IB Diploma Physics

Physics is one of the group 4 Sciences taught in the Diploma.

The course is offered at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).

It comprises of a syllabus covering all major topics of Physics as well as extensive laboratory investigations.

The IB Diploma Physics course aims to:

Provide students with all the necessary knowledge for those pursuing a career in Science, Engineering & Medicine

Teach students how to perform proper laboratory work, how to gather and analyse data and how to write scientific reports.

Allow students to demonstrate not only their scientific knowledge but also personal skills and manipulative skills.

Make students aware of how scientists work and communicate with each other.

Help students realise the moral responsibility of scientists to ensure that scientific knowledge and data are available to all countries on an equitable basis.

Aim of the Course

Course Outline

Topic 1: Physics & Physical Measurement

Topic 2: Mechanics

Topic 3: Thermal Physics

Topic 4: Oscillations & Waves

Topic 5: Electric Currents

Topic 6: Fields & Forces

Topic 7: Atomic & Nuclear Physics

Topic 8: Energy, Power & Climate Change.

COMMON TOPICS FOR (SL) AND (HL)

Course Outline

ADDITIONAL TOPICS FOR (HL)

Topic 9: Motion in Fields

Topic 10: Thermal Physics (AHL)

Topic 11: Wave Phenomena

Topic 12: Electromagnetic Induction

Topic 13: Quantum & Nuclear Physics

Topic 14: Digital Technology

Course Outline

OPTIONS (SL only)

OPTION A: Sight & Wave Phenomena

OPTION B: Quantum & Nuclear Physics

OPTION C: Digital Technology

OPTION D: Relativity & Particle Physics

OPTIONS (HL only)

OPTION H: Relativity

OPTION I: Medical Physics

OPTION J: Particle Physics

OPTIONS (SL & HL)

OPTION E: Astrophysics

OPTION F: Communications

OPTION C: Electromagnetic Waves

Approach to Teaching

o All lessons are based on the use of Power Point presentations in order to aid the learning process. A bank of over 1500 custom slides covering all specific aspects of the course are available to the students.

o Extensive use of Smart Boards: it is no longer required from students to keep notes. All notes from the board are e-mailed to them daily in pdf format, saving valuable classroom time.

o Extensive use of hand picked animations in order to explain difficult Physics concepts.

Laboratory Work

External AssessmentWRITTEN EXAMS (3 PAPERS)

PAPER 1: Multiple Choice

Questions 30 (at SL) or 40 (at HL)

PAPER 2: Short & Extended

Response Questions as well as one Data

Based Question

PAPER 3: Short Response

Questions in each of the two options

studied

Internal Assessment

GROUP 4 PROJECTInterdisciplinary project

involving all group 4 sciences

LABORATORY WORKShort Term & Long Term

investigations