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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?
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#2
(Original post by Throwaway927774)
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?
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?
My friend is applying for astrophysics and takes maths, fm, physics... what are your other subjects you're thinking about?

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(Original post by jduxie4414)
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?
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?

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#4
(Original post by Throwaway927774)
a quick google tells me that there’s a lot of Chem needed in astronomy such as regarding spectral lines.
a quick google tells me that there’s a lot of Chem needed in astronomy such as regarding spectral lines.
Looking briefly at the subject requirements for some unis (https://digital.ucas.com/coursedispl...y-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!
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(Original post by jduxie4414)
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/coursedispl...y-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/coursedispl...y-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!
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(Original post by jduxie4414)
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/coursedispl...y-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/coursedispl...y-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!
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
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#7
(Original post by Throwaway927774)
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.
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.
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#8
(Original post by Throwaway927774)
‘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
‘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
It's definitely just one you do, just confuses me what they're saying!
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#9
No. If you were to specialise in astronomy then any of the specific chemistry knowledge needed would be taught to you. Atomic spectra and orbitals are more quantum physics that has applications in chemistry, less so the other way around.
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(Original post by jduxie4414)
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/coursedispl...y-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/coursedispl...y-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!
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
(Original post by jduxie4414)
"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!
"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!
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