Award: A-Level
Awarding Body: AQA
Specification Code: 7408
Specification Website: AQA A-Level Physics
Institution: Bayside, Westside
Physics is the science of matter and its motion, as well as space and time. It is the science that deals with basic concepts such as force, energy, mass, and charge. Physics is the general analysis of nature, conducted to understand how the world around us behaves.
Advances in Physics often translate to the technological sector, and sometimes influence the other sciences, as well as mathematics and philosophy. Physics is fundamental to courses in engineering and computing, and extremely useful in the medical sciences and related subjects.
Students should be aware that the ‘A’ Level Physics course is very demanding and requires a high level of understanding of both GCSE Physics and Maths.
Section 1: Measurements and Their Errors
Section 2: Particles and Radiation
Section 3: Waves
Section 4: Mechanics and Materials
Section 5: Electricity
Section 6: Further Mechanics & Thermal physics
Section 7: Fields and their consequences
Section 8: Nuclear Physics
Section 9: Option topic. Current options available are:
Astrophysics
Medical Physics
Engineering Physics
Turning Points in Physics (current one offered)
Electronics
Assessed Content: Sections 1-6
Written exam of 2 hours duration
60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content.
Assessed Content: Sections 1-9
Written exam of 2 hours duration
60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content.
Assessed Content: Sections 1-10
Written exam of 2 hours duration
Section A is worth 45 marks of short and long answer questions on practical experiments and data analysis from the content in Sections 1-9,
Section B consists of 35 marks of short and long answer questions from the content in Section 10 only.
NOTE: Mathematical demand will be high. Approximately 40% of the marks are allocated to Mathematical skills.
There are 12 required practicals which have to be carried out throughout the 2 years.
Students will be assessed against a variety of CPAC’s (Common Practical Assessment Criteria). Success will result in a practical endorsement. This is an important part of the course as Universities will likely require a pass in the practical endorsement for entry into science related degrees.