IGCSE Physics Lesson Notes
The full Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) syllabus, from motion and forces to nuclear and space physics — with the formula work, unit conversions and definitions that decide most marks.
All 52 topics across 12 units
Start anywhere — each topic stands on its own.
Motion
6 topics-
Density
Density: the formula and units, measuring the density of regular and irregular solids and liquids, floating and sinking, and unit conversion.
6 min read Read notes -
Distance-time and speed-time graphs
Motion graphs: reading distance–time and speed–time graphs, gradient as speed and acceleration, area under a speed–time graph as distance, and curved graphs and tangents.
8 min read Read notes -
Mass, weight and gravitational field strength
Mass and weight: the difference between them, W = mg, gravitational field strength, weight on the Moon and in space, and measuring each.
6 min read Read notes -
Physical quantities, units and measurement techniques
Measurement: SI base and derived units, prefixes and standard form, measuring length, volume and time, the displacement method, and reducing measurement error.
9 min read Read notes -
Scalars and vectors
Scalars and vectors: the definitions, which quantities are which, adding vectors in a line, resultant forces, and finding a resultant by scale drawing and by calculation.
6 min read Read notes -
Speed, velocity and acceleration
Speed, velocity and acceleration: the definitions and formulae, average speed, the difference between speed and velocity, deceleration, and free fall.
7 min read Read notes
Forces
5 topics-
Forces, resultant force and Newton's laws
Forces: the effects of a force, resultant force, Newton's three laws, F = ma, free body diagrams, balanced and unbalanced forces.
7 min read Read notes -
Friction, air resistance and terminal velocity
Friction and terminal velocity: static and dynamic friction, air resistance and drag, how terminal velocity is reached, and skydiver and parachute questions.
7 min read Read notes -
Hooke's law and springs
Hooke's law: F = kx, extension vs length, the spring constant, the limit of proportionality, force–extension graphs and the stretching experiment.
7 min read Read notes -
Moments, turning effect and centre of gravity
Moments: the turning effect of a force, the principle of moments, balancing beams and pivots, centre of gravity, stability and toppling.
7 min read Read notes - Extended
Momentum and impulse
Momentum: the formula p = mv, conservation of momentum in collisions and explosions, impulse as change in momentum, and force as rate of change of momentum.
7 min read Read notes
Energy
5 topics-
Efficiency
Efficiency: the formula for energy and power, why efficiency can never exceed 100%, Sankey diagrams, wasted energy and improving efficiency.
5 min read Read notes -
Energy resources and electricity generation
Energy resources: renewable and non-renewable sources, how each generates electricity, advantages and disadvantages, and which resources come from the Sun.
6 min read Read notes -
Energy stores, transfers and conservation
Energy: the energy stores, how energy is transferred, the principle of conservation of energy, Sankey diagrams and dissipation.
6 min read Read notes -
Kinetic and gravitational potential energy
Kinetic and gravitational potential energy: the formulae KE = ½mv² and GPE = mgh, energy conversions in falls and pendulums, and the mistakes that cost marks.
6 min read Read notes -
Work, energy and power calculations
Work and power: W = Fd, the joule, P = W/t and the watt, work done against gravity and friction, and combining with kinetic and potential energy.
5 min read Read notes
Pressure
1 topic-
Pressure, pressure in liquids and the barometer
Pressure: p = F/A, pressure in liquids p = ρgh, why pressure increases with depth, atmospheric pressure, barometers and manometers.
7 min read Read notes
Thermal physics
6 topics-
Brownian motion, gas pressure and the gas laws
Gases: Brownian motion as evidence for the particle model, how gas pressure arises, Boyle's law, and the effect of temperature at constant volume.
6 min read Read notes -
Conduction, convection and radiation
Thermal energy transfer: conduction in metals and non-metals, convection currents and density, infrared radiation, surface colour effects, and reducing heat loss.
8 min read Read notes -
Kinetic particle model and states of matter
The kinetic particle model: arrangement and motion of particles in solids, liquids and gases, changes of state, and how the model explains gas pressure.
7 min read Read notes -
Melting, boiling, latent heat and evaporation
Changes of state: melting and boiling points, specific latent heat of fusion and vaporisation, heating curves, and how evaporation differs from boiling.
7 min read Read notes -
Specific heat capacity
Specific heat capacity: the definition, the equation E = mcΔθ, unit conversions, experiments to measure it, and why water's high value matters.
7 min read Read notes -
Thermal expansion and thermometers
Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases, its everyday consequences, and liquid-in-glass thermometers including range, sensitivity and linearity.
6 min read Read notes
Waves
8 topics-
Dispersion, colour and the visible spectrum
Dispersion: splitting white light with a prism, the visible spectrum in order, why different colours refract by different amounts, and monochromatic light.
5 min read Read notes -
General properties of waves
Waves: transverse and longitudinal waves, wavelength, amplitude, frequency and period, the wave equation v = fλ, wavefronts, reflection, refraction and diffraction.
9 min read Read notes -
Lenses and ray diagrams
Lenses: converging and diverging lenses, focal length, drawing ray diagrams, the nature of the image for each object position, real vs virtual images and magnification.
7 min read Read notes -
Reflection of light and plane mirrors
Reflection: the law of reflection, the normal, incident and reflected rays, drawing ray diagrams, and the properties of an image in a plane mirror.
6 min read Read notes -
Refraction and refractive index
Refraction: why light bends, angles of incidence and refraction, Snell's law and refractive index, what changes and what stays the same, and the critical angle.
9 min read Read notes -
Sound waves
Sound: longitudinal waves, compressions and rarefactions, pitch and loudness, the speed of sound, echoes, the audible range and ultrasound.
6 min read Read notes -
The electromagnetic spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum: the seven regions in order, wavelength, frequency and energy trends, uses of each region and their dangers.
6 min read Read notes - Extended
Total internal reflection and optical fibres
Total internal reflection: the critical angle, the two conditions, calculating with sin c = 1/n, and applications in optical fibres, prisms and endoscopes.
6 min read Read notes
Electricity
8 topics-
Circuit components, diagrams and sensors
Circuit components: the standard symbols, ammeters and voltmeters, variable resistors, thermistors and LDRs, and potential divider circuits.
7 min read Read notes -
Current, potential difference and electromotive force
Electrical quantities: charge and current, Q = It, potential difference and e.m.f., conventional current vs electron flow, and cells in series.
7 min read Read notes -
Electrical energy, power and cost calculations
Electrical energy and power: P = VI, P = I²R, E = VIt, the kilowatt-hour and calculating the cost of electricity.
6 min read Read notes -
Electrical safety, fuses and earthing
Electrical safety: the live, neutral and earth wires, how fuses and circuit breakers work, earthing, double insulation and choosing a fuse rating.
6 min read Read notes -
Resistance and current-voltage characteristics
Resistance: Ohm's law, I–V graphs for a resistor, filament lamp and diode, ohmic and non-ohmic conductors, and how resistance depends on length, area and temperature.
7 min read Read notes -
Series and parallel circuits
Series and parallel circuits: how current and voltage behave in each, combining resistances, potential dividers, and why adding parallel branches lowers total resistance.
8 min read Read notes -
Simple phenomena of magnetism and magnetic fields
Magnetism: poles and forces, magnetic and non-magnetic materials, drawing magnetic field lines, induced magnetism, magnetic shielding and hard vs soft magnetic materials.
7 min read Read notes -
Static electricity, charge and electric fields
Static electricity: charging by friction, positive and negative charge, attraction and repulsion, electric fields and field lines, and earthing.
6 min read Read notes
Electromagnetism
4 topics-
Electromagnetic induction and generators
Electromagnetic induction: inducing an e.m.f. by cutting field lines, factors affecting its size, Lenz's law, the a.c. generator, slip rings and the output graph.
8 min read Read notes -
Magnetic effect of a current and electromagnets
Electromagnetism: the magnetic field around a wire and a solenoid, the right-hand grip rule, electromagnets and their uses in relays and circuit breakers.
6 min read Read notes -
The motor effect and the d.c. motor
The motor effect: force on a current-carrying conductor, Fleming's left-hand rule, the d.c. motor, the split-ring commutator and how to increase the turning effect.
7 min read Read notes - Extended
Transformers and power transmission
Transformers: how they work, the turns and voltage equation, step-up and step-down transformers, and why electricity is transmitted at high voltage.
7 min read Read notes
Nuclear physics
5 topics-
Half-life and radioactive decay
Half-life: the definition, calculating remaining activity and mass, reading half-life from a decay graph, and uses including carbon dating.
6 min read Read notes -
Nuclear fission and fusion
Nuclear fission and fusion: the definitions, chain reactions, the nuclear reactor, fusion in stars, and the differences between the two processes.
6 min read Read notes -
Radioactivity: alpha, beta and gamma radiation
Radioactivity: the properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiation, ionising power and penetration, deflection in fields, nuclear decay equations and background radiation.
9 min read Read notes -
Safety, hazards and uses of radioactivity
Radiation safety: the biological effects of ionising radiation, safe handling and storage, and the medical and industrial uses of radioactive sources.
6 min read Read notes -
The nuclear model of the atom, nuclide notation and isotopes
Atomic structure: protons, neutrons and electrons, nuclide notation, proton and nucleon number, isotopes, and the Rutherford gold foil (alpha scattering) experiment.
6 min read Read notes
Space physics
2 topics-
Stars, galaxies and the Universe
Stars and the Universe: the life cycle of a star, nuclear fusion, galaxies and the Milky Way, light years, redshift and the Big Bang theory.
7 min read Read notes -
The Earth, Moon and the Solar System
The Solar System: the order of the planets, day and night, the seasons, the Moon's orbit and phases, orbital speed and why gravity keeps planets in orbit.
6 min read Read notes
Practical skills
1 topic-
Experiments, apparatus, measurement and graph work
IGCSE Cambridge Physics practical paper guidance: planning experiments, variables, reading instruments, plotting graphs and finding gradients, sources of error and how to improve accuracy and reliability.
8 min read Read notes
Exam skills
1 topic-
Exam technique, calculator use and past paper strategy
How to earn more marks in IGCSE Cambridge Physics: showing working, learning definitions precisely, units and significant figures, the practical paper, multiple choice strategy and using past papers.
6 min read Read notes
Notes get you started. A tutor gets you the grade.
These notes came out of one-to-one Physics lessons. If a topic still will not click, sit in one — the first lesson is free.
About these IGCSE Physics notes
Do these notes cover the whole Cambridge IGCSE Physics syllabus?
Yes — all 52 topics across the 12 units of the undefined syllabus are covered, grouped in the order the syllabus lists them. Nothing is held back behind a sign-up.
Who wrote them?
Tutopiya Physics tutors, from their own one-to-one teaching. The emphasis in each topic reflects where students actually struggle rather than how much space a textbook gives it.
How should I use them alongside past papers?
Read the topic first, then attempt questions on it, then come back to the mistakes section at the end of the topic. Most lost marks in a past paper map onto something already listed there.
Are these notes up to date with the 0625 specification?
They follow the current undefined specification. Exam boards do revise syllabuses, so confirm the objectives for your exam session against the official Cambridge specification.
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