O Level Physics (5054) Notes

Practice194 MCQs & 153 exam questions with answers & mark schemes →

Every chapter of the physics syllabus for Cambridge O Level 5054, in the order the book takes them. 25 lessons are published so far — each with notes, worked examples, a graph you can move, flashcards and a quiz — and more are being written.

Also called Cambridge O Level, CAIE O Level.

01

Motion, forces and energy

▸Measurement & UnitsGetting the number right, and knowing how right it is · 16 min · 6 questions→▸KinematicsDescribing motion: displacement, velocity, acceleration and the graphs · 28 min · 12 questions→▸Mass and WeightTwo quantities that are constantly confused, and the field that connects them · 16 min · 8 questions→▸Mechanical Properties of MatterDensity, pressure and elastic behaviour · 24 min · 8 questions→▸MechanicsMotion, forces and energy · 24 min · 6 questions→▸MomentumThe quantity that survives every collision, and why it makes cars safer · 20 min · 8 questions→▸Work, Energy & PowerThe bookkeeping that never fails to balance · 18 min · 6 questions→▸Turning Effects of ForceMoments, couples, centre of gravity and stability · 22 min · 8 questions→

02

Thermal physics

▸Kinetic Particle Model of MatterSolids, liquids and gases explained by what the particles are doing · 20 min · 8 questions→▸Thermal Properties of MatterTemperature, expansion, specific heat capacity and latent heat · 26 min · 8 questions→▸Transfer of Thermal EnergyConduction, convection and radiation, and how to tell them apart · 22 min · 8 questions→

03

Waves

▸Waves & SHMOscillation, superposition, resonance · 20 min · 6 questions→▸LightReflection, refraction, total internal reflection and lenses · 26 min · 8 questions→▸Electromagnetic SpectrumOne family of waves, seven names, and what each one is used for · 18 min · 8 questions→▸SoundA longitudinal wave: pitch, loudness, echoes and ultrasound · 20 min · 8 questions→

04

Electricity and magnetism

▸MagnetismPoles, magnetic fields, magnetisation and the Earth as a magnet · 20 min · 8 questions→▸Electricity & MagnetismCharge, current, circuits and fields · 22 min · 6 questions→▸Electric CircuitsSeries and parallel, potential dividers, and the components that go in them · 24 min · 8 questions→▸Practical ElectricityPower, energy, the cost of running an appliance, and mains safety · 22 min · 8 questions→▸Electromagnetic EffectsThe motor effect, electromagnetic induction, generators and transformers · 26 min · 8 questions→▸Uses of an OscilloscopeReading a trace: time-base, amplitude, period and frequency · 16 min · 8 questions→

05

Nuclear physics

▸The Nuclear Model of the AtomProtons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes and the experiment that found the nucleus · 20 min · 8 questions→▸RadioactivityAlpha, beta and gamma, decay equations, half-life and safety · 26 min · 8 questions→

06

Space physics

▸Earth and the Solar SystemDay and night, seasons, orbits and the objects that go round the Sun · 20 min · 8 questions→▸Stars and the UniverseThe life cycle of a star, galaxies, redshift and the Big Bang · 22 min · 8 questions→

Frequently asked questions

What does O Level Physics (5054) cover?

All 6 chapters — Motion, forces and energy, Thermal physics, Waves, and more. The finished lessons carry notes, worked examples, an interactive diagram and a quiz; the remaining topics are mapped and being written.

Which syllabus do these Physics notes follow?

The Cambridge O Level Physics (5054) syllabus, topic by topic — the same specification your exam is set from.

Are there practice questions or past-paper-style questions?

Yes — 194 multiple-choice questions and 153 exam-style questions with mark schemes, all with answers, on the O Level Physics (5054) practice page.

Are the O Level Physics (5054) notes free?

Yes — completely free, with no sign-up or login. Every topic has notes, worked examples, an interactive diagram you can change, flashcards and a quiz that explains each answer.