Physics

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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 KS3

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 and elasticity and Hooke’s Law

- An introduction to basic circuits, to consolidate circuit building skills developed in KS3.

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-T5 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, gears

- Pressure in solids, liquids and gases, upthrust and further thermal physics including specific heat capacity

- Static electricity and electric fields - Current electricity and circuits

-Domestic electricity

-Space

- 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 electricity and 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 and 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

Key Stage 5

YEAR 12

From the AQA specification

Mechanics and Materials, including forces and Newton’s laws, energy, momentum and impulse, motion in a straight line and ‘suvat’ equations, Young modulus and analysis of different materials.

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

From the Eduqas specification

From Component 1:

Vibrations and simple harmonic motion

From Component 2:

Electrostatic and gravitational fields of force

Using radiation to investigate stars

Orbits and the wider universe

From Component 3:

The nature of waves

Wave properties

Refraction of light

Photons Lasers

Nuclear decay

Nuclear energy

Magnetic fields

Electromagnetic induction

The option topic of Energy and the Environment is covered at stages during the course when relevant concepts are studied from other units and then the whole topic is revised in Year 13