IB Physics

Course Description

Grade(s): 11-12                        Level: IB SL or HL                        Credit(s): 2 in Science

Pre-requisite(s): Geometry, Algebra II, General Physics

The goals of the two year IB Physics course are to help students learn the basic laws of nature and understand the physical phenomena explained by them. It also aims to provide students with the skills necessary for solving related application problems. This course is an important prerequisite for students who plan on pursuing science and engineering at the university level.
 

IB Physics starts with a continuation of uncertainties, errors and error analysis covered in the General Physics course. Special emphasis is placed on reviewing the mathematical tools needed to gather, process and analyze
experimental data correctly, and on a detailed treatment of the basic operations with vectors. After this review, the main concepts of linear kinematics, dynamics circular motion, work, energy and power are analyzed in depth. The study of thermal physics, wave motion, sight and wave phenomena, and an introduction to electricity complete the first year.
 

The second year of IB Physics starts with a brief review of the first year material. The course continues with electricity and magnetism, focusing on electric circuits and magnetic force and field. Following this we look at
atomic and nuclear physics. A large unit focused on energy, power and climate change completes the core IB syllabus. At this point in the course students need to complete one of the IB optional topics of study. This option is
usually chosen by the students. In recent years, students and teacher have elected to study relativity and particle physics.