Overview

Higher Physics Outline
  • Electricity: measurement uncertainty, I–V characteristics, internal resistance, capacitors, AC/DC, semiconductors and band theory.
  • Our Dynamic Universe: vectors, motion, forces, momentum, gravitation, special relativity, expanding universe.
  • Particles & Waves: refraction/interference, spectra, photoelectric effect, nuclear reactions, and the Standard Model.
  • Assignment: planning a fair test, collecting quality data, analysing, and justifying a conclusion.
SQA marking principles
  • Calculations (often 3 marks): write the relationship → substitute with units → final answer with a unit (and sensible s.f.).
  • “Show” questions: show the steps, not just the final number.
  • Explain / justify: link cause → effect. Keep it precise.
  • “You must justify”: the statement only gets credit if the justification is correct and sufficient.
  • If it asks for 1/2 points: don’t add extras — a wrong extra point can cancel a correct one.
  • Graphs: axes labelled (quantity + unit), sensible scale, accurate plotting, single best-fit line/curve.

Resources

Past Papers Finder
By topic — use it every week
DELTA (Higher MC)
Filter Unit/Topic/Year → Start. Bottom-right: Info/Stats/Data/Relationships.
Mr Stewart’s Materials
Class notes, worksheets, summaries
Flash Physics
Quick recall + short practice
➕ More links
Scholar
Clear explanations + practice
AI Tutor
Hints, feedback, and next steps
Practice Tests
Timed practice with answers
Tricky Questions
The ones that make you better
Interactive Simulations
Visualise the hard bits
Self-Marking Multiple Choice
Fast feedback
Quizlets
Key words + quick checks
BBC Bitesize
Extra explanations

Timeline 2025–26

Each card is the main focus for that week. Tick it when you’ve understood it and practised questions.

Timeline tools

Progress: 0 / 0 topics (0%)

Tip: aim for 1 tick per week.

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June — Start-up

GoalBuild confidence with uncertainty and core circuit relationships.

  • 0.1 Uncertainties
    W/C Mon 02 Jun 2025

    Estimate and combine uncertainties so final answers are stated with sensible bounds and justification. ⚠️ Watch out: don’t mix absolute and % uncertainty, and match your final decimal places to the uncertainty.

  • P, I, V, R relationships
    W/C Mon 09 Jun 2025

    Connect current, voltage, resistance and power using the relationships sheet and clear problem-solving steps. ⚠️ Watch out: convert mA→A and kΩ→Ω before substituting.

  • PIVR consolidation
    W/C Mon 16 Jun 2025

    Solve mixed problems confidently and explain which quantities are measured, calculated, and inferred. ⚠️ Watch out: write the relationship first, then substitute, then give the final answer with the correct unit.

  • Internal resistance (intro)
    W/C Mon 23 Jun 2025

    Model a source with internal resistance and explain why terminal voltage drops as current increases. ⚠️ Watch out: emf is not the same as terminal p.d.; internal resistance is in series with the source.

Aug–Sep 2025 — Electricity core + start ODU

GoalSecure Electricity fundamentals and start modelling motion in ODU.

  • I–V characteristics (resistor, filament, diode)
    W/C Mon 18 Aug 2025

    Read and sketch I–V graphs, describe behaviour, and explain why components are non-ohmic. ⚠️ Watch out: label axes properly (quantity + unit) and don’t confuse gradient with ‘resistance at a point’.

  • Internal resistance (graphs + calculations)
    W/C Mon 25 Aug 2025

    Use V–I graphs to find emf and internal resistance and link the model to real battery behaviour. ⚠️ Watch out: for V = ε − Ir, the intercept is ε and the gradient is −r (sign matters).

  • Power + energy in circuits (with uncertainty)
    W/C Mon 01 Sep 2025

    Apply P = IV and energy ideas to real circuit contexts, including consistent units and sensible rounding. ⚠️ Watch out: energy often needs E = Pt with time in seconds (and kWh is a different unit).

  • Capacitors (charge, discharge, time constant)
    W/C Mon 08 Sep 2025

    Describe exponential change and use key capacitor relationships to solve structured and unseen questions. ⚠️ Watch out: τ = RC is in seconds; at 1τ discharge falls to ~37% (charge rises to ~63%).

  • AC basics (rms + interpreting waveforms)
    W/C Mon 15 Sep 2025

    Connect rms values to practical measurements and interpret what an AC signal means in context. ⚠️ Watch out: rms is not peak; V_rms = V_peak/√2 for a sine wave.

  • Vectors + scalars (ODU start)
    W/C Mon 22 Sep 2025

    Use vector diagrams and components to set up motion problems correctly from the start. ⚠️ Watch out: include direction (sign) and resolve into components before using equations.

Oct–Dec — ODU + Waves focus

GoalDevelop strong mechanics modelling and build core waves ideas before Christmas.

  • Forces + Newton’s laws (modelling motion)
    W/C Mon 06 Oct 2025

    Build clear force diagrams, choose directions, and solve problems using consistent modelling steps. ⚠️ Watch out: draw all forces (especially weight/normal/tension) and keep signs consistent.

  • Energy, work and power (ODU)
    W/C Mon 13 Oct 2025

    Use energy methods to solve motion problems efficiently and explain where energy transfers happen. ⚠️ Watch out: work done uses the force component along the displacement; power is rate of energy transfer.

  • Momentum + impulse
    W/C Mon 20 Oct 2025

    Apply conservation of momentum and interpret impulse as “change in momentum” in real contexts. ⚠️ Watch out: momentum is a vector; Ns is the same as kg·m/s; check directions.

  • Projectile motion (linking components)
    W/C Mon 27 Oct 2025

    Separate horizontal/vertical motion cleanly and solve for time, range, height, and velocity. ⚠️ Watch out: time links both directions; choose a sign convention for g and stick to it.

  • Gravitation (fields, potential and orbits)
    W/C Mon 03 Nov 2025

    Explain gravitational fields and use the inverse-square model to solve orbit and energy questions. ⚠️ Watch out: r is from the centre of the Earth; gravitational potential is negative; don’t mix g and G.

  • Special relativity (time dilation + length contraction)
    W/C Mon 10 Nov 2025

    Use relativistic equations correctly and interpret what changes between different frames of reference. ⚠️ Watch out: identify the proper time/length and use c = 3.0×10^8 m/s with units.

  • Expanding universe (redshift + Hubble)
    W/C Mon 17 Nov 2025

    Link evidence (redshift) to model (expansion) and apply Hubble’s law with clear interpretation. ⚠️ Watch out: convert Mpc to m when needed and show what your gradient/intercept means.

  • Waves: refraction + critical angle
    W/C Mon 24 Nov 2025

    Use refractive index ideas and explain what happens to speed, wavelength, and direction at boundaries. ⚠️ Watch out: critical angle only applies when going from higher n to lower n.

  • Waves: interference + fringe spacing
    W/C Mon 01 Dec 2025

    Apply path difference and interference conditions and connect wave models to experimental evidence. ⚠️ Watch out: keep units consistent in y = λD/s (convert mm→m).

  • Consolidation + mixed past paper practice
    W/C Mon 08 Dec 2025

    Combine topics across the course, practise structure/technique, and tighten up explanation marks. ⚠️ Watch out: match the command word and avoid extra points that can cost marks.

Jan–Feb — Assignment block

GoalProduce a fair, reliable investigation with justified analysis and conclusion.

  • Choose aim + background research
    W/C Mon 05 Jan 2026

    Turn a big idea into a testable question and gather the science you’ll need to justify it. ⚠️ Watch out: your aim must be measurable (clear IV and DV).

  • Plan method + identify variables
    W/C Mon 12 Jan 2026

    Write a method that someone else could follow and justify how you will control variables. ⚠️ Watch out: include repeats, control variables, and how you’ll measure uncertainty.

  • Data collection + repeatability
    W/C Mon 19 Jan 2026

    Collect enough data for a clear trend and use repeats to improve reliability and confidence. ⚠️ Watch out: record units and uncertainty for every measurement.

  • Processing + uncertainty + conclusion
    W/C Mon 26 Jan 2026

    Process data properly, handle uncertainty honestly, and write a conclusion that matches evidence. ⚠️ Watch out: conclusions must reference processed results.

Feb–Mar 2026 — Particles & Waves

GoalExplain modern physics evidence using photons, spectra, and nuclear reaction ideas.

  • Spectra + line formation
    W/C Mon 23 Feb 2026

    Explain how absorption/emission spectra form and connect evidence to energy level models. ⚠️ Watch out: link lines to transitions between energy levels.

  • Photoelectric effect (evidence for photons)
    W/C Mon 02 Mar 2026

    Use the key features of photoelectric evidence to support quantisation and photon behaviour. ⚠️ Watch out: intensity affects number; frequency affects max KE.

  • Nuclear reactions + binding energy
    W/C Mon 09 Mar 2026

    Interpret nuclear equations and explain energy release using mass defect and binding energy ideas. ⚠️ Watch out: balance nucleon number and charge; MeV vs J.

  • Standard Model overview
    W/C Mon 16 Mar 2026

    Classify particles, describe interactions, and connect the model to the evidence it explains. ⚠️ Watch out: leptons vs hadrons; which force is involved.

  • Particles & Waves consolidation (mixed practice)
    W/C Mon 23 Mar 2026

    Combine explanations and calculations with exam-style phrasing and clean use of the relationship sheet. ⚠️ Watch out: complete final answers (unit + sensible s.f.).