Physics
Department Staff
- Dr David Tricker (Head of Department)
- Mr Michael Goodson
- Mr Christopher Ingram
- Miss Nina Pickett
- Mr Ian Taylor
- Mrs Marilyn Dew (Technician)
- Mr John Langfield (Technician)
The Department
Physics aims to describe, understand and predict processes in the material world. Physics can claim to be the most fundamental science, providing the foundation for other branches of science and for technology.
At The Perse, all pupils study Physics to GCSE. We aim to produce pupil who:
- have an enthusiasm for and interest in Physics
- understand the basic themes of Physics at a deepening level
- appreciate the broader relevance of Physics
- can apply the scientific method of enquiry
We hope that enjoyment of the subject leads as many suitable candidates as possible to go on to A level.
The Syllabus
In the First and Second Form we lay a foundation of fundamental concepts and models. The content broadly follows that of the National Curriculum Key Stage 3. The course is structured to develop basic skills in scientific investigation and to encourage a questioning frame of mind.
All pupils study Physics to iGCSE, and are taught in form groups in the Third and Fourth Form and sets in the Fifth Form. They are studying the International GCSE (CIE Physics 0625, http://www.cie.org.uk). The IGCSE has no coursework, and the pupils' experimental skills will be tested in a practical examination.
At A level we follow the new Advancing Physics Course (OCR Syllabus B), produced by the Institute of Physics. The course aims to encourage wider thought by putting physics in a variety of contexts, including technological, historical and cultural.
The AS course covers digital imaging, electric circuits and sensors, signals and communications, materials and microstructures, waves and quantum behaviour, mechanics and kinetics. The Lower Sixth Form sit two written papers in the Summer Term, namely Physics in Action and Understanding Processes. The third module, Physics in Practice, involves three short pieces of coursework carried out during the year. The Materials Research and Presentation takes place towards the end of the Michaelmas term, the Sensor Project near the beginning of the Lent term, and the Making Sense of Data task towards the end of the Lent term.
The A2 course is more mathematically challenging and has an emphasis on modelling physical processes, for example in radioactive decay, capacitance and oscillations. We study physics on both the large scale (gravitational fields and space) and the small scale (particle physics and nuclear processes). In studying the physics of matter both hot and cold we consider how predictable behaviour on the large scale can arise out of apparently random behaviour on the atomic scale. Electric and magnetic fields are introduced in the context of particle accelerators, and electromagnetism is taught with an emphasis on real life applications. The Upper Sixth Form take three modules. 'The Clockwork Universe' consists of a two week practical investigation carried out during the Michaelmas Term and a written paper sat in January. 'Field and Particle Pictures' consists of a two week research report (started at the end of the Lower Sixth Form and completed in the Lent Term of the Upper Sixth Form) and a written paper sat in June. The third paper, 'Advances in Physics', includes a synoptic element.