Physics

‘Physics is the study of the most fundamental aspects of the world and universe in which we live, it forms the foundations upon which every other science is ultimately built’.

Skills Required

Physics requires a problem-solving approach and a good level of mathematical ability. Students will commonly take Mathematics A Level concurrently, however, this is not essential. We would expect students undertaking Physics A Level to obtain a minimum grade 7 in GCSE Physics or Combined Sciences.

Course Overview

The course followed at King Edward’s is the OCR Physics B, Advancing Physics course. According to a Russell Group study, Physics is one of the top A Levels that keeps more doors open to a variety of degree subjects, more so than Chemistry or Biology. It is therefore an ideal choice for those still uncertain as to future degree choices.

Physics is a practical subject and thus gives students many opportunities to develop the fundamental skills needed to collect and analyse empirical data. In the Upper Sixth, students have the opportunity to work independently to design and undertake their own practical experimental investigation over a two-week period.

These skills are essential for any future study or career in science, but such transferrable skills of data analysis are highly sought after and can be applicable in many disciplines.

Year 1 - Physics in action and Understanding Processes

During the first year, students study the fundamental aspects of Physics, some of which follow directly from GCSE Physics, with areas that overlap significantly. The Lower Sixth course also includes new areas of study including Quantum Physics. Students will recognise links with these exciting new areas and their previous studies of areas such as waves at GCSE level. In Lower Sixth, students will also learn how to model the motion of objects according to Newton’s laws, a skill that could be applied to areas as diverse as computer game design to climate study.

At the end of year one students will have the opportunity to go to CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, to tour the facilities of the world’s largest particle physics laboratories.

Year 2 - Rise and Fall of the Clockwork Universe and Field and Particle Physics

As students progress to the second year of Physics A Level they encounter some of the ground-breaking work done by the some of the world’s most famous scientists. Newton’s Universal Law of gravitation is covered in detail, and Einstein’s work on special relativity is covered including counter-intuitive consequences such as time dilation.

Other topics covered include the fascinating world of electro-magnetism, radioactivity and particle physics, illustrating how successive models have been refined over the past 120 years to give us the understanding we have today. Throughout Upper Sixth, students learn how to model physical phenomena using simple mathematical models, skills which could be applied to areas as diverse as finance and predicting the spread of disease.

Methods of Assessment

Paper 1

2 hours 15 minutes - 41%

Fundamentals of Physics Paper 2

2 hours 15 minutes - 37%

Scientific Literacy in Physics

Practical Endorsement in Physics (non-exam assessment) reported separately.

Paper 3

1 hour 30 minutes - 22%