We can't wait to welcome you to Andover College in September! 

We have created this interactive page to give you a sense of what studying Physics at Andover College is like! Scroll down to have a go at the various home-based experiments and activities provided by your lecturer Paul! Make sure you also listen to the audio clip across as second year Physics students Paul and Chloe provide their invaluable experience!

We will be regularly posting content onto this page to get you ready to start in September - make sure to send us any work you complete to andoverapplicantwelcome@sparsholt.ac.uk with 'Physics' as the email heading! 

Check out the help and support we can provide through our experienced Careers and Health & Wellbeing teams.

About the Course! 

The Physics course at Andover College is for those who are curious, innovative and eager to learn more about the fundamental laws that guide the universe and our experience within!

At Andover College we take a practical approach to the course uncovering fundamental physical relationships through frequent practical investigations. In your first year some of the topics you will cover include, the basics of forces, motion, energy and particles along with exploring the quantum world of wave-particle duality. Following this, in your second year you will look more deeply at the fundamental forces of the universe, gravity, electromagnetism,  E = mc2, and the nuclear atom along with the life cycle of the stars! 

What next? 

Students with a strong A Level performance in Physics are highly valued in both higher education settings, such as university, along with the world of work. After your time at Andover College, and subsequent education, you could progress into a huge variety of careers. These could include, aerospace and engineering, medical physics, theoretical physics and astrophysics. In addition, one third of Physics graduates go onto a career in business and finance aided by their strong communication and numeracy skills!

Trips!

Andover Physics students take regular trips to help further their learning experience. Current second year student Jess mentions the recent department trip to The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory as her particular favourite - take a look at the pictures below! In the images below students are standing on top of a proton synchrotron and the protons are whizzing in circles beneath their feet at 0.98c (98% of the speed of light). The massive amounts of white concrete you see under them are protecting them from high levels of deadly radiation!

Learn more here. 

Activity 1: Measuring the speed of light in your microwave!

Your Physics lecturer, Paul, has created a variety of activities for you to get started with in preparation for college in September! 

Firstly, have a go at this experiment measuring the speed of light using just your microwave and a chocolate bar - hopefully you have some Easter chocolate left!

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Activity 1: Measuring the speed of light in your microwave!

Activity 2: Scale of the Universe!

Take a look at the Scale of the Universe web page to learn more about your place in the cosmos - once you have done this download the workbook below to take the online quiz and test your knowledge on scaling objects in the universe!

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Scale of the Universe available: here. 

Activity 3: Using Hair to measure acceleration due to gravity!

Have a go at this hair-raising experiment that will allow you to measure the time period of a swinging pendulum alongside calculating a value for its acceleration.

Make sure you email us your results with 'Physics' as the email heading to andoverapplicantwelcome@sparsholt.ac.uk - we would love to see how you get on!  

Activity 3: Using Hair to measure acceleration!

New: Activity 4 Exploring the Solar System!

Your lecturer Paul has developed an interactive session exploring the solar system and orbits. Download the workbook below and take a look at the My Solar System info graphic here.

Exploring the Solar System and Orbits

Transition Activities 

Moving from GCSE Science to A Level can be a daunting leap, take a look at this workbook to help prepare you for the start of College in September.

Transition GCSE - A-Level Document

Additional Resources 

Interested in learning more about the various subjects you will study as a Physics student at Andover College? Take a look at the resources available below and make sure you let us know how you get on! 

Why study Physics? Here. 

The Buzzle web page has a variety of reading activities on a collection of topics - take a look and investigate more here.

The Map of Physics: Everything we know about physics - and a few things we don't - in a simple map. Here. 

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Related: The Map of Mathematics: The entire field of mathematics summarised in a single map! This shows how pure mathematics and applied mathematics relate to each other and all of the sub-topics they are made from. Here. 

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Why do I study Physics? Here. 

What is Physics? Here. 

Make sure you keep up-to-date with the developments with the International Space Station. You can see a live feed here! 

The Open University has a variety of free online courses available in an array of different subjects. Take a look at the catalogue here and explore the different course topics available. 

You could also investigate the courses offered at the EtonX web page; please note these are paid for programmes that your current school may have access to so please check with them and back here regularly for updates.

Our Courses: 

A-Level in Physics (2 Years)

Oxford Press Resources 

Oxford University Press have produced a variety of activities to enable your learning over the long summer break. Make sure you let us know how you get on! 

Science resources available here. 

Did you know!

Due to the effect of Thermal Expansion, the Eiffel Tower is up to 15 cm taller in summer!

The most powerful lasers are made with Neodymium-doped Yttrium crystals. In a fraction of a second, they produce more power than the whole United States!

There is enough fuel in a full tank of a jumbo jet to drive an average car around the world four times!

If all the LEGO bricks ever manufactured were placed on top of one another, they would make a tower ten times as high as the distance to the Moon!

A medium-sized cumulus cloud weighs about the same as 80 elephants!

Sources - Here

Student Testimonials!

Student Testimonials: Jess

Careers in Physics!

Careers Guidance 

Our careers guidance aims to expand the horizons of all students enabling you to make informed career decisions in order to progress both during and after college. 

Carol is our dedicated Careers Advisor for Andover College! 

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We also have our Sun Progression Mentor Anna! 

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Anna works alongside the Southern Universities Network (SUN) to help students recognise the routes of progression available to them, and to continue their journey in education! 

We recently launched the new Careers Hub located in the College library so come and say hello to Carol and Anna! 

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Social Media 

We love to post about all our students on our platforms including their achievements, trips and excellent work - take a look at some of the highlights below and make sure you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube! 

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Student wellbeing and support 

At Andover College we understand that starting college in these uncertain times can be daunting and we aim to make this process as simple as possible. 

We have a dedicated team that provide our students with any additional support they need including; 

  • Counselling 
  • Carer support 
  • Childcare support 
  • Confidential one-to-one services 

We have also recently introduced two new members to the wellbeing team ... Arlo and Romeo the Therapy Dogs!

Arlo and Romeo are part of the continued effort from Andover College to consistently improve on and add to provisions for students. They are based on campus with their owners throughout term.

Research has shown that students are significantly less stressed and anxious, and even have increased happiness and energy, immediately following spending time in a drop-in session with a dog present. What good boys!

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Not already applied?

Got this link but not yet applied? – Click below so you can join us in September!

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