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A level Physics Years 12 and 13

 

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Specification

OCR - The specification and assessment structure can be found at the link: https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/171726-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-physics-a-h556.pdf

The course is intended to satisfy the needs of all students who wish to study Physics to A level as a preparation for higher study.

The aims of the course are to encourage students to:

  • Develop essential knowledge and understanding in Physics and, where appropriate, the applications of Physics, and the skills needed for the use of this in new and changing situations.
  • Appreciate how Physics has developed and is used in present day society.
  • Show the importance of Physics as a human endeavour which interacts with social, philosophical, economic and industrial matters.
  • Sustain and develop their enjoyment of, and interest in, Physics.
  • Recognise the quantitative nature of Physics and understand how mathematical expressions relate to physical principles.
  • Bring together knowledge of ways in which different areas of Physics relate to each other.
  • Study how scientific models develop.

Course Content

Year 12

Content Overview Assessment Overview

There are six teaching modules:
Module 1 – Development of practical skills in Physics.
Module 2 – Foundations of Physics.
Module 3 – Forces and motion.
Module 4 – Electrons, waves and photons.
Module 5 – Newtonian World and astrophysics.
Module 6 – Particles and medical Physics.

Modelling Physics
2hours 15 minutes
Written paper
(modules 1, 2, 3 and 5)

37% of total A Level

Exploring Physics
2 hours 15 minutes
Written paper
(modules 1, 2, 4 and 6)

37% of total A Level

Unified Physics
1 hour 30 minutes
Written paper (all modules)

26% of total A Level

Practical Endorsement in Physics
Non practical assessment

Reported separately

Year 12

  Topic Further details about the topic Skills
Autumn Term
1 Foundations of physics

Physical quantities and units

Making measurements and analysing data

Nature of quantities

Applying knowledge and understanding

Analysing, interpreting and evaluating

Making judgements and reaching conclusions

1 Development of practical skills in physics Practical skills assessed in a written examination
1 Forces and motion Motion
1 Electrons, waves and photons

Charge and current

Waves
2 Forces and motion

Motion

Forces in action

As above

2 Electrons, waves and photons

Electrical circuits

Waves
 
Spring Term
1 Forces and motion

Work, energy and power

Materials

As above

1 Electrons, waves and photons

Energy, power and resistance

Waves
 
2 Forces and motion

Materials

As above

2 Electrons, waves and photons Quantum physics  
2 Development of practical skills in physics

Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

Practical investigation
 
Summer Term
1 Forces and motion Newton’s laws of motion and momentum As above
1 Newtonian world and astrophysics Thermal physics  
1 Development of practical skills in physics

Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

Research article
 
1 Revision and Recap    
2 Electrons, waves and photons Quantum physics

As above

2 Revision and Recap    

Year 13

  Topic Further details about the topic Skills
Autumn Term
1

Newtonian world and astrophysics

Oscillations

Gravitational fields

Development of practical skills in physics

Applying knowledge and understanding

Analysing, interpreting and evaluating

Making judgements and reaching conclusions

1 Particles and medical physics

Electric fields

As above
2

Newtonian world and astrophysics

Astrophysics and cosmology

As above

2 Particles and medical physics

Nuclear and particle physics

Capacitors

As above
Spring Term
1

Particles and medical physics

Electromagnetism

Medical imaging

As above

2 Revision and Recap  

 

Summer Term
1 Revision and Recap    

Assessments

Resources Topic Type of assessment
CAT 1 Motion, Waves and Quantities & Units Written assessment
CAT 2 All work so far Written assessment
CAT 3 All of Year 12 work Mock examination
CAT 4 All Y12 and 13 work Written assessment
CAT 5 All Y12 and 13 work Mock examination
CAT 6 A level examination  

Main Resources

Resource Details Term
Recomended textbook A level Physics for OCR (OXFORD University Press) All
Recommended reading

New Scientist

All
Recommended websites

alevelphysicsonline (login needed ask your Physics teacher)

isaacphysics.org

Kerboodle

OCR website

Echalk.com
All

Enrichment opportunities

Activity Day and time or term
   

Where Next

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