I.B. PHYSICS (Brief outline of program)

1. Measurement and Uncertainty
   limits to precision; random and systematic uncertainties (errors); precision and accuracy; graphical techniques; vectors and scalars…

2. Mechanics
   kinematics: (displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration); motion (relative motion); force, mass and acceleration; Newton’s laws of motion; equilibrium of forces; friction; projectiles; circular motion, gravitation; work, energy and power; conservation of energy and momentum; orbital motion;…

3. Thermal Physics
   temperature and temperature scales; heat and its effects; heat capacity; specific heat capacity; latent heat; inter-molecular forces and potential energies; the gas laws; the laws of thermodynamics; entropy; heat engines; refrigerators; the simple kinetic theory of matter…
   

4. Wave motion
   travelling waves; standing (stationary) waves; reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction; Huygen’s principle; the Doppler effect; beats; the Schrödinger model of the hydrogen atom; x rays…
   

5. Electricity and Magnetism
   static electricity; the gold leaf electro-scope, lightning rods etc; electric fields and potential difference; electric current (Kirchhoff's laws and Ohm's law etc); electro-magnetism; magnetic field "shapes"; electro-magnetic-induction; Faraday’s Law (Neumann’s Law); Lenz’s Law; simple a.c. electric generators; simple d.c. motor…
   

6. Atomic and Nuclear Physics
   the electron and its properties; Millikan’s experiment; electro-magnetic radiation and quantum theory; the Bohr model of the atom; the de Broglie hypothesis (wave particle duality); radio-activity (half-life); Einstein's mass-energy relation; fission and fusion of nuclei; particle accelerators; the discovery of the proton; the discovery of the neutron; energy levels in the nucleus; anti-particles; mass spectrometer; decay and the neutrino; the quark theory (exchange particles as force carriers…

Optional Topics

The two options you will be studying in lessons are

Other topics which will also be covered in the exam are: Bio-medical physics, The History and Development of Physics, Astro-physics. Anyone wanting to attempt questions on these topics in the final exam should see me for a copy of the program.

Assessment

External Assessment

Paper 1: 1 h 20% of total

40 multiple choice questions.

Paper 2: 2¼ h 36% of total

Section A (about ¾ h)

One data based question and several short answer questions, all compulsory.

Section B (about 1½ h)

Two extended response questions from a choice of four questions.

Paper 3: 1¼ h 20% of total

Several short answer or structured questions and one extended response question in each of the optional topics

Internal Assessment

24% of total

Assessed by the teacher. More detail will be given later.

N.B. Calculators are not allowed for Paper 1.

Calculators are needed for Paper 2 and Paper 3.

Programmable/Graphic calculators are allowed