Science – Physics
Why study physics?
There are three very good reasons for choosing A Level Physics at Elutec.
Firstly everything we do at Elutec is related to our goal of producing excellent Engineers, so your physics lessons will have a practical connection with the real world that many colleges cannot replicate. Our industry and university links give us the edge in that you will meet real scientists carrying out research and designing products using the science you will be learning about in your lessons.
The second reason is more profound, and tends to keep me up at night. Simply put, Physics covers the science of everything that exists and does not exist – how we move, how the universe got here, why we aren’t all made of antimatter instead of this stuff we call matter, exactly why the sky is not blue all the time and why we need to manipulate huge natural forces and massive amounts of energy to carry out a simple task such as switching on a light bulb.
Thirdly, A Level Physics is one of the most highly regarded qualifications in the world. Top universities and employers scramble to recruit physicists every year after results day, as they know the future of this country and others depends on good, reliable and innovative science. They know that physics graduates have the skill, concepts and mathematical ability to push the limits of our understanding to create new ways of solving problems in the modern world. There is a fourth reason to choose Physics at our college, one that is isn’t as highly advertised as the other three but actually more important than all of them put together… Physics is also fun.
Course outline
In years 12 and 13, you will have 5 lessons of Physics a week. This is enough time for you to cover the unit content and allows a lot of time at the end of each topic to recap and practice examination style questions to prepare you for the final year exams.
YEAR 1
- Paper 1: Particles, Quantum Phenomena and Electricity (Quarks, Leptons, Hadrons, Bosons, Matter and Antimatter, Photoelectricity, Electrical Current, Circuits and Radiation – a massive and universally interesting first topic)
- Paper 2: Mechanics, Materials and Waves (Forces, Motion, Acceleration, Projectiles, Drag, Energy, Stress, Strain, Optical Fibres, Wave interference, and how to make the world’s largest working catapult)
YEAR 2
- Paper 3: Fields and Further Mechanics (Electrostatics, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetic fields, Gravitational fields, basically any type of field you can think of except corn followed by a dose of collisions, centripetal and centrifugal forces, Capacitance and Resistivity)
- Papers 4 and 5: Nuclear Physics and an option of Medical or Astrophysics (Energy flow, Binding Energy, Half Life and Radioactivity, followed by an option of your choice, depending on a discussion about where you want your next steps to be in your career or education)
There are 12 required practical investigations placed throughout the course that students will be expected to carry out and learn about, these will be thoroughly planned and evaluated by students after each experimental session.
Entry requirements
A/A* in relevant GCSE Sciences and Maths. Core science is not adequate for entry without additional science at the same grade. Students with a grade B in science but higher grades achieved in mathematics will be considered at the discretion of the Head of Department.
Resources
4 brand new laboratories including all gas and electrical fixtures.
Extensive resources for all core practical’s.
Access to 3D printing.
Extension activities
Rocketry and robotics (depending on popularity)
This course will prepare me for…
National apprenticeships in engineering related areas.
Higher apprenticeships in engineering and architecture.
University courses in physics, electronics, civil, mechanical, aeronautical and electrical engineering.
Quotes
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”
Albert Einstein 1930
