Physics tools and where to find them
- Teaching plans (first exam 2025)
- Skills in the study of physics
- Physics tools and where to find them
The lists of skills on this page are a copy of their parent (Skills in the study of physics) but here I have attempted to suggest a location for each where students can practise them on the site.
Arguably, a physics course could be organised by tool rather than by topic, and I suppose (short of reorganising the whole website) that's the aim here.
- Recognise and address safety, ethical and environmental issues - E3 activity: Radioactivity
- Measuring mass - Tools activity: Measurements and uncertainty
- Measuring time - A1 activity: Displacement and velocity
- Measuring length - Tools activity: Measurements and uncertainty
- Measuring volume - Tools activity: Measurements and uncertainty
- Measuring temperature - B1 activity: Temperature and heat
- Measuring force - A2 practical: Hooke's law
- Measuring electric current - B5 activity: Simple circuits
- Measuring potential difference - B5 activity: Simple circuits
- Measuring angle - A2 notes: Circular motion
- Measuring sound intensity - C2 notes: Sound and light
- Measuring light intensity - C2 notes: Sound and light
- Using sensors - B1 practical: Hand hot collecting data
- Models and simulations for generation of data - A1 practical: Motion of a cart (Algodoo)
- Spreadsheets for manipulation of data - Tools activity: Measurements and uncertainty
- Computer modelling for processing data - A1 practical: Acceleration of a Ferrari
- Image analysis of motion - A1 practical: suvat (GeoGebra)
- Databases - data identification and extraction - E3 activity: Nucleons and binding energy
- Graphs for representation of data - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Video analysis of motion - A1 practical: Rolling ball
- Arithmetic and algebra - Tools problems: Measurements and units
- Orders of magnitude (for ratios, values and approximations)
- SI prefixes and units - Tools problems: Measurements and units
- Equations - selection and manipulation - A1 activity: Graphs of motion
- Effect of changes to variables on other variables - C3 activity: Two slit interference
- Scientific notation - B1 notes: Particle nature of matter
- Area and volume - B3 notes: Modelling a gas
- Symbols used in Guide and Data Booklet - D1 notes: Gravitation
- Use of units (e.g. eV, eVc^(-2), ly, pc, h, day, year) - E1 activity: Atomic models, E3 notes: Nuclear physics, E5 activity: Measuring distance
- Approximation and estimation - Tools MCQs: Measurement and uncertainties
- Rates of change - B1 activity: Heat capacity and change of state, D4 notes: Electromagnetic induction, A2 notes: Newton's laws and momentum
- Dimensional analysis of units for checking expressions (informal) - B2 practical: Planck's law GeoGebra
- Neglecting effects (and why) - B2 notes: Power production
- Direct and inverse proportionality, positive and negative relationships or correlations - B3 activity: Gas laws
- Sketch graphs (labelled but unscaled axes) to qualitatively describe trends - A1 notes: Graphs of motion
- Fundamental units - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties, B5 activity: Current and resistance, B1 notes: Particle nature of matter
- Derived units in terms of SI units - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Recording uncertainties in measurements as a range to appropriate precision - A1 practical: Ball on a slope
- Appropriate significant figures or decimal places - B1 practical: Hand hot processing data
- Significance of uncertainties in raw and processed data - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Free-body diagrams - A2 notes: Forces
- Express measurement and processed uncertainties to appropriate significant figures or precision - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Mean and range - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Extrapolate and interpolate graphs - B3 notes: Modelling a gas
- Linear and non-linear graphs with appropriate scales and axes - Tools practical: Density of plasticine
- Derivations of equations - C2 notes: Transverse and longitudinal waves, C5 notes: Doppler effect, B5 notes: Current and resistance
- Linearize graphs (only where appropriate) - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Continuous and discrete variables - E1 notes: Atomic models
- Draw and interpret uncertainty bars - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Drawing lines or curves of best fit - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Constructing max and min gradient lines by considering all uncertainty bars - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Percentage change and percentage difference - B5 problems: Potential dividers, B5 practical: EMF and internal resistance example results
- Percentage error and percentage uncertainty - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Determining uncertainty in gradients and intercepts - Tools activity: Measurements and uncertainty
- Propagation of uncertainties - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, raising to a power - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Logarithmic and exponential functions - E3 activity: Radioactive decay
- Tables and graphs (bar charts, pie charts, histograms, scatter graphs, and line and curve) for raw and processed data - Tools practical: Density of plasticine
- Decimals, fractions, percentages, ratios, reciprocals, exponents and trigonometric ratios - A1 practical: Angle of slope
- Logarithmic graphs - E5 notes: Stellar characteristics
- Scale diagrams - A1 notes: Distance, displacement, speed and velocity
- Scalars and vectors - definitions and examples - Tools problems: Vectors and scalars
- Drawing and labelling vectors - magnitude, point of application and direction - A1 notes: Distance, displacement, speed and velocity
- Vector addition and subtraction (up to three) - A1 notes: Distance, displacement, speed and velocity
- Multiplication of vectors by scalar - A2 activity: Forces as vectors
- Resolving vectors (to two perpendicular components) - A1 notes: Distance, displacement, speed and velocity
- Interpreting features e.g. gradient, changes in gradient, intercepts, maxima and minima, and area under - A1 notes: Graphs of motion
- Independent thinking, initiative or insight - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Variety of sources - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Selecting sufficient and relevant sources - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Research questions and hypotheses - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Stating and explaining predictions - Tools activity: Making a video
- Creativity in design, implemenation or presentation of investigation - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Laboratory experiments, databases, simulations and modelling - A1 activity: Displacement and velocity
- Identifying and justifying dependent, independent and control variables - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Justifying range and quantity of measurements - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Designing and explaining valid methodology - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Piloting - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Calibrating apparatus including sensors - Tools activity: Measurements and uncertainty
- Maintaining constant environmental conditions - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Heat insulation - B1 practical: Specific heat capacity of water (electric kettle)
- Reducing friction - A1 practical: Rolling ball (simulation)
- Reducing electrical resistance - B5 practical: Resistivity of Play Doh
- Background radiation - E3 activity: Radioactivity
- Qualitative observations - relevant - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Quantitative observations - sufficient - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Identifying and addressing issues that arise during data collection - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Interpret qualitative and quantitative data - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Interpret diagrams, graphs and charts - E5 activity: Light from stars
- Patterns, trends and relationships - identify, describe and explain -
- Removal or inclusion of outliers - identify and justify - B5 practical: Factors affecting R (paper) example results
- Assess accuracy - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Assess precision - Tools activity: Measurements and uncertainty
- Assess reliability - E3 practical: Measuring half life of beer foam
- Assess validity - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Conclusions from processed data - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Comparing outcomes with scientific context - A2 practical: Balloon drop
- Relating outcomes to stated research question or hypothesis - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Impact of uncertainties on conclusions - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Evaluate hypothesis - Tools activity: Mini investigation
- Sources and impacts of random and systematic errors - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Implications of methodological weaknesses, limitations and assumptions - Tools notes: Measurement and uncertainties
- Explaining realistic and relevant improvements - Tools activity: Mini investigation