Physics

Physics — A Level

British Curriculum · Pearson · Years 12-13 · Ages 16-18

Pearson Edexcel International A Level Physics (YPH11) is unit-based across six units, with practical skills assessed through written practical papers rather than a laboratory examination.

Content covers mechanics and materials; waves and electricity; practical skills; further mechanics, fields and particles; thermodynamics, radiation, oscillations and cosmology; and a second practical unit.

Edexcel's treatment is context-led, framing physics through applications such as materials engineering, medical physics and cosmology. The mathematical demand is substantial throughout, and taking A Level Mathematics alongside it makes a noticeable difference.

Key topics covered

• Mechanics & Materials — Motion, Newton's laws, momentum, energy, and the properties of materials.
• Waves & the Particle Nature of Light — Wave behaviour, superposition, the photoelectric effect and wave-particle duality.
• Electric & Magnetic Fields — Field strength, potential, capacitance, magnetic force and induction.
• Further Mechanics — Circular motion, momentum in two dimensions and simple harmonic motion.
• Thermodynamics & Gases — Specific heat, ideal gases, kinetic theory and internal energy.
• Nuclear & Particle Physics — Radioactive decay, fission, fusion, particle accelerators and the standard model.
• Oscillations & Cosmology — Damping, resonance, stellar evolution, redshift and the fate of the universe.
• Practical Skills — Experimental design, uncertainty, graph analysis and evaluating conclusions.