Moondust: In Search of the Men Who ... - Great Barr School



A-Level Physics Bridging the GapMaking the transition between GCSE and A-Level2808267651500Introduction A-Level Physics builds upon what was learnt at GCSE level and starts to unravel some of the more interesting aspects of the subject. This includes quantum mechanics, particle physics, astrophysics (space and stars) and fields.A good grade in the subject rewards students with the respect of future employers and a wealth of career opportunities. The most challenging part of A-Level Physics is bridging the gap between GCSE and A-Level work. The transition between GCSE and A‐level is large, even for pupils who have completed a single GCSE in Physics and achieve a high grade. If you have completed a double award science then the transition is even more challenging. The objective of this booklet is to help make this transition more easily. Expectations You are expected to work through the specification provided over the remainder of the summer holidays. It is expected that you spend at least 2 hours per week reviewing the relevant material. It is your responsibility to ensure you have retained GCSE information. This may mean you need to spend more than 2 hours if you are finding the subject matter more difficult. Remember that that the material you learn now will help you improve your understanding of A‐Level. You will have a test at the end of the first half term on the material covered, if you achieve a lower grade than expected the Physics department will provide you with further support. This is likely to include you coming in for extra sessions after school or during lunch times until you have bridged the gap. GCSE Specification – relevant links It is important you have mastered the GCSE course as that will allow you the best start into you’re A-Levels. Therefore I have highlighted useful websites to allow you to be working on that. Also below is the GCSE Physics Specification that will be built upon in the A-Level specification. GCSE Physics, follow this link - Ideas for covering work Khan Academy - Physics Classroom - School for Champions - HYPERLINK "" \l ".Wzifl6rwvIU" S-Cool Revision - GCSE and A-Level - Cyberphysics - Write notes Work your way through the specification outlined above and write summary notes about each section on the specification. Make sure you understand what you are writing. Don’t just copy from a website or text book, try to convert it into your own words so you are actively trying to learn each topic. Revise the topics Make your revision an active process. If you just read your notes through this probably will not be enough for you to remember all the details. Try some of the following tactics until you find a system that works for you. ? Draw a mind map or concept map. This is similar to a spider diagram joining all ideas about a particular topic together. Include key words you must know. ? Read through the text then go away and do something else. After a short period of time return to your desk and see how much you can remember by writing everything down. Then compare to your original notes. Keep doing this until you can remember virtually all of the information. ? Write yourself some test questions with model answers. You could make cards with the question on one side and the answer on the other. Get a friend or family member to test you. ? Go to the AQA website (.uk) and download some practice exam questions. The exam board also provides the mark scheme so you can mark your own papers. Bridging the gapStarting A-Level PhysicsYou will be studying AQA Physics The specification can be downloaded here Content OverviewThe course is divided into key topics:Section 1: Particles and RadiationSection 2: Waves and OpticsSection 3: Mechanics and MaterialsSection 4: Electric currentSection 5: Skills in AS PhysicsSection 6: Further mechanics and thermal PhysicsSection 7: FieldsSection 8: Nuclear PhysicsSection 9: Options include, Astrophysics, Medical physics, engineering physics and turning points in physicsSection 10: Skills in A level year 2 PhysicsBook RecommendationsBelow is a selection of books that should appeal to a physicist – someone with an enquiring mind who wants to understand the universe around us. None of the selections are textbooks full of equation work (there will be plenty of time for that!) instead each provides insight to either an application of physics or a new area of study that you will be meeting at A Level for the first time. Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman: Adventures of a Curious Character2832101079500ISBN - 009917331X - Richard Feynman was a Nobel Prize winning Physicist. In my opinion he epitomises what a Physicist is. By reading this books you will get insight into his life’s work including the creation of the first atomic bomb and his bongo playing adventures and his work in the field of particle physics. (Also available on Audio book). : In Search of the Men Who Fell to EarthISBN – 1408802384 - One of the greatest scientific achievements of all time was putting mankind on the surface of the moon. Only 12 men made the trip to the surface, at the time of writing the book only 9 are still with us. The book does an excellent job of using the personal accounts of the 9 remaining astronauts and many others involved in the space program at looking at the whole space-race era, with hopefully a new era of space flight about to begin as we push on to put mankind on Mars in the next couple of decades. Theory Cannot Hurt You: Understanding the Mind-Blowing Building Blocks of the UniverseISBN - 057131502X - Any Physics book by Marcus Chown is an excellent insight into some of the more exotic areas of Physics that require no prior knowledge. In your first year of A-Level study you will meet the quantum world for the first time. This book will fill you with interesting facts and handy analogies to whip out to impress your peers! Short History of Nearly EverythingISBN – 0552997048 - A modern classic. Popular science writing at its best. A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson’s quest to find out everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization - how we got from there, being nothing at all, to here, being us.?Hopefully by reading it you will gain an awe-inspiring feeling of how everything in the universe is connected by some fundamental laws. Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words 3771901397000ISBN – 1408802384 - This final recommendation is a bit of a wild-card – a book of illustrated cartoon diagrams that should appeal to the scientific side of everyone. Written by the creator of online comic XTCD (a great source of science humour) is a book of blueprints from everyday objects such as a biro to the Saturn V rocket and an atom bomb, each one meticulously explained BUT only with the most common 1000 words in the English Language. This would be an excellent coffee table book in the home of every scientist. Clips / Series Minute Physics – Variety of Physics questions explained simply (in felt tip) in a couple of minutes. Addictive viewing that will have you watching clip after clip – a particular favourite of mine is “Why is the Sky Dark at Night?” of the Universe / Wonders of the Solar System – Both available on Netflix as of 17/4/16 – Brian Cox explains the Cosmos using some excellent analogies and wonderful imagery.Shock and Awe, The Story of Electricity – A 3 part BBC documentary that is essential viewing if you want to see how our lives have been transformed by the ideas of a few great scientists a little over 100 years ago. The link below takes you to a stream of all three parts joined together but it is best watched in hourly instalments. Don’t forget to boo when you see Edison. (alternatively watch any Horizon documentary – loads of choice on Netflix and the I-Player) TV – Online coverage of launches, missions, testing and the ISS. Plenty of clips and links to explore to find out more about applications of Physics in Space technology. Fantastic Mr. Feynman – I recommended the book earlier, I also cannot recommend this 1 hour documentary highly enough. See the life’s work of the “great explainer”, a fantastic mind that created mischief in all areas of modern Physics. work?In preparation for your first lesson in September, you need to complete an A3 poster or report (with word count 500 words) as final product on ANY Physics topic that you find interestingIt needs to be: Visually attractive (but it’s the science we are looking for as well as being aesthetically pleasing.)Interesting Clear concise information Include a list of the resources (minimum 3) that you used to produce your report HANDED IN THE FIRST LESSON IN WEEK 2 AND BE PREPARED TO JUSTIFY YOUR CHOICE OF TOPIC ................
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