PHYSICS GCSE

Edexcel’s GCSE Science 2006 has been designed to encourage more students to experience the world of science by being relevant, interesting and context led.

The Ashbourne programme consists of an examination of the relevant areas of the specification for each of the three sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), a summary of the key facts and principles relevant to the area under study, past paper questions and reference, where instructive, to the Chief Examiner’s Reports. Students will receive tuition in all types of examination question, whether short answer questions, source based stimulus response questions or essays and techniques in preparing for and answering compulsory questions. Students can expect each week a minimum of 6 hours of classroom tuition plus one or two substantial pieces of homework based on previous past papers.

Aims of the Course
The specification aims to:
 1) stimulate and sustain students’ interest in and enjoyment of Physics.
 2) enable students to gain a knowledge and understanding of Physics appropriate to these levels and to appreciate the interlinking patterns that are a distinguishing feature of the subject.
 3) show the interrelationship between the development of the subject and its application and recognise the value of Physics to society and how it may be used responsibly.
 4) develop skills in laboratory procedures and techniques and carry these out with due regard for safety, and assess the uses and limitations of the procedures.
 5) foster imaginative and critical thinking as well as the acquisition of knowledge, together with an appreciation of the intellectual discipline that the subject provides.
 6) develop students’ ability to understand the link between theory and experiment.
 7) provide opportunities for students to bring together knowledge of how different areas of science relate to each other.
 8) aid awareness of how advances in information technology and instrumentation are used in Physics.
 9) provide an appropriate course for:
 · those who will end their study of the subject at this stage.
 · laying a secure foundation for those who will continue their studies in this or related subjects.

Summary of the specification content
The content is presented in three parts: Life Processes and Living Things (Biology), Materials and their Properties (Chemistry), and Physical Processes (Physics). The three parts reflect the content of the National Curriculum Key Stage 4 Science programme of study.  See Science (Single subjects/Dual Award) for a full listing of specifications.
Double Award
Sc4: Physical Processes
P1: Electricity and magnetism

• Units in this section
• Mains electricity
• Energy and potential difference
• Electric charge
• Electromagnetism
• Electromagnetic induction

P2: Forces and motion

• Units in this section
• Movement and position
• Forces and movement
• Forces and shape

P3: Waves

• Units in this section
• Properties of waves
• The Earth’s layered structure
• The electromagnetic spectrum
• Light and sound

P4: The Earth and beyond

• The Solar system
• The rest of the Universe

P5: Energy resources and energy transfer

• Units in this section
• Energy transfer
• Work and power
• Energy resources ad electricity generation

P6: Radioactivity

• Units in this section
• Radioactivity

Single Award
Sc4: Physical Processes
P1: Electricity and magnetism
P3: Waves
P4: The Earth and beyond
P5: Energy resources and energy transfer
P6: Radioactivity