Physics concepts resources

Task: Order wheels according to technological development, then answer questions about advantages and disadvantages of different wheels. Assessment focus: how wheels work.

Task: Match simple machines to items, select length of bar to lift a rock, and draw how to set up bar and a block of wood to lift the rock. Assessment focus: levers.

Task: Predict which objects will float. Assessment focus: flotation.

From a collection of 9 common objects, students identify those objects that are attracted to magnets.

Students match pictures of six objects to their appropriate energy source from the list provided.

Students answer short questions to show their knowledge of heat transfer through metal and plastic spoons.

Task: Identify which car will be coolest and explain why. Assessment focus: air currents.

Task: Select what would happen when like poles of a magnet come together, and explain why a plastic rather than a metal car was used in the investigation. Assessment focus: magnetism.

Task: Identify the colours on a taxi sitting under a red streetlight. Assessment focus: Coloured light can be produced by blocking some parts of the spectrum.

Task: explain the effect of temperature on metal and wood. Assessment focus: the effect of heat on different materials.

Task: Explain what is meant by 'efficient', calculate the amount of energy produced per second and name three forms of 'waste energy' of steam engines. Assessment focus: energy transformations.

Task: Answer two multiple choice questions. Assessment focus: forces.

Students are provided with a diagram of a rocket showing the different stages. Students use this to answer four questions.

Task: Identify which actions would make it easier to attract a paper clip. Assessment focus: magnetism.

Task: Answer questions about making a bike go faster. Assessment focus: friction; gearing.

From a collection of familiar objects, students identify all those that can act as sources of light.

Students answer three questions about air pressure in balloons, why helium balloons float, and why a popped balloon makes a noise.

Task: Describe what happens to water on black plastic and explain why. Assessment focus: effect of colour on heat retention.

Task: Complete a table to show how energy is transformed in eight objects and describe the energy transformations in two others. Assessment focus: energy transformation.

From a key of terms (heat, kinetic, light, potential and sound), students select the word which describes some common examples of energy change.

Students are asked to match six everyday objects to the main energy transformation that occurs in each of these objects.

For this task students look at a diagram showing household electrical wires and then answer some questions about these.

Students select from four pictures of laden trucks which is least likely to roll over when cornering, and explain their predictions. This resource assesses students' understanding of centre of gravity.

Students explain how the parts of a torch help it work.

Students list four things that wouldn't work and the problems this would cause if there was a power cut to their home.