Throughout the two year course students will cover the following:

• Measurements and their errors   
  
• Particles and radiation   
  
• Waves   
  
• Mechanics and materials   
  
• Electricity   
  
• Further mechanics and thermal physics   
  
• Fields and their consequences   
  
• Nuclear physics   
  
• Turning points in physics 
  

Assessment

This course will be assessed at the end of the second year:

Paper 1 – 34% 

• Measurements and their errors
  
• Particles and radiation
  
• Waves
  
• Mechanics and materials
  
• Electricity
  
• Periodic Motion
  

Paper 2 – 34%

• Thermal Physics
  
• Fields and their consequences
  
• Nuclear physics
  

Paper 3 – 32%

• Practical skills and data analysis
  
• Turning points in physics
  

Skills Developed and Career Prospects

Physics demands a high level of mathematical skills and problem solving techniques to be able to apply the base knowledge of the subject. There is quite a lot of practical work which will develop students’ ability to plan, carry out and analyse experiments. During the course students will use a variety of experimental techniques including the design, construction and checking of circuits, the use of laser or light sources to investigate characteristics of light together with experiments to measure gravity using a range of methods.

Physics is normally required for a Physics degree and all the Engineering degree courses. It is very useful for Science degrees such as Biochemistry, Biology and Chemistry plus practice based Medical degrees. These include Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing. Other courses that could follow on from this A Level include Architecture, Computer Science, Geography, Environmental Sciences and Maths.