IVYBRIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AS and A Level Physics
Physics is all about curiosity, enquiry and problem solving. The first thing you can do is keep an eye
on current affairs relating to physics in the news and media. We would recommend the following
sites:
 http://www.physics.org/
 http://www.ted.com/
 http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/
 http://www.nasa.gov/
 http://home.web.cern.ch/
 http://www.ogdentrust.com/ ICC is part of an Ogden Trust Partnership.
 http://www.iop.org/ We are affiliated with the Institute of Physics too.
 http://physics.ivybridge.devon.sch.uk Our in-house website, packed with resources.
In terms of books and reading references, you will be provided with a Textbook and other materials
when you arrive on the course in September. The following are good reading material however:
The course at Ivybridge is: 'OCR Physics A'. The content of the course (specification) is on the OCR
website where other useful materials can also be found at:
 http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-physics-a-h156-h556-from-2015/
The first term's work will begin with the topics:
 Motion
 Electricity
It is an excellent idea to read around these sections before you come back in September.
If you are interested in buying a book to reinforce your studies throughout the course, you’re spoilt
for choice really, but could perhaps consider:

Collins Advanced Science – Physics. By Ken Dobson, David Grace, David Lovett – Harper
Collins Publishers Limited (2008) - Paperback - 592 pages - ISBN 0007267495
This is an expensive book, but will serve you for both AS and A2, and also elements of a degree
course in this area.

Books on Quantum Theory, Relativity… there are many, all are interesting and may change the
way you think forever! Choose carefully though some can be heavy going, look for those
aimed at a wide audience.

The much publicised books by Stephen Hawking and Brian Cox are also good.
The key to physics is application of knowledge. If you can use your physics knowledge to solve
everyday problems or answer tricky questions, you really have great skills to build on.
And just to give you something to think about:
 Setting a large camera flash off near a cymbal causes it to ring, why?
 Oil films have rainbow colours, there must be a reason?
 Looking down a metal cylindrical tube, that is shiny on the inside, you will see a series of rings
– can you explain this?
 When a wet towel is flicked it makes a cracking sound. Wet towels make louder cracks
than dry ones?
Before you return in September, make sure you know, thoroughly, everything in the GCSE Revision
Guide. If you find there's some GCSE material that you don't understand very well, try to find
yourself a copy of: 'Physics for You' by Keith Johnson (Stanley Thornes publishers). This textbook
explains GCSE physics very well, with lots of good examples and questions to try. It doesn't matter
which edition of 'Physics for You' you get. It's fine to use an older edition.