IB Physics HL study plan

Derive and apply the four kinematic equations for constant acceleration, including vertical free fall and projectile motion resolved into independent components.

Construct and interpret displacement-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs, extracting gradients and areas with correct signs.

Solve multi-stage motion problems (e.g. a ball thrown upward from a cliff) and state assumptions explicitly.

Set up a formula-and-constants sheet for Domain A that you will reuse every week.

Apply Newton's three laws to free-body diagrams including friction, tension, normal force and inclined planes.

Solve connected-body and pulley problems using simultaneous equations and identify when massless-string assumptions fail.

Apply conservation of momentum to collisions and explosions in one and two dimensions, distinguishing elastic from inelastic cases.

Calculate work, power and energy transfers, and verify solutions using energy methods where kinematics is awkward.

Relate angular velocity, period, frequency and centripetal acceleration, and identify the physical force providing centripetal force in each scenario.

Apply Newton's law of gravitation and Kepler's third law to satellite and orbital problems, including geostationary and low-Earth orbits.

Compute gravitational field strength and potential inside and outside a uniform sphere, and link field to potential gradient.

Explain weightlessness in orbit and the difference between apparent and true weight.

Define and convert between Celsius, Kelvin, internal energy, heat capacity and specific latent heat, and solve mixing and phase-change problems.

State and apply the ideal gas law in molar and particle forms, and derive pressure from molecular kinetic theory.

Interpret the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution and explain how temperature and molar mass shift it.

Apply the first law of thermodynamics with correct sign conventions to isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric and isochoric processes.

Describe simple harmonic motion qualitatively and quantitatively, including the defining condition, period formulas for spring-mass and pendulum, and energy exchange.

Apply the wave equation, superposition, path difference and phase difference to standing waves and two-source interference.

Explain single-slit diffraction, the diffraction grating equation and the effect of slit width and wavelength on the pattern.

Describe the Doppler effect for sound and light and calculate observed frequency shifts.

Apply Coulomb's law, electric field strength and electric potential to point charges and uniform fields, and relate field to potential gradient.

Use right-hand and Fleming's rules to find magnetic force on moving charges and current-carrying conductors, and describe motion of charged particles in magnetic fields.

Apply Faraday's and Lenz's laws to flux linkage, induced emf and simple generators and transformers.

Explain the photoelectric effect with Einstein's equation, threshold frequency, work function and stopping potential, and interpret atomic line spectra as energy-level transitions.

Distinguish alpha, beta and gamma radiation by penetration, ionisation and deflection, and write balanced nuclear equations including decay chains.

Calculate mass defect and binding energy, and explain fission, fusion and the shape of the binding-energy-per-nucleon curve.

Explain quantum tunnelling and give one physical application, plus state the uncertainty principle qualitatively.

Draft the IA research question, variables, method and risk assessment with enough procedural detail that someone else could repeat the experiment.

Analyse IA data with uncertainty propagation, graphical linearisation, gradient uncertainty and a critical evaluation of weaknesses and extensions.

Complete two full-length mixed papers under exam timing, allocating roughly 27 percent of marks to Domain A.

Review your error log and re-solve every previously missed question type without notes.

Finalise the IA with correct citation, consistent significant figures and a conclusion tied to the research question.