What is in National 5 Physics

National 5 Physics has six areas: dynamics, space, electricity, properties of matter, waves and radiation. This course teaches them in seven sections, each with two lessons and its own practice.

Weeks before your first paper

Hours a week for physics

Topic 1: Motion: vectors, speed and acceleration

Topic 2: Forces, energy and projectiles

Topic 3: Space

Topic 4: Electricity

Topic 5: Properties of matter

Topic 6: Waves

Topic 7: Radiation

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Topic 4

Electricity: 19.2 of your hours. It is 4 of the 20 questions on each timed paper, 20%.

Hours per topic
Topic	Your hours	Share of the checks
Topic 4: Electricity	19.2	20%
Topic 1: Motion: vectors, speed and acceleration	14.4	15%
Topic 2: Forces, energy and projectiles	14.4	15%
Topic 5: Properties of matter	14.4	15%
Topic 6: Waves	14.4	15%
Topic 3: Space	9.6	10%
Topic 7: Radiation	9.6	10%

Week by week

Week 1Section 4: Electricity
Week 2Section 4: Electricity
Week 3Section 4: Electricity
Week 4Section 4: Electricity
Week 5Section 4: Electricity, Section 1: Motion: vectors, speed and acceleration
Week 6Section 1: Motion: vectors, speed and acceleration
Week 7Section 1: Motion: vectors, speed and acceleration
Week 8Section 1: Motion: vectors, speed and acceleration
Week 9Section 1: Motion: vectors, speed and acceleration, Section 2: Forces, energy and projectiles
Week 10Section 2: Forces, energy and projectiles
Week 11Section 2: Forces, energy and projectiles
Week 12Section 2: Forces, energy and projectiles
Week 13Section 5: Properties of matter
Week 14Section 5: Properties of matter
Week 15Section 5: Properties of matter
Week 16Section 5: Properties of matter, Section 6: Waves
Week 17Section 6: Waves
Week 18Section 6: Waves
Week 19Section 6: Waves
Week 20Section 6: Waves, Section 3: Space
Week 21Section 3: Space
Week 22Section 3: Space, Section 7: Radiation
Week 23Section 7: Radiation
Week 24Section 7: Radiation
Week 25A timed paper and two Section 2 style questions, then review every lost mark
Week 26A timed paper and two Section 2 style questions, then review every lost mark

Check your topics with the free test

Question paper	2 hours, 110 marks
Section 1	20 marks of multiple choice
Section 2	90 marks of written answers
Exam day 2027	Tuesday 4 May, 13:00 to 15:00

The six areas

Dynamics: vectors and scalars, velocity-time graphs, acceleration, Newton's laws, energy and projectile motion.
Space: space exploration, satellites and the challenges of space travel, and cosmology, light-years and spectra.
Electricity: charge and current, potential difference, Ohm's law, practical circuits and electrical power.

How this course is laid out

Dynamics is split in two, so there are seven sections, each with two lessons, Section 1 style multiple choice and Section 2 style questions. Set the planner above with the weeks you have and how sure you are of each section.

Try 2 questions

Question 1Section 1 style

The graph shows the velocity of a cyclist for

15\ \text{s}

. Her velocity rises steadily from

0

8.4\ \text{m s}^{-1}

in the first

4.0\ \text{s}

, stays at

8.4\ \text{m s}^{-1}

until

10\ \text{s}

, then falls steadily to

0

15\ \text{s}

. How far does the cyclist travel in the

15\ \text{s}

Question 2Section 1 style

In the circuit shown, resistor

R_1

(

10\ \Omega

) is in series with a parallel pair,

R_2

(

20\ \Omega

) and

R_3

(

30\ \Omega

). What is the total resistance of the three resistors?

Next step

Take the free test Take the course tour

Questions people ask

How long is the National 5 Physics exam?

One question paper of 2 hours, 110 marks: Section 1 is 20 marks of multiple choice and Section 2 is 90 marks of written questions.

Is there coursework?

Yes, the assignment: a report on your own research, done in school, worth 20% of the award. This course prepares you for the question paper only.

Does this course cover National 4 or Higher?

No. It is built for National 5 Physics only.