Physics

Exam Board: OCR H556

Head of Subject: Ms S Casey

Entry Requirement: Grade 6 6 or above for GCSE Combined Science or a 6 or above in GCSE Physics plus a 7 for GCSE Maths.

NB: To study Physics at A Level, it is highly recommended that you should also study Mathematics at A Level as 40% of the Physics A Level exams will be of level 3 (A Level standard) Mathematics.For most Physical Science and engineering degree courses both A Level Physics and Mathematics are required.

What will you learn in Year12?

Year 12 Physics allows students to develop the foundation Physics skills and knowledge that provides the basis for further study.

The following topics are studied: Forces and Motion, Materials, Electricity, Waves and Quantum Physics.

What will you learn in Year13?

Year 13 Physics builds on the knowledge and understanding gained during Year 12. The following topics are studied: Thermal physics, Circular motion, Oscillations, Gravitational fields, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Capacitors, Electric fields, Electromagnetism, Nuclear and particle physics and Medical imaging.

Which modules will you take?

Paper 1, Modelling Physics 2 hours 15 min, 37% of A Level. Includes Practical skills, Forces and motion Newtonian world and astrophysics.

Paper 2 Exploring Physics 2 hours 15 min 37% of A Level.

Includes Practical skills, Electrons, waves and photons, Particles and medical physics.

Paper 3, Unified Physics 1 hour 30 min, 26% of A Level.

• Any content • Any practical skills.

The qualification also includes the opportunity to gain an endorsement in practical skills.

Where will this course lead?

A Level Physics is a well- respected course because Physicists are problem solvers.

The analytical skills you develop make Physicists versatile and adaptable so they work in many careers. A Level Physics is essential for a career in engineering and can be advantageous for a career in medicine.

An A Level in Physics will demonstrate that you have acquired a wide variety of skills from practical work, using and adapting models in explaining the world around us and thinking skills and will be a good basis for a path into many degree courses.

The following document from the Institute of Physics gives further information. https://collingwoodcareers.files.wordpress.com/ 2018/07/iop-physics-at-a-level.pdf