Practical: investigating the penetrating power of radiation
- Nuclear equations and decay
- Detecting radiation and background radiation
23 Radiation and half-life
24 Applications of radioactivity
- Uses of radioactivity in medicine
- Uses of radioactivity in industry
- Contamination and irradiation
- Dangers of ionising radiation and radioactive waste
25 Fission and fusion
- Nuclear fission
- Chain reactions
- Inside a nuclear reactor
- Nuclear fusion
- Why fusion needs very high temperatures and pressures
26 Motion in the universe
- The universe, galaxies and our solar system
- Gravitational field strength on other planets
- Orbits of moons, planets, satellites and comets
- Orbital speed
27 Stellar evolution
- Classifying stars by colour
- The life cycle of a star like the Sun
- The life cycle of a massive star
- Brightness and absolute magnitude
- The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
28 Cosmology
29 Practical and maths skills
- Units, prefixes and standard form
- Using equations: substitute, rearrange, evaluate
- Significant figures and rounding
- Plotting a graph and drawing a line of best fit
- Gradients, tangents and areas under graphs
- Planning an investigation: variables and fair tests
- Accuracy, precision, errors and anomalies