Physics

Course summary

Physics is a “facilitating subject”, meaning that it’s highly regarded whatever degree or career path you choose. It’s considered essential for science and engineering courses, so it keeps a lot of doors open for you. Physics opens these doors because of the skills and ways of thinking it teaches you. You’ll pick up mathematical and analytical techniques that are valued in a huge range of careers. You’ll become a critical and creative thinker, and a problem solver. If you like asking big questions like what stars are made of, why do things move or how can we see thoughts then physics is for you. Physicists look for all the hidden laws that explain why all matter (that’s every physical thing) and energy in the known universe exists, where it comes from and how it behaves the way it does. Physicists use the laws they uncover to develop new materials, machinery, and technology to improve our lives and help us explore the universe further, from computers to telescopes and spacecraft. 1. Particles and radiation 2. Waves 3. Mechanics and materials 4. Electricity 5. Further mechanics and thermal physics 6. Fields and their consequences 7. Nuclear physics 8. Optional topic – normally you will study Astrophysics