Physics

Welcome to the physics home page. Here you will find the links to each topic as well as copies of the data booklet and syllabus. Below is a breakdown of the course and how the teaching hours are allocated. More comprehensive information is found in the syllabus below.

As I get older, I realise being wrong isn’t a bad thing like they teach you in school. It is an opportunity to learn something.

Richard Feynman

New Syllabus Breakdown (First Assessment 2025).

Syllabus ComponentTeaching Hours
SL
Teaching Hours
HL
Syllabus content110180
A. Space, time and motion
A.1 Kinematics •
A.2 Forces and momentum •
A.3 Work, energy and power •
A.4 Rigid body mechanics •••
A.5 Galilean and special relativity •••
27




42
9
10
8
7
8
B. The particulate nature of matter
B.1 Thermal energy transfers •
B.2 Greenhouse effect •
B.3 Gas laws •
B.4 Thermodynamics •••
B.5 Current and circuits •
24




32
6
6
6
8
6
C. Wave behaviour
C.1 Simple harmonic motion ••
C.2 Wave model •
C.3 Wave phenomena ••
C.4 Standing waves and resonance •
C.5 Doppler effect ••
17




29
7
3
11
4
4
D. Fields
D.1 Gravitational fields ••
D.2 Electric and magnetic fields ••
D.3 Motion in electromagnetic fields •
D.4 Induction •••
19



38
12
14
6
6
E. Nuclear and quantum physics
E.1 Structure of the atom ••
E.2 Quantum physics •••
E.3 Radioactive decay ••
E.4 Fission •
E.5 Fusion and stars •
23




39
9
8
12
4
6
Experimental programme4060
Practical work
Collaborative sciences project
Scientific investigation
20
10
10
40
10
10
Allocation of teaching hours for the IB Physics

Syllabus Breakdown (First Assessment 2016)

Syllabus ComponentSL Teaching HoursHL Teaching Hours
Core
1. Measurements and uncertainties
2. Mechanics
3. Thermal physics
4. Waves
5. Electricity and magnetism
6. Circular motion and gravitation
7. Atomic, nuclear and particle physics
8. Energy production
95
5
22
11
15
15
5
14
8
95
5
22
11
15
15
5
14
8
Additional Higher Level
9. Wave phenomena
10. Fields
11. Electromagnetic induction
12. Quantum and nuclear physics
60
17
11
16
16
Option
A. Relativity
B. Engineering physics
C. Imaging
D. Astrophysics
15
15
15
15
15
25
25
25
25
25
Practical scheme of work
Practical activities
Individual investigation (internal assessment – IA)
Group 4 project
40
20
10
10
60
40
10
10
Total teaching hours150240
Allocation of teaching hours for the IB Physics
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