Physics Dept

Physics at St Columb's College...

.The study of Physics is the main foundation science that leads the way to the cutting edge of new technologies and encourages the quest to discover deeper knowledge and understanding of our universe and the world around us.

It allows us to push the frontier boundaries of the unknown and allows us to gain a greater insight to our own existence and how we stand in the greater plan of things in our creation. It allows us to question the origin of matter and how it is related to energy.

Physics prepares us for the world of work in industry, helping us to become research and design engineers and scientists. It helps us to become creative and inventive in areas like electronic communications, computers, and internet design , the manufacture of mobile phone ,digital cd,ipod,mp3 ,satellite technologies but to name a few.

We are now advancing the frontiers of new future development that will evolve from the latest state of the art of nano-technology.

Physics spans the broad spectrum of the very large in astro-Physics to the very small in particle physics thus completing the ”Lord of the ring” in knowledge, from beginning to end, from the birth of the universe to the void of the future. That’s what CERN is all about.

To find out more reasons why you should study Physics, check out the web links below to view the top ten physics videos even if it is just for to listen to the number 1 LHC “RAP”.

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/09/top-10-amazing.html

Also more information on the CERN LHC machine and how it works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQNpucos9wc&fmt=18

Finally if you wish to ask a scientist a question on any physics topic check out the link below click On the Q&A menu option on web site screen ( try out no. 13). Try running the LHC simulator.

http://www.particledetectives.net/

Physics at St Columb’s College strives to provide it’s students with not only the information and skills to enable them to fulfill their potential in Physics at KS3, KS4 and KS5, but also to equip them with the necessary tools to make informed decisions on issues that deal with Physics that will affect their lives.

Members of the Department

Mr.F McCauley ( Head of Subject & Science)

(Mr.McCauley Is our most senior member of our dept. with many interests. He has many publications in Physics with his latest being GCSE Physics textbook for NI. Curriculum. He is also a member of CCEA examination board. Mr. McCauley teaches A, As & GCSE Physics also junior science)

MR.L. Burns (coordinator of The Sentinus Engineering Education scheme)

( Mr.Burns runs the Astronomy club , meeting on a Thursday (every 2 weeks). He is a very dedicated teacher who loves English literature. He also teaches English and communication skills as well as A, As & GCSE Physics and junior science)

Mr V. Doherty (Coordinator of Construction Studies jointly with Technology)

( Mr. Doherty joined The Physics dept. a few years ago. He teaches A, As, Construction & GCSE Physics also junior science

Mr. T. Harkin ( responsible for promoting Physics in the 21st. century & Particle Physics)

(Mr. Harkin has been in the dept. for some time now. mainly teaches GCSE Physics unit in double award science modular and junior science. He has a keen interest in Particle physics and has visited CERN on a number of occasions. He is also interest in Electronics and has run an Electronic and The Rocket science club after school in the past.)

Technical Staff:

Mr. R. McGilligan

At KS3 Physics is delivered as part of a balanced Science course to years 8, 9 and 10. At GCSE, years 11 and 12, all students study the CCEA Double Award Science Specification. Through studying CCEA GCSE Science (Double Award), [download spec] students gain knowledge and understanding of science and its power and limitations. In this course, students: learn about scientific ideas, how they develop and the factors that may affect their development; learn about the benefits and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments (including those related to the individual, the community and the environment); consider science in relation to personal health, quality of life and ethical issues where appropriate; gain experimental, investigative, problem-solving and team-working skills as they plan and carry out a range of investigations; and have opportunities to develop numeric, communication and ICT skills as they critically evaluate data gained from investigations and present their results. GCSE Science (Double Award) prepares students for further study and training. Many students with this qualification go on to study AS and GCE courses in Physics, Chemistry and/or Biology. Other students go on to complete Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education or Applied courses in science. At A Level

Teaching of the revised GCE Physics specification began in September 2008. The specification has a modular structure and students are required to study three modules at each level. The modules are listed below and are all compulsory:

AS Level

AS 1: Forces, Energy & Electricity

AS 2: Waves, Photons & Medical Physics

AS 3: Practical techniques (internal assessment)

A2 Level

A2 1: Momentum, Thermal Physics, Circular motion, Oscillations, Atomic & Nuclear Physics

A2 2: Fields and their Applications

A2 3: Practical techniques (internal assessment)

Also this year is the introduction of the Accelerated reading Program through the library whereby each student in Year 8 will have a personalized reading program developed for him specific to his needs and reading ability.

Scale of size and power of ten web link:

http://microcosm.web.cern.ch/microcosm/P10/english/welcome.html