UK Curriculum · Year 13 Physics · A-Level (AQA)

Year 13 Physics Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A full-year Year 13 A-Level Physics scheme of work following the AQA specification. Each week sets out the key concepts and a practical activity, covering circular motion and SHM, thermal physics and gases, gravitational, electric and magnetic fields, capacitors, nuclear physics and nuclear energy, then synoptic revision and the final A-Level exams. Lessons are planned for 1, 2 or 3 days a week.

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Year 13 Physics learning map

Choose a term, then compare a lighter weekly plan with a more intensive schedule.

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice

September · Further Mechanics (Circular Motion and SHM)

Year 13 Physics — September Lesson Plan

A-Level Physics (AQA)

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
September 1st week (Physics)	Circular Motion Radians, angular velocity, centripetal acceleration, centripetal force	Circular Motion Radians, angular velocity, centripetal acceleration, centripetal force Activity: Measuring centripetal force on a rotating bung	Circular Motion Radians, angular velocity, centripetal acceleration, centripetal force Activity: Measuring centripetal force on a rotating bung Exam-style questions
September 2nd week (Physics)	Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) Defining conditions for SHM, displacement, velocity, acceleration graphs	Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) Defining conditions for SHM, displacement, velocity, acceleration graphs Activity: Investigating SHM using a mass-spring system and motion sensor	Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) Defining conditions for SHM, displacement, velocity, acceleration graphs Activity: Investigating SHM using a mass-spring system and motion sensor Exam-style questions
September 3rd week (Physics)	Energy in SHM Kinetic and potential energy interchange, total energy conservation	Energy in SHM Kinetic and potential energy interchange, total energy conservation Activity: Calculating energy transformations in a pendulum	Energy in SHM Kinetic and potential energy interchange, total energy conservation Activity: Calculating energy transformations in a pendulum Exam-style questions
September 4th week (Physics)	Damping and Resonance Free vs forced oscillations, light/heavy damping, resonance curves	Damping and Resonance Free vs forced oscillations, light/heavy damping, resonance curves Activity: Tacoma Narrows bridge video analysis and Barton's pendulums demonstration	Damping and Resonance Free vs forced oscillations, light/heavy damping, resonance curves Activity: Tacoma Narrows bridge video analysis and Barton's pendulums demonstration Exam-style questions Assessment: SHM problem set and exam-style calculations

October · Thermal Physics and Gases

Year 13 Physics — October Lesson Plan

A-Level Physics (AQA)

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
October 1st week (Physics)	Internal Energy and Temperature Random kinetic and potential energy, molecular model of matter	Internal Energy and Temperature Random kinetic and potential energy, molecular model of matter Activity: Heating curves and state change analysis	Internal Energy and Temperature Random kinetic and potential energy, molecular model of matter Activity: Heating curves and state change analysis Exam-style questions
October 2nd week (Physics)	Specific Heat Capacity and Latent Heat Specific heat capacity, specific latent heat, continuous flow calorimetry	Specific Heat Capacity and Latent Heat Specific heat capacity, specific latent heat, continuous flow calorimetry Activity: Measuring specific latent heat of vaporization of water	Specific Heat Capacity and Latent Heat Specific heat capacity, specific latent heat, continuous flow calorimetry Activity: Measuring specific latent heat of vaporization of water Exam-style questions
October 3rd week (Physics)	Gas Laws and Ideal Gases Boyle's law, Charles's law, equation of state	Gas Laws and Ideal Gases Boyle's law, Charles's law, equation of state Activity: Experimental verification of Boyle's law using air pump apparatus	Gas Laws and Ideal Gases Boyle's law, Charles's law, equation of state Activity: Experimental verification of Boyle's law using air pump apparatus Exam-style questions
October 4th week (Physics)	Molecular Kinetic Theory Model Assumptions of kinetic theory, root-mean-square speed, mean kinetic energy	Molecular Kinetic Theory Model Assumptions of kinetic theory, root-mean-square speed, mean kinetic energy Activity: Derivation and application of gas pressure equation	Molecular Kinetic Theory Model Assumptions of kinetic theory, root-mean-square speed, mean kinetic energy Activity: Derivation and application of gas pressure equation Exam-style questions Assessment: Thermal physics practical report and numerical test

November · Gravitational Fields

Year 13 Physics — November Lesson Plan

A-Level Physics (AQA)

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
November 1st week (Physics)	Gravitational Fields and Field Strength Gravitational field lines, Newton's law of gravitation, field strength	Gravitational Fields and Field Strength Gravitational field lines, Newton's law of gravitation, field strength Activity: Mapping radial and uniform gravitational fields	Gravitational Fields and Field Strength Gravitational field lines, Newton's law of gravitation, field strength Activity: Mapping radial and uniform gravitational fields Exam-style questions
November 2nd week (Physics)	Gravitational Potential Definition of potential, potential gradient, work done in moving masses	Gravitational Potential Definition of potential, potential gradient, work done in moving masses Activity: Plotting gravitational potential vs distance graphs	Gravitational Potential Definition of potential, potential gradient, work done in moving masses Activity: Plotting gravitational potential vs distance graphs Exam-style questions
November 3rd week (Physics)	Orbits and Kepler's Laws Kepler's Third Law, orbital speed, total energy of orbiting satellite	Orbits and Kepler's Laws Kepler's Third Law, orbital speed, total energy of orbiting satellite Activity: Calculating geostationary satellite orbital parameters	Orbits and Kepler's Laws Kepler's Third Law, orbital speed, total energy of orbiting satellite Activity: Calculating geostationary satellite orbital parameters Exam-style questions
November 4th week (Physics)	Section Review Synoptic gravitational field problem solving	Section Review Synoptic gravitational field problem solving Activity: Exam practice workshop on field potentials	Section Review Synoptic gravitational field problem solving Activity: Exam practice workshop on field potentials Exam-style questions Assessment: Gravitational fields assignment

December · Electric Fields

Year 13 Physics — December Lesson Plan

A-Level Physics (AQA)

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
December 1st week (Physics)	Coulomb's Law Point charges, permittivity of free space, electrostatic force	Coulomb's Law Point charges, permittivity of free space, electrostatic force Activity: Comparing gravitational and electrostatic forces between electrons	Coulomb's Law Point charges, permittivity of free space, electrostatic force Activity: Comparing gravitational and electrostatic forces between electrons Exam-style questions
December 2nd week (Physics)	Electric Field Strength and Potential Uniform fields, electric potential, potential gradient	Electric Field Strength and Potential Uniform fields, electric potential, potential gradient Activity: Mapping equipotential lines in conducting paper	Electric Field Strength and Potential Uniform fields, electric potential, potential gradient Activity: Mapping equipotential lines in conducting paper Exam-style questions
December 3rd week (Physics)	Charged Particles in Electric Fields Parabolic deflection of electrons in uniform electric fields	Charged Particles in Electric Fields Parabolic deflection of electrons in uniform electric fields Activity: Analyzing oscilloscope deflection plates	Charged Particles in Electric Fields Parabolic deflection of electrons in uniform electric fields Activity: Analyzing oscilloscope deflection plates Exam-style questions
December 4th week (Physics)	Capacitors Introduction Definition of capacitance, energy stored in capacitors	Capacitors Introduction Definition of capacitance, energy stored in capacitors Activity: Charging and discharging capacitors through resistors	Capacitors Introduction Definition of capacitance, energy stored in capacitors Activity: Charging and discharging capacitors through resistors Exam-style questions Assessment: Mid-year A2 mock examination

The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Recall and connect

Open with prerequisite questions that connect the week’s topic to earlier AS and A-Level content.

25 minutes

Explain and apply

Develop the theory, then apply it to data analysis, calculations and extended-response questions.

10 minutes

Check for mastery

Finish with an exam-style question that shows progress towards top-grade answers.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for Year 13 Physics

Concept lessons

Focused lessons on each AS and A-Level specification topic.

Exam practice

A-Level style questions, timed tasks and past-paper practice matched to the plan.

Practical skills

Required practical activities, data handling and practical endorsement skills.

Progress notes

Detailed feedback on answers and exam technique, with clear next steps.

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