National 5 science
National 5 Physics
Start with a topic, work through an example, then try some questions on your own.
Practise one topic at a time, mix topics or try a short exam-style set. Your progress is saved separately for this course.
If you get stuck, choose prepared guidance or optional AI Tutor for a conversation about this course. Recovery helps you revisit a topic with support before trying fresh questions on your own. Tutor Scotland checks ordinary science practice within the site. How optional AI Tutor uses information.
Use the feedback to decide what to practise next. If we can’t check an answer reliably, we’ll show it as unconfirmed. Practice feedback does not give official marks or predict a grade.
Use original practice investigations and sample data to prepare for your assignment. Do your assessed assignment yourself and follow your teacher’s guidance. You’ll need supervised practical work to show your lab skills.
Dynamics
- Scalars, vectors and journeys
- Measuring average and instantaneous speed
- Velocity–time graphs
- Acceleration and experimental evidence
- Newton’s laws, resultants and terminal speed
- Work, kinetic energy and gravitational energy
- Horizontal projectiles and satellite orbits
Electricity
- Current, charge and AC/DC traces
- Potential difference and electric fields
- Ohm’s law, graphs and potential dividers
- Series, parallel and mixed circuits
- Components, sensors and transistor switches
- Electrical power, energy and fuses
Properties of matter
- Specific heat capacity and energy transfer
- Latent heat and heating curves
- Pressure and the kinetic model
- Gas laws and controlled experiments
Radiation
- Ionising radiation: nature, penetration and uses
- Activity, background correction and half-life
- Absorbed dose, equivalent dose and dose rate
- Fission, fusion and energy generation
Scientific inquiry
- Investigation planning and research preparation
- Processing data, graphs, conclusions and evaluation
- Units, prefixes, scientific notation and precision
Space
- Space exploration and spacecraft
- Cosmology, light-years and stellar spectra
Waves
- Wave quantities and measurements
- Diffraction and wavefront diagrams
- The electromagnetic spectrum
- Refraction and ray diagrams
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