IB Physics Detailed Topic-Wise Study Notes
Excellent Study Notes for IB DP Physics Prepared by Subject Matter Experts.
Topic 1. Measurements and uncertainties
Topic 2. Mechanics
Topic 3. Thermal physics
Topic 4. Waves
Topic 5. Electricity and magnetism
- 5.1 Electric fields
- 5.2 Heating effect of electric currents
- 5.3 Electric cells
- 5.4 Magnetic effects of electric currents
Topic 6. Circular motion and gravitation
Topic 7. Atomic, nuclear and particle physics
Topic 8. Energy production
Additional Higher Level (AHL) Topics:
Topic 9. Wave phenomena
- 9.1 Simple harmonic motion (HL ONLY)
- 9.2 Single-slit diffraction (HL ONLY)
- 9.3 Interference (HL ONLY)
- 9.4 Resolution (HL ONLY)
- 9.5 Doppler effect (HL ONLY)
Topic 10. Fields
Topic 11. Electromagnetic Induction
- 11.1 Electromagnetic induction (HL ONLY)
- 11.2 Power generation and transmission (HL ONLY)
- 11.3 Capacitance (HL ONLY)
Topic 12. Quantum and Nuclear Physics
IB Physics Syllabus , Notes, Practice Papers etc.
IB Physics SL and HL Core
Both IB Physics SL and HL consist of the same core requirements that consist of the same number of hours. Both classes will cover the same 8 topics (requiring 95 teaching hours) in the order listed below with the same subtopics listed below:
Topic #1: Measurements and Uncertainties—5 Hours for Both SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Measurements in physics | 1.1 |
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Uncertainties and errors | 1.2 |
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Vectors and scalars | 1.3 |
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Topic #2: Mechanics—22 Hours for Both SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Motion | 2.1 |
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Forces | 2.2 |
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Work, energy and power | 2.3 |
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Momentum and impulse | 2.4 |
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Topic #3: Thermal Physics—11 Hours for Both SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Thermal concepts | 3.1 |
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Modelling a gas | 3.2 |
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Topic #4: Waves—15 Hours for Both SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Oscillations | 4.1 |
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Travelling waves | 4.2 |
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Wave characteristics | 4.3 |
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Wave behaviour | 4.4 |
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Standing waves | 4.5 |
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Topic #5: Electricity and Magnetism—15 Hours for Both SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Electric fields | 5.1 |
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Heating effect of electric currents | 5.2 |
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Electric cells | 5.3 |
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Magnetic effects of electric currents | 5.4 |
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Topic #6: Circular Motion and Gravitation—5 Hours for Both SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Circular motion | 6.1 |
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Newton’s law of gravitation | 6.2 |
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Topic #7: Atomic, Nuclear and Particle Physics—14 Hours for Both SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Discrete energy and radioactivity | 7.1 |
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Nuclear reactions | 7.2 |
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The structure of matter | 7.3 |
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Topic #8: Energy Production—8 Hours for Both SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Energy sources | 8.1 |
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Thermal energy transfer | 8.2 |
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Additional Higher Level Topics
These 4 topics are only for IB Physics Higher Level students—60 hours total for HL only
Topic #9: Wave Phenomena—17 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Simple harmonic motion (HL ONLY) | 9.1 |
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Single-slit diffraction (HL ONLY) | 9.2 |
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Interference (HL ONLY) | 9.3 |
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Resolution (HL ONLY) | 9.4 |
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Doppler effect (HL ONLY) | 9.5 |
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Topic #10: Fields—11 Hours for HL only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Describing fields (HL ONLY) | 10.1 |
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Fields at work (HL ONLY) | 10.2 |
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Topic #11: Electromagnetic Induction—16 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Electromagnetic induction (HL ONLY) | 11.1 |
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Power generation and transmission (HL ONLY) | 11.2 |
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Capacitance (HL ONLY) | 11.3 |
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Topic #12: Quantum and Nuclear Physics—16 Hours for HL Only
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
The interaction of matter with radiation (HL ONLY) | 12.1 |
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Nuclear physics (HL ONLY) | 12.2 |
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Options
As a part of the IB Physics course, you cover additional subjects of your choosing from the list below (typically you don’t choose, but rather your teacher does).
Whichever option(s) you or your teacher chooses you will cover 3 or 4 topics (15 hours total) for SL and an additional 2 or 3 topics (25 hours total) for HL.
Option A: Relativity—15 Hours for SL and HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
The beginnings of relativity | A.1 |
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Lorentz transformations | A.2 |
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Spacetime diagrams | A.3 |
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Additional HL Relativity Topics—10 More Hours for HL
Subtopic | Subtopic Number | IB Points to Understand |
Relativistic mechanics (HL ONLY) | A.4 |
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General Relativity (HL ONLY) | A.5 |
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New IB DP Physics 2025.
New IB DP Physics 2025.
Highlights:
The new DP physics course was launched in February 2023 for first teaching in August 2023. First assessment will take place in May 2025.
Note: DP physics is strongly recommended if you want to pursue your career in science related fields like medicine, Biotech, Engineering etc.
Assessment pattern in new syllabus
Paper 1 will be of 2 sections
· Paper 1A: MCQ covering entire syllabus
· Paper 1B: Data Analysis Question mainly with Graph related and units and uncertainty
Paper 2 Will also have two sections
· Shorts response questions and
· Extended response questions – One for SL and 2 for HL
4 Options topics are removed. These are distributed in core syllabus
Internal Assessment
Students will be encouraged to work in small group. However, students will be submitting individual reports of maximum word count of 3000. More weightage is given for higher order thinking. 50 % for conclusion and evaluation