IB Physics Syllabus SL and HL
OVERVIEW
This course, like all IB courses, “aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and
caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through
intercultural understanding and respect” (IB Mission
Statement). A definition that I like to use for Physics is
the study of the natural world. It is a broad statement,
because Physics is broad—there are many different topics
and ideas that are covered by the laws of Physics. We will
be learning everything from how the Universe works
(Astrophysics) all the way down to the very basic
structure of matter (atomic and nuclear physics), as well
as everything in between.
Throughout these two years each student will have completed a minimum of 20
hours (SL) or 40 hours (HL) of practical activities (lab work) in class. At the end of
this two year course each student will take three papers (MC, long answer, and data
based), as well as have completed an Internal Assessment (discussed below), and
have completed the Group 4 Project (discussed below).
Last but not least, the students will also be taking both AP Physics exams: AP
Physics 1 at the end of junior year and AP Physics 2 at the end of senior year.
Currently, I am unsure if it is mandatory, as soon as I know I will relay the
information. However, in consideration for college, I do think that the students will
greatly benefit from taking the AP exams (regardless of score).
TEXTBOOK
We will be using the Pearson published IB Physics books written by
Chris Hamper 2nd edition. There will be no need to carry these
books back and forth every day, but can be checked out to use as a
resource at home. Mainly, however, the books will be in the
classroom to use.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
The IB Physics course had some changes that will be initiated this year including
changes to the Internal Assessment. The Internal Assessment is 20% of the overall
assessment weighting and a more detailed description with mark scheme will be
handed out at a later date. The IA will take 10 hours and is essentially a lab report
(similar to an extended essay). The student will need to choose a research question
that has personal meaning or interest to him/her. The student will then need to
create a hypothesis, procedure, experiment, collect data, analyze the data, and
conduct a write up based on the mark scheme. We will be using labs throughout the
two years to prepare the student for this IA and all the parts that they will have to
IB Physics Syllabus SL and HL
do. Throughout the junior year, we will start developing a list of ideas that the
student might be interested in doing for their IA.
Typically, Haines City IB students complete their IA in order to submit it in the
School Science Fair (and hopefully Regional Science Fair and so on…). I will be
following this with the other IB science teachers. Thus, students will need to be
prepared to enter their SENIOR YEAR science fair.
GROUP 4 PROJECT
Another 10 hours of course time will be devoted to the
Group 4 project. It changes from year to year what is
done. However, the project is a collection of work by
students in all the group 4 classes (sciences), and will
most likely be done at the end of the Junior Year
(tentatively scheduled for May). More information will
come later through the year.
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE
Year 1 (Junior year) SL and HL:
1. Measurement and Uncertainties
a. Measurement in Physics
b. Uncertainties and Errors
c. Vectors and Scalars
2. Mechanics
a. Motion
b. Forces
c. Momentum and Impulse
d. Work, Energy, Power
3. Circular Motion and Gravitation
a. Circular Motion
b. Gravitational Field and Orbits
4. Engineering Physics Part 1
a. Rigid Bodies and Rotational Dynamics
5. Oscillations and Waves
a. Oscillations
b. Waves and Wave Behavior
c. 2-D waves
d. Sound waves
e. Light waves
6. Electricity Part 1
a. Electric Fields
b. Electric Current
c. Electric Circuits
IB Physics Syllabus SL and HL
Year 2 (senior year)
SL:
1. Thermal Physics
a. Thermal Concepts
b. Modelling a gas
2. Engineering Physics Part 2
a. Thermodynamics
3. Electricity and Magnetism
a. Electric Fields
b. Electric Current
c. Electric Circuit
d. Magnetic Effects of Electric
Currents
e. Capacitance
4. Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle
Physics
a. Discrete energy interaction
of matter with radiation
b. Properties of the nucleus
and radioactivity
c. Structure of matter
5. Energy Production
a. Energy Production
b. Global Thermal Energy
Transfer
6. Engineering Physics Part 3
a. Fluids and their dynamics
b. Forced vibrations and
resonance
7. Imaging
a. Intro to Imaging
b. Imaging Instrumentation
c. Fiber Optics
HL:
1. Thermal Physics
a. Thermal Concepts
b. Modelling a gas
2. Engineering Physics Part 2
a. Thermodynamics
3. Electricity and Magnetism
a. Electric Fields
b. Electric Current
c. Electric Circuits
d. Magnetic Effects of Electric
Currents
e. Electromagnetic Induction
f. Power Generation and
Transmission
g. Capacitance
4. Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle
Physics
a. Discrete energy interaction
of matter with radiation
b. Properties of the nucleus
and radioactivity
c. Structure of matter
5. Energy Production
a. Energy Production
b. Global Thermal Energy
Transfer
6. Engineering Physics Part 3
a. Fluids and their dynamics
b. Forced vibrations and
resonance
7. Imaging
a. Intro to Imaging
b. Imaging Instrumentation
c. Fiber Optics