PHYSICS. IGCSE Physics. Contact for further information. Dr JL Chapman:

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1 PHYSICS Contact for further information Dr JL Chapman: IGCSE Physics Pupils are taught all their lessons by specialist Physics teachers and we currently cover the Edexcel IGCSE specification which includes the following topics:- Forces and Motion Electricity and Electromagnetism Energy Resources and Energy Transfer Solids, Liquids and Gases Radioactivity and Particles Practical work is done extensively throughout the course and assessment is 100% by two terminal written examination papers. IGCSE Physics prepares pupils well for IB Diploma or A Levels. Further details of the specification can be found using the link below.

2 A Level Physics Course description We will be following the AQA Physics specification. This is linear course covering the following topics:- Measurement and their errors Particles and Radiation Waves Mechanics and Materials Electricity Further Mechanics Thermal Physics Fields and their Consequences Nuclear Physics The students are also required to carry out practical work throughout the course including 12 compulsory practical activities. Knowledge of these experiments and the way that experimental data is collected and analysed will be assessed in one of the final written papers. In addition the students study one optional topic. Wellington students usually study for the Astrophysics option but we may be able to offer a second option depending on teacher specialism. Further details of the specification can be found by following the link below. Requirements for A Level Physics Pupils must have attained at least an A* grade in GCSE or IGCSE Physics or the MYP equivalent. GCSE or IGCSE Maths at A* grade is also essential and students will find that studying A level Maths alongside their Physics is advisable. Assessment Structure Assessment is via three written papers at the end of the two year course. Paper 1. This paper assesses measurement and their errors, particles and radiation, waves, mechanics and materials, electricity, and periodic motion. (Short and long questions and multiple choice.) Paper 2. This paper assesses thermal physics, fields and their consequences and nuclear physics. (Short and long answers and multiple choice.) Paper 3. This paper assesses practical skills and data analysis and the additional optional topic. (Short and long answers.) Potential Careers Physics is a well-respected and intellectually challenging subject. Physics graduates go onto a wide variety of careers from banking and finance to industry to teaching. An A Level in Physics will be looked upon favourably by many university admissions tutors across a breadth of courses but is usually a prerequisite for engineering courses, and single or joint honours Physics degrees.

3 IB Physics Course description The course presents the best aspects of traditional physics along with modern concepts in an exciting and flexible way. Pupils will question the way they learn, reflecting on how knowledge and understanding are obtained. Pupils will also be expected to explore ideas, investigate different physical situations by means of simulation, modelling and experimentation and to develop key skills, such as: analysis and presentation of data, communication and empathy with peers and scientific researchers and educators. Standard Level The course covers the following core topics:- Measurement and Uncertainties Mechanics Thermal Physics Waves Electricity and Magnetism Circular Motion and Gravitational Fields Atomic, Nuclear and Particle Physics Energy Production. The students also study an additional optional topic. Options which the teacher could choose include Astrophysics, Engineering Physics, Imaging or Relativity. The students are also required to carry out practical work throughout the course which will be assessed in the final written papers and via an individual internal assessment practical project. They will also have the chance to work with students studying other IB Science courses via the practical Group 4 project. Higher Level The course covers all of the core material studied by Standard Level students (listed above.) In addition, Higher Level students cover the following topics:- Wave Phenomena Fields Electromagnetic Induction Quantum and Nuclear Physics The students also study an additional optional topic. Options which the teacher could choose include Astrophysics, Engineering Physics, Imaging or Relativity. The students are also required to carry out practical work throughout the course which will be assessed in the final written papers and via an individual internal assessment practical project. They will also have the chance to work with students studying other IB Science courses via the practical Group 4 project. Assessment structure for SL and HL 20% of the overall mark is for the individual internal assessment practical project. The remaining 80% of the assessment is via three written/multiple choice papers at the end of the two year course. Requirements

4 Pupils must have attained at least an A* grade in IGCSE or GCSE Physics or the MYP equivalent and have a strong understanding of scientific principles. IGCSE or GCSE Maths at A* is also essential. Perhaps more importantly, successful pupils will be highly motivated, well organised, industrious, open-minded and inquisitive. The course and the individual assessment practical project, in particular, require all of these attributes. Potential careers The successful Physics pupil will find a wide range of careers open up. Skills acquired on the course, along with the discipline and rigour of the core material, will allow pupils to consider a range of future pathways, from university courses in science, business or language to direct employment in city, or country, environments in this country or abroad.

5 IB Astronomy (SL only) Astronomy is only available as a standard level course within the IB (group 4) It is most likely to appeal to two types of pupil Those who are wanting a group 4 subject to complete the IB but for whom the traditional science subjects do not appeal. For these pupils, perhaps Astronomy will offer a fresh and interesting subject. Higher level Physics students in the IB who would like to take two group 4 subjects to play to their strengths. These pupils will find that Astronomy supports their Physics studies and vice versa. The course is split into 4 units. The Stars This topic looks at our star, the Sun, and the processes by which it functions. The topic goes on to examine how we can measure stars and deduce their luminosity, size, mass etc... Finally the topic looks at the life of stars from their birth from a collapsing nebula through its main-sequence lifetime and ultimate demise and possible supernova forming white dwarfs, neutron stars or even black holes. The Planets This topic discusses different theories to explain the formation of the solar system. It continues with a discussion of how life began on Earth and why the conditions of Venus and Mars are so different. We then consider how life has subsequently changed the Earth's atmosphere further. The topic finishes with a consideration of the search for extra-terrestrial life and how we might identify environments where life could exist and how we might detect it. Galaxies The topic starts with an examination of our own galaxy as a basis on which to describe other galaxies, The topic continues to examine how other galaxies are classified and how they differ. this sub-topic concludes with an examination of the evidence for galactic dark matter and what the options for it are. The topic then considers active galaxies, what they are and how they are important to our understanding of the beginnings of the universe. Cosmology The final topic examines the largest scales of all from the large scale structures of the universe and the fundamental shape of space-time. The topic examines the birth, life and ultimate death of the universe and our observations and evidence for these theories.