Physics

A Level Physics

About A Level Physics

Entry requirements: A minimum of attainment of Grade 6 at GCSE Physics or Combined Science. 

It is not necessary to study Mathematics at A Level, but it is a distinct advantage to both subjects if you take them together.

No subject has a wider scale than Physics. It encompasses everything from the study of the structure of the Universe at the cosmological scale right down to the interactions of the tiniest particles. If you have a passion for understanding how things work, enjoy scientific experiments and Mathematics, and want to enhance your understanding of the world around you, then you should study Physics. Its concepts, from Relativity to Quantum Mechanics, fire the imagination and challenge fundamental preconceptions about the nature of reality.

Physics plays a major role in Medicine, Chemistry, Biology, Electronics, Geology, and in the fields of Optics, Nanotechnology, Computer Science and any Engineering discipline. The modern world is built upon technology that could not exist without the advances in understanding that Physics delivers.

A Physics A level never fails to look impressive on any CV. It demonstrates an ability to understand challenging concepts and to apply theoretical and mathematical models to real-world situations. A Physics education develops problem-solving skills and provides a firm knowledge of essential Science and the ability to apply and adapt that knowledge within the workplace.

Course Content:

Examination board:     AQA Syllabus A

1. Measurements and their errors – What can we measure and what are the limits of those measurements?
2. Particles and Radiation – Learn about the current model of matter: quarks, leptons, gauge bosons and how their exotic behaviour is governed by the laws of Quantum Mechanics.
3. Waves – From guitar strings to lasers, waves are everywhere. A firm understanding of their properties underpins both classical and modern Physics.
4. Mechanics and Materials – The fundamentals of Engineering: how forces govern static and moving objects, together with the effects of those forces on materials.
5. Electricity – Develop a better understanding of the nature of electric current and the electromotive force that drives it.
6. Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics – Swings and roundabouts to atoms and planets, plus a deeper understanding of the behaviour of heat and gases.
7. Fields and their consequences – Understanding the forces that bind the Universe together requires a knowledge of how gravitational, electrical and magnetic fields interact with matter.
8. Nuclear physics – How can we model the decay of atomic nuclei and how does  drive stars and nuclear reactors?
9. Astrophysics – A tour around the Universe from local stars to distant galaxies.

Higher Education & Careers:

The subject and the skills acquired are an asset when applying for a wide range of scientific and engineering courses and due to the wide-ranging skills you acquire it is viewed favourably by universities and employers.  It is the ideal subject for people interested in going into Engineering, Chemistry and Materials Science as well as being a well-respected A-level by non-Physics subjects at University.

Aside from the obvious Technical and Engineering careers, Physics opens doors to a wide range of professions: Medicine (e.g. Radiography, Nuclear Medicine), Law (such as Patent Attorneys), Creative Industries (like Sound Engineering and Digital Arts), Meteorology, Video Games Design and Programming, Defence and Aerospace, Financial Modelling and Banking, advisory and consultancy roles in local and national Government and international organisations – opportunities for Physicists are endless.