AS and A2 level Physics

-Advancing Physics is the A level course developed by the Institute of Physics. The course shows how Physics is exciting, always developing, of great practical use in many ways and in many careers, as well as getting at some of the deepest truths about the physical world.

WHAT WILL I BE STUDYING ON THE COURSE?
The course covers the core ideas in Physics in a variety of up-to-date and interesting settings.

In the AS course, for example:

·you will study why and how information in the form of pictures is coded digitally and then stored or transmitted and reconstructed;

·work on materials recognises that today the world is moving more and more towards 'designer' materials, materials built - atom by atom if necessary - to do a particular job;

·the study of waves looks at how the nature of light has puzzled people for centuries, and continues to do so; this leads to a very novel but simple introduction to the strangeness of quantum ideas in physics;

·the study of vectors, motion, forces and gravity recognises the fundamental importance of computers in predicting, controlling and understanding motion, from air traffic control to building space craft.

At A2 you will study topics ranging from the smallest building blocks of matter to the vastness of the universe, the huge amounts of energy released by matter during fission and fusion, and its behaviour at extremes of temperature.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING IN LESSONS?
In class you will be doing a mixture of all sorts of different activities including:

·software based assignments

·practical work with a partner or on your own

·demonstrations of physical principles

·answering questions or carrying out comprehension exercises

·using the course CD-ROMs and textbooks

·discussing concepts and their implications

·thinking

HOW WILL THE COURSE BE ASSESSED?
AS - three units, including two written papers and coursework:

·Physics in Action
- communications and designer materials

·Understanding Processes
and

Experimentation and Data Handling
- waves and quantum behaviour and space and time

·Physics in Practice
" quality of measurement and physics in use

A2 " three units, including two written papers and coursework:

·Rise and fall of the Clockwork Universe
" models and rules and matter in extremes

·Field and Particle Pictures
and

Advances in Physics
" fields and fundamental particles of matter

·Researching Physics
" practical investigation and research briefing

WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS COULD I DO WITH PHYSICS?
Both Chemistry and Mathematics combine particularly well. Other suitable accompanying subjects are Biology, Computing, Electronics, Design Technology (Resistant Materials), Economics, Geography and any foreign language. Students last year combined Physics with almost every subject on offer.

AND AFTER THE COURSE?
A pass in Physics is essential for many careers including those in science, engineering and the medical field. But don t forget that Physics is a highly regarded A level whatever your future choice of career, and can be particularly useful for architecture, oceanography, photography, cartography, science broadcasting or journalism, computer-aided design, quantity surveying, graphic art and technical jobs in media.

Requirement
You will need to achieve at least a grade B in both Mathematics and Double Science/Physics at GCSE. Applied Sciences students must have studied the Physics components. It is essential that you are competent at mathematics; we use algebra and trigonometry all the way through the course. Students who do not intend to study A level Mathematics alongside Physics will be supported with an extra session each week in the first year.