Do I need chemistry to study / understand physics?

Do I need chemistry knowledge to study / understand physics at GCSE level and A level? If I wanted to be an astronomer, what would the requirements be regarding chemistry?

No not at all, they are (especially at A-Level) separate fields! There's a common chapter in GCSE physics and chemistry (atomic structure), and there might be the odd nuclear physics area that will make you go "oh wait that reminds me of something in chemistry!" but no you definitely don't need chem at a level, it's very hard as well!

My friend is applying for astrophysics and takes maths, fm, physics... what are your other subjects you're thinking about?

a quick google tells me that there’s a lot of Chem needed in astronomy such as regarding spectral lines.

Chemistry would certainly be useful (spectral lines also appear in the space chapter of a level physics, and maybe on like half a page at GCSE).

Looking briefly at the subject requirements for some unis (https://digital.ucas.com/coursedisplay/courses/63ac0a62-3908-260e-8f1d-4032f49ce926?academicYearId=2021#entry-requirements), you definitely need physics and maths. Chemistry isn't a requirement, remember you learn all of this as part of your degree and you can even do some outside reading into spectrometry and red shifts etc

What other subjects are you thinking? If I were to make a suggestion of a few, they would be:

Maths, FM, Physics, Chem
Maths, Physics, Chem
Maths, Physics, FM

Chemistry would be a good subject and very relevant, but it isn't necessary to understand physics as per your question. Hope this helps!

Chemistry would certainly be useful (spectral lines also appear in the space chapter of a level physics, and maybe on like half a page at GCSE).

Looking briefly at the subject requirements for some unis (https://digital.ucas.com/coursedisplay/courses/63ac0a62-3908-260e-8f1d-4032f49ce926?academicYearId=2021#entry-requirements), you definitely need physics and maths. Chemistry isn't a requirement, remember you learn all of this as part of your degree and you can even do some outside reading into spectrometry and red shifts etc

What other subjects are you thinking? If I were to make a suggestion of a few, they would be:

Maths, FM, Physics, Chem
Maths, Physics, Chem
Maths, Physics, FM

Chemistry would be a good subject and very relevant, but it isn't necessary to understand physics as per your question. Hope this helps!

I’m 19 in January so I’m not looking to take a lot of GCSEs. I’m looking for max 3 which I’m studying 2 right now (maths and English) and if I went down an astronomical path I’d look to take physics obvs. Then I’d only have time to do 1 access to HE diploma but I’m not sure if one would be enough since looking at their requirements, they ask for certain credits in maths AND physics which doesn’t make sense to me. Could you clarify if that suggests that I’d need 2 diplomas - each for maths and physics.

‘Pass Access to HE Diploma (Engineering, Engineering Science, Maths and Engineering, Science, or Science and Engineering) with 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit. At least 12 graded level 3 credits at Distinction in Mathematics (excluding Statistics) and 12 graded level 3 credits at Distinction in Physics.’

Here they clearly haven’t included a ‘Maths with physics’ diploma. For the stated diplomas, they naturally add up to 45 credits but then they include the fact you need credits at maths and physics which suggests you need diplomas for both subjects

Chemistry would certainly be useful (spectral lines also appear in the space chapter of a level physics, and maybe on like half a page at GCSE).

Looking briefly at the subject requirements for some unis (https://digital.ucas.com/coursedisplay/courses/63ac0a62-3908-260e-8f1d-4032f49ce926?academicYearId=2021#entry-requirements), you definitely need physics and maths. Chemistry isn't a requirement, remember you learn all of this as part of your degree and you can even do some outside reading into spectrometry and red shifts etc

What other subjects are you thinking? If I were to make a suggestion of a few, they would be:

Maths, FM, Physics, Chem
Maths, Physics, Chem
Maths, Physics, FM

Chemistry would be a good subject and very relevant, but it isn't necessary to understand physics as per your question. Hope this helps!

"Pass in Access qualification in a relevant subject with Merit in 50% of units at level 3." sounds more accurate to me, so you can do physics or maths (I'd recommend physics). ~Can you send me a link for the website that has the quote you sent?

It's definitely just one you do, just confuses me what they're saying!