Topic 1: Motion, Forces & Energy

The foundation of all physics — learning to measure things properly! SI units (metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole), using instruments like rulers, micrometers, balances, and thermometers, plus understanding the difference between scalar and vector quantities.

The basics of how things move — and how to describe it with numbers and graphs. Speed = distance ÷ time, velocity and acceleration, reading distance-time and speed-time graphs, free fall (g ≈ 10 m/s²), and the equations of motion you'll use everywhere.

They sound the same but they're really not! Mass is how much stuff is in an object, weight is the pull of gravity on it. W = mg, gravitational field strength, and why your mass on the Moon is the same but your weight isn't.

Why do some things float and others sink? It all comes down to density. ρ = m/V, how to measure the density of regular shapes and irregular objects (using displacement!), and understanding floating and sinking.

The big one — forces make things speed up, slow down, and change direction. Types of forces, resultant forces, Newton's three laws, friction and air resistance, circular motion, and Hooke's law (F = kx) for springs and the limit of proportionality.

How hard it is to stop something moving — and why heavy, fast things are dangerous. p = mv, conservation of momentum, impulse, force as rate of change of momentum, collisions and explosions, and real-world safety features like crumple zones and seat belts.

Energy can't be created or destroyed, only transferred — and this topic shows you how. KE = ½mv², GPE = mgh, work done = Fd, power = E/t, efficiency, Sankey diagrams, and renewable vs non-renewable energy resources.

Why sharp heels sink into grass but flat shoes don't — it's all about spreading the force. p = F/A, pressure in liquids (p = ρgh), atmospheric pressure, and how manometers work.