The Comprehensive IB Physics Notes for 2022
examinations for both HL and SL
By Miro Keimiöniemi
I present to you: the all-encompassing yet condensed IB physics notes based on the
sixth edition of the Physics for the IB Diploma by K. A. Tsokos, with all errors and
inconsistencies corrected, while not omitting a single relevant detail, theoretically
covering everything necessary for full points in HL and SL physics final exams*. They
obviously cannot be perfect, but pen was never put onto paper until it was confirmed
that the expression is the best, most condensed, comprehensible and correct. The
structure follows our course progression rather than the book but is arguably more
logical. However, an actionable contents page is provided for easy navigation.
Additionally, all units, variables and equations have been defined and derived on every
mention. Please enjoy, or at least suffer a little less in your efforts of practicing for the
finals, that’s what it is ultimately about anyway isn’t it?
If you found these helpful or got any value out of these, please consider making a small
donation at ib-done.com to support me on my way to university. Hundreds of hours
have been used to make them and that’s partially why I give them away for free: so that
you don’t have to. I want to make the immense undertaking of studying physis just a
little easier, quicker and convenient for everyone. Do also share the link to all IB
physics students you feel might benefit from it!
*Although confident, not guaranteed. Do make sure you have not missed anything by practicing past papers, skimming
through your official book of preference and consulting with your teacher.
The SI system .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Measurement and uncertainties ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Linearizing graphs ............................................................................................................................................................... 7
Constructing vectors from components ............................................................................................................................. 7
Mechanics ............................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Linear motion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Projectile motion ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Forces ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Energy ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Momentum and impulse .................................................................................................................................................. 13
Thermal physics .................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Modeling a gas.................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Waves.................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Oscillations ....................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Traveling waves ................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Wave characteristics......................................................................................................................................................... 22
Wave behavior.................................................................................................................................................................. 25
Wave phenomena ................................................................................................................................................................. 29
Simple harmonic motion .................................................................................................................................................. 29
Single-slit diffraction ......................................................................................................................................................... 32
Interference ...................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Resolution ......................................................................................................................................................................... 37
The Doppler effect ............................................................................................................................................................ 39
Electricity and magnetism ..................................................................................................................................................... 41
Electric cells ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Magnetic fields ...................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Circular motion and gravitation ............................................................................................................................................ 54
Fields ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 57
Fields at work ........................................................................................................................................................................ 62
Inverse square law behavior............................................................................................................................................. 64
Electromagnetic induction .................................................................................................................................................... 65
Transmission of power ..................................................................................................................................................... 68
Capacitance ...................................................................................................................................................................... 73
Atomic, nuclear and particle physics .................................................................................................................................... 77
Nuclear structure .............................................................................................................................................................. 78
Nuclear reactions .............................................................................................................................................................. 83
The structure of matter .................................................................................................................................................... 86
Quantum and nuclear physics............................................................................................................................................... 92
Nuclear physics ............................................................................................................................................................... 101
Energy production............................................................................................................................................................... 105
Thermal energy transfer ................................................................................................................................................. 110
The SI system
Measurement and
uncertainties
T he SI sy stem
3
4
5
Measurement and uncertainties
Linearizing graphsMeasurement
and uncertainties
6
7
Linearizing graphs
Constructing vectors from components
MechanicsLinearizing graphs
Mechanics
Linear motion
Projectile
motionMechanics
Linear motion
8
9
Projectile motion
ForcesProjectile motion
10
Forces
EnergyForces
11
12
Energy
Momentum and
impulseEnergy
13
Momentum and impulse
Thermal physicsMomentum and
impulse
14
15
Thermal physics
Modeling a gasThermal
physics
16
Modeling a gas
WavesModeling a gas
17
18
OscillationsWaves
Oscillations
Traveling
wavesWaves
Oscillations
19
20
Traveling waves
Wave
characteristicsTraveling
waves
21
22
Wave characteristics
Wave behaviorWave
characteristics
23
24
25
Wave behavior
Wave phenomenaWave
behavior
26
27
28
29
Wave phenomena
Simple harmonic motion
Single-slit
diffractionWave
phenomena
Simple harmonic motion
30
31
32
Single-slit diffraction
InterferenceSingle-slit
diffraction
33
34
Interference
ResolutionInte
rference
35
36
37
Resolution
The Doppler
effectResoluti
on
38
The Doppler effect
Electricity and magnetismThe
Doppler effect
39
40
41
Electricity and magnetism
Electric cellsElectricity and
magnetism
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
Electric cells
Magnetic fieldsElectric cells
49
Magnetic fields
Circular motion and
gravitationMagnetic
fields
50
51
52
53
Circular motion and gravitation
FieldsCircular motion and gravitation
54
55
56
Fields
Fields at
workFiel
ds
57
58
59
60
61
Fields at work
Inverse square
law
behaviorFields
at work
62
63
Inverse square law behavior
Electromagnetic inductionInverse
square law behavior
64
Electromagnetic induction
Transmission of
powerElectromagnetic
induction
65
66
67
Transmission of power
CapacitanceTransmission of
power
68
69
70
71
72
Capacitance
Atomic, nuclear
and particle
physicsCapacit
ance
73
74
75
76
Atomic, nuclear and particle physics
Nuclear structureAtomic, nuclear and particle
physics
77
78
Nuclear structure
Nuclear
reactionsNuclear
structure
79
80
81
82
Nuclear reactions
The structure of
matterNuclear reactions
83
84
85
86
The structure of matter
Quantum and nuclear
physicsThe structure of matter
87
88
89
90
91
Quantum and nuclear physics
Nuclear physicsQuantum and
nuclear physics
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
Nuclear physics
Energy productionNuclear
physics
101
102
103
104
Energy production
Thermal energy
transferEnergy
production
105
106
107
108
109
110
Thermal energy transfer
111
112
113
114