Edexcel Higher Combined Science physics learning books by topic
Thirteen free PDF learning books for the physics in Pearson Edexcel GCSE Combined Science, one for every physics topic from Topic 1 Key Concepts to Topic 15 Forces and Matter. Together they teach the Higher course from scratch in 101 lessons, written for double grades 4-4 to 9-9.
Use them as revision notes that do something. Each lesson teaches one part of the specification, works an example through, then sets practice questions, and every book closes with a topic assessment, model answers and a one-page knowledge organiser.
Free to download. No sign up, no email required. Independent resources aligned to Pearson Edexcel GCSE Combined Science 1SC0, not produced, approved or endorsed by Pearson or Edexcel.
Which Higher physics topics can I learn?
All 13 physics topics in Edexcel Combined Science at Higher tier. Topics 1 to 6 are examined on Physics Paper 5, and Topic 1 with topics 8 to 15 on Physics Paper 6. Need the basics first? See the Foundation Combined Science learning books. Taking separate Physics? Use the Edexcel Higher Physics resources.
Key Concepts of Physics
4 lessons covering SI units, prefixes and powers of ten, converting units and rates, and significant figures and standard form.
Download the Key Concepts of Physics bookMotion and Forces
13 lessons covering scalars and vectors, motion graphs, acceleration, Newton’s first and second laws, the force, mass and acceleration core practical and stopping distance, then the Higher-only motion without time, circular motion and Newton’s third law, and momentum. Includes core practical 2.19 force, mass and acceleration.
Download the Motion and Forces bookConservation of Energy
8 lessons covering energy stores and conservation, gravitational potential and kinetic energy, dissipation, cooling of buildings, efficiency and energy resources, with a mixed mastery lesson.
Download the Conservation of Energy bookWaves
8 lessons covering what waves transfer, wave quantities and types, the wave equations, measuring wave speed and the waves core practical, then the Higher-only refraction at a boundary and absorption, transmission and reflection. Includes core practical 4.17 waves in a solid and a fluid.
Download the Waves bookLight and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
7 lessons covering the electromagnetic family, the refraction core practical, the order of the spectrum, dangers and uses, then the Higher-only material response to wavelength and how radiation is produced and absorbed. Includes core practical 5.9 refraction in a glass block.
Download the Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum bookRadioactivity
9 lessons covering atoms, isotopes and ions, nuclear emissions, background radiation, the changing atomic model, nuclear equations, half-life and decay graphs, radiation dangers, and contamination and irradiation.
Download the Radioactivity bookEnergy: Forces Doing Work
7 lessons covering energy systems, work done by forces, gravitational and kinetic energy, dissipation, power, efficiency and mixed energy problems.
Download the Energy: Forces Doing Work bookForces and their Effects
6 lessons covering interactions and force pairs, scalars and vectors, then the Higher-only scale vector diagrams, free-body diagrams and resultant forces, and lubrication.
Download the Forces and their Effects bookElectricity and Circuits
10 lessons covering charge and current, potential difference and resistance, circuit symbols and meters, the I-V core practical, LDRs and thermistors, the heating effect, power, domestic devices, AC and DC, and mains safety. Includes core practical 10.17 I-V characteristics and series and parallel circuits.
Download the Electricity and Circuits bookMagnetism and the Motor Effect
7 lessons covering magnetic poles and materials, field patterns, the Earth’s field, the field around a wire and solenoids, then the Higher-only motor effect, Fleming’s left-hand rule and F = BIl.
Download the Magnetism and the Motor Effect bookElectromagnetic Induction
7 lessons covering the Higher-only induced potential difference, investigating electromagnetic induction and how a transformer works, then the National Grid, transmission efficiency and transformer power.
Download the Electromagnetic Induction bookParticle Model
9 lessons covering states of matter, the density core practical, changes of state and internal energy, specific heat capacity and latent heat, both parts of the water core practical, insulation, gas pressure and absolute zero. Includes core practical 14.3 density and 14.11 specific heat capacity of water and melting ice.
Download the Particle Model bookForces and Matter
6 lessons covering elastic and inelastic deformation, the spring constant, force-extension graphs, elastic energy, the spring core practical and material behaviour. Includes core practical 15.6 extension and work done on a spring.
Download the Forces and Matter bookHow does each lesson work?
Each lesson teaches the specification statements it names, works an example through, then sets practice for the student to do alone. Every book ends with a topic assessment, model answers and a knowledge organiser, so the student can check the whole topic at once.
The learning cycle in every book
- Learn: the specification focus for the lesson, the teaching itself and a labelled diagram
- See: a worked example solved step by step before any questions are set
- Do: a practice set that moves from recall to calculation and explanation
- Check: a topic assessment at the end of the book, with model answers and marking guidance
What else is inside
- a specification map at the front linking each lesson to its Pearson statement numbers
- a tier note listing the Higher-only and GCSE Physics-only statements and marking the Higher-only lessons
- all seven Combined Science physics core practicals, taught in Topics 2, 4, 5, 10, 14 and 15
- answers to every lesson’s practice questions in the Topic 1, 2 and 3 books
- a knowledge organiser or reference page at the end of every book
- 17 to 40 printable A4 pages per book
What does each book teach?
101 lessons across 13 books. Topic 2 Motion and Forces and Topic 10 Electricity and Circuits are the longest, and lesson titles below follow each book’s own lesson map.
Topic 1: Key Concepts of Physics
- Physical quantities and SI units
- Prefixes and powers of ten
- Converting units and rates
- Significant figures and standard form
Topic 2: Motion and Forces
- Scalars, vectors, distance and displacement
- Speed, distance, time and typical values
- Distance-time graphs
- Acceleration and free fall
- Velocity-time graphs
- Measuring speed and reaction time
- Newton’s first law and resultant force
- Newton’s second law, mass and weight
- Core practical: force, mass and acceleration
- Stopping distance, reaction time and road safety
- Motion without time (Higher only)
- Circular motion and Newton’s third law (Higher only)
- Momentum and force (Higher only)
Topic 3: Conservation of Energy
- Energy stores, pathways and conservation
- Gravitational potential energy
- Kinetic energy
- Dissipation and reducing unwanted transfers
- Cooling of buildings
- Efficiency
- Energy resources and changing patterns
- Mixed mastery and exam technique
Topic 4: Waves
- What waves transfer
- Wave quantities
- Transverse and longitudinal waves
- Wave equations
- Measuring wave speed
- Core Practical 4.17
- Refraction at a boundary
- Absorption, transmission, reflection and refraction
Topic 5: Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
- The electromagnetic family
- Core Practical: refraction in glass
- Spectrum order and continuous range
- Potential danger and biological effects
- Uses of electromagnetic radiation
- Wavelength-dependent material response
- Producing and absorbing radiation
Topic 6: Radioactivity
- Atoms, isotopes, ions and electron orbits
- Nuclear emissions and their properties
- Background radiation and detection
- How the atomic model changed
- Beta decay and nuclear equations
- Random decay, activity and half-life
- Decay graphs and a safe model investigation
- Ionising-radiation dangers and exposure safety
- Contamination versus irradiation
Topic 8: Energy: Forces Doing Work
- Energy systems, stores and pathways
- Work done by forces
- Gravitational and kinetic energy
- Dissipation in mechanical processes
- Power
- Efficiency
- Integrated energy problems
Topic 9: Forces and their Effects
- Interactions and force pairs
- Scalars and vectors
- Scale vector diagrams: resolution and equilibrium
- Free-body force diagrams
- Resultant forces and balanced systems
- Lubrication and unwanted energy transfer
Topic 10: Electricity and Circuits
- Charge, current and junctions
- Potential difference, resistance and series calculations
- Circuit symbols, meters and construction
- Core Practical 10.17 and I-V characteristics
- LDRs, thermistors and sensing circuits
- Heating effect, lattice collisions and energy loss
- Electrical energy and power
- Domestic devices and power ratings
- Direct and alternating supplies
- Mains wires, fuses and circuit breakers
Topic 12: Magnetism and the Motor Effect
- Magnetic poles and magnetic materials
- Magnetic fields: shape, direction and strength
- Plotting magnetic fields and the Earth
- Magnetic field around a current-carrying conductor
- Solenoids and electromagnets
- The motor effect and Fleming left-hand rule
- Calculating motor-effect force
Topic 13: Electromagnetic Induction
- Induced potential difference: size and direction
- Investigating electromagnetic induction
- How a transformer works
- The National Grid and high-voltage transmission
- Efficiency and transmission-line reasoning
- Step-up and step-down transformers in the Grid
- Ideal-transformer power calculations
Topic 14: Particle Model
- States of matter and the kinetic particle model
- Density equation and Core Practical 14.3
- Changes of state, mass conservation and internal energy
- Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat
- Core Practical 14.11A: specific heat capacity of water
- Core Practical 14.11B: melting-ice temperature-time graph
- Thermal insulation and unwanted energy transfer
- Gas pressure and temperature at constant volume
- Absolute zero and temperature scales
Topic 15: Forces and Matter
- Deformation: forces, elastic and inelastic behaviour
- Linear elastic distortion and the spring constant
- Force-extension graphs: linear and non-linear
- Work done and elastic energy
- Core Practical 15.6: extension and work done
- Rubber bands and synoptic material behaviour
How should a student use these?
Work one lesson at a time, in order. Read the teaching, cover the worked example and redo it, then answer the practice questions without looking back. Sit the topic assessment at the end and mark it against the model answers.
Starting a topic
Work through the lessons in order, one or two a sitting. Redo the worked example with the solution covered before starting the practice questions.
Revising before mocks
Use the specification map to skip lessons already secure, then sit the topic assessment and mark it against the model answers. Every question dropped points back to a lesson to redo.
Stuck on equations
Under Ofqual’s rules at least 20% of the marks in Combined Science test maths skills, and physics carries the largest share. Learn the recall equations, and use the knowledge organiser at the end of each book.
Guide: GCSE past papers
Where to find real past papers and mark schemes to practise with alongside these books.
Read the past papers guideGuide: maths skills for Physics
The equations, rearranging, graphs and standard form that physics questions expect, in one checklist.
Read the maths skills guideGuide: last-minute revision
What to do with the final weeks when there is no time left to cover everything.
Read the last-minute guideLearning book questions
The books are free for personal use, every book ends with an assessment and model answers, and they are written for the Edexcel Combined Science Higher tier. These answers cover tiers, core practicals, answers, papers and licensing.
What does the Higher course add?
The Higher books add 15 lessons on content Pearson marks as Higher tier only: motion without time, circular motion and Newton’s third law, and momentum in Topic 2; refraction at a boundary and wave absorption in Topic 4; material response and producing radiation in Topic 5; vector and free-body diagrams in Topic 9; the motor effect and F = BIl in Topic 12; and induction and transformers in Topic 13.
How are these different from your GCSE Physics learning books?
Combined Science leaves out the content that only separate Physics students sit: Topic 7 Astronomy, Topic 11 Static Electricity, and physics-only statements such as sound and ultrasound in Topic 4, lenses and colour in Topic 5, and pressure and upthrust in Topic 15. These books teach exactly the physics a Combined Science student needs.
Do the books cover the core practicals?
Yes. All seven physics core practicals in Edexcel Combined Science are taught: force, mass and acceleration (2.19), waves in a solid and a fluid (4.17), refraction in a glass block (5.9), I-V characteristics and circuits (10.17), density (14.3), specific heat capacity of water and melting ice (14.11), and extension and work done on a spring (15.6).
Do the books include answers?
Yes. Every book ends with a topic assessment and model answers with marking guidance. The Topic 1, 2 and 3 books also give answers to every lesson’s practice questions. The answers are written for these books and are not Pearson mark schemes.
Are they free? What is the licence?
The books are free to download for personal and household educational use. Tutors and schools need permission before copying them for learners, and resale, paid redistribution and third-party uploading are not permitted.
Which topics are on which paper?
Edexcel Combined Science has six papers, two each in biology, chemistry and physics, all sat at the same tier. Physics Paper 5 covers topics 1 to 6 and Physics Paper 6 covers topic 1 again plus topics 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Each is 1 hour 10 minutes, 60 marks and 16.67% of the qualification. There is no Edexcel Combined Science exam workbook yet, so use Pearson’s past papers for timed practice.
My child reads the lesson but still gets the questions wrong. What next?
That usually means the idea needs explaining a different way, not more reading. Try the worked example again with the solution covered, then the first two practice questions. If the same lesson still goes wrong, get the method retaught by a teacher at school or a tutor. Fourteen of our tutors teach Science and the first 30 minutes are free.
Practice finds the gaps. A tutor closes them
Fourteen of our tutors teach Science, and Combined Science is covered by tutors who teach across biology, chemistry and physics. Lessons are one to one on Zoom, £30 each, and the first 30 minutes are free with no card details. If a lesson still does not make sense after the worked example, that is usually the sign to have the idea explained a different way.