LightMySky
Explore

What a 17-year-old learns

171 topics open up at age 17, across 5 subjects. They are listed in the order they build on each other, not by importance: each one needs the ones above it.

age 16age 18
What should a 17-year-old be learning?

At age 17, 171 topics open up across Science, Mathematics, Computing, English, Languages. Each one has prerequisites that come first, so the order matters more than the list: Electromotive Force, Internal Resistance and the Potential Divider is a typical starting point.

How do I know what a 17-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. Electromotive Force, Internal Resistance and the Potential DividerEnergy · on the way
  2. Power as Force Times Velocity, and EfficiencyEnergy · on the way
  3. Elastic and Inelastic CollisionsForces & Motion · on the way
  4. Elastic Strain Energy and Force-Extension GraphsMatter & Materials · on the way
  5. Stress, Strain and the Young ModulusMatter & Materials · on the way
  6. Circular Motion: Angular Speed and Centripetal ForceForces & Motion · on the way
  7. Simple Harmonic Motion: the Defining Relation and Its GraphsForces & Motion · on the way
  8. Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion, Damping and ResonanceForces & Motion · on the way
  9. Orbits: Period, Speed and Kepler's Third LawSpace Systems & Earth's History · on the way
  10. Lattice Enthalpy and Born-Haber CyclesChemistry · on the way
  11. Entropy and the Spread of EnergyChemistry · on the way
  12. Free Energy and Whether a Reaction Is FeasibleChemistry · on the way
  13. Rate Equations and Orders of ReactionChemistry · on the way
  14. Reading Orders and Half-Lives from Rate GraphsChemistry · on the way
  15. Standard Electrode Potentials and Predicting Redox ReactionsChemistry · on the way
  16. Cells That Do Work: Batteries, Fuel Cells and CorrosionChemistry · on the way
  17. Redox Titrations with Manganate(VII) and ThiosulfateChemistry · on the way
  18. The Rate-Determining Step and Reaction MechanismsChemistry · on the way
  19. The Arrhenius Equation and Finding Activation EnergyChemistry · on the way
  20. Kp, Partial Pressures and Gas EquilibriaChemistry · on the way
  21. pH, Kw and Strong Acids and BasesChemistry · on the way
  22. Solubility Equilibria and When a Precipitate AppearsChemistry · on the way
  23. Transition Metals: Variable Oxidation State, Colour and CatalysisChemistry · on the way
  24. Complex Ions, Ligands and Their ShapesChemistry · on the way
  25. Weak Acids, Ka and pKaChemistry · on the way
  26. Buffers and Titration CurvesChemistry · on the way
  27. Metal Aqua Ions: Acidity, Ligand Exchange and PrecipitationChemistry · on the way
  28. Discharging a Capacitor and the Time ConstantEnergy · on the way
  29. Charged Particles Moving in a Magnetic FieldForces & Motion · on the way
  30. Magnetic Flux, Flux Linkage and Faraday's LawEnergy · on the way
  31. Lenz's Law and the Alternating-Current GeneratorEnergy · on the way
  32. Forcing, Feedback and Climate SensitivityEarth's Systems · on the way
  33. The Diffraction Grating and Measuring WavelengthWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  34. Single-Slit Diffraction and the Limit of ResolutionWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  35. Photon Energy and the ElectronvoltWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  36. The Photoelectric Effect and the Work FunctionWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  37. Energy Levels and Line SpectraWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  38. de Broglie Waves and Electron DiffractionWaves, Light & Sound · on the way
  39. Mass, Energy and the Unified Atomic Mass UnitMatter & Materials · on the way
  40. Mass Defect and Binding Energy per NucleonMatter & Materials · on the way
  41. The Decay Constant and the Exponential Decay LawMatter & Materials · on the way
  42. Activity, Half-Life and Radioactive DatingMatter & Materials · on the way
  43. Energy Released in Fission and FusionMatter & Materials · on the way
  44. Particles, Antiparticles and AnnihilationMatter & Materials · on the way
  45. Quarks, Leptons and the Conservation LawsMatter & Materials · on the way
  46. Exchange Particles and Reading a Feynman DiagramMatter & Materials · on the way
  47. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition and the Tests That Separate ThemChemistry · on the way
  48. Carboxylic Acids, Esters and HydrolysisChemistry · on the way
  49. Amines and Amides: Basicity and the Nitrogen Functional GroupsChemistry · on the way
  50. Benzene: Delocalisation and Electrophilic SubstitutionChemistry · on the way
  51. Addition and Condensation PolymersChemistry · on the way
  52. Mass Spectra and Infrared: Identifying an UnknownChemistry · on the way
  53. NMR Spectra: Counting EnvironmentsChemistry · on the way
  54. Palaeoclimate: Ice Cores, Isotopes and the Record of Past ChangeEarth's Systems · on the way
  55. The Ocean in Motion: Wind-Driven Gyres and the Deep OverturningEarth's Systems · on the way
  56. Seawater Chemistry: Salinity, the Carbonate System and pHEarth's Systems · on the way
  57. The Carbon Cycle on Two TimescalesEarth's Systems · on the way
  58. Combining Uncertainties and Reading a Result off a GraphScientific Inquiry · on the way
  59. Enzyme Inhibition and Metabolic ControlOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  60. The Krebs Cycle and the Reduced CarriersOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  61. Oxidative Phosphorylation and ChemiosmosisOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  62. Anaerobic Routes and the ATP Yield ComparedOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  63. Ecosystem Energy Budgets: GPP, NPP and Transfer EfficiencyOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  64. Water Potential and Osmosis QuantifiedOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  65. Co-transport and Coupled Movement Across MembranesOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  66. Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Control and CancerOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  67. Conduction Speed: Myelination and the Refractory PeriodThe Human Body · on the way
  68. Haemoglobin, the Dissociation Curve and the Bohr ShiftThe Human Body · on the way
  69. Monoclonal Antibodies and What They Are Used ForThe Human Body · on the way
  70. Synaptic Transmission, Summation and InhibitionThe Human Body · on the way
  71. The Cardiac Cycle and Pressure in the HeartThe Human Body · on the way
  72. The Sliding Filament Model of Muscle ContractionThe Human Body · on the way
  73. Tissue Fluid and Its Return to the CirculationThe Human Body · on the way
  74. Ultrafiltration and Selective Reabsorption in the NephronThe Human Body · on the way
  75. Osmoregulation and the Action of ADHThe Human Body · on the way
  76. Cohesion-Tension and Water Movement in the XylemOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  77. Translocation and the Mass Flow HypothesisOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  78. Plant Growth Responses: Tropisms and the Hormones Behind ThemOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  79. The Nitrogen Cycle and the Microbes That Drive ItOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  80. Population Growth Curves and Carrying CapacityOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  81. Succession from Pioneer to Climax CommunityOrganisms & Life Processes · on the way
  82. Transcription Factors and Epigenetic ControlGenetics & Evolution · on the way
  83. Gene Mutations and Their ConsequencesGenetics & Evolution · on the way
  84. Dihybrid Crosses and the 9:3:3:1 RatioGenetics & Evolution · on the way
  85. Testing Genetic Ratios with Chi-squaredGenetics & Evolution · on the way
  86. The Hardy-Weinberg Principle and Allele FrequenciesGenetics & Evolution · on the way
  87. Recombinant DNA and Gene TransferGenetics & Evolution · on the way
  88. PCR, Electrophoresis and DNA ProfilingGenetics & Evolution · on the way

Mathematics

  1. Small Angle ApproximationsGeometry · on the way
  2. Conic Sections: Ellipse, Parabola and HyperbolaGeometry · on the way
  3. Polar Coordinates and Polar CurvesGeometry · on the way
  4. Hyperbolic Functions and Their InversesAlgebra · on the way
  5. Rational Functions, Asymptotes and Curve SketchingAlgebra · on the way
  6. The Imaginary Unit and Complex ArithmeticAlgebra · on the way
  7. The Argand Plane, Modulus and ArgumentAlgebra · on the way
  8. Euler's Formula and the Exponential FormAlgebra · on the way
  9. Roots of Polynomials and Roots of UnityAlgebra · on the way
  10. The Laws of LogarithmsAlgebra · on the way
  11. Solving Exponential Equations with LogarithmsAlgebra · on the way
  12. Straightening Data with Logarithmic GraphsAlgebra · on the way
  13. Arithmetic Series and Sigma NotationAlgebra · on the way
  14. Geometric Series and the Sum to InfinityAlgebra · on the way
  15. The Power Rule for Differentiating PolynomialsCalculus & Analysis
  16. The Derivative as a Rate of ChangeCalculus & Analysis
  17. Tangents and Normals to a CurveCalculus & Analysis
  18. Increasing and Decreasing FunctionsCalculus & Analysis
  19. Stationary Points and the Second DerivativeCalculus & Analysis
  20. Optimisation with CalculusCalculus & Analysis
  21. Integration as the Reverse of DifferentiationCalculus & Analysis
  22. Kinematics with CalculusMechanics
  23. Equilibrium and Newton's First LawMechanics · on the way
  24. Moments and the Equilibrium of a Rigid BodyMechanics · on the way
  25. Newton's Second Law: Force, Mass and AccelerationMechanics · on the way
  26. Friction and the Coefficient of FrictionMechanics · on the way
  27. Newton's Second Law in Two DimensionsMechanics · on the way
  28. Connected Particles and PulleysMechanics · on the way
  29. Motion on a Rough Inclined PlaneMechanics · on the way
  30. Projectile MotionMechanics · on the way
  31. The Definite Integral and the Area Under a CurveCalculus & Analysis · on the way
  32. Areas Between Two CurvesCalculus & Analysis · on the way
  33. Locating Roots and Iterative MethodsCalculus & Analysis · on the way
  34. The Newton-Raphson MethodCalculus & Analysis · on the way
  35. The Trapezium RuleCalculus & Analysis · on the way
  36. Proof by Deduction and ExhaustionMathematical Thinking · on the way
  37. Proof by Contradiction and CounterexampleMathematical Thinking · on the way
  38. Finding Probabilities and Values from a Normal ModelProbability · on the way
  39. Sampling Distributions and the Central Limit TheoremData & Statistics · on the way
  40. Setting Up a Hypothesis TestData & Statistics · on the way
  41. Testing a Binomial ProportionData & Statistics · on the way
  42. Correlation and the Product-Moment CoefficientData & Statistics · on the way
  43. The Regression Line and Making PredictionsData & Statistics · on the way

Computing

  1. Reading and Writing Files, Including CSVProgramming · on the way
  2. Exceptions: Raising, Catching and RecoveringProgramming · on the way
  3. Unit Tests: Deciding What Is Worth TestingProgramming · on the way
  4. Debugging as a Method: Reproduce, Isolate, FixProgramming · on the way
  5. The Project Arc: Building a Program in StagesProgramming · on the way
  6. Recursion and the Call StackAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  7. Merge Sort and Divide and ConquerAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  8. Trees and Binary Search TreesAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  9. Graphs and How to Store ThemAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  10. Breadth-First and Depth-First SearchAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  11. Dijkstra's Shortest PathAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  12. Network Layers and the Protocol StackComputer Systems · on the way
  13. IP Addressing and How Routers Choose a PathComputer Systems · on the way
  14. Relational Databases: Tables, Keys and RelationshipsComputer Systems · on the way
  15. Normalisation to Third Normal FormComputer Systems · on the way
  16. SQL: Selecting, Filtering and Ordering RowsComputer Systems · on the way
  17. SQL: Joining Tables and Summarising GroupsComputer Systems · on the way
  18. Finite State Machines and What They RecogniseAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  19. Turing Machines and the Universal MachineAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way
  20. The Halting Problem: A Task No Program Can DoAlgorithms & Data Structures · on the way

English

  1. Genre as a Set of ExpectationsReading Comprehension · on the way
  2. Tragedy: The Shape of the FallReading Comprehension · on the way
  3. Reading Through a Critical LensReading Comprehension · on the way
  4. Arguing With Published CriticismReading Comprehension · on the way
  5. Comparing Whole Texts Around a QuestionReading Comprehension · on the way
  6. Working an Unseen Text Against the ClockReading Comprehension · on the way
  7. Reading Beyond the Set TextsEnglish Thinking · on the way
  8. Attitudes to Language ChangeVocabulary · on the way
  9. Language and Power in Public DiscourseVocabulary · on the way
  10. Child Language: How Speech DevelopsSpeaking & Listening · on the way
  11. Discourse Analysis: How Conversation Is OrganisedSpeaking & Listening · on the way
  12. Framing a Research QuestionEnglish Thinking · on the way
  13. Gathering and Transcribing Language DataSpeaking & Listening · on the way
  14. Building a Source Base for a Long EssayWriting Composition · on the way
  15. Signposting and Sections in a Long EssayWriting Composition · on the way
  16. Revising at LengthWriting Composition · on the way

Languages

  1. Variation Inside One LanguageTexts, Media & Translation · on the way
  2. Writing for an Academic or Professional ReaderLanguage Learning · on the way
  3. Learning the Next Language FasterLanguage Learning · on the way
  4. Keeping a Language for LifeLanguage Learning · on the way
What a 17-year-old learns · LightMySky