Physics this term
4th May 2025
Year 10 students preparing for their IGCSE Physics examination papers continued to practise their practical skills to develop awareness of how things work and understand why. On Friday they were joined by a group of visitors from our community partner Under the Same Sun.
Our students were able to explain their approach to the two tasks set and worked proactively with our guests. Students investigated the relationship between the resistance in a length of wire versus the readings of voltage and current on their meters. Was there a relationship and, if so, what was it.
The second task involved the movement of light rays as they reflected at different angles through the use of pins on a board. Was there a relationship between the angle of approach and departure. If there was, why was that the case.
Our students excelled themselves in terms of explaining what they were doing and why plotting results on a graph would help them determine a valid conclusion. Our guests were equally impressive in terms of their inherent understanding of the activities and for their enthusiasm. A very rewarding experience for all involved.
Year 11 are busy preparing for their first exam, which takes place on Friday. This is the first of three papers – the short answer paper – and will be followed by the practical exam and then the multiple-choice paper. They have worked incredibly hard, and I am very proud of them.
Year 12 have been studying nuclear physics, which is their first taste of Year 13-level material. We began with the structure of the atom and used the Colorado PhET website to demonstrate Rutherford’s alpha particle scattering experiment. We then explored fundamental particles – where things start to get a little strange (which, coincidentally, is also one of the types of quark, the particles that make up hadrons).
We moved on to binding energy, nuclear fission, and fusion. This gave me the opportunity to share one of my favourite physics jokes:
What do you eat near a nuclear power station?
Nuclear fission chips…
