IGCSE Physics (0625) Syllabus: Every Chapter & Topic (2026)

Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) spans six big chapters — from Motion, Forces & Energy all the way through to Space Physics — and it's easy to lose track of what you've covered and what you haven't. This complete syllabus map lays out every chapter and topic in order, so you can plan your revision and spot gaps at a glance. Every leaf topic links straight to practice questions with instant marking.

Chapter 1: Motion, Forces & Energy

The foundation of the whole course — how objects move, the forces that act on them, and how energy is stored, transferred and conserved.

Physical Quantities & Measurement Techniques

• Measurement
• Scalars & Vectors
• Calculating with Vectors

Motion

• Speed & Velocity
• Acceleration
• Distance-Time Graphs
• Speed-Time Graphs
• Calculating Acceleration from Speed-Time Graphs
• Freefall

Mass, Weight & Density

• Mass & Weight
• Density
• Measuring Density
• Floating

Effects of Forces

• Resultant Forces
• Newton's First Law
• Newton's Second Law
• Investigating Force & Extension
• Hooke's Law
• Circular Motion
• Friction

Moments

• Moments
• Equilibrium
• Centre of Gravity
• Investigating Centre of Gravity

Momentum

• Momentum
• Impulse

Energy, Work & Power

• Energy Stores & Transfers
• Kinetic Energy
• Gravitational Potential Energy
• Conservation of Energy
• Work Done
• Power
• Efficiency

Energy Sources

• Energy from the Sun
• Energy from Fuels
• Energy from Water
• Geothermal Energy
• Nuclear Fusion

Pressure

• Pressure & Forces
• Pressure in a Liquid

Chapter 2: Thermal Physics

How particles behave in solids, liquids and gases, and how thermal energy is stored and transferred by conduction, convection and radiation.

Kinetic Particle Model of Matter

• States of Matter
• Molecular Matter
• Particle Model of Gases
• Brownian Motion
• Gases & Absolute Temperature

Thermal Properties & Temperature

• Thermal Expansion
• Specific Heat Capacity
• Investigating Specific Heat Capacity
• Melting & Boiling
• Evaporation

Transfer of Thermal Energy

• Demonstrating Conduction
• Thermal Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation
• The Greenhouse Effect
• Investigating IR Radiation
• Consequences of Thermal Energy Transfer

Chapter 3: Waves

The behaviour common to all waves, then the physics of light, the electromagnetic spectrum and sound.

General Properties of Waves

• Features of Waves
• The Wave Equation
• Transverse & Longitudinal Waves
• Wave Behaviour
• Ripple Tank

Light

• Reflection of Light
• Investigating Reflection
• Refraction of Light
• Refractive Index
• Total Internal Reflection
• Ray Diagrams
• Real & Virtual Images
• Correcting Sight
• Dispersion of Light

Electromagnetic Spectrum

• Electromagnetic Waves
• Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
• Dangers of Electromagnetic Waves
• Communications
• Digital & Analogue Signals

Sound

• Sound Waves
• Measuring the Speed of Sound
• Effects of Sound Waves
• Ultrasound

Chapter 4: Electricity & Magnetism

One of the largest chapters — magnetism, static and current electricity, circuits, and the electromagnetic effects that power motors, generators and transformers.

Simple Phenomena of Magnetism

• Magnetism
• Magnets
• Magnetic Fields
• Plotting Magnetic Fields

Electrical Quantities

• Electric Charge
• Demonstrating Electric Charges
• Electric Fields
• Investigating Conductors & Insulators
• Current
• Direct & Alternating Current
• Electromotive Force
• Potential Difference
• Resistance
• Resistance of a Wire
• Electrical Energy
• Electrical Power

Electric Circuits & Electrical Safety

• Circuit Diagrams & Circuit Components
• Current in Circuits
• EMF & Potential Difference in Circuits
• Combined Resistance
• Potential Dividers
• Electrical Safety

Electromagnetic Effects

• Electromagnetic Induction
• Demonstrating Induction
• The A.C. Generator
• Magnetic Effect of a Current
• Investigating the Field Around a Wire
• Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor
• Electric Motors
• Transformers
• Transformer Calculations

Chapter 5: Nuclear Physics

The structure of the atom and its nucleus, and the radioactivity that comes from unstable nuclei — its types, uses and dangers.

The Nuclear Model of the Atom

• The Atom
• The Nucleus
• Protons, Neutrons & Electrons
• Fission & Fusion

Radioactivity

• Background Radiation
• Types of Radiation
• Ionising Power & Deflection
• Radioactive Decay
• Half-Life
• Uses of Radiation
• Dangers of Radiation

Chapter 6: Space Physics

The final chapter zooms out — from the Earth, Moon and Solar System to the life cycle of stars and the origins of the Universe.

Earth & The Solar System

• The Earth, Moon & Sun
• The Solar System
• Formation of the Solar System
• Light Speed Calculations
• Gravitational Field Strength
• Orbital Speed Equation
• Elliptical Orbits

Stars & The Universe

• The Sun as a Star
• The Scale of the Universe
• Star Formation
• Life Cycle of a Star
• Galactic Redshift
• The Big Bang Theory
• Age of the Universe

How to use this syllabus map

1. Audit your coverage chapter by chapter
   Work down the six chapters and mark each topic as confident, shaky or not-yet-started. Gaps hide in the middle of long chapters like Electricity & Magnetism.
2. Click through to practice where you're weak
   Every leaf topic links to real past-paper questions with instant AI marking. Turn a shaky topic into a confident one before moving on.
3. Prioritise the calculation-heavy topics
   Motion, Energy, Electrical Quantities and the Space equations reward repeated numerical practice — do more of these than definition-only topics.
4. Lock in Extended-tier questions
   If you're targeting the top grades, make the Extended (supplement) content the core of your revision rather than an afterthought.

FAQ

Use this map as your revision checklist: work through all six chapters, click into practice wherever you're unsure, and keep drilling the numericals and required practicals. Cover the whole syllabus systematically and there won't be a corner of the exam that catches you out.