IB Physics Seniors 2014 - 2015
Mr. Patterson
k.patterson@cms.k12.nc.us
http://pattersonphysics.cmswiki.wikispaces.net
Welcome to IB Physics. In this course we will explore a variety of topics related to how the universe works.
Physics addresses the patterns we observe from the very small scale of particle physics to the very large scale of
cosmology. This is a two year course which follows the guidelines of the Diploma Programme Physics Guide
published by the International Baccalaureate Organization. A list of the topics is provided below. More information
can be found on the class wikipage.
Core Topics
Topic 1: Physics and physical measurement
Topic 2: Mechanics
Topic 3: Thermal physics
Topic 4: Oscillations and waves
Topic 5: Electric currents
Topic 6: Fields and forces
Topic 7: Atomic and nuclear physics
Topic 8: Energy, power and climate change
Options SL
Option A: Sight and wave phenomena
Option B: Quantum physics and nuclear physics
Option C: Digital technology
Option D: Relativity and particle physics
Additional Higher Level Topics
Topic 9: Motion in fields
Topic 10: Thermal physics
Topic 11: Wave phenomena
Topic 12: Electromagnetic induction
Topic 13: Quantum and nuclear physics
Topic 14: Digital technology
Options SL and HL
Option E: Astrophysics
Option F: Communications
Option G: Electromagnetic waves
Options HL
Option H: Relativity
Option I: Medical physics
Option J: Particle physics
Students who take the Standard Level exam are responsible for the core topics (1-8) plus two option topics chosen
from A -G. Students who take the Higher Level exam are responsible for the core topics (1-8) and the additional
higher level topics (9 -14) plus two option topics chosen from E – J.
A student’s overall IB score in physics is determined in the following manner:
 24% comes from the student’s Internal Assessment score (lab work)
 20% comes from Exam Paper 1 (multiple choice questions covering topics 1-8 for SL and 1-14 for HL)
 32% (SL) / 36% (HL) comes from Exam Paper 2 (extended response questions covering topics 1-8 for SL
and 1 – 14 for HL)
 24% (SL) / 20% (HL) comes from Exam Paper 3 (extended response questions covering two option topics)
The Diploma Programme Physics Guide also lists general Aims and Objectives for all IB science classes. These
Aims and Objectives are addressed through the study of the specific Physics content outlined above. These Aims
and Objectives are listed below and are taken directly from the Physics Guide publication.
All Diploma Programme experimental science courses should aim to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
provide opportunities for scientific study and creativity within a global context that will stimulate and challenge students
provide a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize science and technology
enable students to apply and use a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize science and technology
develop an ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesize scientific information
engender an awareness of the need for, and the value of, effective collaboration and communication during scientific activities
develop experimental and investigative scientific skills
develop and apply the students’ information and communication technology skills in the study of science
raise awareness of the moral, ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of using science and technology
develop an appreciation of the possibilities and limitations associated with science and scientists
encourage an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and the overarching nature of the scientific method.
It is the intention of all the Diploma Programme experimental science courses that students achieve the following
objectives.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Demonstrate an understanding of scientific facts and concepts; scientific methods and techniques; scientific terminology; and methods
of presenting scientific information.
Apply and use, scientific facts and concepts; scientific methods and techniques; scientific terminology to communicate effectively;
and appropriate methods to present scientific information.
Construct, analyse and evaluate hypotheses, research questions and predictions; scientific methods and techniques; and scientific
explanations.
Demonstrate the personal skills of cooperation, perseverance and responsibility appropriate for effective scientific investigation and
problem solving.
Demonstrate the manipulative skills necessary to carry out scientific investigations with precision and safety.
Grading
Your class grade in this class is determined by a combination of informal assignments, formal assessments, and
exams. The informal assignments category is composed of graded in-class activities and homework assignments.
Larger activities may be assigned more weight than other activities. Late assignments will receive a maximum
grade of 84. Formal assessments in the form of unit tests will assess your ability to apply the principles studied in
the unit. Because of the nature of physics, you will often be expected to integrate the concepts from the current unit
with concepts from previous units to successfully demonstrate your understanding. If you do not demonstrate
mastery of the material on a test, you may retest on that material if you have completed and submitted the
assignments for that unit as well as corrections to the original test. The maximum grade you can earn on a retest is
84. Other formal assessments may be in the form of a lab report or project. Your formal assessment average will
contribute 70% to the quarter average, and your informal assignment average will contribute the remaining 30%.
The first and second quarter grades will each make up 40% of the first semester grade, and the semester exam will
make up the remaining 20%. The third and fourth quarter grades will be averaged to obtain the second semester
grade.
At the end of the year, the final exam will contribute 25% of the course grade with the first and second
semester grades each contributing 37.5%.
Internal Assessment
A major part of any IB Diploma Program course is internal assessment. In physics your internal assessment grade is
determined by your performance on designated lab reports. These lab reports will be assessed according to the
internal assessment rubric for IB science courses. You will be provided with this rubric to guide you in writing your
reports.
Group 4 Project
IB science students are required to participate in an interdisciplinary science research project. This project is a
portion of the internal assessment grade. You will join a group of students from multiple IB science classes. Your
group will choose a topic which can be investigated from the perspective of each science represented. More
information will be given to you as the beginning of the project approaches.
Theory of Knowledge Connections
The study of physics is a study of how the universe works. Scientists use a variety of approaches to develop an
understanding of the universe. Scientists collect and analyze data from experiments and observations. From this
analysis they make inferences about natural laws. Scientists create models to help with conceptual understanding
and test the predictions of their models against observations. Scientists start with accepted principles and deduce
consequences of these principles as they establish theoretical explanations of how the universe works. Sometimes
new observations require scientists to revise their explanations. Through the study of physics students will be
exposed to these different ways of gaining knowledge and evaluating what we know about the universe.
Classroom Expectations
 Come to class prepared to learn and work. Actively participate and stay on task.
 Be considerate of those around you. Demonstrate respect for everyone in the classroom.
 Do not eat or have food out in class. Only water is permitted in class. We don’t need to attract more pests.
 Personal technology (phones, laptops, tablets, music players, games, etc.) should be put away and turned
off unless I give clear permission for their use on a particular academic assignment.