Tiffin Sixth Form Course Guide 2021

PHYSICS (AQA 7408)

What will you study? In year 1 you will study Particle Physics, Quantum Physics, Waves, Mechanics and Electricity. In year 2 you will study Elec- tric and Gravitational Fields, Magnetic fields, Further Mechanics, Thermal Phys- ics, Nuclear Physics and finally Astro- physics. You will also learn to apply practical skills throughout the course during a range of practical activities which take place dur- ing normal lessons. How is it assessed? The conceptual content is assessed in three, two hour exams at the end of the two year course. The papers contain a mixture of short and long answer ques- tions, with about 20% of marks given over to multiple choice. The first two papers cover roughly the first and second year of the course respectively. The third paper assesses Astrophysics and practical skills. A separate practical endorsement is awarded at the end of the course if, dur- ing the practical lessons throughout the year, the student has successfully demon- strated each skill within the Core Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) specified by the joint exam boards.

Enrichment opportunities There are two student-led societies which tend to involve Physics students more than any other – the Engineering Society and the Physics Society. Both societies or- ganise regular events such as competi- tions, trips as well as lunch time lectures from visiting academics and ex-Tiffinians. The Physics department runs a two week ‘extended project’ at the end of Year 12. This is a chance for students to team up and design a machine, piece of software or experiment that has recently captured their imagination. The projects are accred- ited by the British Science Association’s CREST scheme. Every year around 30 students achieve Silver and some teams put in a bit of extra effort over the Sum- mer to get to the Gold standard. As well as this, a small number of Physics students are selected for the Engineering Education Scheme, hosted by BP and Air Products. Last year, the department took 20 stu- dents to the Joint European Torus, a fu- sion reactor in Oxfordshire. Around the same number of students also visited Sai- pem, a multinational oil and gas service company who have their headquarters in Kingston town centre. Teacher led socie- ties include Astronomy club, Rocket club and Camford Club. All Year 12 students attend a timetabled lecture every two

weeks. Visitors have included an F1 engi- neer, a radiologist, NPL physicists, pipe- line engineers and pharmaceutical ana- lysts. Where might it lead you? Two years of A-level Physics will develop your problem-solving skills, numerical and spatial ability and perhaps most im- portantly will give you some insight into how engineers and scientists solve (sometimes only partially) real world prob- lems. Studying physics is a combination of im- agination, reasoning and determination - transferable skills and qualities that can be applied in any field. Students progress on to a wide range of destinations within and outside of the physical sciences. Last year, A Level Physics students went on to study a variety of engineering spe- cialisms, Physics, Accounting & Finance, Economics and Management, Law, Com- puter Science, Geography, Mathematics, Architecture, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Cognitive Neu- roscience and Psychology, Philosophy, Medicine, Sociology and Biology. One of our students also secured a place on a highly selective degree apprentice- ship in Civil Engineering.