PHYSICS (OCR)

A Level Course Outline

What is Physics?

As you probably know from GCSE, Physics is the science of the physical world. There are hardly any new topics at A-level that you won't have come across. Higher Level GCSE calculation topics are simply repeated, e.g. acceleration and kinetic/potential energy, voltage-current-resistance, while others e.g. heat energy electromagnetism and astronomy have calculation introduced at A-level, while only descriptive at GCSE. Maths is involved in A-level Physics but you do not need to do A-level Maths. You just need to be good at most higher-tier GCSE maths, formulae (using and re-arranging them), graphs e.g. y=mx+c, Pythagoras, sin cos and tan percentages and standard form.

In the second year of the course, full A Level, in module 5 you will study further mechanics such as circular motion and oscillations, heat energy, the kinetic molecule theory of gases, then astronomy-planet orbits, stars and the Big Bang theory of the Universe. Module 6 is electromagnetism, (motors generators and transformers), radioactivity particle physics and medical physics. Much of the exam material in the A-level exams will be AS content so you will revise all of this in the A-level course.

There is no “coursework” or practical examinations to worry about. Instead you will do experiments on most topics throughout the course and will answer exam questions about the experiments you did. In the second year of A-level there is the “Practical Endorsement” which you will pass based on your practical work during the course. This is the teacher saying we have seen you set up and use the equipment for the practicals done over the course and is a similar procedure to that in chemistry and biology.

Students will face questions based on:

• Calculation from formula
• Describe and explain
• Define terms
• Describe familiar experiments
• Analyse experiment data e.g. plotting a graph
• Multiple choice, short answer and structured questions.

What Skills Will Students Develop by Studying Physics?

• Numerical skills
• Mathematical skills-graph gradients, rearranging equations (GCSE algebra)
• Problem-solving skills
• Practical/experimental skills

Course structure Skills learnt in Physics are relevant to many highly paid careers in technology, IT, finance, engineering and medicine if physics is not your first subject. This course will be taught for 6x 1hour lessons per week which involves covering the course content, practical work, and exam practice. Core Textbook OCR AS/A Level Physics A Student Book 2 Mike O'Neill ISBN 13-978-1447990833 Pearson

Further Reading
Introducing Quantum Theory  J.P McEvoy, Oscar Zarate
Six Easy Pieces  Richard Feynman
Advanced Physics  Steve Adams Jonathan Allday
A Level Physics  Roger Muncaster
Practice in Physics  Tim Akrill George Bennet Chris Millar
A Brief History of Time  Stephen Hawking