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What a 16-year-old learns

182 topics open up at age 16, across 11 subjects. They are listed in the order they build on each other, not by importance: each one needs the ones above it.

age 15age 17
What should a 16-year-old be learning?

At age 16, 182 topics open up across Science, Mathematics, Computing, History, Personal & Social Development, Life Skills, English, Civics & Economics, Geography, Learning to Learn, Languages. Each one has prerequisites that come first, so the order matters more than the list: Resistivity and What Sets a Wire's Resistance is a typical starting point.

How do I know what a 16-year-old already knows?

LightMySky starts by assuming everything below the learner’s level is already known, then checks the assumption as they practise. What holds up stays lit; what does not comes back for review.

Science

  1. Resistivity and What Sets a Wire's ResistanceEnergy · on the way
  2. Resolving Vectors into ComponentsForces & Motion · on the way
  3. Projectile Motion as Two Independent MotionsForces & Motion · on the way
  4. Projectiles Launched at an AngleForces & Motion · on the way
  5. Newton's Second Law on a SlopeForces & Motion · on the way
  6. Connected Bodies: Tension, Pulleys and LiftsForces & Motion · on the way
  7. Moments, Couples and the Conditions for EquilibriumForces & Motion · on the way
  8. Work Done by a Force at an AngleEnergy · on the way
  9. Internal Energy, Absolute Zero and the Kelvin ScaleEnergy · on the way
  10. Newton's Law of Gravitation and Gravitational Field StrengthForces & Motion · on the way
  11. Gravitational Potential and Escape SpeedForces & Motion · on the way
  12. Kinetic Theory: Pressure from Molecular MotionMatter & Materials · on the way
  13. Gas Exchange Surfaces Across TaxaOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  14. Fick's Law and What Sets the Rate of ExchangeOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  15. Ventilation in Insects, Fish and MammalsOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  16. Water and Hydrogen Bonding in Living SystemsOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  17. Condensation, Hydrolysis and the Polymers of LifeOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  18. Lipids: Built by Condensation but Not PolymersOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  19. Protein Structure from Primary to QuaternaryOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  20. Gas Volumes and the Ideal Gas EquationChemistry · on the way
  21. Enthalpy Change, Standard Conditions and CalorimetryChemistry · on the way
  22. Hess's Law and Enthalpy CyclesChemistry · on the way
  23. Ionisation Energy and the Evidence for Sub-ShellsChemistry · on the way
  24. Naming Organic Compounds and the Formulas That Show StructureChemistry · on the way
  25. Isomerism: Same Formula, Different MoleculeChemistry · on the way
  26. Orbitals, Sub-Shells and Electron ConfigurationChemistry · on the way
  27. Trends Across Period 3: Radius, Ionisation Energy and Melting PointChemistry · on the way
  28. Period 3 Oxides and the Acid-Base DivideChemistry · on the way
  29. Group 2: Reactivity and Solubility TrendsChemistry · on the way
  30. Group 7: Oxidising Power, Displacement and Halide TestsChemistry · on the way
  31. Oxidation Numbers and Balancing Redox EquationsChemistry · on the way
  32. The Equilibrium Constant KcChemistry · on the way
  33. Coulomb's Law and the Electric Field of a Point ChargeEnergy · on the way
  34. Electric Potential and the Uniform Field Between PlatesEnergy · on the way
  35. Capacitance and the Energy Stored in a CapacitorEnergy · on the way
  36. Magnetic Flux Density and the Force on a Current-Carrying WireForces & Motion · on the way
  37. The Layered Atmosphere and Why Temperature Reverses With HeightEarth's Systems · on the way
  38. Earth's Energy Balance and the Greenhouse Effect, QuantifiedEarth's Systems · on the way
  39. Progressive Waves: Phase and Path DifferenceWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  40. Polarisation as Evidence for Transverse WavesWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  41. Superposition and Stationary WavesWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  42. Coherence and Young's Double-Slit FringesWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  43. Free-Radical Substitution in AlkanesChemistry · on the way
  44. Electrophilic Addition to AlkenesChemistry · on the way
  45. Nucleophilic Substitution in HaloalkanesChemistry · on the way
  46. Elimination and Choosing Between Two PathwaysChemistry · on the way
  47. Alcohols: Classification, Oxidation and DehydrationChemistry · on the way
  48. Global Circulation: Cells, Jets and Why Deserts Sit Where They DoEarth's Systems · on the way
  49. Uncertainty, Precision and Significant Figures in a MeasurementScientific Inquiry · on the way
  50. Chloroplast Structure and the Light-Dependent ReactionsOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  51. Digestion and Absorption in the Mammalian GutOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  52. Enzyme Kinetics: Vmax and the Michaelis ConstantOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  53. The Calvin Cycle and Carbon FixationOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  54. Glycolysis and the Link ReactionOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  55. The Fluid Mosaic Model of the Cell MembraneOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  56. The Resting Potential and the Action PotentialThe Human Body · on the way
  57. The Specific Immune Response: Phagocytes, T Cells and B CellsThe Human Body · on the way
  58. Semi-conservative DNA ReplicationGenetics & Evolution · on the way
  59. Taxonomy, the Three Domains and What a Species Name EncodesGenetics & Evolution · on the way
  60. Transcription and RNA Splicing in EukaryotesGenetics & Evolution · on the way
  61. Translation at the RibosomeGenetics & Evolution · on the way

Mathematics

  1. Sampling Methods and Their Trade-offsData & Statistics · on the way
  2. Standard Deviation and VarianceData & Statistics · on the way
  3. Radian Measure and SectorsGeometry · on the way
  4. The Unit Circle and the Graphs of Sine, Cosine and TangentGeometry · on the way
  5. The Pythagorean and Quotient IdentitiesGeometry · on the way
  6. Solving Trigonometric Equations in a Given IntervalGeometry · on the way
  7. Compound Angle FormulaeGeometry · on the way
  8. Double Angle FormulaeGeometry · on the way
  9. Combining a Sine and a Cosine into a Single WaveGeometry · on the way
  10. Parametric Equations of CurvesGeometry · on the way
  11. Domain and Range of a FunctionAlgebra
  12. Modulus Functions and Modulus EquationsAlgebra · on the way
  13. Polynomial Division and the Factor TheoremAlgebra
  14. Sketching a Curve from Its Factorised FormAlgebra
  15. Forms of the Equation of a Straight LineGeometry
  16. Parallel and Perpendicular Lines in CoordinatesGeometry
  17. The Equation of a CircleGeometry
  18. Lines Meeting Circles: Tangents and ChordsGeometry
  19. The Exponential Function and the Number eAlgebra · on the way
  20. Logarithms as the Inverse of ExponentialsAlgebra · on the way
  21. Modelling Motion in a Straight LineMechanics · on the way
  22. Motion Graphs: Gradients and AreasMechanics · on the way
  23. The Constant-Acceleration EquationsMechanics · on the way
  24. Vertical Motion Under GravityMechanics · on the way
  25. The Gradient of a Curve as a LimitCalculus & Analysis
  26. Differentiation from First PrinciplesCalculus & Analysis
  27. Forces as Vectors: Resolving and ResultantsMechanics · on the way
  28. The Binomial ExpansionAlgebra · on the way
  29. Discrete Random Variables and Probability DistributionsProbability · on the way
  30. Expected Value and Variance of a Discrete Random VariableProbability · on the way
  31. The Binomial DistributionProbability · on the way
  32. The Normal Distribution and Standardised ScoresProbability · on the way

Computing

  1. Functions at Depth: Default and Keyword ArgumentsProgramming · on the way
  2. Dictionaries: Values Found by KeyProgramming · on the way
  3. Classes and Objects: Bundling Data with BehaviourProgramming · on the way
  4. Inheritance and Overriding BehaviourProgramming · on the way
  5. Designing with Objects: Deciding What Each Class OwnsProgramming · on the way
  6. Counting Operations to Compare AlgorithmsAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  7. Big-O Notation and Orders of GrowthAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  8. Quadratic Sorts: Bubble and InsertionAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  9. Stacks: Last In, First OutAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  10. Queues: First In, First OutAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  11. Linked Lists and Nodes That PointAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  12. Hash Tables and Near-Constant LookupAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  13. Boolean Algebra and Simplifying Logic ExpressionsComputer Systems · on the way
  14. Logic Circuits That Add and RememberComputer Systems · on the way
  15. Assembly Language and the Instruction SetComputer Systems · on the way
  16. Registers, Buses and the Fetch-Execute Cycle in DetailComputer Systems · on the way

History

  1. Reading a Source in the World That Made ItHistorical Thinking · on the way
  2. How an Interpretation ChangesHistorical Thinking · on the way
  3. The Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal EmpiresWorld History · on the way
  4. Ming and Qing ChinaWorld History · on the way
  5. The Columbian ExchangeWorld History · on the way
  6. Counting the PastHistorical Thinking · on the way
  7. Contingency: What Almost HappenedHistorical Thinking · on the way
  8. Whose Past Is It: Museums, Statues and Public MemoryHistorical Thinking · on the way
  9. Silver, Sugar and the First World EconomyWorld History · on the way
  10. The Plantation AtlanticWorld History · on the way
  11. The Enlightenment and the Age of RevolutionsWorld History · on the way
  12. Independence in Latin AmericaWorld History · on the way
  13. Industrialising Outside Europe: Japan and EgyptWorld History · on the way
  14. Resisting Colonial RuleWorld History · on the way
  15. The Non-Aligned WorldWorld History · on the way
  16. Globalisation and Who It Left OutWorld History · on the way

Personal & Social Development

  1. Knowing When a Feeling Needs HelpSelf-Regulation & Resilience · on the way
  2. Being New: Your First Weeks SomewhereFriendship & Cooperation · on the way
  3. Disagreeing Without Losing the PersonEmpathy & Social Awareness · on the way
  4. Building a Circle From ScratchFriendship & Cooperation · on the way
  5. Choosing What Comes NextSelf-Awareness · on the way
  6. What Makes an Argument ValidEthics & Philosophy · on the way
  7. Facts, Values and the Gap Between ThemEthics & Philosophy · on the way
  8. Consequences: The Greatest Good and Its ProblemsEthics & Philosophy · on the way
  9. Duties and Rights: What You Owe Regardless of OutcomeEthics & Philosophy · on the way
  10. Character: The Kind of Person You Are BecomingEthics & Philosophy · on the way
  11. Justice: Who Deserves What, and WhyEthics & Philosophy · on the way
  12. The Ethics of the Tools We BuildEthics & Philosophy · on the way

Life Skills

  1. Unit Economics: Does Each Sale Make Money?Entrepreneurship · on the way
  2. Protecting Money and IdentityMoney & Finance · on the way
  3. Tax: What You File and WhyMoney & Finance · on the way
  4. Renting a Place and What It Really CostsMoney & Finance · on the way
  5. Credit Files and What Lenders SeeMoney & Finance · on the way
  6. Applying for a Job: The Application, the CV and the InterviewMoney & Finance · on the way
  7. The Smallest Version Worth TestingEntrepreneurship · on the way
  8. Knowing When to StopEntrepreneurship · on the way
  9. Insurance: Paying Not to Be RuinedMoney & Finance · on the way
  10. Starting a Pension at EighteenMoney & Finance · on the way
  11. Paying for What Comes After SchoolMoney & Finance · on the way

English

  1. Close Reading at DepthReading Comprehension · on the way
  2. From Noticing to a Literary ThesisReading Comprehension · on the way
  3. Sustaining a Literary Argument Across an EssayReading Comprehension · on the way
  4. Free Indirect Style and Narrative DistanceReading Comprehension · on the way
  5. Scanning a Line: Metre, Stress, and SubstitutionReading Comprehension · on the way
  6. Levels of Language: A Framework for DescriptionGrammar & Punctuation · on the way
  7. How Language Varies: Register, Dialect, and SociolectVocabulary · on the way
  8. Language Change Over TimeVocabulary · on the way
  9. Seminar Discussion on Shared ReadingSpeaking & Listening · on the way
  10. Writing to a Reader Who DecidesWriting Composition · on the way

Civics & Economics

  1. Fiscal Policy: Spending, Taxing and the DeficitEconomics · on the way
  2. Monetary Policy and What a Central Bank Can DoEconomics · on the way
  3. Growth, Productivity and Why Some Countries Got RichEconomics · on the way
  4. Measuring Inequality and Arguing About ItEconomics · on the way
  5. How a Policy Actually Gets MadeGovernment · on the way
  6. Forms of Government ComparedGovernment · on the way
  7. Political Ideas and What They Actually ClaimGovernment · on the way
  8. Where International Rules Come FromGovernment · on the way
  9. Judging a Political ClaimGovernment · on the way

Geography

  1. Places Change, and Not for EveryonePeople & Environments · on the way
  2. Where Your Things Are Actually MadePeople & Environments · on the way
  3. Borders, Territory and the SeaPlaces & Regions · on the way
  4. Where Illness Spreads and WhyPeople & Environments · on the way
  5. What Extraction Costs the Place It HappensPeople & Environments · on the way
  6. Cities That WorkPeople & Environments · on the way

Learning to Learn

  1. Notes That Are Worth RereadingLearning to Learn · on the way
  2. Getting Through a Text That Is Too HardLearning to Learn · on the way
  3. Running a Long Project Without Losing the ThreadLearning to Learn · on the way
  4. Judging How Well You Actually Know ItLearning to Learn · on the way
  5. Learning With an AI Without Handing Over the ThinkingLearning to Learn · on the way

Languages

  1. Speaking Without RehearsingSounds & Conversation · on the way
  2. Arguing a Case in Another LanguageSounds & Conversation · on the way
  3. Literature and Film in the OriginalTexts, Media & Translation · on the way
  4. Translation as a CraftTexts, Media & Translation · on the way
What a 16-year-old learns · LightMySky