This is my plan for the two year course. The times are the IB suggested times. I teach a
combined class (HL and SL) in the first year then they split into HL and SL in the 2nd year,
if I were teaching HL and SL separately throughout the course I would probably follow the
same order.
The "+ hours" are hours spent on practical work, with this schedule the SL students will
get more practical hours than required but that's probably not a bad thing.
Notice that my plan features the investigation at the end of the first year. There are
several reasons for this:
avoid deadlines in other subjects
complete investigation soon after students have acquired the necessary skills (before they forget)
avoid third term
use summer holiday for marking (not all of it I hope)
make it possible for SL students to do another one if first attempt is poor
I also plan to do the engineering option in the first year as I think it is option that is the most straight forward and leads to a lot of
possible investigations.
Year 1 combined HL and SL (73 hours +
45)
Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties (5
hours)
Topic 2: Mechanics (22 hours)
Topic 3: Thermal physics (11 hours)
Option B (thermodynamics) (5 hours)
Topic 6: Circular motion and gravitation (5
hours)
Option B (rotational mechanics) (10 hours)
Topic 4: Waves (15 hours)
Investigation
Group 4 project
Year 2 HL (107 hours +15)
Year 2 SL (37 hours)
Topic 9: Wave phenomena (17 hours)
Option B (Forced vibrations + resonance) (5 hours)
Topic 10: Fields (11 hours)
Topic 5: Electricity and magnetism (15 hours)
Topic 11: Electromagnetic induction (16 hours)
Topic 7: Atomic, nuclear and particle physics (14
hours)
Topic 12: Quantum and nuclear physics (16 hours)
Option B (Fluids) (5 hours)
Topic 8: Energy production (8 hours)
Topic 5: Electricity and magnetism (15 hours)
Topic 7: Atomic, nuclear and particle physics (14
hours)
Topic 8: Energy production (8 hours)
Here is the same but with links to lessons and practical work
Year 1 combined HL and SL
Practical work
Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties (5
hours)
Measurement
Interpreting graphs and uncertainties
Vectors and Scalars
Density of plasticine
Topic 2: Mechanics (22 hours)
Displacement and Velocity
Acceleration and suvat
Graphs of Motion
Projectiles
Forces
Newton's 1st Law
Newton's 2nd Law
Newton's 3rd Law
Work and Energy
PE, and Power
Measuring g (card drop)
Measuring g (falling ball)
suvat (GeoGebra)
Ball on a slope
Inclined Plane
Rolling ball
Angle of slope
Acceleration of a Ferrari
Motion of a cart in Algodoo
Newton's Second Law
Masses and pulley
1D momentum in Algodoo
Projectiles in excel
Video analysis of a projectile
Activity: Mini investigation
Topic 3: Thermal physics (11 hours)
Particles and moles
Temperature and Heat
Heat transfer
Specific heat capacity and latent heat
Intro to gas properties
Gas Laws
Specific heat capacity of water (electric
kettle)
Verification of Boyles law
Option B (thermodynamics) (5 hours)
Energy and ideal gas transformations
Applying 1st Law to gas transformations
2nd law and Carnot cycle
Thermodynamics simulation (GeoGebra)
Carnot cycle simulation (GeoGebra)
Topic 6: Circular motion and gravitation (5
hours)
Circular Motion
Gravitational Field
Flying Pig
Pig simulation
Spinning stopper
Spinning stopper simulation (GeoGebra)
Algodoo orbit simulation
Option B (rotational mechanics) (10 hours)
Introduction to rotation
Torques and angular acceleration
Newton's 2nd law and rotation
Rotational KE and work
Angular momentum
Measuring moment of Inertia
Rotational dynamics simulation
Rolling cylinders in Algodoo
Conservation of angular momentum
(Algodoo)
Topic 4: SHM and Waves (15 hours)
Defining SHM
Intro to oscillations
Intro to waves
Standing waves slinky waves and graphs
Video analysis of SHM
Iterative SHM (Excel)
Measuring g with a pendulum
1D Waves simulation (GeoGebra)
Waves in a bucket
Waves in a ripple tank
Sound waves
EM waves
Ripple tank simulation (GeoGebra)
Speed of sound (drinking straw)
Refractive index
Internal assessment
Group 4 project
Second year SL
2nd year SL
Practical work
Topic 5: Electricity and magnetism (15 hours)
Electric Field
Electrical Potential and Current
Resistors and cells
Circuits, component combinations and power
Kirchoff's Laws
Measuring V and I
Magnetic field
Charges in a B field
Electric fields simulation (GeoGebra)
Circuit simulations (Falstad)
Factors affecting R (paper)
Kirchoff's laws (Geogebra and PhET)
EMF and internal resistance
Topic 7: Atomic, nuclear and particle physics (14
hours)
Atomic models
EM radiation and the atom
The Nucleus
Binding Energy
Alpha decay
Beta and gamma decay
Exponential Decay
Fission and Fusion
Interactions between particles
Particle classification and the standard model
Measuring half life of beer foam
Radioactive decay simulation (Excel)
Topic 8: Energy production (8 hours)
Sources of energy
Generation of electricity
Nuclear power
Fusion power
Renewable energy sources
EM radiation and matter
Greenhouse effect
Planck's law (GeoGebra)
Second year HL
2nd year HL
Topic 9: Wave phenomena (17 hours)
Doppler
Diffraction
Resolution
Interference
Thin film interference
Option B (Forced vibrations + resonance) (5 hours)
Damped Harmonic motion
Forced oscillations and resonance
Practical work
Doppler exercise
Single slit diffraction exercise
Phase and reflection (GeoGebra)
Two slit interference
Damped harmonic motion investigation
Investigating resonance
Topic 10: Fields (11 hours)
Gravitational Potential
Orbits
Orbit simulation (Algodoo)
Topic 5: Electricity and magnetism (15 hours)
Electric Field
Electrical Potential and Current
Resistors and cells
Circuits, component combinations and power
Kirchoff's Laws
Measuring V and I
Magnetic field
Charges in a B field
Electric fields simulation (GeoGebra)
Electric potential exercise
Circuit simulations (Falstad)
Factors affecting R (paper)
Kirchoff's laws (Geogebra and PhET)
EMF and internal resistance
Topic 11: Electromagnetic induction (16 hours)
Electric Potential
Faraday's Law
Lenz's Law
Transformer
Capacitors
Rectification
Transformer simulation
Parallel plate capacitors (PhET)
Charging and discharging a capacitor
Iterative capacitor charging (Excel)
Rectifier circuit
Rectifier simulation (Falstad)
Topic 7: Atomic, nuclear and particle physics (14 hours)
Atomic models
EM radiation and the atom
The Nucleus
Binding Energy
Alpha decay
Beta and gamma decay
Exponential Decay
Fission and Fusion
Interactions between particles
Particle classification and the standard model
Measuring half life of beer foam
Radioactive decay simulation (Excel)
Topic 12: Quantum and nuclear physics (16 hours)
Photoelectric Effect
Wave nature of matter
Atomic models
Option B (Fluids) (5 hours)
Bernoulli simulation (GeoGebra)
Topic 8: Energy production (8 hours)
Sources of energy
Generation of electricity
Nuclear power
Fusion power
Renewable energy sources
EM radiation and matter
Greenhouse effect
Planck's law (GeoGebra)