Physics - Year 12 :: Queen Elizabeth High School

AS Physics (OCR – Physics B (Advancing Physics) H159) - Year 12

There are three units at AS level, two examined units and a coursework unit. Both teachers cover part of each unit. The Physics in action module (G491) is examined in May and is worth 30% of the total marks at AS level. The Understanding processes (G492) unit is also examined in May and is worth 50% of the total marks at AS. This module includes some pre-release material. There are two pieces of coursework (G493) which together are worth 20%.

TEACHER 1 Physics in action Understanding processes Physics in practice	TEACHER 2 Physics in action Understanding processes Physics in practice
Half Term 1 (September - October)
Vectors Velocity and acceleration Resolving vectors The equations of motion Projectile motion	Electric circuits (charge, current, potential difference, resistance, conductance) Potential dividers Using circuits as sensors Properties of sensors Internal resistance Quality of measurement
External Assessment: No Internal Common Assessment: Yes Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A Field Trips/Visits: Blackpool – the physics of rollercoasters	External Assessment: No Internal Common Assessment: Yes Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A Field Trips/Visits: No

Half Term 2 (November - December)
Mass and weight Force and acceleration Kinetic and potential energy Power	General properties of waves Standing waves Interference patterns Young’s double slits Diffraction gratings Polarisation
External Assessment: No Internal Common Assessment: Yes Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A Field Trips/Visits: No	External Assessment: No Internal Common Assessment: Yes Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A Field Trips/Visits: No

Half Term 3 (January - February)
Mechanical properties of materials– practical measurements and correct terminology Optical properties of materials Electrical properties of materials Material microstructure Linking properties and microstructure	Quality of measurement coursework (a report of a practical measurement of a physical relationship with emphasis on improving the quality of measurement) Introduction to quantum behaviour The many paths model Quantum behaviour in electrons The photoelectric effect
External Assessment: No Internal Common Assessment: Yes Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A Field Trips/Visits: No	External Assessment: No Internal Common Assessment: Yes Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A Field Trips/Visits: No

Half Term 4 (March - April)
Materials coursework (a presentation on the properties, structure and use of a material)	Digital images Using lenses Analogue and digital signals Storing information digitally Introduction to quantum behaviour The many paths model Quantum behaviour in electrons The photoelectric effect
External Assessment: No Internal Common Assessment: Yes Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A Field Trips/Visits: No	External Assessment: No Internal Common Assessment: Yes Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A Field Trips/Visits: No

Half Term 5 (May - June)
Exam preparation	Exam preparation
External Assessment: Yes Internal Common Assessment: No Coursework Deadline this H/T: Materials report by 20.04.12 Field Trips/Visits: No	External Assessment: Yes Internal Common Assessment: No Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A Field Trips/Visits: No

Suggested Course reading list
Text books are sold through the department.
Students are loaned a revision guide and a revision CD.
Those marked * are definitely in the LRC. Others might be. Enjoy.

Schrodinger’s kittens. John Gribbin*
A good introduction to quantum theory.
The Physics of Star Trek Laurence Krauss
Mr.Evans’ favourite.
A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson
Easy to read, but too much Biology at the end!
The New World of Mr. Tomkins. Gamow & Stannard *
An easy intro to relativity.
In Search of the Big Bang. John Gribbin*
Anything by Gribbin is well explained.
The Elegant Universe. Brian Greene
String theory…Challenging!
QED. Richard Feymann*
The original.
The New Science of Strong Materials. J.E.Gordon
Rather dated, but still good for budding engineers.
Cosmos. Carl Sagan
A sense of perspective on the Universe?
How to clone the perfect blonde. Nelson & Collingham
Not what you might think.
Unweaving the rainbow. Richard Dawkins
Has science a soul?
A Briefer History of Time. Stephen Hawking
More digestible than the original… apparently.