The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is made up of a core and six subject groups. Despite the exciting and extraordinary development of ideas throughout the history of physics, observations remain essential to the very core of the subject. Both IB Physics SL and HL have the same basic requirements consisting of the same number of hours. Much of this information is drawn directly from the Physics Subject Guide, available to all IB teachers in the program's resource center.
As part of the IB Physics course, you'll be able to explore additional topics of your choice from the list below (usually chosen by your teacher). With so many options available, it can be difficult to decide which subjects to focus on. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program offers a wide range of topics for students to choose from when studying Physics. These include Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Waves and Oscillations, Electricity and Magnetism, Atomic and Nuclear Physics, and Energy Production and Conservation.
Mechanics is a fundamental branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects. It covers topics such as kinematics, forces, momentum, energy, and angular motion. Thermal Physics focuses on the behavior of matter when it is heated or cooled. This includes topics such as thermodynamics, heat transfer, and kinetic theory.
Waves and Oscillations is a branch of physics that deals with wave motion and oscillations. It covers topics such as sound waves, light waves, electromagnetic waves, and mechanical waves. Electricity and Magnetism is a branch of physics that deals with electric charges and magnetic fields. It covers topics such as electric circuits, capacitors, inductors, and electromagnetism.
Atomic and Nuclear Physics is a branch of physics that deals with the structure and behavior of atoms and nuclei. It covers topics such as atomic structure, nuclear reactions, radioactive decay, and nuclear fission. Energy Production and Conservation is a branch of physics that deals with energy production and conservation. It covers topics such as energy sources, energy conversion processes, energy storage systems, and energy conservation methods.
