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This film was shot and edited by the Epsom College Film Production Club.

Epsom CollegeCo-educational 13-18 Boarding and Day School

Physics

Head of Department: Dr Adam Hughes. Email: AWH@epsomcollege.org.uk

Physics is a thriving department with increasing numbers of pupils opting to study the subject at A level. The department's continued high standard of results is a reflection of the enthusiasm and dedication of the teaching staff.

The study of physics involves trying to find out what the universe is made of and how these things move and interact with each other. All the other sciences are built on the knowledge gained through the study of physics. Physics includes the study of things we cannot experience in everyday life.

Pupils develop a sense of wonder about how things work, they learn the skills of systematic thinking to find out how things work.

Physicists love simplicity. They are constantly striving to find the fundamental ideas that can be used to describe even the most complex of phenomena.

Further Education and Career Prospects

Physics demands respect from university admissions officers, and employers, as it provides students with excellent analytical, problem solving and quantitative skills. This is not only important in the science, medical and engineering world but also in other areas such as business management or finance.

Physics and Maths are essential foundations to study engineering.

Physics provides a great advantage if you wish to study medicine (for example the electrical signals in the nervous system, the forces on bones, and the pressure of fluids require a knowledge of physics).

For students with ambitions in other areas such as business management or finance the study of physics is highly regarded by university admissions officers.

Follow the links below to learn more about Physics at Epsom College.

 

Courses

Course Outlines from September 2010

M4 Pupils

The M4 Physics course is structured to bring all new pupils up to the same level before embarking upon the IGCSE specification in the U4 and 5th form.

 

U4 and 5th Year: Edexcel IGCSE Physics (4PH0) and AQA GCSE Physics (4451)

The U4 and 5th year groups are each set into seven classes. During the first term of U4 all pupils follow a common scheme of work, which introduces them to some fundamental principles of GCSE/IGCSE physics.  From January 2011 onwards, the three lower sets in the U4 will commence the AQA GCSE Physics specification, while the remaining four sets will follow the Edexcel IGCSE Physics course.

 

IGCSE

The Edexcel IGCSE course allows pupils to discover the basic principles of Physics and it is very much geared towards practical application of the theories. It is a slightly more demanding course than GCSE and, as such, challenges and extends the more able pupils.

Pupils sit two examinations at the end of the course, during the summer term. There is no coursework content.

IGCSE concentrates on the traditional theories and offers a very good grounding for those who wish to continue studying Physics at A level.

 

GCSE

The AQA GCSE course is more accessible to those pupils who would find the academic demands of the IGCSE course quite challenging. The overall content is similar in many ways to the IGCSE but the GCSE is less rigorous in the way it is examined, which means final grades are usually more attainable.

The course is broken down into three examined modules, one of which is taken in the summer of the U4 year, and the remaining two in the 5th year.  This enables the students to concentrate on and revise one third of the syllabus at a time and be more appropriate to how they best perform.  In addition, pupils undertake controlled practicals throughout the course which are marked internally and submitted to the examination board at the end of the 5th year.

Pupils obtaining the GCSE qualification are still eligible to study A-level Physics.

 

A-Level: AQA Physics A (2450)

September 2008 saw students commence the new AQA A level Physics specification. There are two compulsory units, together with an internally-marked practical component at AS level and a further two units plus practical assessment for A2. The practical work carries 20% of the overall mark.

The AS course gives students an insight into the exciting, and bizarre, world of Particle Physics and Quantum phenomena. The AS units also include more familiar material, such as Current Electricity, Mechanics, Waves and the Properties of Materials.

The syllabus content at A2 level includes Electric, Gravitational and Magnetic Fields, together with some more advanced Mechanics, Radioactivity and Thermal Physics. There is also an option topic and students can chose from Astrophysics, Medical Physics, Applied Physics or Turning Points in Physics.

Department Staff

Head of Department

Dr Adam Hughes, B.Eng, Ph.D.

 

Department Teaching Staff

David Poore B.Sc.                  

Jud Drinkall B.Sc. (Dunelm)                

John Hartley B.Sc.                              

Roy Burgess B.Eng.                            

David Wilkinson B.Sc.                       

 

Technicians:

Jose Goncalves, Senior Laboratory Technician (full time)

Margaret Welch, Laboratory Technician (full time)

Facilities

The department is situated in its own building consisting of four large, bright, practical laboratories and three smaller teaching rooms, supported by two dedicated Physics technicians. The whole building was extensively modernised in 2005 and each laboratory is equipped with a data projector and data-logging stations.

The department has an extensive range of modern data logging equipment and practical apparatus is always kept up to date.