Welcome to Science

What fundamental similarities and differences do all organisms share? 

Knowledge Content: The structure of a cell; the functions of organelles; using microscopes to see cells; cells specialised to their function

Why do solids, liquids and gases behave differently?

Knowledge Content: The particle model; the link between macroscopic properties and microscopic arrangement; particles theory; diffusion and concentration

What effects the motion of objects? 

Knowledge Content: What a force is and how we measure them; how to calculate a resultant force; the effect of balanced and unbalanced forces; the effect of friction force; what density is 

What happens during the process of fertilisation? 

Knowledge Content: The human reproductive system; changes during puberty; the menstrual cycle; the process of fertilisation; development from embryo to birth; the reproductive systems of plants; the processes of pollination and seed dispersal

How do organisms interact with each other?

Knowledge Content: Feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem and how to represent these; competition between organisms in an ecosystem; the effect of organisms on the environment; how the environment affects organisms

What are different materials made out of? 

Knowledge Concepts: All substances are made of atoms; elements are one type of atom and are shown in the periodic table; compounds are formed by chemical reactions and are composed of combinations of atoms; the distinction between molecules and compounds; chemical symbols and formula

Why does the Earth orbit the sun?

Knowledge Concepts: The difference and meaning between mass and weight; the effect of gravity; what is in the solar system; how satellites stay in orbit and their importance

What does energy allow us to do? 

Knowledge Content: What energy is; the law of conservation of energy; the transfer of energy between stores; what happens to wasted energy; efficiency with regards to an energy transfer; the relationship between heat and temperature

How does electricity travel in a circuit?

Knowledge Content: How to use circuit symbols and interpret circuit diagrams; the difference in series and parallel circuits; what an electric current is and how it behaves in series and parallel circuits; the relationship between potential difference and energy; how potential difference behaves in series and parallel circuits 

How can we obtain a pure substance?

Knowledge Content: What purity means to a scientist; how to describe mixtures and solutions; how to obtain pure substances through physical processes; the role of Rf values, melting and boiling points in identifying substances

How is the body organised? 

Knowledge Content: The hierarchy of cells, tissues, organs and systems; the skeletal and muscular systems; the digestive system; the process of digestion and function of enzymes; the process of gas exchange in human; the process of gas exchange in plants; the effect of drugs on the body

What are the differences between acids and alkalis? 

Knowledge Content: The properties of acids and alkalis; pH and the pH scale; the use of indicators; the reactions of acids with alkalis; the production of salts; basic introduction to ionisation 

How can we work out how fast an object is moving?

Knowledge Content: What speed measures; how to calculate speed; representing motion on a distance-time graph; calculating pressure and work done 

How do plants produce their own food? 

Knowledge Content: The process and purpose of respiration; representing and linking biological process as reactions; the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration; the process and purpose of photosynthesis; the importance of photosynthesis; the adaptations of leaves to allow for photosynthesis; 

How have all living organisms developed from one common ancestor?

Knowledge Content: How genetics and environment lead to variations in a species; variation in species can lead to individuals being more or less successful; variations lead to a species becoming adapted to their environments; the theory of evolution & natural selection 

How can we tell a chemical reaction has occurred? 

Knowledge Content: What happens during a chemical reaction; the distinction between chemical and physical reactions; the law of conservation of mass; chemical equations; the reactions of metals and oxygen; the reactions of metal and acids  

How do fields interact with each other? 

Knowledge Content: What a magnetic force is; the effects of similar and dissimilar magnetic fields; representing magnetic fields; how to induce magnetism within an object and effect the strength of the magnet produced; the uses of electromagnetism

What are the factors affecting the flow of electric current?

Knowledge Content: What the effect of resistance on an electric current is; what causes the resistance in an electric circuit; how we can measure resistance; Ohm’s law 

How does light interact with different materials?

Knowledge Content: How light waves allow us to see; the representation of light through ray diagrams; why we experience different colours; the refraction of light; the reflection of light 

How have natural processes structured the Earth as we currently know it?

Knowledge Content: The structure of the earth; the rock cycle; materials making up the Earth’s atmosphere and environment are recycled through natural processes; the water cycle; the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere; the impact of fuel combustion on the atmosphere, environment and human life   

How are cells structures to function efficiently?

Knowledge Content: Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells; transport of substances in cells; cell division through mitosis; why cells differentiate; the uses and ethical issues surrounding stem cells 

What is an atom made out of? 

Knowledge Content: The structure of the atom; the development of the model of the atom; sub-atomic particles; the formation of ions as redox reactions; patterns within group 1 & 7 reactivity; the distinction between group 1,&3 metals and transition metals; the uses of transition elements 

How does an object’s speed change over time? 

Knowledge Content: What a vector is; Newton’s first and third law; representing motion in a velocity-time graph; what acceleration is, how acceleration can be calculated, measured and represented 

How can human driven technology impact on the environment and those that depend on it? 

Knowledge Content: The importance of biodiversity; the impact of humans on the planet; what global warming is and how it occurs; how we can use technology and science to manipulate natural processes and create advances in farming and sustainability 

How can we prove the law of conservation of mass? 

Knowledge Content: The law of conservation of mass applies to all chemical reactions; chemical amounts are measured in moles; balanced chemical equations show molar ratios or reactants and products; atom economy measures how efficient a reaction is; the amount of chemical matter present in solution is measured as the concentration; chemical equations can be used to calculate volumes of gaseous reactants and products 

What are the factors affecting heat transfer? 

Knowledge Content: Internal energy of a system; the direction and nature of heat transfer; measuring insulators and conductors; specific heat capacity; latent heat; pressure in gases; pressure in liquids

What information does DNA carry? 

Knowledge Content: The structure and function of DNA; the relationship between chromosomes, genes and DNA; the process and ethical debate surrounding genetic engineering; how inherited characteristics are dependent upon the allele form of the inherited gene; how genetic screening can be used to determine potential health disorders

How do we use electricity to benefit modern lifestyles? 

Knowledge Content: Static electricity; the domestic use of AC supply; Wiring of a plug and related electrical hazards; how to measure the power used and the energy transferred to a device; the transfer of energy through the national grid

How can we utilise the behaviour of sound waves? 

Knowledge Content: Characteristics of longitudinal and transverse waves; The production and behaviour of sound waves in different mediums; ultrasound; how to find the speed of a wave; refraction and reflection of waves; detection using waves

How are organ systems structured in order to function to achieve the desired outcome? 

Knowledge Content: The heart and circulatory system; the importance of heart function and health; the nervous system and reflex responses; the importance of good health; noncommunicable diseases; communicable diseases; the body’s defence against disease; vaccination and drug development; the importance and uses of monoclonal antibodies. 

How does structure at an atomic level influence the properties of a material?

Knowledge Content: The three types of bonding within materials as covalent, ionic and metallic; the process of electron sharing and consequent covalent bonding; the process of ion formation and consequent bonding; the process of positive metal ion formation and delocalisation of electrons and consequent metallic bonding; giant covalent structures; polymers; energy associated with bonds and intermolecular forces.

What can we deduce about forces from the motion of objects? 

Knowledge Content: Moments and gears; Newton’s second law; measuring acceleration; calculating stopping distances; factors affecting stopping distances; calculating momentum; the law of conservation of momentum.

How are materials transported through plant systems? 

Knowledge Content: How the structure and design of leaves allow plants to carry out photosynthesis; how materials move through plants; the recycling of materials (carbon, water, nitrogen) through an ecosystem; disease in plants; plant defences against disease.

How do external factors affect the rate of reactions?

Knowledge Content: Energy changes in reactions; Le Chatelier’s principle: reversible reactions and how to manipulate the outcome of these; factors which affect the rate of reactions; measuring and calculating the rate of reaction; the Haber process and production of fertilisers; the process of electrolysis; predicting the products of electrolysis; representing electrolysis as a redox reaction.

How can we measure the transfer of energy between stores?

Knowledge Content: Energy stores and the transfer of energy between these; how to quantify the amount of energy in an energy store and calculate energy transferred; the law of conservation of energy; measuring the specific heat capacity of a material; available resources of energy.

How can we use the effects of resistance?

Knowledge Content: Calculating charge flow; the relationship between resistance and current; components which rely on variable resistance; the applications of thermistors and LDRs.

What evidence do we have for the theory of evolution?  

Knowledge Content: The reproduction and mutation of bacteria leading to bacterial resistance; the difficulties surrounding the treatment of antibiotic resistance; classification of living organisms and the binomial naming system; the theory of evolution from a common ancestor through natural selection; the use of fossils as proof of evolution; the arguments against evolution.

What makes something radioactive? 

Knowledge Content: Isotopes and unstable nuclei; the process of radioactive decay; the nature and distinction between types of nuclear radiation; the random nature of radioactive decay and the use of a half-life; the hazards associated with nuclear radiation; background radiation; nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

How do systems in the body communicate?

Knowledge Content: The purpose and of homeostasis; how the body affects change through automatic control systems; the release and control of hormones in the endocrine system; the effect of certain hormones on the body; the role of hormones in plant production and growth; how to control blood glucose levels; the control of body temperature; the control of water and nitrogen levels in the body; the structure and functions of the brain and eye.

What role does carbon play in life processes and resource recycling? 

Knowledge Content: The allotropes of carbon materials and their properties; nanoparticles; the production of hydrocarbons; alkanes and alkenes; the combustion of hydrocarbons; fractional distillation and cracking; the reactions of functional groups; polymerisations reactions; DNA as a polymer.

What makes an EM wave suitable for its application? 

Knowledge Content: EM waves as examples of transverse waves, regions of the EM spectrum; the transmission, absorption, reflection and refraction of waves; the use of EM waves in communication; the effects of EM waves on the body; practical applications of EM waves; manipulating light using lenses; the behaviour of visible light, black body radiation and temperature.

How can we identify a substance using analytical chemistry? 

Knowledge Content: Pure substances, mixtures and formulations; the process of chromatography and calculating Rf values; gas tests; flame testes; the use of GCMS.

How can reproduction be supressed or enhanced through hormonal treatment?

Knowledge Content: The role of hormones in puberty and the reproductive cycle; the effect of testosterone during the process of reproduction; the hormones and patterns involved in the menstrual cycle; the contraceptive methods available to control fertility; the use of hormones to treat infertility; the physical and emotional effects of fertility treatment.

What is the impact of modern human life on our planet? 

Knowledge Content: The composition of the atmosphere; processes leading to changes in the early atmosphere to the present day; the presence and impact of greenhouse gases; human activity and its impact on the environment; the importance of peer review; the effects of climate change; the combustion of fossil fuels; the processes inside fuel cells.

How do objects behave in different force fields?

Knowledge Content: Magnetic materials and magnetic force fields; observing and representing magnetic force fields; interactions at magnetic poles; how to produce an electromagnet; factors affecting the strength of an electromagnet; Fleming’s left hand rule; the motor effect; the solar system; the lifecycle of a star; redshift as evidence of the big bang theory; the expansion of the galaxy.