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GCSE Applied Science: Self-Assessment Checklist
Energy, electricity and radiations
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discuss the factors which are involved in the decisions about the
types of power stations, including commissioning and
decommissioning costs, types of energy sources, fuel costs and
environmental factors. Be aware of the planning process
involved in the development of power stations involving
renewable resources such as wind farms, including non-scientific
opinion.
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understand the need for an electricity distribution system, give a
brief description of the National Grid and know that it is more cost
effective to transmit energy at high voltages and low currents so
less energy is wasted as heat.
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know that transformers step up voltage at the power station and
step down voltage before it goes to the consumers.
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understand the economic and environmental factors that have to
be considered in transmitting electrical energy across the country
(e.g. advantages and disadvantages of pylons and overhead
wires/underground cables).
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understand the meaning of the term efficiency when applied to
simple energy transfers including using the given equation:
efficiency = useful energy output/energy input ×100%
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use data to compare the suitability and efficiency of different
energy sources in given tasks.
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understand the advantages to the user, and to society, of making
and using devices with high efficiency, for example, the use of
low energy lamps compared to filament lamps.
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describe how during energy transfer, energy is conserved but
tends to spread out and become less useful.
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know how heat losses by conduction, convection and radiation
may be minimised; examples of good/bad conductors; explain
how heat losses by these processes can be reduced. (no particle
theory of conduction and convection are required).
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describe how to minimise heat loss from buildings including cavity
walls, cavity wall filling, fibre boards, aluminium foil, loft insulation,
double glazing, thermal blocks
GCSE Applied Science: Self-Assessment Checklist
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use the given equation
power = voltage x current
carry out simple calculations using the formula
power = energy/time
use the given equations:
energy used (kWh) = power (kW) ×time (h)
total cost = energy used (kWh) ×cost per unit (p)
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know that the electromagnetic spectrum includes radio waves,
microwaves, infra-red, visible light, ultra violet, X-rays and
gamma rays which all travel at the same speed in a vacuum.
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know their relative positions in terms of frequency and recall that
the higher the frequency the more dangerous the electromagnetic
wave.
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state a medical use of X-rays and gamma rays and describe the
precautions needed to protect medical staff and patients from
over exposure to X-rays and gamma rays and explain why these
precautions are necessary because these are ionising radiation.
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describe how radio waves, microwaves, infra-red and visible light
may be used in communication.
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understand what is meant by a geostationary orbit and explain
the need for satellites in geostationary orbits to aid global
communication.
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understand and give reasons why the capacity and reliability of
the communication network have been enhanced by replacing
copper cables with optical fibres, and by sending information in
the form of digital signals instead of analogue signals.
GCSE Applied Science: Self-Assessment Checklist
The Surface and Atmosphere of the Earth
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understand that observations and creative thought about the
location of earthquakes and volcanoes lead to the theory of
continental drift. This suggested that the outer layers of the Earth
are composed of a number of large pieces called tectonic plates
which are moving very slowly.
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understand that rocks can be: formed where tectonic plates move
apart and magma rises to fill the gap producing new igneous
rock; deformed and/or recycled where tectonic plates move
towards each other driving down the denser plate which may melt
to form magma that on cooling forms igneous rock.
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know that the main components of the original atmosphere were
carbon dioxide and water vapour together with smaller amounts
of other gases such as nitrogen.
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know that the main components of the original atmosphere were
carbon dioxide and water vapour together with smaller amounts
of other gases such as nitrogen.
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know that oxygen originally appeared as a 'polluting' gas and it
originated from photosynthesis by green plants.
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know that an ozone layer developed.
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understand the roles of respiration, combustion and
photosynthesis in the maintenance of the levels of oxygen and
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
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understand that the ozone layer is filtering out harmful ultraviolet
radiation from the sun.
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consider the accumulation of data and the development of ideas
about the destruction of the ozone layer and appreciate the role
of the scientific community in validating new ideas.
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know that there is debate in the scientific community on the issue
of global warming and be aware that many scientists attribute the
main cause of global warming to the increase in carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere caused by the combustion of fossil fuels and
deforestation.
GCSE Applied Science: Self-Assessment Checklist
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examine and evaluate the reliability of data on global
warming (Higher Tier only)
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appreciate some effects and consequences of global warming
and discuss and evaluate proposed solutions to the problem of
global warming.