Physics attempts to explore and explain the ‘why’ of the physical world around us; we study the behaviour of gases, of atoms, and of electrons, of planes, trains and automobiles. We study the planet Earth and beyond; we ask why the planets and stars and galaxies and the whole universe is the way it is.
The theories that physicists have come up with are all built on measurement and mathematics. You will finish your A level Physics course with skills practical skills of measurement and sensing; you will develop logical and critical analysis; you will learn how to use mathematics to model the real world.
Your physics skills might take you into research – there are very many small and some very big questions that we can’t yet understand. You might use classical or quantum physics as an engineer, constructing large engineering projects such as dams, power-stations or bridges, developing microscopic materials on a nano-technological scale, or working on a future Mars mission. Or you may find that the critical thinking and mathematical models of physics lead you into project management or mathematical modelling of complex phenomena such as weather or economies.
The course we offer is highly practical based with the aim of developing a rigorous mathematical analysis of the aspects of the world we look at. We will develop your understanding of forces and motion – linking our observations and measurements with the differential and integral calculus you will be learning in maths. Our learning on radioactivity and on wave motion links directly with solutions to classic differential equations. We will use mathematical models to see the underlying similarities between electrical and gravitational forces.
Underpinning our whole approach to physics is that asking, and trying to answer ‘I wonder why…’ is great fun.
We follow the OCR A Physics (H556) specification.
Content is split into six teaching modules
- Module 1: Development of practical skills in physics
- Module 2: Foundations of physics
- Module 3: Forces and motion
- Module 4: Electrons, waves and photons
- Module 5: Newtonian world and astrophysics
- Module 6: Particles and medical physics
At CMS Module 1 is covered throughout the course. At the beginning of Y12 students will cover Module 2 briefly with the expectation that these skills will continue to develop over the two-year course. Students will then go on to Module 4 content where they will build on Electricity and Waves topics from GCSE, finishing off the module with theories in Quantum Mechanics. In the winter term students will move on to Module 3 where they will use what they have studied in their maths lessons to explore complex mechanics problems, going beyond the specification by applying calculus in the context of analysing mechanical systems.
In Y13 students will study Module 5 and 6 alongside each other. They will by expand their existing knowledge of motion and mechanics by looking at Circular and Simple Harmonic motion and go on to apply this knowledge in the context of orbiting systems. Students will also investigate topics such as stellar evolution and how particles behave in different types of fields.
Assessment
In June of Y13 students will sit 3 examinations in Physics.
- Paper 1: Modelling Physics (Module 1,2,3 and 5), 2 hours 15 minutes (37% of total A level)
- Paper 2: Exploring Physics (Module 1,2,4 and 6), 2 hours 15 mins (37% of total A level)
- Paper 3: Unified Physics (All Modules), 1 hour 30 minutes (26% of total A level)
The A level course also requires students to pass a Practical Endorsement in Physics which is assessed by their teacher through a series of practical experiments. Students pass the endorsement by correctly demonstrating a variety of skills throughout the two-year course.
Super-Curricular Offer
Students will have the option of engaging with physics beyond the curriculum with a variety of competitions and including British Physics Olympiad Online Challenge, Senior Physics Challenge and the Olympiad Round 1. They will also have the opportunity to attend lectures by visiting speakers including academics from the University of Cambridge and attend educational trips such as a Particle Physics Masterclass at the University of Cambridge Cavendish Lab and a trip to Geneva, Switzerland to visit the CERN facility.
