Physics
A Level Physics
Staff within the Department
Ms F Heidari – Head of Physics
B.Sc. Cellular and Molecular Biology, P.G.C.E. (Secondary) Science/ Physics
Ms S Matei - Teacher of Science/Physics
B.Sc (Hons) MNatSci Natural Sciences, P.G.C.E Science
Physics is the study of the natural world. It deals with the fundamental particles of which the universe is made, and the interactions between those particles, the objects composed of them (nuclei, atoms, molecules) and energy.
Physics is the science of Nature - of matter and energy in space and time. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena covering enormous scales: from the subatomic particles to the Universe as a whole. All laws and forces of nature originate from mathematical symmetries of space and time, so modern physics currently focuses on studying these symmetries.
Physics is very dependent on mathematics. Models and theories in physics are expressed using mathematical equations. However, while physics uses mathematics to describe the material world, mathematics may deal with strictly abstract concepts and patterns. There is a large overlap between the two fields, known as mathematical physics.
Skills you will pick up include:
- Communication and presentation skills
- Computational and data-processing skills
- Data analysis using a range of appropriate statistical methods and packages
- Identify and predict trends and patterns
- Problem solving skills
- Report writing
- Research skills.
We follow the AQA specification.
Link: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/physics-a-2450
Course outline:
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| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term |
| Year 12 |
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| Year 13 |
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Activities to do at home
- Join the Institute of Physics
https://applications.iop.org/16to19.aspx
- Read books
- A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
- Big Bang: The Most Important Scientific Discovery of All Time and Why You Need to Know About It by Simon Singh
- A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
- The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking
- 13 Things That Don’t Make Sense: The Most Intriguing Scientific Mysteries of Our Time by
Michael Brooks
- Watch online video
· “Schools Lecture series” by the Institute of Physics:
http://www.iop.org/resources/videos/education/
http://www.youtube.com/user/minutephysics
· Richard Feynman’s “Messenger Lectures” on physics, http://research.microsoft.com/apps/tools/tuva/
- Follow physicists on twitter
· Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox)
· Jim Al-Khalili (@jimalkhalili)
· Andy Newsam (@AstroAndyN)
· Michio Kaku (@michiokaku)
- Visit places
- Great Dorset Steam Fair
- The Bournemouth Balloon
- The Planetarium
- The Clifton Suspension Bridge.
- Thorpe Park
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire- JET at Culham, Oxfordshire.
- The Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
- The Science Museum, London
- Cambridge Science Festival.
- Isaac Newton’s birthplace, near Grantham in the Midlands (NG33 5PD)
- CERN, Geneva- EWS pupils will be given the opportunity to visit CERN in 2016/2017 academic year
Enrichment Activities and Trips
At EWS, We also run the Engineering Education Scheme (EES), this leads to a Gold CREST Award. We strongly encourage our cohort to apply for this scheme and we provide teaching and learning support to those selected.
Career Paths
Physics students are trained to analyse evidence and handle equations. This way of thinking can be applied to many job roles, giving them the option of working in a range of industries.
Their careers can range from predicting climate change to designing computer games. Below
| Medicine | Civil Engineer | Surgeon
| Astronaut |
| Cosmologist | Astrophysicist | Satellite Engineer
| Sound Engineer
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| Aerospace engineer | Research and development | Clinical Scientist | Particle Physicist |
| Architect | Gravity Researcher | Solicitor | Ice Scientist |
| Telecommunications | Teaching | Finance
| Law |