New GCEs for 2008

GCE Physics A (2450)

A2 outline

At A2, this specification builds on AS physics (A) and includes optional topics.

The A2 specification has 3 units:

Unit 4: Fields and Further Mechanics

Topic list

Further mechanics, including momentum, circular motion and simple harmonic motion
Fields, including gravitational fields, electric fields, capacitors, magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction

Assessment

Written Paper:	1 hour 45 minutes
Weighting:	20% of total A Level marks

This unit comprises two sections: Section A will comprise of 25 multiple choice questions and Section B will have 4/5 structured questions. All questions are compulsory.
The paper will have 75 raw marks.

Unit 5: This unit comprises two sections

Overall Assessment

Written Paper:	1 hour 45 minutes
Weighting:	20% of total A Level marks

Section A: Nuclear and Thermal Physics

Topic list

This section builds on key ideas about particles and energy from AS physics and covers probing the nucleus, radioactivity, nuclear instability and nuclear energy as well as the thermal properties of materials, ideal gases and the kinetic theory of gases

Assessment

This section comprises 4/5 structured questions. All questions will be compulsory. There will be 40 raw marks.

Section B: Option Units

Topic list

This section will provide students and teachers with opportunities to develop deeper knowledge and understanding in one chosen area of the subject:

Astrophysics: lenses and telescopes, nonoptical telescopes, classification of stars, cosmology
Medical Physics: physics of the eye, physics of the ear, biological measurements, nonionising imaging, X-ray imaging
Applied Physics: rotational dynamics, thermodynamics, engines
Turning points in physics: the discovery of the electron, wave-particle duality, special relativity.

Assessment

There is a choice to specialise in one of four options. Centres will choose to enter candidates for one option from:

Astrophysics
Medical Physics
Applied Physics
Turning Points in Physics.

Each option will have a question paper comprised of 4/5 compulsory structured questions. There will be 35 raw marks.

Unit 6: Investigative and Practical Skills

Practical skills

Selection and use of various equipment
Processing of data,
Making observations and measurements,
Analysing and evaluation of results.

Assessment

Weighting:

10% of total A Level marks

This unit will involve the centre assessment of practical and investigative skills.

There are two routes for the assessment of this unit.
Either

Route T: Practical Skills Assessment (PSA) and Investigative Skills Assignment (ISA) which is teacher marked (assessed by centres).
Route X: Practical Skills Verification (PSV) and Externally Marked Practical Assignment (EMPA), taken at a centres' convenience and marked by AQA.

There will be 50 raw marks in this unit.