E

AD PO
R
G

⏩ Fast Track ⏩
IB Physics
COMPLETE CHECKLIST
Quickly discover exactly what you need to know for
your next class test or exam (whilst accelerating your
grades in the most efficient way)

WWW.GRADEPOD.COM
 Topic 1
Measurements & Uncertainties
SIMPLE CHECKLIST
1 State the fundamental units in the SI system
2 Know the difference between fundamental and derived units
3 Be comfortable stating values using scientific notation (e.g. 3x10⁸ms⁻¹) and
suitable prefixes (e.g. 0.001A = 1mA)
4 Memorise the order of magnitude of the following:
Diameter of a hydrogen nucleus ≈ 10⁻¹⁵m (roughly the same as the
diameter of any atom's nucleus and listed in the data booklet as the Fermi
radius)
Diameter of an atom (including electrons) ≈ 10⁻10m
Age of the universe ≈ 10¹⁸s
Mass of the universe ≈ 1050kg
5 Calculate ratios of quantities as differences of orders of magnitude
6 Estimate values of everyday quantities to one or two significant figures
and/or to the nearest order of magnitude (e.g. estimate the mass of family
car ≈ 10³kg)
7 Describe and give samples of random and systematic errors, and how they
can be reduced
8 Be able to distinguish between precision and accuracy
9 Give results of calculations to the appropriate number of significant figures
10 Calculate uncertainties in values and use either absolute, fractional and
percentage uncertainties
11 Calculate uncertainties through calculations involving addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division and raising to a power
12 Identify uncertainties as error bars in graphs
13 Determine the uncertainty in gradients and intercepts
14 Distinguish between vector and scalar quantities, and give examples of each
15 Determine the sum or difference of two vectors by a graphical method (or
with trigonometry)
16 Resolve vectors into perpendicular components along chosen axes

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 2
Mechanics

1 Explain the difference between instantaneous and average values of speed,

velocity and acceleration
2 Solve problems using equations of motion for uniform acceleration (including
bodies in free-fall near the Earth's surface in a vacuum)
3 Describe an experiment to determine the acceleration of free-fall
4 Solve projectile motion questions
5 Describe the effects of air resistance (or any fluid resistance) on falling
objects, including reaching terminal speed
6 Draw and analyse distance-time graphs, displacement-time graphs, velocity-
time graphs and acceleration-time graphs
7 Represent forces as vectors (mg should be identified as weight) and sketch
free body diagrams
8 Perform calculations using Newton's first law for translational equilibrium
9 Use Newton's second law in explanation and calculation questions
10 Identify force pairs in the context of Newton's third law
11 Describe solid friction (static and dynamic) by coefficients of friction
12 Discuss the conservation of total energy within energy transformations and
perform calculations involving power and efficiency
13 Sketch and interpret force-distance graphs and force-time graphs
14 Determine work done (using W=fscosθ) including cases where a resistive
force acts and where force and distance are not parallel
15 Express Newton's second law in terms of rate of change of momentum
16 Apply conservation of momentum in simple isolated systems including
collisions, explosions or water jets
17 Calculate impulse in various contexts including car safety and sports
18 Perform calculations for situations involving elastic and inelastic collisions

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 3
Thermal Physics
1 Describe temperature change in terms of internal energy and define heat
2 Understand that internal energy is taken to be the total intermolecular
potential energy and the total random kinetic energy of the molecules
3 Use Kelvin and Celsius temperature scales and convert between them (T/K =
t/°C + 273)
4 Define and know how to find specific heat capacity or specific latent heat
experimentally
5 Solve problems involving specific heat capacity and specific latent heat of
fusion and evaporisation
6 Explain the physical differences between the solid, liquid and gaseous
phases in terms of molecular structure and particle motion
(Note: be familiar with the terms melting, freezing, evaporating, boiling and
condensing, and be able to describe each in terms of the changes in
molecular potential and random kinetic energies of molecules
7 Sketch and interpret phase change graphs
(Note: graphs may have axes of temperature vs time or temperature vs energy
8 Explain in terms of molecular behaviour why temperature does not change
during a phase change
9 State the assumptions that underpin molecular kinetic theory of ideal gases
10 Solve problems using the equation of state for an ideal gas and gas laws
(PV=nRT)
11 Know that gas laws are limited to constant volume, constant temperature,
constant pressure and the ideal gas law
12 Understand that a real gas approximates to an ideal gas at conditions of low
pressure, moderate temperature and low density
13 Sketch and interpret changes of state of an ideal gas on pressure-volume,
pressure-temperature and volume-temperature diagrams
14 Describe an experiment for one of the gas laws (e.g. Boyle's Law, Charles'
Law, Gay-Lussac Law)
15 Understand that the average kinetic energy of ideal gas molecules is directly
proportional to the temperature (in kelvin) of the gas

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 4
Waves
1 Describe the energy changes during one oscillation of an object undergoing SHM
2 Sketch and interpret graphs of examples of simple harmonic motion
(including displacement-time, velocity-time, acceleration-time and
acceleration-displacement graphs)
3 Understand the significance of the negative sign in a = -ω²x for SHM
4 Explain the motion of particles for both transverse and longitudinal waves
5 Sketch and interpret displacement-distance graphs and displacement-time
graphs for transverse and longitudinal waves
6 Be able to derive c=fλ and solve problems using this equation
7 Explain the following experiments: i) find the speed of sound, ii) find the
refractive index
8 Be aware of order of magnitude of the wavelengths of electromagnetic waves
9 Solve problems involving amplitude, intensity and inverse square law
10 Be able to calculate the superposition of two waves
11 Describe polarisation with polarising filters and reflection from a non-metallic
plane surface
12 Sketch and interpret diagrams illustrating polarised, reflected and
transmitted beams
13 Solve problems involving Malu's law
14 Sketch incident, reflected and transmitted waves and boundaries between
media (i.e. refraction)
15 Express Newton's second law in terms of rate of change of momentum
16 Solve problems involving Snell's law, critical angle and total internal reflection
17 Describe the diffraction pattern formed when plane waves are incident
normally on a single slit
18 Describe double slit interference intensity patterns
19 Know the difference between standing and travelling waves
20 Describe the formation of standing waves in terms of superposition (standing
wave patterns in strings and pipes). Boundary conditions for:
Strings: two fixed boundaries; fixed and free boundary, two free boundaries
Pipes: two closed boundaries, closed and open boundary, two open boundaries
21 Solve problems involving the frequency of a harmonic, length of the standing
wave and the speed of the wave

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 5
Electricity & Magnetism

1 Know that there are positive and negative charges and predict the direction
of forces between them
2 Solve problems using Coulomb's Law
(Note: the value of the constant uses a permittivity value and most questions
will assume the charges are in a vacuum. However, charges can exist in other
media and the value would be different and thus quoted in the question)
3 Calculate the electric field strength of an electric field
4 Calculate work done in an electric field and be able to show this energy as
joules or electronvolts
5 Recognise current as the rate of flow of charge
6 Know that charge carriers within a metal are electrons, but they may be ions
in other materials
7 Calculate the drift speed of charge carriers
8 Be comfortable drawing circuit diagrams with a variety of components
9 Solve problems involving potential difference, current, charge, power,
resisticity and resistance
10 Memorise Kirchoff's Laws and apply them to circuits with a maximum
number of two source-carrying loops
11 Know the I/V characteristics of ohmic conductors (metal wire at a constant
temperature and non-ohmic conductors (filament lamp and diode)
12 Describe an ideal ammeter, an ideal voltmeter, and understand that most
practical meters do not meet these requirements
13 Describe practical uses of potential dividers circuits
14 Recall the factors that affect the resistance of a wire
15 Understand that a cell does not provide a constant terminal potential
difference at all times - it loses its initial value very quickly, then has a stable
and constant value for most of its lifetime
16 Solve problems involving resistance, terminal potential difference, lost volts
and electromotive force

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 6
Circular Motion & Gravitation

1 Convert between degrees and radians

2 Understand and use concepts of angular velocity and linear (tangential)
velocity, including using the expressions for angular velocity
3 Recognise the direction of velocity, acceleration and force vectors for an
object in circular motion
4 Draw a vector diagram to illustrate that the acceleration of a particle moving
with constant speed in a circle is directed towards the centre of the circle
5 Solve problems involving centripetal force, centripetal acceleration, period,
frequency, angular displacement, linear speed and angular velocity
6 Identify the force producing circular motion in a range of situations (e.g.
tension, gravitation, friction, electric or magnetic)
7 Qualitatively describe the forces involved in objects traveling in circular
motion on horizontal planes and on banked turn:
Horizontal plane: the forces acting on the object are weight downwards,
normal force upwards, there is no horizontal component, friction
supplies the centripetal force
Banked turn: the normal force now has a horizontal component which
acts as the centripetal force on the object - in theory, given the right
speed, an object could safely negotiate a banked curve even if the road
is covered with perfectly smooth ice (no friction)

8 Solve problems using Newton's Law of Gravitation between two spherical

masses, where the masses are assumed to have uniform density and mass
is concentrated at the centre
9 Recognise that when astronomical objects are in orbit, the gravitational force
is equal to the centripetal force - this applies to planets, moons, satellites and
entire galaxies
10 Recall the definition for gravitational field strength
11 Determine the resultant gravitational field strength due to two bodies
(restricted to points along the straight line adjoining the bodies)

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 7
Atomic, Nuclear & Particle Physics

1 Understand that the absorption and emission spectra for each element is unique
2 Explain how spectral lines are evidence for the existence of discrete energy
levels
3 Describe how emission and absorption spectra are produced
4 Calculate the frequency (or wavelength) of released or absorbed photons
using the difference in energy between the energy levels in an atom
5 Describe the properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiation
6 Complete decay equations for alpha and beta decay
7 Recognise that there are two types of beta decay:
negative beta decay, β−, where an electron and anti-neutrino are products
positron beta decay, β+, where a positron and a neutrino are products
8 Determine the half-life of a radioactive nuclide using a decay curve
9 Solve problems involving mass defect, binding energy and the atomic mass
unit (memorise 1u = 931MeV)
10 Recall the definition for Binding Energy
11 Solve problems involving the energy released in radioactive decay, nuclear
fission and nuclear fusion
12 Sketch and understand the general shape of the graph for average binding
energy per nucleon against nucleon number
13 Describe Rutherford's scattering experiment - know the three main
observations and the subsequent conclusions of the structure of the atom
14 Recognise quarks, leptons and their anti-particles
15 Know what Hadrons, Baryons and Mesons are and what they are made up
of (e.g. mesons constitute of a quark and anti-quark)
16 Memorise the quark structure of a proton and a neutron
17 Use the conservation laws of charge, baryon number, lepton number and
strangeness to analyse particle reaction equations
18 Know the four fundamental forces a the strong, weak, electromagnetic and
gravitational forces and compare the range/strength through which force will act

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 8
Energy Production
1 Understand and recall the definitions of the following terms:
specific energy is the energy per unit mass of a fuel (units: Jkg⁻¹)
energy density is the energy per unit volume of a fuel (units: Jm⁻³)
2 Solve problem involving specific energy and energy density of fuels
3 Recognise Sankey diagrams as schematic energy flow diagrams and be
able to sketch and interpret Sankey diagrams
4 Describe the basic features of energy production in: i) fossil fuel power
stations, ii) nuclear power stations, iii) wind generators, iv) pumped storage
hydroelectric systems, v) solar power cells
5 Discuss safety issues and risks involved with the production of nuclear power
6 Know the function of control rods, moderators and heat exchangers within a
nuclear power station
7 Use Power = ½Aρv³ to find the power output from a wind turbine
8 Describe the differences between photovoltaic cells and solar heating panels
9 Solve problems relevant to energy transformations in the context of the
generating systems above
10 Describe convection, conduction and thermal radiation as means of heat transfer
11 Define a black-body
12 Sketch and interpret graphs showing the variation of intensity with
wavelength for bodies emitting thermal radiation at different temperatures
13 Solve problems involving the Stefan-Boltzmann Law and Wien's displacement law
14 Explain the terms albedo, emissivity, solar constant and intensity
15 Explain the effects of the Earth's atmosphere on the mean surface temperature
16 Know that the four greenhouse gases are CH₄, H₂O, CO₂ and N₂O, and that
each gas is both man-made and naturally occurring in the atmosphere
17 Explain how the Earth radiates thermal radiation as a black body, which is
absorbed by greenhouse gases, and then scattered in all directions (molecular
energy levels), and subsequently heats up the Earth's surface
18 Know that the Earth's average albedo is 0.3; however, this varies daily
depending on cloud formation and latitude

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 9 (HL)
Wave Phenomena

1 Explain the two conditions necessary for an object to oscillate with Simple
Harmonic Motion: i) acceleration and displacement are directly proportional,
and ii) they act in opposite directions
2 Recognise and use the defining equation for SHM
3 Solve problems involving the following graphs for SHM:
displacement/time (max gradient = max velocity)
velocity/time (max gradient = max velocity and area = displacement)
acceleration/displacement (straight line: gradient = ω²)
4 Describe the interchange of kinetic and potential energy during SHM, and
solve problems using both graphical and algebraic methods
5 Single Slit Diffraction:
Describe the effect of changing the slit width
Determine the position of the first interference medium
Describe diffraction patters produced from white light and monochromatic
light (of a range of frequencies)
6 Describe how to set up Thomas Young's double-slit experiment
7 Understand the significance of his experiment in the proof of light as a wave
8 Select and use s=λD/d for double slit experiments
9 Describe the interference pattern produced by a double slit on a screen,
including the modulation by the single slit diffraction effect
10 Sketch and interpret intensity graphs of double slit interference patterns
11 Distinguish between the width of the slits and the separation of the slits in
accounting for their effects on intensity graphs
12 Recognise that multiple slits and diffraction gratings can create interference
patterns by considering path difference

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 9 (HL)
Topic 9: Wave Phenomena

13 Select and use nλ=dsinθ for diffraction grating problems

14 Calculate the angles of each order of maxima from a diffraction grating
15 Calculate the maximum number of orders that a particular diffraction grating can
produce
16 Describe the conditions necessary for constructive and destructive
interference from thin films, including phase change at interface and effect of
refractive index (for parallel-sided thin films only)
17 Solve problems involving interference from thin films
18 Understand what is meant by resolution and apply the Rayleigh Criterion, for
light emitted by two sources at a single slit
19 Use the diffraction grating resolvance equation
20 Sketch and interpret the Doppler effect when there is relative motion
between source and observer
21 Describe situations where the Doppler effect can be used (i.e. radars, red-shift
of receding galaxies, moving objects emitting sound, ultrasounds reflected from
blood cells, etc.)
22 Solve problems involving the change in frequency or wavelength observed
due to the Doppler effect to determine the velocity of the source/observer
23 Recognise that electromagnetic waves (i.e. red-shift of galaxies) requires that
the approximation equation should be used: Δf Δλ v
= ≈
f λ c

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 10 (HL)
Fields

1 Sketch the gravitational field lines for: i) radial field surrounding point or
spherical masses and ii)uniform field close to the surface of massive celestial
bodies and planetary bodies
2 Sketch the electrostatic field lines for: i) radial field surrounding point or
spherical charges, ii) between two like or opposite charges and iii) uniform
field lines between charged parallel plates (with edge effect)
3 Determine the potential energy of a point mass or point charge
4 Recognise gravitational potential, Vₚ, as a scalar and defined as the work per
unit mass in bringing a small test mass from infinity to point P (units Jkg⁻¹)
5 Recognise electric potential, Vₑ, as a scalar and defined as the work per unit
charge in bringing a small test charge from infinity to point P (units JC⁻¹)
6 Draw equipotential lines on graviational and electric fields and recognise the
equipotential surfaces as points that all have the same gravitational or
electric potential
7 Draw the equipotential surfaces at the normal to the field lines for both
gravitational and electric fields
8 Explain that moving between equipotential lines requires work to be done on
the point mass or charge
9 Know that no work is done in moving mass or charge on an equipotential surface
10 Recognise the magnitude of the gravitational/electric field as the rate of change
of potential with distance
11 Know that the potential inside a charged sphere is a constant and has the
same value as the potential at the surface of the sphere
12 Define escape velocity
13 Solve problems involving the speed required for an object to escape the
gravitational field of a planet
14 Recognise that a mass in orbit around a point mass has a centripetal force
equal to the gravitational force and solve the problems using these equations
15 Recognise that a charge in orbit around a point charge has a centripetal
force equal to the electric force and solve problems using these equations

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 11 (HL)
Electromagnetic Induction

1 Recall Faraday's Law

2 Describe how an emf is induced: i)by changing magnetic field flux, and ii)
within a uniform magnetic field
3 Solve problems involving magnetic flux, magnetic flux linkage and Faraday's
law in the following situations: i) straight conductors moving at right angles to
magnetic fields, ii) rectangular coils moving in and out of magnetic fields, and
iii) rectangular coils rotating in magnetic fields
4 Explain how an emf is induced in the following situations: i) fixed coils in a
changing magnetic field, and ii) ac generators
5 Explain the operation of a basic ac generator, including the effect of the
generator frequency
6 Explain Lenz's Law through conservation of energy
7 Solve problems involving the average power in an ac circuit
8 Explain how a transformer works and solve problems involving step-up and
step-down transformers
9 Recognise that transformers are not 100% efficient (i.e. not ideal) but perform
calculations assuming that they are. Factors affecting transformers are flux
leakage, joule heating, eddy current heating and magnetic hysteresis
10 Describe the use of transformers in an ac electrical power distribution
11 Describe how to investigate the diode bridge rectification circuit
12 Describe the effects of adding a capacitor to a diode bridge rectification circuit
13 Describe the structure of a parallel-plate capacitor and how different
dielectirc materials affect the capacitance
14 Solve problems involving: i) basic capacitance, ii) capacitor discharge through a
fixed resistor, iii) energy in capacitors, and iv) capacitors in series and parallel
15 Describe the nature of exponential charge and discharge of a capacitor, and
recognise graphs for each scenario
16 Define the time constant
17 Solve problems involving the time constant of an RC circuit for charge,
voltage and current

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 12 (HL)
Quantum & Nuclear Physics
1 Describe a photon as a quanta of energy and momentum
2 Discuss the photoelectric effect and explain why the classical theory of light s
a wave cannot be explained by the photoelectric effect
3 Solve problems about the photoelectric effect
4 Interpret the following graphs relating to the photoelectric effect:
kinetic energy (y-axis) against frequency (x-axis)
current (y-axis) against voltage (x-axis)
stopping voltage (y-axis) against 1/λ (x-axis)
5 Recognise that matter can have wave-like properties (wave-particle duality)
6 Describe the experiment where electrons can be accelerated and diffracted
through a thing graphite film, thus proving the wave nature of electrons
7 Perform calculations of a pair production and pair annihilation of particle
and anti-particles
8 Describe the Bohr model for the hydrogen atom in terms of the quantisation
of angular momentum
9 Understand that the square amplitude (of Schrodinger's wavefunction) is
proportional to probability of finding an electron at a particular point, and that
the solutions of the equation predict that the electrons in a hydrogen atom
have quantised energy. Know that the probability of finding an electron in a
particular regios of space is the magnitude of the wave function squared
10 Know that Heisenberg's uncertainty principle applied to position and momentum
states that it is not possible to measure simultaneously the position and
momentum of something with indefinite precision - if momentum is accurate,
position is inaccurate
11 Know that Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, when applied to energy and
time, states that it is not possible to measure simultaneously the energy and
time of something with indefinite precision - if energy is accurate, time is
inaccurate
12 Describe quantum tunneling
13 Describe Rutherford's Scattering experiment
14 Explain how the results of Rutherford's experiment change when higher
energy alpha particles are used

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Topic 12 (HL)
Quantum & Nuclear Physics

15 Use the distance of closest approach to find the approximate value for the density
of a nucleus - be aware that nuclear densities are approximately the same for all
nuclei and the only macroscopic objects in the universe with the same density as
nuclei are neutron stars
16 Describe a scattering experiment including how to locate the position of
mimumum intensity based on the de Broglie wavelength of the electrons
17 Describe experimental evidence for the existence of nuclear energy levels
18 Solve problems involving the radioactive decay law for arbitrary time intervals
19 Explain methods for measuring short and long half-lives

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option A (SL)
Relativity

1 Recognise that an observer, along with the rulers and clocks that they use to
measure distance and time, constitute a frame of reference. If the observer is
travelling at a constant speed or is stationary, the frame of reference is said
to be an inertial frame of reference.
2 Understand Galilean relativity with Newton’s postulates for space and
time. Use the Galilean transformation equations.

3 Understand the consequences of Maxwell’s theory for the speed of light. i.e.
that the speed of light in a vacuum does not depend on the speed of its
source and is a universal constant.
4 Understand how magnetic effects are a consequence of relativity.

5 Determine whether a force on a charge or current is electric or magnetic in a

given frame of reference.

6 Analyse the motion of:

a charge moving in a magnetic field
two charged particles moving with parallel velocities
Be able to solve problems from the point of view of the observer at rest
with respect to the particles AND observer at rest with respect to the
magnetic field.

7 Understand and recite the two postulates of special relativity.

1. The laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference
2. The speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all inertial observers

8 Understand clock synchronisation as the clocks in each frame of reference

show the same time at any given instant of time. Describe how to achieve
this.
9 Use the Lorentz transformations to describe how different measurements of
space and time by two observers can be converted into the measurements
observed in either frame of reference

10 Use the Lorentz transformation equations to determine the position and time
coordinates of various events

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option A (SL)
Relativity

11 Use the Lorentz transformation equations to show that if two events are
simultaneous for one observer but happen at different points in space, then
the events are not simultaneous for an observer in a different reference frame

12 Apply the velocity addition formula.

13 Understand and apply time dilation and length contraction.

14 Derive the time dilation and length contraction formulae using the Lorentz
equations
15 Use muon decay as evidence for both time dilation and length contraction.

16 Understand, sketch and work with spacetime diagrams (Minkowski

diagrams)
represent events on spacetime diagrams as points.
represent more than one inertia frame of reference on the same
spacetime diagram
represent time dilation and length contraction on space time diagrams

17 Solve problems on simultaneity and kinematics using spacetime diagrams

18 Represent worldlines. Determine the angle between a world line for a

specific speed and the time axis on a spacetime diagram.

19 Know that spacetime diagrams can have t or ct on the vertical axis. Exam
questions may use units in which c=1.

20 Explain the twin paradox

21 Resolve the twin paradox through use of spacetime diagrams.

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option A (Additional HL)
Relativity

22 Describe the laws of conservation of momentum and energy within special

relativity

23 Determine the potential difference necessary to accelerate a particle to a

given speed or energy.

24 Recognise electric charge as an invariant quantity.

25 Use MeVc−2 as the unit of mass and MeVc−1 as the unit of momentum.

26 Solve problems involving relativistic energy and momentum conservation in

collisions and particle decays, including relativistic decays (e.g. calculate the
wavelength of photons in the decay of a moving pion)
27 Recognise the equivalence principle in terms of accelerating reference
frames and freely falling frames.
28 Use the equivalence principle to deduce and explain light bending near
massive objects AND gravitational time dilation

29 Calculate gravitational frequency shifts.

30 Describe an experiment in which gravitational redshift is observed and

measured.

31 Calculate the Schwarzschild radius of a black hole.

32 Calculate gravitational time dilation near the event horizon of a black hole.

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option B (SL)
Engineering Physics

1 Define Torque as a measure of how much a force acting on an object causes

that object to rotate. It is a vector quantity

2 Calculate torque for single forces and couples

3 Solve problems involving moment of inertia, torque and angular acceleration

4 For moment of inertia problems you should only be concerned with solid
cylinders, hoops about a central axis, solid spheres and a rod about a centre.
The equation for moment of inertia will be provided for specific shapes

5 Solve problems in which objects are in both rotational and translational

equilibrium (also know that translational equilibrium occurs when there is no
resultant force AND rotational equilibrium occurs when there is no resultant
torque)

6 Solve problems using rotational quantities analogous to linear quantities

7 Sketch and interpret graphs of rotational motion (only angular

displacement-time, angular velocity-time and torque-time graphs are needed)
8 Solve problems involving rolling without slipping (remember the
conservation of both linear and rotational kinetic energy is useful for
calculating problems like a wheel rolling down a hill)

9 Describe the first law of thermodynamics as a statement of conservation of

energy

10 Solve problems involving the first law of thermodynamics

11 Describe the second law of thermodynamics in Celcius form, Kelvin form

and as a consequence of entropy

12 Describe examples of processes in terms of entropy change

13 Solve problems involving entropy changes

14 Sketch and interpret cyclic processes (Only graphical analysis will be

required for determination of work done on a pV diagram when pressure is
not constant)

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option B (SL)
Engineering Physics

15 Understand Isovolumetric, isobaric, isothermal and adiabatic processes

16 Solve problems involving thermal efficiency

17 Solving problems for adiabatic processes for monatomic gases using

pV5/3 =constant

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option B (Additional HL)
Engineering Physics

18 Determine buoyancy forces using Archimedes’ principle

19 Solve problems involving pressure, density, Pascal’s principle, Bernoulli

equation and the continuity equation (proof of Bernoulli equation not needed)

20 Explain situations involving the Bernoulli effect (applications of the Bernoulli

equation will involve (but not be limited to) flow out of a container,
determining the speed of a plane (pitot tubes), and venturi tubes)

21 Describe the frictional drag force exerted on small spherical objects in

laminar fluid flow (Laminar and turbulent flow will only be considered in
simple situations)

22 Solve problems involving Stokes’ law

3
23 Determine the Reynolds number in simple situations (Values of R<10 will be
taken to represent conditions for laminar flow

24 Qualitatively and quantitatively describe examples of under-, over- and

critically- damped oscillations (only amplitude resonance is required)

25 Graphically describe the variation of the amplitude of vibration with driving

frequency of an object close to its natural frequency of vibration

26 Describe the phase relationship between driving frequency and forced

oscillations

27 Solve problems involving Q factor

28 Describe the useful and destructive effects of resonance

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option C (SL)
Imaging

1 Know that converging (convex) lens cause rays to be refracted and

converge to form a real image at a point where the rays cross

2 Know that diverging lens cause the rays to be refracted and diverged and
a virtual image can be seen when looking through the lens at the point
from which the rays appear to have come.
3 Memorise definitions for Principal Axis, Focal Point and Focal Length

4 Solve problems involving not more than two lenses by constructing scaled
ray diagrams

5 Solve problems involving not more than two curved mirrors by constructing
scaled ray diagrams (limited to spherical and parabolic converging mirrors
and spherical diverging mirrors )

6 Solve problems involving linear magnification. The linear magnification of

an image is the ratio of the height of the image, hi, divided by the height of
the object, ho.
7 Solve problems involving the thin lens equation. This formula can be used
to determine the position and nature of an image. When using this formula it
is important to remember that a distance to a virtual image and the focal
length of a diverging lens are always negative. A positive magnification
indicates that the image is upright; a negative magnification indicates that the
image is inverted.

8 Know that all problems in this topic assume that the lens are thin AND the
rays are close to the principal axis. In reality, this is not true and the image
will not be formed where predicted.

9 Solve problems involving angular magnification. The angular magnification

of an image is the angle subtended at the eye by the image divided by the
angle subtended at the eye by the object.

10 Define spherical and chromatic aberration and describing ways to reduce

their effects on images. Draw diagrams to represent these aberrations and
how they can be reduced.

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option C (SL)
Imaging

11 Construct and interpret ray diagrams of optical compound microscopes at

normal adjustment.

12 Know that the objective lens of a compound microscope forms a real

magnified image of an object that is placed just beyond its focal point. The
eyepiece then acts as a magnifying glass to produce a final image, which is
inverted, magnified and virtual.

13 Solve problems involving the angular magnification and resolution of optical

compound microscopes.

14 Construct or complete ray diagrams of simple optical astronomical

refracting telescopes at normal adjustment. (refracting AND reflecting
telescopes)
NOTE: reflecting telescope design is limited to Newtonian and Cassegrain
mounting

15 Know that the objective lens of a telescope forms a diminished, real and
inverted image of a distant object at its focal point. The eyepiece acts as a
magnifying glass to produce a final image at infinity (in normal adjustment),
which is inverted, diminished and virtual.

16 Solve problems involving the angular magnification of simple optical

astronomical telescopes.

17 Compare the performance of Earth-based telescopes and satellite-borne

telescopes. e.g. Optical astronomical telescopes on the Earth’s surface
receive light that has been affected by passing through the Earth’s
atmosphere. Some radiation is absorbed or scattered, and some is refracted
irregularly. Placing satellites on orbiting satellites above the atmosphere
overcomes these limitations.

18 Solve problems involving total internal reflection and critical angle in the
context of fibre optics

19 Define attenuation, waveguide and material dispersion. Also describe how

these dispersions can lead to attenuation and how these dispersions can be
overcome.

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option C (SL)
Imaging

20 Solve problems involving attenuation. Know that it is usual to quote an

attenuation per unit length of cable

21 Know that compared with twisted pair and co-axial cables, optic fibres have
lower attenuation, greater data transfer rates, do not produce ‘noise’, are
more secure and are smaller and lighter.

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option C (Additional HL)
Imaging

22 Explain the features of X-Ray imaging. (e.g. direct X-Rays at the body, some
are absorbed, some are transmitted/scattered, different parts of the body
absorb by different amounts, the transmitted X-Rays are detected by CCDs,
which allow electronic storage and manipulation of images.)

23 Define attenuation coefficient, half-value thickness, linear/mass absorption

coefficients

24 Explain techniques for improvements of sharpness and contrast in X-Ray

images, e.g. using a small source that is not too close to the patient; placing
an oscillating collimating grid between the patient and the detector; using
intensifying screens containing fluorescent materials

25 Solve X-ray attenuation problems.

26 Solve problems involving ultrasound acoustic impedance, speed of

ultrasound through tissue and air and relative intensity levels

27 Explain features of medical ultrasound techniques, including choice of

frequency, use of gel and the difference between A and B scans

28 Explain the use of gradient fields in NMR. (By imposing gradients of

magnetic field in three perpendicular directions (x, y and z), signals from
different parts of the patient can be made to resonate at different frequencies,
thus allowing reconstruction of the three-dimensional distribution of protons. )

29 Explain the origin of the relaxation of proton spin and consequent emission
of signal in NMR

29 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of ultrasound and NMR

scanning methods, including a simple assessment of risk in these medical
procedures (Despite its poor resolution, ultrasound imaging provides a quick,
safe, economical and mobile way of examining inside the body, especially
when soft tissues are involved. Ultrasound cannot penetrate into bone
effectively and cannot be used for spaces that contain air (e.g. lungs).
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provides an alternative to CT scans for
providing images of sections through the body. Medical applications of NMR
are also commonly called magnetic resonance imaging, MRI. Because MRI
does not involve ionizing radiation, it is considered safer than X-ray
processes.)
©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option D (SL)
Astrophysics

1 Identify objects within the universe, including: planets, planetary systems,

comets, stars, binary stars, stellar clusters, constellations, nebulae, galaxies,
galaxy clusters and super clusters of galaxies.
2 Describe the equilibrium between radiation pressure and gravitation in
stars - how the star then achieves stellar equilibrium

3 Use the appropriate units when quoting distance, namely: astronomical unit
(AU), light year (ly) and parsec (pc)
4 Define the Parsec

5 Describe the method to determine distance to stars using stellar parallax.

Understand the limitations of this method as distance increases.

6 Define luminosity and apparent brightness AND solve problems involving

luminosity, apparent brightness and distance
7 Have an understanding of the following orders of magnitude within the
universe: The order of magnitude of the diameter of the observable universe
is 1011 ly. A typical galaxy has a diameter of about 104 ly and the distance
between galaxies is typically 10 7 ly.

8 Explain how surface temperature may be obtained from a star’s spectrum,

using intensity-wavelength graphs and/or Wien’s Displacement Law

9 Explain how the chemical composition of a star may be determined from the
star’s spectrum, using the absorption spectrum of light received from the star.

10 Sketch and interpret HR diagrams. The majority of stars are located

somewhere along a diagonal line from top-left to bottom- right of the HR
diagram. This is called the main sequence. The only basic difference
between these stars is their mass – which results in different luminosities and
temperatures because of the different rates of fusion.

11 Know where these stars lie on the HR diagrams: Other types of stars, like
red giants, white dwarfs, supergiants and Cepheid variables (on the instability
strip). REMEMBER: The (logarithmic) axes of the diagram are luminosity (y-
axis) and temperature (x-axis and reversed). The sizes of different stars can
be compared if lines of constant radius are included on the diagram.
©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option D (SL)
Astrophysics

12 Apply the mass–luminosity relation. In IB Physics and for main sequence

stars the approximate relationship between mass and luminosity is
represented by the equation L ∝ M 3.5
13 Sketch and interpret evolutionary paths of stars on an HR diagram

14 Describe the evolution of stars as they exit the main sequence.

15 Explain how the mass of a star affects its evolution after the main sequence.
References to electron and neutron degeneracy pressure should be made.

16 Describe both space and time as originating with the Big Bang

17 Describe the characteristics of the CMB radiation (e.g. it is isotropic with a

temperature of T~ 2.6K)
18 Explain how CMB is evidence for a hot big bang. In particular, the radiation
is characteristic of a temperature of 2.76 K, which is the predicted
temperature to which the universe would have cooled since its creation. Or
you could say the current wavelength of CMB can be considered as a
consequence of the expansion of space (and the wavelength emitted billions
of years ago was much smaller).

19 Solve problems involving redshift (z), cosmic scale factor (R) and Hubble’s
law.

20 Estimate the age of the universe by assuming a constant expansion rate.

Note that the universe is thought to be accelerating and the age of the
universe calculations cannot be accurate. We know this because the
luminosities of Type 1a supernovae are known to be (almost) all the same, so
that their distances from Earth can be calculated. However, recent
measurements of their associated red- shifts suggest that these very distant
stars are further away than the Hubble law predicts. In other words, the
universe is expanding quicker than previously believed – the universe is
‘accelerating’. It had been assumed that the forces of gravity would reduce
the rate of expansion of the universe.

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option D (Additional HL)
Astrophysics

21 Apply the Jeans criterion to star formation. Namely, that the collapse of an
interstellar cloud to form a star can only begin if its mass, M, is higher than
the Jeans mass.

22 Describe the different types of nuclear fusion reactions taking place off the
main sequence (the fusion of hydrogen to helium in main sequence stars is a
three- stage process known as the proton–proton cycle)

23 Apply the mass–luminosity relation to compare lifetimes on the main

∝
sequence relative to that of our Sun. Namely, L M 3.5 shows that more
massive stars are much more luminous. If we assume that the luminosity
of a star is proportional to mass/lifetime, T, then the lifetime of a main
∝
sequence star is approximately represented by T 1/M 2.5. Using this
equation, if we know the mass of a star, we can compare its lifetime to that
of our Sun (the mass and lifetime of which are well known).

24 Describe the formation of elements in stars that are heavier than iron
including the required increases in temperature

25 Describe where rapid (r) and slow (s) neutron capture occur and the
conditions necessary.

26 Distinguish between type Ia and II supernovae. Note that Type 1a

supernovae can be used as standard candles.

27 Describe the cosmological principle and its role in models of the universe
(i.e. homogenous and isotropic)

28 Explain how rotation curves give evidence for dark matter and be aware of
types of candidates for dark matter. MACHOs and WIMPs (including
neutrinos) are two possible categories of particle that may explain dark
matter.

29 Derive rotational velocity from Newtonian gravitation

30 Describe and interpret the observed anisotropies in the CMB (these have
been the focus of much research in recent years. Although these variations
are tiny, they provide important evidence about the early stages of the
universe and the origin of galaxies.)
©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com
 Option D (Additional HL)
Astrophysics

31 Derive critical density from Newtonian gravitation

32 Sketch and interpret graphs showing the variation of the cosmic scale factor
with time.
33 Describe values of the the cosmic scale factor in models with and without
dark energy

34 Know that the COBE, WMAP and Planck missions have provided an ever-
improving bank of data on which astronomers are building an impressive
understanding of the universe. Apart from information about anisotropies, this
includes the latest estimates for the critical density and the age of the
universe, plus estimates of the proportions of observable mass, dark matter
and dark energy in the universe.

©GradePod Ltd
gradepod.com