Physics

The Removes & Fifths

Physics at Radley is taught as part of a Co– ordinated Science course which leads to the award of a dual grade IGCSE in Science. It is a three year continuous course.

The Shells have covered the topics of waves and radioactivity, and some of the astronomy and energy ideas.

In the Removes we go on to tackle the major area of motion (speed, acceleration, forces, kinetic energy, momentum, power and efficiency). Much of this is through experimental activity: light-gates and electronic acceleration measurements are state-of-the-art, while the water and wireguided rockets are the most popular demonstrations! The other big topic of the year is electricity - how do you know about electric current if you can’t see it?

There is still much new material to cover in the Fifth Form before we hit the IGCSE run-in: electro-magnetism allows us to talk about hi-fi and the National Grid whilst cosmology addresses the “bigger picture” and touches on some of the more philosophical aspects of modern physics. Finally some important experimental work on gases allows us to estimate Absolute Zero as well as providing some important links to both Biology and Chemistry.

In the IGCSE there is no coursework element. However, practical skills are assessed on a separate exam paper and we develop these skills throughout the course. We use ICT extensively to develop and reinforce the experimental work, and all boys will be familiar with both simulation and analysis packages by the end of the Fifth Form.

We devote the last months of the course to revision and intensive exam practice ready for the IGCSE papers in June.