Exam Board : Edexcel International GCSE
PHYSICS
Mr I Deepchand ● Head of Physics ● ideepchand@kgs.org.uk
The IGCSE course In common with the other sciences, Physics follows the International GCSE course offered by the Edexcel examination board (4PH1). There is no coursework; practical skills are assessed in the two written papers. The examinations are taken at the end of the Fifth Year.
Physics teaches us how a small number of key ideas can unify apparently unconnected phenomena and uncovers fundamental and general laws governing the behaviour of matter. The subject develops analytical skills as well as showing how to apply mathematics to make predictions about the physical world. No advanced mathematical abilities are required, although students will need to be comfortable with manipulating and using simple formulae. Ideas about electricity and motion focus on the practical applications of physics, appealing to those with ambitions to work in one of the many branches of Engineering. The single science Physics course contains extra ideas and applications beyond those studied by Double Award students and this significantly broadens the syllabus.
The list below shows the components of the Physics course: • Forces and motion: movement, motion graphs, forces and shape • Electricity: charge, mains electricity, energy and potential difference in circuits • Waves: properties of waves, the electromagnetic spectrum, light and sound • Energy resources and energy transfer: work, power and electricity generation • Solids, liquids and gases: density, pressure, change of state and ideal gas molecules • Magnetism and electromagnetism: magnets, uses of electromagnetism including electromagnetic induction • Radioactivity and particles: structure of atom, nuclear physics and uses of radioactivity • Astrophysics: motion in the universe, stellar evolution, cosmology The course is taught through a blend of experimental work, theoretical discussion, computer simulations, worked examples and background reading. Students should have an interest in the physical world and should enjoy meeting new ideas and their applications. For students wishing to progress to Physics at A Level and possible careers in the Physical Sciences or Engineering, this course is an obvious choice. For other students wishing to study different sciences at A Level it is a good supporting qualification.
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