IB Physics Exam Structure & Syllabus

Topic 1: Space, time and motion  (27 hours / 42 hours)

Standard Level

Kinematics

• distance and displacement

• speed and velocity

• acceleration

• equations of uniformly accelerated motion

• projectile motion with no air resistance

• effect of fluid resistance on projectile motion

Forces and momentum

• Newton’s three laws of motion

• free-body diagrams

• normal force

• static friction

• dynamic friction

• tension

• elastic force and Hooke’s law

• viscous drag force

• buoyancy

• gravitational force

• linear momentum

• conservation of momentum

• impulse and change in momentum

• elastic collisions

• inelastic collisions

• explosions

• centripetal acceleration

• centripetal force

• uniform circular motion

Work, energy and power

• principle of conservation of energy

• work done by a force

• kinetic energy

• gravitational potential energy

• elastic potential energy

• conservation of mechanical energy

• power

• efficiency

High Level (additional)

Rigid body mechanics

• torque

• rotational equilibrium

• moment of inertia

• angular acceleration

• angular momentum

• conservation of angular momentum

• rotational kinetic energy

Galilean and special relativity

• inertial reference frames

• Galilean relativity

• postulates of special relativity

• Lorentz transformations

• time dilation

• length contraction

• relativity of simultaneity

• spacetime diagrams

Topic 2: The particulate nature of matter  (24 hours / 32 hours)

Standard Level

Thermal energy transfers

• molecular model of solids, liquids, gases

• density

• temperature scales (Kelvin, Celsius)

• internal energy

• specific heat capacity

• specific latent heat

• conduction

• convection

• thermal radiation

• Stefan–Boltzmann law

• Wien’s displacement law

Greenhouse effect

• energy balance

• albedo

• emissivity

• solar constant

• greenhouse gases

• natural greenhouse effect

• enhanced greenhouse effect

Gas laws

• pressure

• ideal gas law

• kinetic theory of gases

• internal energy of ideal gas

Current and circuits

• emf

• electric current

• potential difference

• resistance

• Ohm’s law

• resistivity

• series circuits

• parallel circuits

• internal resistance of a cell

• electrical power

High Level (additional)

Thermodynamics

• first law of thermodynamics

• work done by gases

• entropy

• second law of thermodynamics

• irreversible processes

• heat engines

• Carnot efficiency

Topic 3: Wave behaviour  (17 hours / 29 hours)

Standard Level

Simple harmonic motion

• conditions for SHM

• period and frequency

• mass–spring system

• simple pendulum

Wave model

• transverse waves

• longitudinal waves

• wave speed, wavelength, frequency

• electromagnetic waves

• sound waves

Wave phenomena

• wavefronts and rays

• reflection

• refraction

• Snell’s law

• total internal reflection

• diffraction

• superposition

• double-slit interference

Standing waves and resonance

• nodes and antinodes

• standing waves in strings

• standing waves in pipes

• resonance

• damping

Doppler effect

• Doppler effect for sound

• Doppler effect for light

High Level (additional)

Simple harmonic motion

• phase angle

• energy in SHM

Wave phenomena

• single-slit diffraction

• diffraction gratings

Doppler effect

• quantitative Doppler effect for moving source

• quantitative Doppler effect for moving observer

Topic 4: Fields (19 hours / 38 hours)

Standard Level

Gravitational fields

• Kepler’s laws

• Newton’s universal law of gravitation

• gravitational field strength

Electric and magnetic fields

• Coulomb’s law

• electric field

• magnetic field patterns

Motion in electromagnetic fields

• force on a moving charge

• force on a current-carrying wire

• force between parallel current-carrying wires

High Level (additional)

Gravitational fields

• gravitational potential energy

• gravitational potential

• escape speed

• orbital speed

Electric fields

• electric potential energy

• electric potential

• equipotential surfaces

Electromagnetic induction

• magnetic flux

• Faraday’s law

• Lenz’s law

• induced emf

Topic 5: Nuclear and quantum physics  (23 hours / 39 hours)

Standard Level

Atomic structure

• Rutherford nuclear model

• nuclear notation

• atomic spectra

• photon emission and absorption

Radioactive decay

• isotopes

• mass defect

• binding energy

• alpha decay

• beta decay

• gamma decay

• neutrinos

• half-life

• background radiation

Fission

• energy release in fission

• chain reactions

• nuclear power plant

Fusion and stars

• stellar equilibrium

• fusion in stars

• Hertzsprung–Russell diagram

• stellar distance

High Level (additional)

Quantum physics

• photoelectric effect

• wave–particle duality

• de Broglie wavelength

• Compton scattering

Atomic physics

• Bohr model of hydrogen

Radioactive decay

• decay constant

• exponential decay law

• activity

Standard Level (SL)

Paper 1

Weight 36%

Duration 90 minutes

Total marks 45

Paper 1A: 25 marks multiple choice

Paper 1B: 20 marks data-based

Calculator allowed

Paper 2

Weight 44%

Duration 90 minutes

Total marks 55

Question types: short response, extended response

Calculator allowed

Internal Assessment

Weight 20%

Total marks 24

Task: scientific investigation

Format: individual written report

Word count: 1500–2500 words

Criteria: research design, data analysis, conclusion, evaluation

Higher Level (HL)

Paper 1

Weight 36%

Duration 120 minutes

Total marks 60

Paper 1A: 40 marks multiple choice

Paper 1B: 20 marks data-based

Calculator allowed

Paper 2

Weight 44%

Duration 150 minutes

Total marks 90

Question types: short response, extended response (SL + HL content)

Calculator allowed

Internal Assessment

Weight 20%

Total marks 24

Task: scientific investigation

Format: individual written report

Word count: 1500–2500 words

Criteria: research design, data analysis, conclusion, evaluation