Physics

A contemporary course, developed by the Institute of Physics, based on three units for AS and three for A2.

AS

PHYSICS IN ACTION - Provides a graduated path from GCSE to AS level
Focuses on physics used in many different ways.
Communication - Imaging. Including optics and ideas about digital information.
Sensing. Including circuit theory and the use of electrical sensors.
Signalling - including spectra and polarisation as well as digital signals.
Designer Materials -Testing Materials. Including mechanical, optical and electrical properties, and giving attention to a wide range of materials in use.
Looking Inside Materials. Including the explanation of properties of materials in terms of structure at various scales; designing new materials.

UNDERSTANDING PROCESSES -Progressing towards new ways of thinking.
Focusing on curiosity-driven physics.
Waves and Quantum Behaviour -Wave Behaviour. Diffraction and interference; colour and thin films. Quantum Behaviour. Including photons and evidence of electron diffraction.
Space, Time and Motion -Mapping Space and Time. Motion and vectors.
Computing the next move. Kinematics, dynamics, energy and power, motion in uniform gravitational fields.

PHYSICS IN PRACTICE -Two pieces of internally assessed practical skills:
Quality of measurement and making valid inferences from data.
A presentation on the use, properties and structure of a material.

A2

RISE AND FALL OF THE CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE: A gradual development of more mathematical thinking.
A focus on how physics changes the way we think, and our lives.
Modules and Rules: Creating Models. Simple computer models, exponential processes, harmonic oscillators, resonance.
Out Into Space. Including orbits, circular motion, gravitational field, momentum.
Our Place in the Universe. Measuring the cosmos; evidence of a hot Big Bang origin of the Universe.
Matter in Extremes Matter: Very Simple. Including ideal gases, kinetic theory, molecular thermal energy, thermal capacity, conservation of energy.
Matter: Very Hot and Cold. Including processes requiring activation energy and the Boltzmann factor.

FIELD AND PARTICLE PICTURES: Developing fundamental ideas.
Varied points of view: fundamental, applied, social.
Fields: Electromagnetic Machines. Including transformer, dynamo, electric motors, alternators and dynamos.
Charge and Field. Including the acceleration and deflection of charged particles, electric field, potential.
Fundamental Particles: Probing Deep into Matter. Including particle scattering, energy levels in atoms, quantum ideas about atomic structure, quarks, exchange particles and the Standard Model.
Ionising Radiation and Risk. Including nuclear stability, nuclear fission and fusion.
Advances in Physics: Advances in Physics. A synoptic approach to fundamental and applied physics, brought together to make progress with a problem, and perhaps produce a new one.

RESEARCHING PHYSICS: Two pieces of internally assessed practical skills:
Practical Investigation. A report of an extended investigation of a practical Physics problem.

Research briefing. Summarising a topic of physics chosen by the candidate.
Further details: http://advancingphysics.iop.org/