Physics

Physics provides the basis of our understanding of the Universe, from the smallest to the largest scale and reveals why it is the way it is and how it works. The understanding we gain as Physicists enables us to apply our knowledge to the world we live in. The things we use every day - from the cars on the roads, to the fabrics used to make the clothes we wear; from the electricity we use to boil a kettle to the components inside our computers – would not exist if it were not for the physicists who made discoveries and developed their ideas over generations. Physicists are needed to fulfil the human desire to find out how things work and to make the major discoveries that are of interest for the future of engineering and technology.

Curriculum

UIII     Static Electricity and Electrical Circuits; Colour and Optics; The Kinetic Theory of Solids, Liquids and Gases; Magnetism and Astronomy.

LIV     Sound; Forces and Motion; Mass and Weight; Density and Pressure; Heat Transfer.

UIV     Current Electricity; Magnetism and Electromagnets; The Earth and Beyond; Fluids; Energy, Work, Power and Efficiency.

In LV and UV, we offer both Dual Award Science and separate Physics, following the Edexcel iGCSE courses.

LV Topics include Atomic Structure and Radioactivity; Waves; Energy, Work and Power ; Forces, Motion and Astronomy;

UV Topics include Electricity; Solids, Liquids and Gases; Magnetism and Electromagnetism; Energy Transfer and Energy Resources.

We follow the OCR AS and A2 courses in the sixth form.

Outline of topics studied at AS:

Unit 1 – Atoms, Bonds and Groups

Atoms, Moles and Equations, Acids and Redox Reactions.

Electron Structure and Bonding and Structure.

Periodicity, Group 2 and Group 7.

Unit 2 – Chains, Energy and Resources

Basic Organic Concepts, Alkanes, Crude Oil Hydrocarbons and Alkenes.

Alcohols, Halogenation Reactions and Modern Analytical Techniques.

Enthalpy Changes and Rates and Equilibrium.

Chemistry of the Air and Green Chemistry.

Unit 3 – Practical Skills in Chemistry 1

This unit is experimentally based and assesses the practical and investigative skills that you have developed within the contexts encountered during Units 1 and 2. They can be Qualitative, Quantitative and evaluative tasks.

Outline of topics studied at A2:

Unit 4 – Rings, Polymers and Analysis

Arenes, Carbonyl compounds, Carboxylic Acids and Esters and Amines.

Amino Acids and Chirality, Polyesters and Polyamides and Synthesis.

Chromatography and Spectroscopy techniques.

Unit 5 – Equilibria, Energetics and Elements

Rates, Equilibrium and Acids, Bases and Buffers.

Lattice Enthalpy, Enthalpy and Entropy and electrode Potentials and Fuel Cells.

Transition Elements.

Unit 6 – Practical Skills in Chemistry 2

This unit is experimentally based and assesses the practical and investigative skills that are developed within the contexts encountered during Units 4 and 5.They can be Qualitative, Quantitative and evaluative tasks.

Staff Comment

“It is a privilege to teach Physics at Wycombe Abbey School because of the energy and enthusiasm that pupils bring to every lesson.” 

Clarence comment

“Physics is challenging but fun, and it is made a great deal easier by a fab team of Physics teachers.  We recommend this subject to anyone with a curious mind who wants to know how the world actually works.”