Physics

Course summary

The two-year Physics A Level course covers a range of topics from across the wide spectrum of Physics. Mechanics makes up a large portion of the course but other areas such as the nature of light, electricity and space are covered in some depth. Physics gives us explanations for how everything in the Universe works, from Galaxies to the nuclei of atoms. This makes it fundamental to all Science. Year 1 – Mechanics: Motion, energy and forces; Light: The wave and particle natures of light and the experiments that support each theory; Materials: The behaviour of fluids and solids; Electrical Circuits: this extends on the circuits work done in GCSE; Working as a Physicist: experimental good practise and data handling. Year 2 – Mechanics: Circular motion and momentum; Fields: Electric, Gravitational and Magnetic Fields; Space: The contents of the Universe and how they can be observed and measured; Nuclear and Particle Physics: Interactions between sub-atomic particles; Thermodynmics: The behaviour of materials during energy changes. Physics helps to develop problem solving skills, enabling students to link different concepts together to find a solution in new situations. A big part of Physics is modelling the wider world in a mathematical way which requires logic, analysis and the ability to communicate ideas.