Alan Brooks     Senior Curriculum Manager (SCM) Physics

Physics BSc        A-Levels: Maths, Physics, Computing

I think physics tries to do something that no other discipline even approaches - explaining everything.  This is an ambitious target to say the least and why I think it is fascinating; you start to get a taste of this on the A-level course and it was an interest in this that prompted my A-level choices.

In attempting to understand and predict interactions between matter and energy we attempt to understand everything.  We even realise that matter is energy, and forces are a transfer of energy - what an elegant outcome… except we don’t really know what energy is, we cannot define it properly and it may not even exist!  In this apparent contradiction we understand what physics seeks to do, it attempts to model:  it tries to make predictions based on a framework and then tests them to see if the universe does what is expected.  Our framework is not a description of the universe, it is a model for how it works.  Energy as an accounting procedure works (energy in = energy out) so we use it.

With that problem understood we encounter the next one: it turns out in trying to predict the behaviour of the universe we are trying to predict how an inherently random system behaves. 

This means sometimes the same experiment can give different results - the outcomes are based on probabilities - so we have to run the experiment lots of times and see if our probabilities are correct.  So it turns out we can accurately predict large scale events involving lots of particles but we are reduced to probabilities for small scale events, for example those involving individual particles.  In other words we cannot predict the outcome of an individual dice throw but if we throw a large number we can predict that ⅙ will be sixes.  So our universe is not a well oiled machine, it is the sum total of a huge number of possible arrangements and outcomes, its very existence is highly unlikely.  

If the above excites you rather than scares you physics is probably a subject for you!

Luke Simmonds Physics Teacher

BSc (hons) Aeronautical Engineering A-Levels: Physics, Maths and Electronics. 

Hobbies: Warhammer and Cycling 

Physics has always been a fascination for humans (even if we didn’t call it physics at the time).  As a subject it has a very clear mandate; to explain everything!  The study of physics is not an easy option but it is an incredibly rewarding and satisfying course, leading to many exciting careers from engineering to law. 

As a college student I spent lots of time thinking about physics and maths problems.  It is fair to say I didn’t always get things right the first time round but I never gave up on any questions or topics, always determined to understand why ‘things’ behave the way they do.  Having successfully studied my three A-levels, I progressed onto an Aeronautical Engineering degree course through the University of Surrey, eventually moving onto a job as an aircraft engineer.  My time as an aircraft engineer allowed me to fully explore all I had learnt on my physics and maths courses all those years before. It cannot be understated how important physics and mathematics are to an engineer of any discipline. 

In my time as a teacher I have taken students on trips to local airfields, been involved in the engineering education scheme, I’ve run the College’s young enterprise programme, taught Physics, Electronics and GCSE Science, and finally became a college personal tutor in 2017. My position in the physics department is a unique one, as I am a physics teacher but also one of the College’s personal tutors, I may even be your tutor.

I look forward to meeting you either as your physics teacher or as your tutor (or maybe both). 

Kevin Maultby - Physics Teacher

The world around us is a pretty interesting place full of fascination. At a young age questions like "why are these bugs hiding from me?" and "why have the trees lost their leaves?" are early attempts to try and make sense of it. This inquisitiveness is at the heart of science and remains unchanged from those first initial musings through to the experts pushing the boundaries of human knowledge within their fields. That's nice. 

Having been a technician for many years in Physics, BIology and Chemistry Departments alongside teaching the three sciences in different forms at GCSE and A-level, I have been fortunate enough to keep learning about this wonderful world from those around me. As a teacher, seeing students develop their own passion and being able to directly assist them along this part of their journey is an unparalleled reward. 

If you still wonder how everything in the universe fits together, ticks and booms then studying physics at the Sixth Form College Farnborough is an incredible opportunity! 

My name is Catherine, I'm the Senior Technician in Physics. I have a masters degree in Chemistry. 

As senior technician in the physics department I am responsible for the practical part of the course. I prepare all the practicals that the students do in class. I also assist the teachers to design new experiments and then build them for the student to use.

 When I was young I was inspired by my Dad who is a chemist. But as I grew up I found that I loved to learn about how and why things worked.

 I chose my A-levels (Chemistry, Biology, Geography and French) as they were what I most enjoyed, especially the chemistry. I liked to figure out the patterns in reactions and perform all the practicals.

 What I find most inspiring now is the physics teachers I get to work with everyday. They are so passionate and enthusiastic about their jobs and are always finding interesting ways to help students understand physics they best they can.

 Our physics course is great because of all the practicals that the students get to do.