IBDP Physics SL
This AccelaStudy domain covers the complete IB Diploma Programme Physics Standard Level curriculum as specified in the 2023 subject guide (first assessment May 2025). Physics SL is one of the most intellectually demanding Group 4 science courses available to IB students, requiring a precise blend of conceptual understanding, mathematical reasoning, and experimental skill.The course is organised around five interconnected themes. Theme A (Space, Time and Motion) builds from kinematics and Newton's laws through momentum, energy, and a conceptual introduction to special relativity. Theme B (The Particulate Nature of Matter) covers thermal physics, the ideal gas model, and the physics underpinning climate science. Theme C (Wave Behaviour) explores simple harmonic motion, the wave model, superposition, interference, diffraction, and the electromagnetic spectrum. Theme D (Fields) unifies gravitational, electric, and magnetic field concepts with a thorough treatment of DC electric circuits. Theme E (Nuclear and Quantum Physics) introduces atomic structure, the photoelectric effect, wave–particle duality, radioactive decay, and nuclear energy.Running alongside the thematic content is a rigorous experimental programme. Students develop skills in measurement and uncertainty analysis, graphical linearisation, experimental design, and critical evaluation — all assessed through Paper 1B (data-based questions) and the internally assessed individual investigation. The Nature of Science strand is woven throughout, encouraging students to reflect on how physics knowledge is constructed, tested, and revised.AccelaStudy's adaptive engine maps every learning goal to one of four IB assessment objectives (AO1–AO4), serving targeted practice questions, worked examples, and contrastive concept pairs that expose common misconceptions. Exam-tip overlays highlight the specific command terms and mark-scheme expectations for Paper 1A, Paper 1B, and Paper 2, helping students translate their understanding into marks under timed conditions.
210
Minutes
80
Questions
4/7
Passing Score
$173
Exam Cost
Who Should Take This
This course is designed for IB Diploma students taking Physics at Standard Level who want structured, adaptive preparation aligned precisely with the 2025 syllabus. It is ideal for students who find physics conceptually engaging but need support connecting mathematical formalism to physical intuition, managing uncertainty in experiments, or writing evaluative responses for Paper 2 extended questions. It also suits students who are self-studying, returning to physics after a gap, or seeking to consolidate understanding before mock or final examinations. No prior IB-specific preparation is assumed, but a solid foundation in algebra, trigonometry, and basic scientific reasoning at the pre-IB level is expected.
What's Covered
1Kinematics, forces and Newton's laws, momentum, work, energy and power, rigid body mechanics (torque), and a conceptual introduction to Galilean and special relativity
2Thermal energy transfers, specific heat capacity and latent heat, greenhouse effect and climate science, ideal gas laws, and kinetic theory
3Simple harmonic motion, wave model properties, Doppler effect, refraction and Snell's law, superposition, interference, standing waves, diffraction, and the electromagnetic spectrum
4Gravitational fields, Coulomb's law and electric fields, magnetic forces, electric circuits (Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, internal resistance, potential dividers)
5Atomic structure, Bohr model and line spectra, photoelectric effect, wave–particle duality, radioactive decay, nuclear fission and fusion, binding energy
6Prescribed practicals, individual investigation (IA), Group 4 project, measurement and uncertainty, data analysis, graphical techniques, nature of science
What's Included in AccelaStudy® AI
Adaptive Knowledge Graph
Practice Questions
Lesson Modules
Console Simulator Labs
Exam Tips & Strategy
13 Activity Formats
Course Outline
1Theme A: Space, Time and Motion 5 topics
A.1 Kinematics
- Define displacement, velocity, acceleration, and speed as vector or scalar quantities, and state their SI units, distinguishing clearly between distance and displacement and between speed and velocity.
- Apply the equations of uniform acceleration (SUVAT equations) to solve one-dimensional and two-dimensional projectile motion problems, selecting the appropriate equation for the given unknowns.
- Sketch and interpret displacement–time, velocity–time, and acceleration–time graphs, deducing instantaneous velocity from gradient and displacement from area under a velocity–time graph.
A.2 Forces and Momentum
- State Newton's three laws of motion and identify action–reaction pairs, explaining why they act on different objects and cannot cancel each other.
- Apply Newton's second law in the form F = ma and as the rate of change of momentum to solve problems involving constant and variable forces, including friction, normal reaction, and tension.
- Analyse collisions and explosions using conservation of linear momentum, distinguishing between elastic and inelastic collisions by calculating kinetic energy before and after the event.
A.3 Work, Energy, and Power
- Calculate work done by a constant force using W = Fs cosθ, and apply the work–energy theorem to relate net work to changes in kinetic energy in practical scenarios.
- Evaluate energy transformations in mechanical systems using conservation of energy, identifying where energy is transferred to thermal stores due to friction and explaining efficiency losses.
- Define power as the rate of energy transfer and calculate power in mechanical and electrical contexts, applying P = Fv to moving vehicles and P = W/t to machines.
A.4 Rigid Body Mechanics (Torque and Rotation)
- Define torque as the turning effect of a force and apply the condition for rotational equilibrium (net torque = 0) to solve problems involving levers, beams, and balanced systems.
A.5 Galilean and Special Relativity (SL Conceptual Introduction)
- Describe the principle of Galilean relativity and explain why the Michelson–Morley experiment challenged the concept of the luminiferous aether, motivating Einstein's postulates of special relativity.
- Explain the consequences of Einstein's two postulates of special relativity, including time dilation and length contraction, and apply the Lorentz factor γ to calculate relativistic time intervals and lengths.
2Theme B: The Particulate Nature of Matter 3 topics
B.1 Thermal Energy Transfers
- Define temperature, internal energy, and thermal equilibrium, and describe the three mechanisms of thermal energy transfer (conduction, convection, radiation) with everyday examples.
- Calculate thermal energy transferred using Q = mcΔT and Q = mL, applying specific heat capacity and specific latent heat to heating and cooling curves for phase changes.
- Analyse heating and cooling curves to identify phase changes, explaining in terms of molecular potential energy why temperature remains constant during a change of state despite continued energy input.
B.2 Greenhouse Effect and Climate Science
- Describe the greenhouse effect in terms of the absorption and re-emission of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases, and explain how enhanced greenhouse gas concentrations lead to global warming.
- Evaluate the scientific evidence for anthropogenic climate change, discussing the role of feedback mechanisms (ice-albedo, water vapour) and the limitations of climate models.
B.3 Gas Laws
- State the assumptions of the ideal gas model and apply Boyle's law, Charles's law, and Gay-Lussac's law to predict the behaviour of gases under changing pressure, volume, and temperature conditions.
- Apply the ideal gas equation pV = nRT to solve multi-step problems involving moles, pressure, volume, and temperature, converting between Celsius and Kelvin scales accurately.
- Explain the relationship between the average kinetic energy of gas molecules and absolute temperature using the kinetic theory of gases, and derive the expression for root-mean-square speed.
3Theme C: Wave Behaviour 4 topics
C.1 Simple Harmonic Motion
- Define simple harmonic motion as oscillation where acceleration is proportional to and directed opposite to displacement, and identify SHM in mass-spring and simple pendulum systems.
- Calculate period, frequency, amplitude, and phase of SHM using T = 2π√(m/k) and T = 2π√(l/g), and sketch displacement, velocity, and acceleration as functions of time.
- Analyse energy transformations in SHM, explaining how kinetic and potential energy interchange while total mechanical energy remains constant in the absence of damping.
C.2 Wave Model
- Describe the properties of transverse and longitudinal waves, defining wavelength, frequency, period, amplitude, wave speed, and phase, and apply v = fλ to solve wave speed problems.
- Explain the Doppler effect for sound and light, and calculate the observed frequency using the Doppler equation for a moving source or moving observer in a medium.
- Describe the behaviour of waves at boundaries including reflection, refraction, and transmission, applying Snell's law to calculate angles of refraction and identifying total internal reflection conditions.
C.3 Wave Phenomena: Superposition and Standing Waves
- Apply the principle of superposition to explain constructive and destructive interference, and describe the conditions for two-source interference patterns in terms of path difference and wavelength.
- Describe the formation of standing waves on strings and in air columns, identifying nodes and antinodes, and calculate the frequencies of harmonics for fixed-fixed and fixed-open boundary conditions.
- Explain single-slit diffraction qualitatively and apply the double-slit interference formula nλ = d sinθ to calculate fringe spacing and wavelength from experimental data.
C.4 Electromagnetic Spectrum and Light
- Identify the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of frequency and wavelength, and describe the properties and typical sources and detectors of each region from radio waves to gamma rays.
4Theme D: Fields 3 topics
D.1 Gravitational Fields
- State Newton's law of universal gravitation and calculate gravitational force, field strength, and gravitational potential energy for point masses and spherically symmetric bodies.
- Apply the concept of gravitational field strength g = GM/r² to explain orbital motion, calculate orbital speed and period using Kepler's third law, and analyse satellite orbits including geostationary satellites.
- Sketch gravitational field lines and equipotential surfaces around a point mass and the Earth, explaining the relationship between field strength and the spacing of field lines.
D.2 Electric and Magnetic Fields
- State Coulomb's law and calculate the electric force between point charges, comparing the relative magnitudes and directions of gravitational and electrostatic forces in atomic and macroscopic contexts.
- Define electric field strength as force per unit positive charge and calculate E for point charges and uniform fields, sketching field lines and equipotential surfaces for common charge configurations.
- Describe the magnetic force on a moving charge and current-carrying conductor using F = qvB sinθ and F = BIL sinθ, and apply the right-hand rule to determine force direction in given field configurations.
- Analyse the motion of a charged particle in a uniform magnetic field, explaining why the particle moves in a circle and calculating the radius of curvature using the balance of magnetic and centripetal forces.
D.3 Electric Circuits
- Define current, potential difference, resistance, and electromotive force, and apply Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws to analyse series and parallel circuits.
- Calculate equivalent resistance, current, and voltage in series and parallel combinations, and determine power dissipated using P = IV = I²R = V²/R in circuit components.
- Explain the effect of internal resistance on terminal voltage and power delivered by a source, and calculate the terminal voltage and efficiency of a battery under load conditions.
- Analyse potential divider circuits and describe how a light-dependent resistor or thermistor can be used in a sensing circuit to produce a variable output voltage.
5Theme E: Nuclear and Quantum Physics 3 topics
E.1 Structure of the Atom and Atomic Spectra
- Describe the Rutherford–Geiger–Marsden experiment and explain how the results led to the nuclear model of the atom, identifying the limitations of the Thomson plum-pudding model.
- Explain atomic line spectra using the Bohr model of quantised energy levels, and calculate photon energies and wavelengths for electron transitions using E = hf and the energy level diagram.
E.2 Quantum Physics: Photoelectric Effect and Wave–Particle Duality
- Describe the photoelectric effect and explain why classical wave theory fails to account for the observations, using Einstein's photon model to explain threshold frequency, stopping voltage, and work function.
- Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons using Ek(max) = hf − φ, and determine the stopping voltage and threshold frequency from experimental data or graphs.
- Explain wave–particle duality by describing the de Broglie hypothesis and electron diffraction evidence, and calculate the de Broglie wavelength of a particle using λ = h/p.
E.3 Radioactive Decay and Nuclear Physics
- Describe the properties of alpha, beta-minus, beta-plus, and gamma radiation in terms of charge, mass, penetrating power, and ionising ability, and write balanced nuclear equations for each decay type.
- Apply the concept of radioactive decay constant and half-life to calculate the activity, number of undecayed nuclei, and fraction remaining after a given time using N = N₀e^(−λt) and T½ = ln2/λ.
- Explain nuclear fission and fusion in terms of binding energy per nucleon and mass defect, and calculate the energy released using E = mc², identifying why fusion releases more energy per nucleon than fission.
- Evaluate the risks and benefits of nuclear power generation, including the management of radioactive waste, safety protocols, and the comparison with fossil fuel and renewable energy sources.
6Experimental Programme and Scientific Investigation Skills 3 topics
F.1 Measurement, Uncertainty, and Data Analysis
- Identify and distinguish between random and systematic errors, and describe strategies to reduce each type in experimental design, including repeating measurements and calibrating instruments.
- Calculate absolute, fractional, and percentage uncertainties for single measurements and propagate uncertainties through addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and power operations.
- Plot data with appropriate error bars on a graph, draw best-fit lines and maximum/minimum gradient lines, and determine the uncertainty in the gradient and intercept of a linearised graph.
- Linearise non-linear relationships (e.g. y = ax^n, y = ae^(bx)) by taking logarithms, and determine the constants from the gradient and intercept of the resulting straight-line graph.
F.2 Scientific Investigation Design and Evaluation (IA Skills)
- Formulate a focused research question with a clear independent variable, dependent variable, and controlled variables, and justify the choice of variables in terms of the physics being investigated.
- Design a safe and ethical experimental procedure with sufficient data points, appropriate range and interval of the independent variable, and justified choice of measuring instruments and their precision.
- Evaluate the reliability and validity of experimental results by comparing the experimental value with the accepted value, calculating percentage error, and discussing sources of systematic and random uncertainty.
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the experimental method, suggest realistic improvements to reduce identified uncertainties, and discuss whether the conclusion is supported by the data within stated uncertainties.
F.3 Nature of Science and Physics Concepts
- Describe the role of models, theories, and paradigm shifts in the development of physics knowledge, using historical examples such as the transition from Newtonian to relativistic mechanics.
- Discuss the ethical responsibilities of physicists in areas such as nuclear weapons, climate modelling, and particle accelerator research, evaluating the societal impact of physics discoveries.
7Quantitative and Mathematical Skills in Physics 2 topics
G.1 SI Units, Dimensional Analysis, and Orders of Magnitude
- State the seven SI base units and express derived units in terms of base units, using dimensional analysis to check the homogeneity of physical equations and convert between unit systems.
- Apply scientific notation and metric prefixes (pico to tera) to express physical quantities, and estimate orders of magnitude for quantities such as atomic radii, human dimensions, and astronomical distances.
G.2 Vectors and Scalars
- Resolve vectors into perpendicular components and add vectors using both graphical (tip-to-tail) and algebraic (component) methods, applying these techniques to force, velocity, and displacement problems.
Scope
Included Topics
- All five SL core themes: Space, time and motion; The particulate nature of matter; Wave behaviour; Fields; Nuclear and quantum physics
- SL experimental programme: all prescribed practicals, individual investigation (IA), and Group 4 collaborative project
- Nature of Science (NOS) strand integrated across all themes: scientific method, models, paradigm shifts, ethical dimensions of physics research
- Conceptual understandings, applications, and skills (CAS) as specified in the IB Physics SL subject guide (first assessment 2025)
- Mathematical toolkit for SL: SI units, significant figures, uncertainty propagation, graphical analysis, gradient/intercept interpretation, trigonometry, vectors, basic calculus concepts (rate of change, area under graph)
- Three external assessment components: Paper 1A (multiple choice), Paper 1B (data-based), Paper 2 (structured and extended response)
- Internal assessment: individual scientific investigation (~10 hours, 1,500–2,500 words), teacher-marked and externally moderated
- Four assessment objectives (AO1 knowledge, AO2 application/analysis, AO3 synthesis/evaluation, AO4 experimental/investigative skills)
- IB command terms taxonomy applied to physics contexts (define, describe, explain, analyse, evaluate, deduce, derive, calculate, sketch, draw, plot, etc.)
- Interdisciplinary connections to chemistry, biology, mathematics, and environmental systems where explicitly referenced in the syllabus
Not Covered
- All HL-only content: relativity (Theme A extension), thermodynamics HL extension, wave phenomena HL extension, electromagnetic induction, quantum and nuclear HL extensions, astrophysics HL extension
- University-level calculus derivations beyond the scope of the SL mathematical toolkit
- Detailed quantum field theory, particle physics beyond the standard model overview, or string theory
- Engineering design and applied technology beyond the physics principles referenced in the syllabus
- Country-specific laboratory safety regulations beyond general IB safety guidance
- Vendor-specific data-logging or simulation software procedures (concepts covered, not software training)
Official Exam Page
Learn more at International Baccalaureate