GCSE: Meteorites across the sciences

Twelve lessons that use meteorites to practise GCSE physics, chemistry and biology: the formation of the Solar System, isotopes and half-life, orbits, kinetic energy and momentum, heating and melting, metals, Earth's early atmosphere, the molecules of life, extinction and planetary defence.

Meteorites are real data for many of the ideas in GCSE science. Each lesson in this course takes one part of the GCSE content, shows how it applies to rocks from space, and works through a calculation of the kind that appears in exams, using real numbers. The content matches what is studied in GCSE combined science and the separate sciences in England; space physics topics are part of separate physics.

The lessons build on each other, so work through them in order. Each takes about an hour with the activity and quiz.

1. 1How the Solar System formedThe Sun and planets formed from a cloud of gas and dust about 4.6 billion years ago. Chondrite meteorites contain solid grains from that time, so they are direct evidence for the story.
2. 2Isotopes as fingerprintsAtoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons. The ratios of these isotopes in a meteorite act like a fingerprint for the body it came from.
3. 3Half-life and dating meteoritesRadioactive isotopes decay at a steady, predictable rate. Measuring how much has decayed in a meteorite tells us how long ago it formed.
4. 4Forces and orbitsAsteroids, planets and meteoroids all move under gravity. This lesson applies Newton's laws and circular motion to orbits, and explains how a fragment's orbit can change.
5. 5The kinetic energy of space rocksBecause they move so fast, even small meteoroids carry huge amounts of energy. This lesson uses the kinetic energy equation to explain fireballs, airbursts and craters.
6. 6Momentum: nudging an asteroidIn 2022 a spacecraft deliberately hit an asteroid moon to change its orbit. Momentum explains how a tiny spacecraft could move a body millions of times heavier.
7. 7Heating and melting: the fusion crustDuring entry the surface of a meteoroid is heated to melting in seconds. Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat explain why the crust is so thin and the interior stays cold.
8. 8Metals from spaceIron meteorites are natural alloys of iron and nickel. Their structure, strength and crystal patterns show metallic bonding and slow cooling on a scale no laboratory can match.
9. 9Earth's early atmosphere and oceansWhere did Earth's air and water come from? Volcanoes released gases, and meteorites show that asteroids may also have delivered water.
10. 10The molecules of life from spaceSome meteorites contain amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, made without any living thing. This lesson explains what they are and how scientists know they came from space.
11. 11Extinction and the fossil recordExtinction can be caused by new predators, disease, competition or catastrophic events. The impact 66 million years ago is the best-documented example of a catastrophe, and its evidence is preserved in rocks worldwide.
12. 12Hazard, risk and planetary defenceSmall rocks hit Earth every day; large impacts are very rare. This final lesson uses ideas of risk, probability and uncertainty to judge the danger, and looks at how it is managed.

How it links to what you study

• Physics, space physics (separate physics): the formation of the Solar System and orbits (lessons 1 and 4).
• Physics, atomic structure: isotopes, radioactive decay and half-life (lessons 2 and 3).
• Physics, forces: Newton's laws, resultant force, circular orbits and momentum (lessons 4 and 6).
• Physics, energy: kinetic energy, specific heat capacity and specific latent heat (lessons 5 and 7).
• Physics, particle model: density and changes of state (lessons 7 and 8).
• Chemistry, atomic structure and the periodic table: isotopes and relative atomic mass (lesson 2).
• Chemistry, bonding and properties: metals, metallic bonding and alloys (lesson 8).
• Chemistry, the atmosphere: the evolution of Earth's early atmosphere and oceans (lesson 9).
• Chemistry, organic chemistry: amino acids and relative formula mass (lesson 10).
• Biology, evolution: extinction and the fossil record (lesson 11).
• Working scientifically and maths skills: standard form, significant figures, rearranging equations, graphs, risk and uncertainty throughout (especially lesson 12).

Each lesson has learning goals, a short activity and a five-question quiz. Finish every quiz to unlock the printable certificate. Your progress is saved on this device only.