GED® Science: Physical Science
Physical Science is the chemistry-and-physics half of the GED® Science test. This course takes you from the particles inside matter all the way up to the forces that move the world: states of matter, atoms and the periodic table, chemical reactions and the conservation of mass, the forms of energy, Newton's laws of motion, work and simple machines, and waves. Every topic uses plain language, labeled diagrams, and GED®-style practice with full explanations.
📚 Go Deeper — Companion Courses
- 1 GED® Science: Matter and Its States (Deep Dive)
- 2 GED® Science: Atoms, Elements & the Periodic Table (Deep Dive)
- 3 GED® Science: Chemical Reactions & Conservation of Mass (Deep Dive)
- 4 GED® Science: Energy and Its Forms (Deep Dive)
- 5 GED® Science: Forces and Motion (Deep Dive)
- 6 GED® Science: Work, Power & Simple Machines (Deep Dive)
- 7 GED® Science: Waves, Energy & Reading Science Data (Deep Dive)
📚 Course Curriculum
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space (volume). Everything you can touch — air, water, your phone — is matter. Matter comes …
Open trial session →All matter is built from atoms, the smallest piece of an element. An atom has a tiny, dense center called the nucleus and a cloud …
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A chemical reaction rearranges atoms to make new substances. We write it as an equation, with reactants (what you start with) on the left and …
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Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. It comes in many forms, and the key idea is that energy can change from …
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A force is a push or a pull, measured in newtons (N). Forces change how things move. Sir Isaac Newton summed up motion in three …
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In science, work has an exact meaning: you do work only when a force moves an object a distance in the direction of the force:. …
Open trial session →A wave is a disturbance that carries energy from place to place — usually without carrying the matter along with it. Sound, light, and ripples …
Open trial session →Course Syllabus
This self-paced GED® Science course follows a 7-lesson sequence. Work through the modules in order so that each skill supports the next.
Course sequence
Module 1 - Lessons 1-4
- Matter and Its States
- Atoms, Elements & the Periodic Table
- Chemical Reactions & Conservation of Mass
- Energy and Its Forms
Module 2 - Lessons 5-7
- Forces and Motion (Newton's Laws)
- Work, Power & Simple Machines
- Waves, Energy & Reading Science Data
Practice and completion
- Use worked examples and lesson practice to check understanding after each module.
- Review incorrect answers, explain the correction, and repeat weak skills.
- Complete the available mixed or final course practice to demonstrate readiness.
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Explain the key scientific ideas and vocabulary in Matter and Its States.
- Interpret observations, data, models, or evidence related to Chemical Reactions & Conservation of Mass.
- Apply scientific reasoning to questions involving Energy and Its Forms.
- Evaluate explanations and identify common errors about Forces and Motion (Newton's Laws).
- Connect Waves, Energy & Reading Science Data with other course concepts in mixed practice.
- Use feedback and answer explanations to diagnose and correct mistakes.
- Complete mixed, exam-style practice with clearer reasoning and greater independence.
📝 Practice Questions
29 interactive questions with instant feedback and explanations.
Enroll for free to unlock the full practice bank after the trial sessions.