Physics

Course summary

WHY STUDY THIS COURSE? In AS year, you will develop your mathematical problem-solving skills and learn to analyse physics problems in a more detailed way. You will learn about several fundamental areas of physics in more depth than at GCSE, including forces, motion and energy, electricity and waves. Additionally, you will learn in detail about some of the most important and ground-breaking developments in physics in the last century, such as quantum physics and particle physics. In A2 you take it further, studying topics such as thermal physics, advanced mechanics, nuclear physics and fields. Additionally, you will choose an options module, to pick which focus on exciting, applied areas of study such as astrophysics. Interwoven within the lesson sequences are core required practical’s that give lots of lab time to develop laboratory skills and will allow you to enjoy investigating the principles you have studied. You are given much more independence during practicals at A Level. Some of the practical topics covered include radioactive materials, investigating magnetic and gravitational fields, investigating wave behaviour using lasers, and many more. COURSE DESCRIPTION The AS and A-level courses core content are: 1. Measurements and their errors - Content in this section is a continuing study for a student of physics. 2. Particles and radiation - This section introduces students both to the fundamental properties of matter and to electromagnetic radiation and quantum phenomena. 3. Waves - Topics treated include refraction, diffraction, superposition and interference. 4. Mechanics and materials - vectors and their treatment are introduced followed by development of the student’s knowledge and understanding of forces, energy and momentum. The section continues with a study of materials considered in terms of their bulk properties and tensile strength. 5. Electricity - This section builds on and develops earlier study of these phenomena from GCSE. It provides opportunities for the development of practical skills at an early stage in the course and lays the groundwork for later study of the many electrical applications that are important to society. 6. Further mechanics and thermal physics (A-level only) - the earlier study of mechanics is further advanced through a consideration of circular motion and simple harmonic motion (the harmonic oscillator). A further section allows the thermal properties of materials, the properties and nature of ideal gases, and the molecular kinetic theory to be studied in depth. 7. Fields and their consequences (A-level only) - the concept of field is one of the great unifying ideas in physics. The ideas of gravitation, electrostatics and magnetic field theory are developed within the topic to emphasise this unification. 8. Nuclear physics (A-level only) - this section builds on the work of particles and radiation to link the properties of the nucleus to the production of nuclear power through the characteristics of the nucleus, the properties of unstable nuclei, and the link between energy and mass. Students should become aware of the physics that underpins nuclear energy production and also of the impact that it can have on society. Options · Astrophysics (A-level only) · Medical physics (A-level only) · Engineering physics (A-level only) · Turning points in physics (A-level only) · Electronics (A-level only) Physics is fundamentally an experimental subject. The course provides numerous opportunities to use practical experiences to link theory to reality and equip students with the essential practical skills they need.