The Complete IB Physics Syllabus: SL & HL
In this article, I am going to discuss every topic covered in IB Physics Standard level and IB Physics higher level along with the number of hours dedicated to each topic, and what IB expects you to know for each topic. Both IB Physics SL & HL core consist of the same requirement that consists of a total of 95 hours. Both classes SL and HL will cover the same 8 topics in the order listed below along with the same subtopics and dedicated hours listed below: Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Measurements in physics 1.1 Fundamental and derived SI units Scientific notation and metric multipliers Significant figures Orders of magnitude Estimation Uncertainties and errors 1.2 Random and systematic errors Absolute, fractional and percentage uncertainties Error bars Uncertainty of gradient and intercepts Vectors and scalars 1.3 Vector and scalar quantities Combination and resolution of vectors Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Motion 2.1 Distance and displacement Speed and velocity Acceleration Graphs describing motion Equations of motion for uniform acceleration Projectile motion Fluid resistance and terminal speed Forces 2.2 Objects as point particles Free-body diagrams Translational equilibrium Newton’s laws of motion Solid friction Work, energy and power 2.3 Kinetic energy Gravitational potential energy Elastic potential energy Work done as energy transfer Power as rate of energy transfer Principle of conservation of energy Efficiency Momentum and impulse 2.4 Newton’s second law expressed in terms of rate of change of momentum Impulse and force–time graphs Conservation of linear momentum Elastic collisions, inelastic collisions and explosions Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Thermal concepts 3.1 Molecular theory of solids, liquids and gases Temperature and absolute temperature Internal energy Specific heat capacity Phase change Specific latent heat Modelling a gas 3.2 Pressure Equation of state for an ideal gas Kinetic model of an ideal gas Mole, molar mass and the Avogadro constant Differences between real and ideal gases Topic 4: Waves - SL & HL combined for 15 hours Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Oscillations 4.1 Simple harmonic oscillations Time period, frequency, amplitude, displacement and phase difference Conditions for simple harmonic motion Travelling waves 4.2 Traveling waves Wavelength, frequency, period and wave speed Transverse and longitudinal waves The nature of electromagnetic waves The nature of sound waves Wave characteristics 4.3 Wavefronts and rays Amplitude and intensity Superposition Polarization Wave behaviour 4.4 Reflection and refraction Snell’s law, critical angle and total internal reflection Diffraction through a single-slit and around objects Interference patterns Double-slit interference Path difference Standing waves 4.5 The nature of standing waves Boundary conditions Nodes and antinodes Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Electric fields 5.1 Charge Electric field Coulomb’s law Electric current Direct current (dc) Potential difference Heating effect of electric currents 5.2 Circuit diagrams Kirchhoff’s circuit laws Heating effect of current and its consequences Resistance expressed as R = V/I Ohm’s law Resistivity Power dissipation Electric cells 5.3 Cells Internal resistance Secondary cells Terminal potential difference Electromotive force (emf) Magnetic effects of electric currents 5.4 Magnetic fields Magnetic force Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Circular motion 6.1 Period, frequency, angular displacement and angular velocity Centripetal force Centripetal acceleration Newton’s law of gravitation 6.2 Newton’s law of gravitation Gravitational field strength Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Discrete energy and radioactivity 7.1 Discrete energy and discrete energy levels Transitions between energy levels Radioactive decay Fundamental forces and their properties Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays Half-life Absorption characteristics of decay particles Isotopes Background radiation Nuclear reactions 7.2 The unified atomic mass unit Mass defect and nuclear binding energy Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion The structure of matter 7.3 Quarks, leptons and their antiparticles Hadrons, baryons and mesons The conservation laws of charge, baryon number, lepton number and strangeness The nature and range of the strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force and electromagnetic force Exchange particles Feynman diagrams Confinement The Higgs boson Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Energy sources 8.1 Specific energy and energy density of fuel sources Sankey diagrams Primary energy sources Electricity as a secondary and versatile form of energy Renewable and non-renewable energy sources Thermal energy transfer 8.2 Conduction, convection and thermal radiation Black-body radiation Albedo and emissivity The solar constant The greenhouse effect Energy balance in the Earth surface–atmosphere system These 4 topics are assigned for Higher Level students only with a total of 60 hours. Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Simple harmonic motion 9.1 The defining equation of SHM Energy changes Single-slit diffraction 9.2 The nature of single-slit diffraction Interference 9.3 Young’s double-slit experiment Modulation of two-slit interference pattern by one-slit diffraction effect Multiple slit and diffraction grating interference patterns Thin film interference Resolution 9.4 The size of a diffracting aperture The resolution of simple monochromatic two-source systems Doppler effect 9.5 The Doppler effect for sound waves and light waves Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Describing fields 10.1 Gravitational fields Electrostatic fields Electric potential and gravitational potential Field lines Equipotential surfaces Fields at work 10.2 Potential and potential energy Potential gradient Potential difference Escape speed Orbital motion, orbital speed and orbital energy Forces and inverse-square law behaviour Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations Electromagnetic induction 11.1 Electromotive force (emf) Magnetic flux and magnetic flux linkage Faraday’s law of induction Lenz’s law Power generation and transmission 11.2 Alternating current (ac) generators Average power and root mean square (rms) values of current and voltage Transformers Diode bridges Half-wave and full-wave rectification Capacitance 11.3 Capacitance Dielectric materials Capacitors in series and parallel Resistor-capacitor (RC) series circuits Time constant Subtopic Subtopic number Interpretations The interaction of matter with radiation 12.1 Photons The photoelectric effect Matter waves Pair production and pair annihilation Quantization of angular momentum in the Bohr model for hydrogen The wave function The uncertainty principle for energy and time and position and momentum Tunnelling, potential barrier and factors affecting tunnelling probability Nuclear physicsThe complete IB Physics syllabus: SL & HL
Topic 1: Measurements and Uncertainties- SL & HL combined for 5 hours
Topic 2: Mechanics - SL & HL combined for 22 hours
Topic 3: Thermal Physics - SL & HL combined for 11 hours
Topic 5: Electricity and Magnetism - SL & HL combined for 15 hours
Topic 6: Circular Motion and Gravitation - SL & HL combined for 5 hours
Topic 7: Atomic, Nuclear and Particle Physics -SL & HL combined for 14 hours
Topic 8: Energy Production - SL & HL combined for 8 hours
Additional Higher Level Topics
Topic 9: Wave Phenomena - HL Only-17 hours
(HL ONLY)
(HL ONLY)
(HL ONLY)
(HL ONLY)
(HL ONLY)
Topic 10: Fields - HL only -11 hours
(HL ONLY)
(HL ONLY)
Topic 11: Electromagnetic Induction - HL Only-16 hours
(HL ONLY)
(HL ONLY)
(HL ONLY)
Topic 12: Quantum and Nuclear Physics - HL Only-16 hours
(HL ONLY)
(HL ONLY)