What appeals to me about physics is that it takes the unknown and helps us understand it in

mathematical ways. By applying what we already know to new situations, I can unlock the world

in a remarkable way, in particular by helping explain counterintuitive phenomena. For example, I

was amazed to see a video about the formation of plasma between grapes in a microwave, and

pleased by an equally fascinating explanation.

My interest in physics also goes beyond the classroom. I gave a talk about the historical

development of particle physics at my school’s Physics and Engineering Society after being

inspired by a public lecture at UCL about work on the ATLAS experiment. I presented a

historical account of how ideas about elementary particles evolved over time and how they were

experimentally discovered, since the age of classical Greeks to the present, including Dalton’s

work, Thompson’s experiment with cathode ray tubes, and bubble chambers.

In addition, I wrote an article for the school Physics Journal about the process behind

imaging the black hole M87. The article covered the use of very-long-baseline interferometry, as

well as the difficulties associated with taking a picture of something so small and so far away.

This topic was brought to the forefront of my attention after reading N. D. Tyson’s ‘Astrophysics

for People in a Hurry’. I was driven to write this article because I was fascinated by the

fantastical theoretical properties of black holes and the incredible ingenuity behind the endeavour

to image the M87 black hole. I furthered this curiosity by also reading Hawking’s ‘A Brief

History of Time’.

Ever since deciding to pursue a physics degree, I have challenged myself to develop

skills that are important to a physicist. I sought to improve my mathematical and abstract

problem-solving abilities by competing in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge and BPhO AS

Physics Challenge. I achieved Gold in both of these challenges. I also recognise programming as
an important skill for a physicist, which is why I have been learning python and taken AS

Computer Science.

Furthermore, I am interested in learning about the world through hands-on experience.

Recently, I fixed a split in the hull of my sailing boat. After this process, I gained knowledge

about why epoxy and fibreglass are the most suitable materials for this task and through

experiment, I tested my solution on the water.

I am hopeful that university will offer me the opportunity to further my interests outside

academia. I regularly take play volleyball for my local club and school as well as sailing in

interclub competitions in the South East. Apart from sport, I greatly enjoy playing and have

achieved a grade 6 in classical guitar.

Apart from the physical knowledge and strong mathematical background, I am also

excited about statistics and the real world handling of data, and abstract problem-solving skills

that a Physics degree can grant.