Physics

Course summary

In the Lower Sixth, students will study the following topics: 1. Measurements and their errors, including use of SI units and their prefixes, limitations of physical measurement, estimation of physical quantities. 2. Particles and radiation, including constituents of the atom, particle interactions, collisions of electrons with atoms. 3. Waves, including progressive waves, interference, diffraction. 4. Mechanics and energy, including projectile motion, Newton’s laws of motion. 5. Electricity, including circuits, electromotive force and internal resistance. In the Upper Sixth, students will study the following topics: 6. Further mechanics and thermal physics, including periodic motion, thermal energy transfer, molecular kinetic theory model. 7. Fields, including Newton’s law of gravitation, orbits of planets and satellites, magnetic flux density. 8. Nuclear physics, including evidence for the nucleus, radioactive decay, nuclear instability. 9. Turning points in physics, including discovery of the electron, Einstein’s theory of special relativity. In addition, students will complete twelve compulsory practical activities.