Physics

Year 10

Having moved on from IGCSE Newtonian Mechanics, our Year 10 students are now

studying wave mechanics combined with how we can define the behaviour of light in terms

of waves and rays. We have incorporated a number of practical elements including the use

of light boxes generating rays to see the effects of obstacles such as glass as the light

enters it or is reflected off a denser medium. They are observing similar results in our wave

tank which help to explain why the ray behavior is observed. Shortly, we will be moving on to

discover the effects of diffraction and to understand the workings of sonar.

Year 11

Year 11 are busy doing their mocks at the moment. Once they have finished we will start the final unit on Nuclear Physics as well as more practice for the practical paper. We will finish all new learning by half-term and then it is revision until the Easter holidays.

Year 12

With Mr Turner our year 12 physicists have been resolving the forces around us that influence the

behaviour of moving objects. This has required a knowledge of how to determine the effects

of gravity in several directions and, also, the effect of rough surfaces creating frictional

resistance. This has employed a number of mathematical skills taught concurrently in the

mathematics syllabus such as trigonometry and simultaneous equations. Students have then

engaged in calculations to determine the effect of these forces on the motion of objects

according to Newtonian Mechanics including the resultant effects of collisions.

With Mr Treacher they have finished the unit on Waves and Superposition. This unit gave us an opportunity to use a lot of the impressive equipment that we have been purchasing. We used the oscilloscope and signal generator to demonstrate interference of sound waves and measure the speed of sound. We used the laser and various slits to look at the interference of light, diffraction of light and diffraction gratings. We were able to take various measurements and discuss the experimental validity. We are now starting the Electricity topic.