What Will I Study?
A-level Physics lasts two years, with exams at the end of the second year. The table below shows the topics covered in each year of the A-level.
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First Year of A-level
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Second Year of A-level
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- Particles and radiation
- Waves
- Mechanics and energy
- Electricity
- Measurements and their errors
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- Further mechanics and thermal physics
- Fields
- Nuclear physics
- Astrophysics
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You will use higher tier GCSE mathematics skills, as well as some skills from A-level mathematics throughout the course.
Physics, like all sciences, is a practical subject. Throughout the course you will carry out practical activities including:
- investigating interference and diffraction of laser light
- measuring acceleration due to gravity
- investigating systems that oscillate
- investigation of the links between temperature, volume and pressure
- safe use of ionising radiation
- investigating magnetic fields.
These practicals will give you the skills and confidence needed to investigate the way things behave and work. It will also ensure that if you choose to study a Physics-based subject at university, you will have the practical skills needed to carry out successful experiments in your degree.