Physics HL

The complete IB Physics HL path, including shared SL/HL material and every additional higher level extension.

Core material and HL extensions in one reading order, with each extension marked. For first assessment 2025.

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  1. 1KinematicsA full Chapter 1 path covering displacement, velocity, acceleration, graph interpretation, projectile motion, and the first model of fluid resistance.6 sections, about 120 min
  2. 2Forces and Newton's LawsDevelop force literacy from free-body diagrams to Newton's laws, then apply net-force reasoning to friction and circular motion.6 sections, about 165 min
  3. 3Work, Energy and PowerDevelop the language of energy transfer, move from force-based work to conservation reasoning, and quantify power and efficiency in realistic systems.6 sections, about 140 min
  4. 4Linear MomentumBuild momentum thinking from Newton's second law, connect force-time area to impulse, and use conservation methods to solve one- and two-dimensional collisions.6 sections, about 149 minIncludes HL extensions
  5. 5Rigid Body MechanicsBuild rotational thinking from angular kinematics to torque balance, rotational dynamics, rolling motion, and angular momentum conservation.6 sections, about 140 minHL only
  6. 6RelativityBuild special relativity from reference frames and Einstein's postulates, then apply Lorentz transformations, time dilation, length contraction, velocity addition, and spacetime diagrams to interpret real measurements.6 sections, about 125 minHL only
  7. 7Thermal Energy TransfersBuild thermal physics from particle models to calorimetry and phase change, then apply conduction, convection, and radiation laws including Stefan-Boltzmann and Wien scaling.7 sections, about 148 min
  8. 8The Greenhouse EffectModel climate-relevant radiation physics from emissivity and albedo through planetary energy balance, then build the greenhouse mechanism with atmospheric absorption, reradiation, and feedback reasoning.6 sections, about 150 min
  9. 9The Gas LawsBuild gas-law fluency from mole counting and pressure origins to $PV = nRT$, Boltzmann scaling, and the limits of ideal-gas assumptions.7 sections, about 165 min
  10. 10ThermodynamicsApply conservation of energy to thermal systems, then extend to entropy, the second law, and heat-engine limits including Carnot efficiency.7 sections, about 182 minHL only
  11. 11Current and CircuitsBuild full circuit fluency from potential difference and resistance to power, emf, internal resistance, network reduction, and potential-divider design.6 sections, about 164 min
  12. 12Simple Harmonic MotionBuild SHM from restoring-force conditions to sinusoidal equations, phase logic, and full energy analysis in spring-mass and pendulum contexts.6 sections, about 163 minIncludes HL extensions
  13. 13The Wave ModelBuild wave fluency from mechanical pulses to electromagnetic and gravitational waves, with strong graph interpretation and wave-equation problem solving.6 sections, about 164 min
  14. 14Wave PhenomenaMaster reflection, refraction, superposition, diffraction, and interference from wavefront geometry to slit and grating equations.7 sections, about 196 minIncludes HL extensions
  15. 15Standing Waves and ResonanceBuild standing-wave and resonance fluency from superposition and boundary conditions to harmonic frequencies, pipe modes, damping, and driven response.6 sections, about 188 min
  16. 16The Doppler EffectBuild full Doppler-effect fluency from wavefront geometry and low-speed light shifts to sound formulas for moving sources, moving observers, and reflected-wave measurements.6 sections, about 180 minIncludes HL extensions
  17. 17GravitationDevelop full gravitation fluency from Newton's inverse-square force law and field mapping to Kepler-style orbit reasoning, potential-energy methods, escape-speed analysis, and orbital decay under drag.6 sections, about 190 minIncludes HL extensions
  18. 18Electric and Magnetic FieldsBuild one coherent electromagnetic model from charge conservation and Coulomb force to magnetic-field direction rules, Lorentz forces, electric potential, and equipotential-field geometry.7 sections, about 210 minIncludes HL extensions
  19. 19Motion in Electric and Magnetic FieldsDevelop full charged-particle trajectory fluency in uniform electric fields, uniform magnetic fields, and crossed fields, then connect those models to q/m measurements, velocity selectors, and accelerator beam control.7 sections, about 212 min
  20. 20Electromagnetic InductionBuild full electromagnetic-induction fluency from motional emf and Faraday-Lenz law to RL transients, AC generators, RMS power, and transformer scaling.8 sections, about 208 minHL only
  21. 21Atomic PhysicsBuild a full Chapter 21 pathway from Rutherford scattering evidence to quantised atomic energy levels, spectral transitions, and the Bohr model's angular-momentum postulate.7 sections, about 206 minIncludes HL extensions
  22. 22Quantum PhysicsBuild Chapter 22 from photon energy and photoelectric evidence to Compton scattering, matter-wave reasoning, and electron diffraction as direct support for wave-particle duality.7 sections, about 214 minHL only
  23. 23Nuclear PhysicsBuild Chapter 23 from nuclear notation and mass defect to radioactive decay law, strong-force evidence, and stability-band reasoning with energy-level interpretation.7 sections, about 226 minIncludes HL extensions
  24. 24Nuclear FissionDevelop Chapter 24 from fission energetics and neutron-chain criticality to reactor-core control, fuel-use scaling, and long-horizon waste-safety decisions.7 sections, about 242 min
  25. 25Nuclear Fusion and StarsBuild Chapter 25 from fusion ignition conditions and stellar-core energy pathways to HR-diagram interpretation, mass-dependent stellar evolution, and nucleosynthesis limits.7 sections, about 268 min