Physics AS Level

PHYSICS AS Level (Year One)

• Level 3 course
• One year (AS) or two years (A level)
• Progression higher education and employment
• Exam board OCR Specification H158
• 4 periods a week
• This course is offered within the Maths, ITC and Science Division

Course outline
3 Units. Units 1 & 2 assessed by written examination. Unit 3 Practical Skills

Unit 1 (G481) Mechanics
scalar and vector quantities, the dynamics of moving objects
forces, acceleration and vehicle safety
work, energy, power and the physical behaviour of materials

Unit 2 (G482) Electrons, Waves and Photons
electricity - electric current, resistance, and resistivity
practical circuits
waves - wave motion, interference, electromagnetic radiations
quantum physics - the photoelectric effect, wave-particle duality, quantum physics, energy levels in atoms and spectra

Unit 3 (G483) Practical Skills in Physics 1
Practical work will be a major feature throughout the course. In addition you will be assessed on your practical skills. This involves tasks that are set by the exam board and marked by your teachers.

Programme of study
The above topic list will not be covered in the order shown. In the first term of the course, we will be studying Fundamentals of Physicsthe basics of each of: mechanics, electricity, and waves. In the second term, we will be going into more depth, and tackling the more challenging aspects, including the addition of quantum physics. We will not therefore be asking students to sit a Unit 1 examination in January. Both Units 1 and 2 will be assessed by examination in May 2011.

Assessment
There are three parts to the practical assessment:
Qualitative Task: this may involve you accurately recording your observations and organising data suitably
Quantitative Task: this will involve you conducting a short experiment and analysing the results
Evaluative Task: this will involve evaluating and assessing the reliability of an experiment, understanding and suggesting improvements

Teaching styles
A very wide range of teaching styles is used on the course including individual and whole-group practical work, discussion, and use of ICT. Lessons are varied and accommodate all learning styles and differing student abilities.

Subject combinations
Many students will take physics with other scientific subjects (chemistry, biology, and/or mathematics). It is particularly useful to be studying A-level mathematics alongside physics.

Resources and facilities
The course is taught in a recently refurbished laboratory, and we are very well equipped in terms of apparatus for both demonstrations and individual practical work.

Key features
Key features that help each student achieve their best include: an experienced teacher who is available to help students on an individual basis, a good group size providing personal support, while still offering excellent facilities for learning, a modern, innovative approach to a conventional A level course.

Progression
Physics is an essential requirement for many Higher education courses, including engineering and the applied physical sciences. In a technological age, it has also increasingly being seen as highly desirable for entry into medical courses. Many employers see a holder of a physics qualification as a particularly valuable recruit!

PHYSICS A2 Level (Year Two)

Course outline
Unit 4 (G484) The Newtonian World
collisions and Newtons laws,
circular motion, orbits, gravity, and oscillations
thermal physics

Unit 5 (G485) Fields, Particles and Frontiers of Physics
electric and magnetic fields
the nuclear atom and radioactivity, fission and fusion
medical imaging
structure and evolution of the universe

Unit 6 (G486) Practical Skills in Physics 2
further practical assessment