Overview
By studying the IGCSE Physics online course, answer age-old questions, such as, how do you know how mobile phones work? How we walk without slipping? How we hear things through earphones? Physics is more than just black holes and the atmosphere; it examines all the invisible forces that govern our world, providing answers to life's most challenging questions.
IGCSE Physics opens up a range of career paths in astronomy, environmental science, engineering, and more, as well as higher education at university.
What you'll learn
Isaac Newton said that energy is constant. In studying this topic, you’ll discover exactly what that means! You’ll also examine forces, movement, shape, and momentum.
What exactly is it powering the devices you use? In this module, you’ll investigate how we control electricity and the power behind it. The topic also explores how electricity is tamed and driven around the country in everyone’s houses.
In physics, waves are disturbances or oscillations that travel through space-time and are an extremely important phenomenon. You will have a thorough understanding of this by the end of this unit through the study of the electromagnetic spectrum, as well as light and sound.
Energy can take many forms: chemical, kinetic, thermal, and magnetic; in this unit, you’ll learn about them all, and their use in our everyday lives. You’ll discover how emission and absorption of radiation are related to surface and temperature, and take a look at some of the ways that unwanted energy transfer can be prevented, such as through insulation. Moving on, you’ll examine work and power, discovering some of the ways we harness energy to generate electricity, such as using fossil fuels and nuclear power.
Time to move on! In unit five you’ll examine why solids, liquids, and gases change state and the scientific processes that occur as they do. Next, you’ll move on to ideal gas molecules and the way in which they behave and interact with one another.
So, what are magnets? In this unit, you’ll delve into their properties, as well as the way they behave under different conditions. Moving on, you’ll take a look at electromagnetism, a type of physical interaction that occurs between electrically charged particles, as well as electromagnetic induction.
Radioactivity is the emission of ionising particles, which is what you’ll explore in unit seven. You’ll delve into the structure of the atom, in terms of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and what happens when an atomic nucleus becomes unstable. You’ll learn about the process of nuclear fission and fusion, as well as the dangers of ionising radiation to living organisms.
Calling all stargazers! In the final unit, you’ll gaze into the wider universe as well as our own solar system and the Milky Way galaxy. You’ll study the gravitational force that causes planetary bodies to orbit, as well as the commonly accepted origin point of everything we know: The Big Bang.
Extra info
Awarding Body

Edexcel is the UK’s largest awarding organisation offering academic and vocational qualifications in schools, colleges and workplaces in the UK and abroad. Edexcel is a multinational education and examination body covering A-Level Courses and GCSE Courses.
Course Outcome
Upon successful completion of this home learning course, you will receive an IGCSE in physics, issued by Edexcel. This syllabus (1PH0) has been chosen specifically because it is best suited to distance learning.
How is this course assessed or examined?
You can enrol now for examinations for Summer 2024.
This qualification is linear; therefore, students will sit all their exams at the end of the course. You'll be required to complete two GCSE standard written exams.
- Paper 1 - Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes, 50% of IGCSE, 100 marks.
- Paper 2 - Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes, 50% of IGCSE, 100 marks.
The exams contain a mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. We provide a guaranteed exam space in one of our partner exam centres around the UK. Check where your closest exam centre is.
During your course, you'll be required to complete various assignments. These do not contribute to your final grade but provide you with an opportunity to submit work to your tutor for marking and feedback. This will help you to monitor your progress.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this level two course, however, it is recommended that you have an intermediate ability to read and write in English.