Altrincham Grammar School For Boys

Physics Department

 

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What is physics?

Physics is the study of matter and its motion through space-time and all that derives from these, such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the world and universe behave.

Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, perhaps the oldest through its inclusion of astronomy. Over the last two millennia, physics had been considered synonymous with philosophy, chemistry, and certain branches of mathematics and biology, but during the Scientific Revolution in the 16th century, it emerged to become a unique modern science in its own right. However, in some subject areas such as in mathematical physics and quantum chemistry, the boundaries of physics remain difficult to distinguish.

Physics is both significant and influential, in part because advances in its understanding have often translated into new technologies, but also because new ideas in physics often resonate with the other sciences, mathematics and philosophy. For example, advances in the understanding of electromagnetism led directly to the development of new products which have dramatically transformed modern-day society (e.g., television, computers, and domestic appliances); advances in thermodynamics led to the development of motorized transport; and advances in mechanics inspired the development of calculus.

Why study physics?

We are all born with the urge to understand the world around us. One of the first words we learn to say is ‘Why?’ and then, a little later ‘How?’ So you have probably asked in your time ‘Why is the sky blue?’, ‘How does a mobile phone work?, ‘How does the Sun keep on shining?’, ‘What is dark matter?’ among other questions. If you find that the more answers you are given or discover, the more questions you want to ask, then you could well be a physicist in the making and you should certainly consider studying physics at university.

Physics is concerned with observing natural phenomena in the world about us, trying to understand them and to predict what might happen in new and unknown situations. Physics is also about the processes of observing, understanding and predicting in relation to man-made systems. Physics deals with profound questions about the nature of the universe and with some of the most important, practical, environmental and technological issues of our time. It is a very broad subject involving experiment and observations, theory and mathematics, computing technology, materials and information theory. It is also a creative subject. Ideas and techniques from physics drive developments in related subject areas including chemistry, computing, engineering, materials science, mathematics, medicine and the life sciences, meteorology and statistics.
Physics is a subject that is continually developing and evolving, with regard to both theory and practical techniques. One of its key characteristics is that systems can be understood by identifying a few key quantities such as energy and momentum, and the universal principles that govern them. Part of the appeal of the subject is that there are relatively few such principles and that these apply throughout science, not just in physics.

Studying physics at university brings benefits that last a lifetime, including knowledge and skills that are valuable outside physics: transferable skills such as a practical approach to problem solving, the ability to reason clearly and communicate complex ideas, the facility to use ICT and self study techniques, expertise in mathematical formulation and solution. Benefits also include the pleasure and satisfaction that come from being able to understand and even, within a few years, to be able to contribute to the latest discoveries in science.

What do physicists do?

The employment prospects for those with qualifications in physics are generally good. Physics provides a route into many careers, and opportunities exist both in Britain and throughout Europe, and North America. These prospects are not confined to research, they extend into a wide range of industries, IT, medicine, high finance, marketing, business and management. The general skills of analysis and problem-solving that a physics degree fosters, help physics graduates to contribute effectively to most areas of an organisation’s activities.

While some physics graduates go on to work in academic research and teaching, many, possibly most, physics graduates move into jobs where they are not working as ‘physicists’ as such, but in which they are using the skills developed through studying physics. They are challenged by moving into new fields but succeed because of their skills and training in physics. Some physics graduates are employed in industry, on the research and development side – industries such as those concerned with opto-electronics, computing, telecommunications, materials, motor vehicle technology, semiconductors, and power generation. Physics graduates, because of their broadly based training, often become leaders of the increasingly common multi-disciplinary teams employed on development projects.

A physicist’s work may involve experimental investigations and theoretical analysis, but physicists are increasingly employed in the world of IT using advanced computers in the solution of scientific and engineering problems, or predicting financial futures. A physicist’s ability to model complex processes is particularly valued.

Teaching physics at school or college level offers not only the opportunity to work with young people, but is also challenging in that teachers explain complex concepts while sharing their enthusiasm for the subject.

In summary a degree course in physics brings you face-to-face with the important fundamental concepts and knowledge which are at the heart of our understanding of nature. A degree course in physics also opens doors to a wider range of careers than almost any other subject.

 

Exam dates

A2 Resits (old syllabus)

 

PHB4 - 28 th January 2010 afternoon
PHB5 - 3 rd February 2010 afternoon
phb6/1 - tbc
PHB6/2 - 18 th January 2010 afternoon

AS ( AQA)

PHYA1 - 13 th January 2010 morning (Y12 and resits)
PHYA2 - 18 th January 2010 afternoon (resits)
PHYA4 - 28 th January 2010 afternoon (Y13)

 

GCSE (OCR)

Unit 1 - 20 th January 2010 morning
Unit 2 - 1 st February 2010 afternoon

Competitions

There are several competitions that particularly gifted students can enter:


The British Physics Olympiad for Y13 Friday 13 th November 2009

A practice Paper 1 is free to enter and is marked by the school. Paper 2 costs L18 and is marked by the University of Oxford.

AS Competition for Y12 Friday 19 th March 2010 (L2.00 fee)

Physics Challenge for Y11 Friday 26 th February 2010

 

Physics Resources

Revision Guides

A variety of revision guides (for GCSE, AS and A2 exams)are sold by the department at cost price (typically £4 to £5) which is a large discount on bookshop prices. Please ask your teacher for more information.

VLE's

There are many resources that can be accessed from the VLE. Please speak to your teacher for more information.

Kerboodle

This learning platform is available to A level students. Tasks can be set and handed in through this internet accessed environment.

 

The Internet

There are many websites that explain Physics phenomena with the aid of animated diagrams. Here are just a few:

• http://phet.colorado.edu/index.php (Physics interactive simulations)
• http://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/ (Revision exercises and tests)
• http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/index.html (More interactive simulations)

And here are some other websites that you may find interesting.

• http://www.iop.org/ ( Institute of Physics)
• http://www.phy.duke.edu/~hsg/physics-challenges/challenges.html (Interesting Physics problems)

 

The Gamma

The Physics club takes place on Mondays at 12.30pm in N14 for Y9 and Y10 students. Any Y12 or Y13 students interested in Oxbridge or any of the IoP competitions are invited to come along for extra tuition. Y13 students Chris Wall and Peter Conn are the Physics prefects and assist with demonstrations of experiments.

Educational visits and lectures

The department arranges a variety of visits and lectures throughout the year. Details of these events will be published when dates are confirmed.

Examination courses

GCSE: OCR 21 st Century

This course begins in the Spring term of Year 9:

• The Earth in the Universe
• Radiation and life
• Radioactive materials
• Explaining motion
• Electric Circuits
• The wave model of radiation
• Observing the Universe
• One third of the marks is awarded for a Case Study and a Practical Data Analysis

 

AS (Year 12)

• Particles, quantum phenomena and electricity
• Mechanics, materials and waves
• Investigative and practical skills

 

A2 (Year 13)

• Fields and further mechanics
• Nuclear physics, thermal physics plus an optional topic
• Investigative and practical skills

 

Staff