Physics
Perthshire
PH1 3RY
Tel: +44(0)1738 842061
What is Physics?
'most of the fundamental ideas of physics are essentially simple and may, as a rule be expressed in a language comprehensible to everyone' (Albert Einstein)
Of all the experimental sciences none is more fundamental than Physics. It is the subject which describes the nature of the physical world and even how it came into being - there are now physical models for the first millisecond of creation. A study of Physics ranges from the sub-nuclear worlds of quarks and gluons through the properties of the everyday world of solids and liquids to stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole. In addition to these deep philosophical ideas, Physics has an immense impact on our life-style, and is quite incredibly useful. The understanding Physics gives of physical reality underpins much of modern life - electricity and electronics, communications, transport, energy resources, textiles, food production and medicine are strongly influenced by developments in Physics.
I hope that by navigating your way through this section of our website you will gain an insight into Glenalmond's Physics Department and get a flavour of how we approach this fascinating subject. A visit will give you an even better idea of what we do, so please come and see us sometime!
Aims and Objectives of Glenalmond College Physics Department
We aim to: -
- stimulate the student's interest in, and enjoyment of, Physics;
- enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of physical concepts and principles and the ability to apply concepts to explain unfamiliar phenomena and information;
- adopt, whenever possible, a 'discover by experiment' approach to Physics, linked to theoretical developments, to give an understanding of the methodologies of Physics;
- develop the ability to select and use information from a variety of sources, to form hypotheses, predict outcomes and to solve problems; to collect, present and interpret experimental and empirical data and to communicate, in a variety of forms, physical ideas and arguments logically and concisely;
- promote an appreciation of the way in which Physics may be applied to solve problems;
- enable students to recognise and evaluate some of the social, environmental and economic effects and political and ideological and ethical implications of the applications of Physics; to appreciate the strengths and limitations of the scientific approachand the links between Physics and other subjects particularly Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry;
- help students to become confident citizens in a technological world, able to take or develop an informed interest in matters related to Physics;
- prepare and encourage students to embark upon Physics-dependent courses up to and beyond degree level;
- help students to understand that the concepts of Physics are constantly developing and to realise that they are entitled to access any area of Physics without discrimination.
Staff
Mary Pitkin B Sc (Hons.) C Phys M Inst P - (Senior Mistress and Head of Physics)
Dr Stephen Kinge - (Deputy Head Academic)
Roger Benson - Teacher of Physics and O/CGlenalmond CCF
Nicola Henderson - Teacher of Physics, Biology and Learning Support)
David Young - Physics Technician.
Curriculum
2nd Form
Physics is taught as part of a Co-ordinated Science programme. Pupils are taught by one teacher and have 4 lessons per week.
3rd, 4th and 5th Year
3rd , 4th and 5th Year pupils are divisioned for the Sciences. Each division is taught by specialist teachers towards either G.C.S.E.s in Physics, Chemistry and Biology as THREE separate G.C.S.E. subjects or towards Science and Additional Science G.C.S.E.s (formally known as Double Award Co-ordinated).
All divisions have 3 lessons of Physics every week taught by a specialist Physics teacher.
We follow the AQA syllabus in both Physics and Co-ordinated Sciences.
In 3rd year the pupils work through the Physics Section of Nelson Thornes Science textbook, in the 4th they work through the Physics section in Nelson Thornes Additional Science textbook and in the 5th Year we use the Nelson Thornes GCSE Physics textbook by Jim Breithaupt which contains the entire G.C.S.E. Physics syllabus.
Practical Skills and Investigative Skills are assessed internally throughout the three year course.
A copy of the AQA G.C.S.E. Physics syllabus can be downloaded as a PDF.
AS/A2 Physics
The course is taught in 8 periods per week in both Lower and Upper Sixth
From September 2008 we will be teaching the new AQA Physics B: Physics in Context syllabus.
This course is a new and stimulating approach to Physics with an emphasis on up to date contexts and applications of Physics. We feel that this reflects our individual approach to Physics and the image of the department we have been developing since our move in Glenalmond's new Science Centre. For assessment and teaching purposes the course is divided into 6 units as shown below:
| UNIT | AS/A2 UNIT | Topics covered | % of final grade |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 – Harmony and structure of the universe (assessed by examination) |
AS |
|
40% of AS and 20% of A level |
| 2 – Physics keeping us going (assessed by examination) | AS |
|
40% of AS and 20% of A level |
| 3 – Investigative and practical skills in AS Physics (assessed internally) | AS |
Coursework assessment comprising:
|
20% of AS and 10% of A level |
| 4 - Physics inside and out (assessed by examination) | A2 |
|
20% of A level |
| 5 – Energy under the microscope (assessed by examination) | A2 |
|
20% of A level |
| 6 – Investigative and practical skills in A2 Physics (assessed internally) | A2 |
|
10% of A level |
The mathematical content of our course is kept to a minimum, making it suitable both for those who intend to study the Physical Sciences or Mathematics at a higher level and for those who intend to pursue a career in the Biological Sciences, Medicine or Veterinary Science.
The course places just as much emphasis on the correct use and comprehension of scientific language and ideas as it does on analytical and numerical skills.
Students follow a practical programme which includes both experimental work designed to support their understanding of the principles of Physics and experiments which develop specific laboratory skills. We do not run a traditional practical session at one time during the week. Practical work can be carried out during any of the timetabled lessons. During the U6 year all A2 Physicists are required to complete a to week practical project. This project is part of their internal assessment of practical skills.
Entry Requirements
We would normally expect students taking A Level Physics to have either gained an A grade in GCSE Physics or A grades in both Science and Additional Science in addition to a grade B in GCSE Mathematics.
A full copy of the AQA Physics B: Physics in Context syllabus is available as a PDF file.
Advanced Extension Award Physics (AEA Physics)
This is an examination that can be sat by the most talented A level Physicists. It is particularly appropriate for those wishing to apply to read either Physics or Engineering at Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester or Imperial College, London. Preparation for this examination is done through tutorial sessions run outside of the normal timetable.
Entry requirements: a love of Physics and a desire to know more!
Activities
Below are details of some of the trips and activities that have taken place in the department over the past year or so:
Astronomy Day – February 2004
We welcomed Dr Jill Russell (O.G.) and Dr Francisco Diego to Glenalmond. They brought with them the Cosmic Dome, which is an inflatable planetarium. During the course of the day all pupils had the chance to see a presentation in the Cosmic Dome and Francisco, who is a research astronomer, ran a workshop for all of the 6th Form Physicists on the Life and Death of a Star. After prep, Jill and Francisco took to front slopes with Coll's telescopes and organised pupils, staff and parents in a session of real observation.
October 2004 – Physics Supper – watch this space for a repeat engagement this year.
We welcomed Dr Fed Loebinger of Manchester University Physics Department to Coll. Fred is a Particle Physicist, working at Manchester and CERN. He is also Admissions Tutor for the Physics Department. Fred spoke to 6th From General Studies in the afternoon and he was our After Dinner speaker at our first Physics Department Supper. The Supper was held in the Conference Room; all 6th Form Physicists and Physics staff were present along with our specially invited guests. The title of Fred's talk was 'The Sex Lives ofPhotons and Gluons'; it was in fact an introduction to and brief history of Particle Physics starting with the first discoveries made at Manchester in the early years of the last century and finishing with the present day.
September 2003/2004/2005/2006 – 5th Year and L6th Oct 2008Visit to Cruachan Power Station 
At the start of the Michaelmas term in L6th Year we study the Generation of Electricity both by conventional and alternative methods. As part of this work we take the L6th Physicists to Cruachan Power station near Oban. The power station cannot be seen from the road because it is inside the mountain! Cruachan is a pumped storage power station. (This had previously been a 5th Year trip)
Mills Observatory, DundeeMarch 2005, 2006, 2007 (from 2009 this will become an annual U6th trip)
The Salter Horner's AS Physics Course requires students to write a report on a visit they have made to somewhere that uses Physics. This year we visited the Mills Observatory in Dundee. This is the only full time public Observatory in the U.K. During the course of the evening the Lower 6th Physicists were able to observe the Moon and Saturn through the Observatory's refracting telescope; they also had a presentation on the Solar System seeing many pictures taken with the various telescopes at the Observatory and also had the opportunity to talk to the resident Astronomer and to look round the Observatory's exhibition of refracting and reflecting telescopes. The new AQA course covers this work in the U6th.
Museum of Flight Field Day 2004
On Field Day 2004 we took the whole of the 3rd Year to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian. We arrived a few days after Concorde and were lucky enough to be given a sneak preview of the aircraft. In addition to that we were taken on an extensive tour around the museum and learnt a great deal about the history of flight. We also saw the Glenalmond Glider that was given to the Museum a few years ago. This glider once belonged to the CCF and was apparently catapulted up front slope!