Physics

Course summary

If you are enjoying the topics covered in physics in your science lessons at GCSE then you should definitely consider studying physics. You will learn to understand and explore exciting and fundamental ideas such as quantum mechanics, fields, circular motion, capacitance, relativity and cosmology. If you enjoy utilizing maths and finding solutions to problems satisfying, then studying A-level physics is worth serious consideration. Core content: 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 materials, including projectile motion, Newton’s laws of motion 5. Electricity, including current/voltage characteristics, circuits, electromotive force, and internal resistance 6. Further mechanics and thermal physics, including periodic motion, thermal energy transfer, molecular kinetic theory model 7. Fields and their consequences, 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 Optional unit – Learners study one option topic only Astrophysics, including classification of stars by luminosity, Doppler effect, detection of exoplanets Or Turning points in physics, including the discovery of the electron, Einstein’s theory of special relativity.