HGS Physics
Course Overview
The aims of the course are to develop your interest in Physics; the course builds upon concepts you have met at GCSE, and will also introduce new theories, ideas and techniques which are fundamental to understanding the world around us. Physics is the most fundamental science, and a deeper understanding of physics will be invaluable if you intend to pursue any science or engineering based courses. Physics is also strongly recommended for courses in Astronomy and Mathematics as it unlocks a deeper understanding to these subjects.
Although it is not essential to also be studying Mathematics at A Level it is strongly advisable. Those who do not will be expected to spend a portion of their free time practicing the mathematical concepts necessary to succeed at Physics A Level.
Course Content
This course is split into six modules and combined with the Practical Endorsement, constitutes the full A Level qualification.
The modules can be summarised as:
1 Development of practical skills in physics
2 Foundations of physics
3 Forces and motion
4 Electrons waves and photons
5 Newtonian world and astrophysics
6 Particles and medical physics
Teaching of practical skills is integrated with theoretical topics and they are both assessed through the written exam papers. For the practical endorsement, your class teachers will assess your practical skills in lessons, with a minimum of 12 practical activities to be carried out over the 2 years. At the end of the course, this will be reported separately to the exam grade as a pass or fail.
Course Entry Requirements
6 or above in GCSE Mathematics
6 or above in GCSE Physics or 7-6 or above in GCSE Combined Science
Course Specification
OCR H556
https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/171726-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-physics-a-h556.pdf
Homework
At A Level, students are expected to complete a minimum of 5 hours of study a week on top of their allocated lesson time.
General Information about the Physics Course
A Level Physics – An Overview.
A level physics takes each area of physics you studied at GCSE and expands and deepens your knowledge. It also introduces more complex areas of study such as Quantum mechanics and Medical physics. The course we study at HGS is split into 6 modules
Modules 1 and 2 contain the frame working for physics (units/graphs/maths skills) and modules 3 through 6 contain the content. There is also a pass/fail practical component that sits separate to the examined modules.
Modules 3 and 5 mainly extend the Space, Mechanics and Motion work studied at GCSE in modules P2, P7 and P8 of the triple science GCSE.
Much of this content overlaps with the mathematics A level and so there are clear advantages to students who study both subjects with this strand of the course – however it is not essential to combine these subjects at A level.
Modules 4 and 6 take a look at the broad area of light, electricity and quantum phenomena before heading into specific real world uses of these principles. This builds on the work covered in GCSE modules P3, P4, P5 and P6 in the Triple GCSE course.
In September we start looking at both strands concurrently - with one of your teachers delivering each half of the course.
All course materials are digitally available through google sites with a valid HGS account
To find out more about HGS Physics visit the department using this link. Please note this link will only work for students logged in as a google HGS user.
1558 MLMF Physics 2022_0.pptx (1).pdf1558_My Learning my Future_Physics_Completed.pdf