Physics

Course summary

Year 12 - The course covers material that builds on GCSE level. Forces and mechanics will be studied in more depth and complex situations will be analysed. Understanding of electrical circuits will be developed with the introduction of new ideas, linked to engineering, regarding the behaviour of materials. Topics such as waves and atoms will be studied with links being made between these subjects through particle and quantum physics. Year 13 - The course studies further mechanics topics necessary to explain the natural world such as simple harmonic motion and circular motion. Magnetic and electrical fields will be studied in relation to particle accelerators. Gravitational fields, thermodynamics and nuclear fission and fusion, linking to the evolution of the Universe in Astrophysics, will also be studied and the links between the different areas and topics of physics will become more apparent throughout the course.