Welcome to the Physics Department. Please note this site is under construction and is currently being developed.
Students start studying Physics in Year 1 and continue right through to Year 5. It is taught as a separate subject and the vast majority of students at St Ambrose follow the triple science route, resulting in three GCSE qualifications.
Key Stage 3
Physics at KS3 is taught in mixed ability groups in Years 1 and 2 only, and begin their GCSE Physics course in Year 3. The KS3 Science National Curriculum can be found here.
Topics taught at KS3 include:
- Energy (including heat transfer)
- Forces & motion
- Electric circuits and electromagnets
- The solar system & beyond (including gravitational fields)
- Magnetic fields
- Light & sound
At the end of Year 2, students sit the KS3 examination and this, along with assessed work through out the course, is used to assess their overall progress.
GCSE
We follow the AQA specification (AQA website here), and recommend parents and students use the AQA website to help them understand the course in more detail. There are past papers on there, as well as other really useful information and resources.
The GCSE Physics couse is split into three units, P1, P2 and P3. P1 is taught in Year 3, P2 in Year 4 and P3 in Year 5. Here is an outline of the topics:
- Energy transfer by heating
- Using energy
- Electrical energy
- Generating electricity
- Waves
- Electromagnetic waves
- Motion
- Forces
- Work, energy and momentun
- Current electricity
- Mains electricity
- Radioactivity
- Energy from the nucleus
P3
- Medical applications of physics
- Using physics to make things work
- Using magnetic fields to keep things moving
News:
Current Year 4 students are the last cohort to take advantage of the modular system, whilst the present Year 3's and all future students will have to sit a terminal examination at the end of Year 5.
AS & A2-level
A-level Physics is a very popular option at St Ambrose and offers students a stretching yet rewarding experience. We follow the OCR Physics 'A' specification, and their website can be found here.
At St Ambrose, we have our very own auther of Physics revision materials - Mr Azzopardi. He has kindly allowed his materials to be published for students to use.
AS Physics resources can be found here.
A2 Physics resources can be found here.