Physics

A brief description of the course followed in Year 9.

This is effectively the first year of the GCSE - the department follows the new AQA (Specification B) course. The work is based firmly on practical work with an emphasis on investigation. The pupils are steered towards drawing their own conclusions from the data that they have gathered. The use of graphs as an investigative tool is explored extensively. A key aspect of the GCSE course is the so-called procedural content “How Science Works” and later on in the 4th and 5th Forms, the pupils will be formally examined via centre-based investigative and practical assessments. Therefore, the 3rd Form is an important foundation year when many key skills will be taught to prepare the pupils for these assessments.

 

The subject content in Form 3 covers the following main elements:

Waves, Sound and Light:

  • The basic properties of waves. Speed = frequency x wavelength
  • The characteristics of waves: wavelength, frequency, amplitude and waveform
  • The generation, transmission and detection of sound waves
  • Echoes and their uses, including ultrasound scanning
  • Musical instruments
  • Reflection of light and different types of mirrors
  • The pinhole camera

Electricity

  • Static electricity: charging objects, forces between charged objects, safety implications and uses, including the smoke precipitator and photocopier
  • Conductors and insulators
  • Electric charge, current and potential difference. Resistance. Measurements in circuits
  • Current-voltage characteristics for an ohmic resistor, filament lamp and diode
  • The light dependent resistor and the thermistor

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

  • Properties of electromagnetic radiation and the different regions of the spectrum
  • The uses of radio, microwaves, infra red and visible light for communication, analogue and digital signals
  • The uses and hazards of each section of the spectrum, the effect on living cells

Thermal energy transfer

  • Thermal energy flow as a result of temperature differences
  • Conduction, convection and radiation
  • Reducing heat losses in practical situations

 

Dr R.V. Lewis

R.S.

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