Physics

Assessment

We follow the Edexcel specification; the following is a broad outline of the material which will be covered. • Forces and motion: vectors, Newton’s Laws, energy, kinematics, projectile motion. • Materials: properties of solids, Young’s modulus, fluid dynamics, density, Archimedes’ principle. • Electricity: Kirchhoff’s Laws, resistivity, internal resistance, potential dividers. • Waves: properties of waves, reflection, refraction, diffraction, polarisation, intensity, e.m. spectrum. • The quantum nature of light: photoelectricity, atomic spectra, wave-particle duality. • Further mechanics: circular motion, momentum. • Electromagnetism: electric and magnetic fields, capacitors, electromagnetic induction, Faraday’s and Lenz’s Laws. • Particle physics: accelerators and detectors, conservation laws in collisions, standard model of quarks and leptons. • Thermal physics: gas laws, kinetic theory, heat capacity. • Oscillations: Simple harmonic motion, resonance, damping. • Nuclear physics: nuclear decay, binding energy, fission, fusion. • Cosmology and astrophysics: gravitational fields, astronomical measurement, the evolution of stars, the fate of the universe. There is no externally assessed coursework. Students are required to carry out and write up a core of 12 practical investigations. These are internally assessed and a simple pass or fail is achieved. This is awarded by the Board but does not affect the A-level grade achieved.