Physics
A LEVEL
AQA PHYSICS
Y11 BRIDGING WORK
Now that you’ve chosen to study Physics in more depth, you may be feeling rather unsure about starting your A-Level physics course. But do not worry - this guide is designed to help you with the transition to the A-Level course.
Below is a list of topics that you should already be familiar from GCSE but you may need to refresh your memory!
- Atomic structure
- Energy and efficiency
- Generating electricity/The National Grid
- Waves
- Sound
- Forces and motion
- Transformers
Your task is to research one of the areas and produce a presentation of your chosen topic. The way in which you present your ideas is entirely up to you but your presentation should last approximately 5 minutes. Some examples are….produce a powerpoint….make a model….create an animation….make a video….write a poem…the more creative the better!
Having an awareness of current issues is always useful, especially if you are considering a career in physics related subjects. Get into the habit of checking the news, either online, television or newspapers. You could also read New Scientist magazine.
Recommended reading:
- A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking
- Stephen Hawking: A Graphic Guide – JP McEvoy & Oscar Zarate
- The Elegant Universe – Brian Greene
- Flatland – Edwin A. Abbot
- How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog – Chad Orzel
- Any ‘Introduction to A level Physics books
Recommended TedEd video playlists:
- https://www.ted.com/playlists/391/the_lights_and_sounds_of_the_u - The lights and sounds of the universe
- https://www.ted.com/playlists/475/mind_bending_questions_from_ph - Mind-bending questions from physics
- https://www.ted.com/playlists/484/jaw_dropping_science_breakthro - Jaw-dropping science breakthroughs
Recommended websites:
- http://www.physics.org/ - Physics related articles, games and career advice
- https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/ - Applying Physics to the real world
- http://nobelprize.org - Details of the history of the best scientific discoveries
- http://nature.com - The site of the scientific journal
- http://royalsociety.org - Podcasts, news and interviews with scientists about recent scientific developments
- http://www.nhm.ac.uk - The London Natural History Museum’s website with lots of interesting educational material