The International Baccalaureate (IB) Physics course is a rigorous pre-university science program that is part of the IB Diploma Programme, designed for students aged 16 to 19. It offers two levels of study: Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL), each with its specific curriculum requirements, but both aim to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of fundamental physical concepts, principles, and theories. Here's an overview of the key components of the IB Physics course:

Core Topics

Both SL and HL students cover the following core topics:

1. Measurements and Uncertainties

   • Precision, accuracy, and error analysis
   • Uncertainties and significant figures

2. Mechanics

   • Kinematics, dynamics, Newton’s laws
   • Work, energy, power, momentum, and circular motion

3. Thermal Physics

   • Temperature, heat, internal energy, and the laws of thermodynamics

4. Waves

   • Wave characteristics, sound waves, and light waves
   • Wave behavior, including reflection, refraction, and diffraction

5. Electricity and Magnetism

   • Electrostatics, electric current, resistance, and circuits
   • Magnetic fields and electromagnetism

6. Circular Motion and Gravitation

   • Uniform circular motion, gravitational forces, and fields

7. Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics

   • Atomic structure, radioactivity, nuclear reactions
   • Fundamental particles and interactions

8. Energy Production

   • Energy sources, power generation, and environmental impact

Additional Higher Level (HL) Topics

HL students study additional topics to deepen their understanding:

1. Wave Phenomena

   • Doppler effect, standing waves, and more complex wave interactions

2. Fields

   • In-depth study of gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields

3. Electromagnetic Induction

   • Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law, and applications of induction

4. Quantum and Nuclear Physics

   • Quantum mechanics, wave-particle duality, and advanced nuclear physics

5. Option Topics

   • HL students choose one option from topics like relativity, engineering physics, imaging, or astrophysics