Aims and Mission Statement

Physics reveals the link between theory and experiment and informs pupils about how Physics has developed and is used in present-day society.  Physics stimulates and excites pupils’ curiosity and their interest in, and knowledge of, phenomena and events of the world around them.

 

Staff

Mr D Shannon (Head of Department)
Mrs J McNeill
Mrs M Spence
Mrs G Barrow (Technician)

 

Our overall aims are:

  • To provide pupils with opportunities to acquire knowledge and understanding of Physics
  • Discover, develop and implement the skills needed to use Physics in new and changing situations;
  • Discover the ways in which different areas of Physics relate to each other;
  • Study how scientific models develop;
  • Appreciate the importance of Physics and how it 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.

 

Skills Developed

The aim of our Physics Department is to help students develop key skills in the following areas:

 

Our mission statement is: 

To provide a quality learning environment and strive to achieve excellence in both the delivery of the NI Curriculum and in preparing pupils for the 21st Century.

 

Physics at KS3

Science is taught in an integrated fashion in Year 8 and 9.  In Year 10 pupils study Physics for 1 hour per week by specialist teachers.  They study the topics:

Year 10

Light
This includes the formation of shadows, reflection, refraction and dispersion. 

Sound
This includes production, pitch and loudness, speed of sound and noise pollution

Electricity
This includes static charge, basic circuits, resistance, voltage and current.

Earth and Beyond
This invludeds day and night, the seasons, solar systems and phases of the moon.

Practical skills
A task to support the controlled assessment investigation at KS4

Tracking Month
1: Shadow & Reflection October
2: Christmas Exam December
3: Sound February
4: Numeracy Test April
5: Summer Exam May

 

Physics at GCSE

At Year 11 and 12 pupils study CCEA Specification Physics under the umbrella of Single Award Science and Double Award Science. Coursework is a practical investigation worth 25%.

Year 11 & 12

Unit 1
Force and Motion Part 1 & 2
Energy
Radioactivity

Exam: May Year 11 (11% of total marks)

Unit 2
Waves, Sound and Light
Electricity (half way through topic, complete Physics Controlled assessed task)
Electromagnetism
Earth in Space

Exam: May of Year 12 (14% of total marks)

Tracking Month
1: Forces & Motion Part 1 October
2: Forces and Motion Part 2 December
3: Energy February
4: Unit 1 Mock Examination May
Tracking Month
1: Waves, Sound & Light October
2: Electricity Mid-topic test December
3: Year 12 Mock Examination on Waves, Sound and Light and Electricity February
4: Unit 2 Mock Examination May

 

Physics at A-Level

Aaron Henry: Ranked Second Highest in the Northern Ireland CCEA A-Level Physics Examination 2015

This consists of 5 periods of Physics per week.  The department follows the CCEA Specifications.  There are 4 modules assessed by written exams and 2 practical examinations.  To support the students’ preparations for these examinations the department holds weekly, twilight revision classes throughout the year.

Year 13 & 14

Year 13

AS 1- Forces, energy and electricity

AS 2 - Waves, photons and medical physics

AS 3 - Practical techniques
 

Year 14

A2 1 - Momentum, thermal physics, circular motion, oscillations and atomic and nuclear physics

A2 2 - Fields and their applications

A2 3 - Practical techniques
Tracking Month
1: Light October
2: Lenses/Superposition December
3: Module 2 Mock January
4: Forces/Electricity March
Tracking Month
1: Circular motion October
2: Thermal December
3: Module 4 Mock January
4: Nuclear March

 

Past Physics Students at Cambridge House

Past students within the Physics department have gone on to follow careers in: