Physics

Course summary

Physicists study the interplay of forces, energy and matter. Physics attempts to unravel and explain the fundamental processes going on around and within us, from the behaviour of the smallest sub-atomic particles to the origins of our universe; in this way it can be said to underpin the other experimental sciences. Physics appeals to students for a variety of reasons. For some it is the ideas that capture their imagination, such as the mind-bending ones from Relativity or Quantum Mechanics; others see Physics as the grounding for their aspirations in Engineering, a necessary basic skill set they will need to use to go forward and change the world; some choose the subject at this level simply to support their university application for Health Sciences or Medicine but then often find it much more enjoyable than they had anticipated. This A Level course will suit all these students. It is designed to balance the pure scientific ideas with applications such as Astrophysics and Medical Imaging and it covers the whole spectrum of the subject in sufficient depth to challenge and stimulate each student’s intellect and imagination. The mathematical content of the subject is significant but should not be considered daunting to a keen student who is happy and confident with algebra and indices.