Head of Department:
Mrs M Close
Teaching Staff:
Mrs K Brolly
Miss N McGinnity
Key Stage 3 Physics
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Physics is taught as one of the three core sciences at KS3 as part of;
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Y8 General science
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Y9 General Science
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Y10 Physics
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The courses offer many practical and group activities and are designed to prepare students for concepts they will meet at GCSE.
Topics taught at KS3 are:
Year 8
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Forces
Energy For Life
Year 9
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Electricity
Trampoline Physics
Year 10
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Density, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space Physics.
Waves, Light, Sound and Ultrasound.
Y8: Both topics are taught alongside 2 Biology and 2 Chemistry topics by a General Science teacher.
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Y9: Both topics taught alongside 2 Biology and 2 Chemistry topics by a General Science teacher.
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Y10: Both topics taught by a specialist Physics teacher.
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GCSE Physics
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Students at Loreto can choose to study Physics as one of three options at GCSE.
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Physics as a separate science. (Single GCSE Physics grade awarded)
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Physics as one of the three sciences combined at Double Award. (Double GCSE Double-Award Science grade awarded)
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Physics as one of the three sciences combined at Single Award. (Single GCSE Single-Award Science grade awarded)
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We cover the CCEA course which is a challenging and enlightening programme of study. All students study many or all of the topics listed below in all three qualifications.
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Year 11
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Motion
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Forces and Moments
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Density and Kinetic theory
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Energy
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Radioactivity
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Nuclear Fission and Fusion
Year 12
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Waves and Light
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Electricity
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Magnetism and Electromagnetism
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Space physics
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Practical Skills
Our students have always been very successful in their GCSE physics courses.
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In 2015 Emily Moore was awarded First place in Northern Ireland in the CCEA GCSE physics.
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A level Physics
Entrance requirements
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To study AS and A level Physics, students must have a minimum of
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a B grade in GCSE Physics (A grade preferable) or
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an overall B grade in the physics sections of the GCSE DA Science course. (A grade preferable)
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An A grade in GCSE Maths (a B grade in GCSE Further Maths is also highly desirable).
We cover the CCEA course which is a challenging and enlightening programme of study. The Units studied at AS and A2 are:
AS Physics
Y13 AS1
Forces, Energy and Electricity
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Topics studied;
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Physical Quantities,
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Scalars and Vectors
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Principle of moments
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Linear Motion
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Dynamics
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Newton’s Laws
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Momentum
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Work and energy
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Electric current and charge
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Resistance and Resistivity
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Internal resistance and EMF
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Potential dividers
Y13 AS2
Waves, Photons and Astronomy
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Topics studied
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Waves
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Refraction
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Lenses
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Superposition and interference
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Quantum physics
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Wave Particle Duality
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Diffraction
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Astronomy
Y13 AS3
Practical Techniques and Data Analysis
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Experimental skills are examined in two sections;
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Short practical tasks exam.
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Practical skills written exam.
A Level Physics
Y14 A21
Deformation of solids, Thermal Physics,Circular Motion, Oscilllations and Atomic and Nuclear Physics
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Topics studied
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Deformation of materials
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Thermal Physics
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Circular Motion
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SHM
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The Nucleus and Nuclear Decay
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Nuclear Energy, Fission and Fusion.
Y14 A22
Fields and their Applications
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Force Fields
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Gravitational fields
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Electric Fields
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Capacitors
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Magnetic fields
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Deflection of Charged Particles
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Accelerators
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Fundamental Particles
Y14 A23
Practical Techniques and Data Analysis
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Experimental skills are examined in two sections;
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Two practical tasks exam.
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Practical skills written exam.
Physics Awards
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Our students have always been very successful at A level Physics.
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In 2018 Molly Brennan was awarded First place in Northern Ireland in CCEA A level physics.
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Molly was also awarded a Silver Medal for the best student in NI 2018 by the Institute of Physics in Ireland.
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Dominic Bradley won a J.P. McManus scholarship award after achieving top A level results including an A* in A level physics in 2018.
Careers Information
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A level Physics is a much sought-after qualification by employers and for entrance to many universities and it also opens many career paths, including Medicine and Health, Environment, Telecommunications, Astrophysics, Energy, Finance, Engineering, Transport and Scientific Research.
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