What is in Higher Physics

Higher Physics has three areas: Our dynamic Universe, Particles and waves, and Electricity, plus units, significant figures and uncertainties throughout.

Weeks before your first paper

Hours a week for physics

Topic 1: Motion, forces and energy

Topic 2: Collisions, projectiles and gravitation

Topic 3: Special relativity and the expanding Universe

Topic 4: Charged particles, the Standard Model and nuclear reactions

Topic 5: Irradiance, photons and spectra

Topic 6: Interference and refraction

Topic 7: AC, circuits and internal resistance

Topic 8: Capacitors and semiconductors

26 weeks, 104 hours in all

Start with Topic 1

Motion, forces and energy: 14.4 of your hours. It is 3 of the 20 questions on each timed paper, 15%.

Hours per topic
Topic	Your hours	Share of the checks
Topic 1: Motion, forces and energy	14.4	15%
Topic 2: Collisions, projectiles and gravitation	14.4	15%
Topic 4: Charged particles, the Standard Model and nuclear reactions	14.4	15%
Topic 7: AC, circuits and internal resistance	14.4	15%
Topic 3: Special relativity and the expanding Universe	9.6	10%
Topic 5: Irradiance, photons and spectra	9.6	10%
Topic 6: Interference and refraction	9.6	10%
Topic 8: Capacitors and semiconductors	9.6	10%

Week by week

Week 1Section 1: Motion, forces and energy
Week 2Section 1: Motion, forces and energy
Week 3Section 1: Motion, forces and energy
Week 4Section 1: Motion, forces and energy, Section 2: Collisions, projectiles and gravitation
Week 5Section 2: Collisions, projectiles and gravitation
Week 6Section 2: Collisions, projectiles and gravitation
Week 7Section 2: Collisions, projectiles and gravitation
Week 8Section 2: Collisions, projectiles and gravitation, Section 4: Charged particles, the Standard Model and nuclear reactions
Week 9Section 4: Charged particles, the Standard Model and nuclear reactions
Week 10Section 4: Charged particles, the Standard Model and nuclear reactions
Week 11Section 4: Charged particles, the Standard Model and nuclear reactions, Section 7: AC, circuits and internal resistance
Week 12Section 7: AC, circuits and internal resistance
Week 13Section 7: AC, circuits and internal resistance
Week 14Section 7: AC, circuits and internal resistance
Week 15Section 7: AC, circuits and internal resistance, Section 3: Special relativity and the expanding Universe
Week 16Section 3: Special relativity and the expanding Universe
Week 17Section 3: Special relativity and the expanding Universe, Section 5: Irradiance, photons and spectra
Week 18Section 5: Irradiance, photons and spectra
Week 19Section 5: Irradiance, photons and spectra
Week 20Section 5: Irradiance, photons and spectra, Section 6: Interference and refraction
Week 21Section 6: Interference and refraction
Week 22Section 6: Interference and refraction, Section 8: Capacitors and semiconductors
Week 23Section 8: Capacitors and semiconductors
Week 24Section 8: Capacitors and semiconductors
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 30 minutes, 130 marks
Section 1	20 marks of multiple choice
Section 2	110 marks of written answers
Exam day 2027	Tuesday 4 May, 09:00 to 11:30

The key areas

Our dynamic Universe: motion, forces, energy and power, collisions and impulse, gravitation and projectiles, special relativity and the expanding Universe.
Particles and waves: forces on charged particles, the Standard Model, nuclear reactions, the inverse square law, wave-particle duality, interference, spectra and refraction.
Electricity: AC, current, potential difference, power and resistance, internal resistance, capacitors, and semiconductors and p-n junctions.

The assignment

The course award also includes an assignment: a report on a physics topic, 20 marks scaled to 33, worth 20% of the award. It is carried out in school, and this course does not cover it.

How this course maps the key areas

The course groups the key areas into eight 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, and it splits your hours.

Try 2 questions

Question 1Section 1 style

The velocity-time graph shows the motion of a trolley on a long track for

5.0\ \text{s}

. Its velocity falls uniformly from

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

t

= 0

-4.0\ \text{m s}^{-1}

t

= 5.0\ \text{s}

, passing through zero at

t

= 3.0\ \text{s}

. Taking its starting direction as positive, what is the displacement of the trolley from its starting point at

t

= 5.0\ \text{s}

Question 2Section 1 style

A student measures the terminal p.d. of a battery for different currents. The straight-line graph of t.p.d. against current falls from

6.0\ \text{V}

at zero current, passes through

1.0\ \text{V}

2.0\ \text{A}

, and meets the current axis at

2.4\ \text{A}

. What are the EMF and the internal resistance of the battery?

Next step

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Questions people ask

How long is the Higher Physics exam?

From session 2026-27 there is one question paper of 2 hours 30 minutes, 130 marks: Section 1 is 20 marks of multiple choice and Section 2 is 110 marks of written questions.

Is there coursework in Higher Physics?

Yes, an assignment: a report of 20 marks, scaled to 33, worth 20% of the award. The question paper is the other 80%.

Does this course cover National 5 or Advanced Higher?

No. It is built for Higher Physics only.