Physics

Get hands-on with science investigations in Atomic Labs. Experiment and put your science skills to the test using Bunsen burners, test tubes and much more.

A quick guide, with video, explaining the concept of electricity and electric current.

A simple, step-by-step, visual guide showing you how to generate electricity by spinning a magnet in a coil of wire.

Objects can become positively charged or negatively charged. This is called static electricity. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

When charged objects discharge suddenly, an electrostatic spark is formed. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

Electrical current flows easily through a conductor, but does not flow through an insulator. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

Circuit diagrams use symbols to show how electrical components are connected in a circuit. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

Different models, like water in a central heating system, can help us understand electrical circuits. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

Electrical circuits can be connected in series, meaning all the components are in the same loop. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

In circuits connected in parallel, the components are connected on different branches. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

Learn how electric circuits work and how to measure current and potential difference.

The more resistance there is in a circuit, the less current will flow. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

Discover how invisible magnetic fields can be revealed using iron filings or a compass.

Find out how an electromagnet uses an electrical current to generate a magnetic field.

Certain materials feel a magnetic force. A magnetic force can be either attraction or repulsion. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

Learn how to make a magnetic compass.

Learn about the different types of energy in the home and how bills are calculated

Learn about the different ways that electricity can be generated from either renewable or non-renewable energy

Learn about different energy stores and how energy transfers between different stores

Learn about how equations can be used to calculate how much energy is stored.

Learn about heating and cooling and conduction, radiation and convection.

Learn about domestic energy.

Combustion is another name for burning. In a combustion reaction, fuel is burned and reacts with oxygen to release energy.

Learn about the different types of forces and the difference between contact and non-contact forces

Pressure is a measure of how concentrated a force is. The amount of pressure exerted on an object depends on the force applied and the surface area it is spread over.

Learn about drawing and interpreting force diagrams. Find out how to calculate resultant forces acting on an object.

Find out more about the difference between motion and speed and how to use the speed equation.

Find out how to use distance-time graphs to describe a journey and to calculate speed.

Find out about the difference between weight and mass, how to explain why weight changes on different planets and how to apply the weight equation.

Learn how to identify different types of resistive forces and how to investigate the effect of friction.

Learn about the forces acting on an object in free fall and to describe how the motion of an object changes during free fall.

Learn about common energy stores and energy transfers and how to apply the work equation.

Learn about moments and pivots, apply the moment equation and identify common levers and applications of moments.

Learn about Hooke's Law and about the spring constant of a spring as being the amount of force needed to extend a spring. Explore how to find the spring constant of a spring.

Learn about gravity.

Learn how forces work.

Learn how to show the difference between force and pressure.

Learn how to find the weight of a floating object.

Find out how to show pressure exists in liquids with this step-by-step demonstration.

Discussing whether robots will ever take over the world. Can you think like a scientist?

Discussing whether research into time travel should be banned. Can you think like a scientist?

The arrangement, movement and spacing of particles are different in solids, liquids and gases. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

To change the state of a substance, energy must be transferred to or from the substance. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

Liquids and gases are both fluids. Fluids can flow or be poured, because the particles in them are able to move around freely and can change positions.

The density of an object is calculated by dividing the mass by the volume. Find out more with BBC Bitesize. For students between the ages of 11 and 14.

The solar system is made up of the Sun and the objects that orbit around it, including planets, asteroids and comets. The Sun’s gravity holds all of these objects together.

The Sun is our nearest star. It is a yellow dwarf star and is found at the centre of our solar system.

Days, years and months are periods of time which are determined by the movement of Earth around the Sun, and the movement of the Moon around Earth.

A Moon phase is the shape of the visible part of the Moon, and this changes gradually over the course of a lunar month.

Scientists and astronomers often use units called light years to talk about the enormous distances to distant objects, such as stars and galaxies.

Find out from the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) about how tides work.

Find out how to make your own scale model of the Sun and the Earth.

A simple, step-by-step, visual guide showing you how to measure the strength of the Sun with a toilet roll.

Discussing whether a human will ever be born on Mars. Can you think like a scientist?

Find out about the two great scientists, Faraday and Dalton.

All waves transfer energy from one place to another. Examples of waves are all around us and include light, sound, ocean waves, radio waves, and radiation.

There are seven types of electromagnetic (EM) waves, which make up the electromagnetic spectrum. Different types of electromagnetic wave have different uses and dangers.

Learn about how light is transmitted through different materials and how to create ray diagrams to show light transmission.

Learn about the law of reflection, how to draw a ray diagram and the difference between diffuse and specular reflection.

Learn how light is refracted when it enters a material like water or glass, and how ray diagrams can be used to show the path light takes when it is refracted.

Learn about the features of the human eye, and how eyes and cameras both use lenses to focus light.and form images.

Investigate the motion of waves in water, what happens when waves are reflected, and the different types of wave superposition.

White light is made up of many different colours, each with a different frequency. It can be split up to produce a spectrum containing all the different colours of visible light.

A photographer explains how he uses his knowledge of light and colour in his profession.

Learn how filters affect the light that can shine through them, and how light is absorbed and reflected by different colours of surfaces.

Identify the features of a sound wave and learn about pitch, frequency, amplitude and loudness.

Learn about the speed of sound in air and other states of matter, how an echo is made, and how we can calculate the speed of sound from echoes.

We can hear sounds because our ears turn sound vibrations from the air, into signals that are sent to our brain.

A simple, step-by-step, visual guide showing you how to play a record with a £5 note.

A simple, step-by-step, visual guide showing you how to make a speaker from wire, a cup and a magnet.

How can you work safely in the lab? What are the various steps needed in order to do so? How to spot risks, hazards and understand hazard symbols.

Find out why variables are important in an experiment, including control variables, independent and dependent variables.

A hypothesis is an idea about how something works that can be tested using experiments. A prediction says what will happen if the hypothesis is correct.

Developing a method is an important part of planning an investigation and it is important to evaluate the validity of each step leading up to the conclusion.

Scientific equations and formulae are used to work things out in science. Using standard units means scientists around the world can work together better.

Use diagrams to show how scientific apparatus is set up and how to draw them in 2D. Common practical techniques that use apparatus include filtration, evaporation and distillation.

Calculating averages from data is usually more accurate than using one result. Using a table ensures that data is recorded in an organised way.

Types of data include continuous, discrete and categoric. Data can be presented in a number of ways, which depends on the type of variable and the uses.

Different types of graphs and charts are used to show results. They need to be drawn and labelled correctly. Scientists use patterns in the data to reach a conclusion.

A conclusion sums up what has been found out during an investigation. It should be clearly structured and explained using scientific knowledge.

Scientific studies can be biased; it's important to recognise when this is the case. Scientists review each other's conclusions from new research.