Physics
Oakgrove School - Milton Keynes
01908545300
Venturer Gate, Milton Keynes, MK10 9JQ
Course summary

Students will complete three examinations at the end of the two year course. They will be tested on topics in the units below. In the third paper, the students will complete a section on practical skills and data analysis, as well as an additional unit (Unit 11: Engineering). A practical endorsement is taken alongside the course; it is assessed by teachers and based on direct observation of students’ competency in a range of skills. This is reported separately. Unit 1: Measurements and their Errors - Use of SI units and their prefixes, limitations of physical measurement, estimation of physical quantities. Unit 2: Particles and Radiation - Constituents of the atom, particle interactions, collisions of electrons with atoms and quantum Physics. Unit 3: Waves - Progressive waves, interference, diffraction. Unit 4: Mechanics and Energy - Projectile motion, Newton’s laws of motion, material Physics. Unit 5: Electricity - Current/voltage characteristics, circuits, electromotive force and internal resistance. Unit 6: Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics - Periodic motion, thermal energy transfer, molecular kinetic theory model. Unit 7: Fields - Newton’s law of gravitation, orbits of planets and satellites, magnetic flux density. Unit 8: Nuclear Physics - Evidence for the nucleus, radioactive decay, nuclear instability. Additional unit 11: Engineering Physics - including rotational dynamics, thermodynamics and engines.

Entry requirements

6 in Synergy OR Trilogy Science OR Physics AND a 6 in Mathematics. Students must also study A Level Mathematics.

How you'll be assessed

Paper 1 Units 1-5 and Periodic Motion. Written exam: 2 hours, 85 marks. Weighting = 34% of A Level marks. Paper 2 Units 6-8. Written exam: 2 hours, 85 marks. Weighting = 34% of A Level marks. Paper 3 Unit 11 (Engineering), Data Analysis, Practical Skills. Written exam: 2 hours, 80 marks Weighting = 32% of A Level marks. Practical endorsement in Physics is internally assessed. Students complete a minimum of 12 practical activities to demonstrate practical competence. Performance is reported separately to the A Level grade as either a pass or a fail.

School Info

About Education Provider

RegionSouth East
Local AuthorityMilton Keynes
Ofsted RatingGood
Gender TypeCo-Educational
AddressVenturer Gate, Milton Keynes, MK10 9JQ