Physics
Students are encouraged to understand the processes of Physics and the way the subject develops through experiment, theory, insight and creative thought. The dependence of Physics on good mathematical analysis is emphasised and the ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely is also essential. Physics is conceptually challenging and we aim to inspire students with a curiosity about the world and its place in the Universe.
The Department is accommodated in a range of laboratories across the Science Block and the STEM Centre. All of our classrooms are supported by nearby prep rooms and equipped with equipment to allow regular practical work during lessons.
Key Stage 3
Prior Learning from Key Stage 3
From Year 7 and Year 8 boys have a secure grounding in fundamental physics through studying a course aligned to the full KS3 National Curriculum. In addition, they develop a sound understanding of how to think like a scientist, applying the scientific method and how to plan and carry out investigations. We use this prior knowledge and build upon these principles through our GCSE provision.
Key Stage 4
YEAR 9
The content in Y9 is deliberately chosen to be relevant to both the AQA Triple (8463) and AQA Combined Science Trilogy (8464) courses. The following topics are studied during the year:
- Basic magnetism
- Energy stores and pathways, energy conservation, efficiency
- Calculations involving energy stores, power and work done
- Renewable and non-renewable means of generating electricity
- The particle model of matter and introduction to thermal physics, changes of state, specific latent heat and an introduction to gas laws
- Fundamental mechanics including speed, velocity, acceleration, graphical analysis, forces and Newton’s laws, forces, elasticity and Hooke’s law
- An introduction to basic circuits and circuit building
These topics provide students with an introduction to many of the key themes in Physics which are applicable whether they are then selected to continue with Separate Sciences or move on to the Trilogy Combined Science course in Year 10.
YEAR 10
Separate Sciences Route
Sets T1-T6 study the AQA Physics (8463) course and follow the Separate Sciences route. The following topics are studied during the year:
- Further mechanics including forces as vectors, momentum, moments and gears
- Pressure in solids, liquids and gases, upthrust and further thermal physics including specific heat capacity
- Static electricity, electric fields, and current, potential difference, and energy in electric circuits
- Domestic electricity
- Space, stellar life cycles and cosmology
- Introduction to electromagnetism
These topics build on the content studied in year 9 and include some of the more challenging Separate Science only material.
Combined Science Route
Sets C1-C3 study the AQA Trilogy (8464) course. The following topics are studied during the year:
- Further mechanics including gravity, weight and terminal velocity, work and energy, vectors and momentum
- Current, potential difference, and energy in electric circuits
- Internal energy, thermal physics, specific heat capacity
- Electromagnetism
These topics build on the content studied in Year 9 with the slightly reduced volume of content on this course allowing more opportunities for consolidation of learning and practice of key principles.
YEAR 11
Separate Sciences Route
Sets T1-T6 study the AQA Physics (8463) course and follow the Separate Sciences route. The following topics are studied during the year:
- Further electromagnetism, the motor effect, electromagnetic induction and the generator effect including transformers
- Waves and wave analysis including mechanical and electromagnetic waves
- Atomic and nuclear physics including nuclear decay
These topics build on the content studied in Year 9 and Year 10, the Year 11 work contains many of the more conceptually demanding aspects of the course. A generous amount of time is provided for guided revision to allow thorough consolidation of the course material prior to GCSE examinations.
Combined Science Route
Sets C1-C3 study the AQA Trilogy (8464) course. The following topics are studied during the year:
- Atomic and nuclear physics including nuclear decay
- Waves and wave analysis including mechanical and electromagnetic waves
Building on the content studied in Year 9 and Year 10, the Year 11 work contains many of the more conceptually demanding aspects of the course. A generous amount of time is provided for guided revision to allow thorough consolidation of the course material prior to GCSE examinations
Key Stage 5
A Level students study the AQA specification.
YEAR 12
Mechanics and materials, including forces and Newton’s laws, energy, momentum and impulse, motion in a straight line and ‘suvat’ equations
Young’s modulus and analysis of macroscopic material properties
Electricity and circuits, including series and parallel circuits, I/V characteristics, emf and internal resistance, Kirchoff’s laws, introduction to capacitors and energy by capacitors
Circular motion and the rotational dynamics content of the Engineering Physics option topic
Thermal physics including specific heat capacity, specific latent heat, gas laws and ideal gases, kinetic theory of gases, and the further thermodynamics and engines content of the Engineering Physics option topic
Nuclear energy and nuclear binding energy analysis
Nuclear decays
The particle structure of matter including classification of particles and the standard model along with understanding the three main particle interactions
Year 13
Simple harmonic motion, vibrations, and resonance
Nuclear decay and the mathematics of exponentials
Waves, including refraction and diffraction, and the photon model
Gravitational and electric fields, including capacitors, orbits and Kepler’s third law
Electromagnetism, including the motor effect and electromagnetic induction
Wave-particle duality, including electron diffraction
Exams & Assessment
GCSE
Examination board: AQA
A-LEVEL
Examination board: AQA
Enrichment & Extracurricular
Space Society
Advanced Physics Club
Science Club
British Physics Olympiad
Resources & Reading Lists
Some useful websites include:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zpm6fg8
https://cognitoedu.org/home.html
https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/
https://www.freesciencelessons.co.uk/
Recommended books include:
In Search of Schrodinger’s Cat by John Gribbin
In Search of the Big Bang by John Gribbin
QED:The Strange Theory of Light and Matter by Richard Feynman
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking