HL IB Physics Revision Notes 2025

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

Space, Time & Motion

Distance & Displacement

Conservation of Linear Momentum

Impulse & Momentum

Force & Momentum

Collisions & Explosions in One-Dimension

Collisions & Explosions in Two-Dimensions (HL)

Angular Velocity

Centripetal Force

Centripetal Acceleration

Non-Uniform Circular Motion

Principle of Conservation of Energy

Sankey Diagrams

Work Done

Kinetic Energy

Gravitational Potential Energy

Elastic Potential Energy

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Energy & Power

Efficiency Formula

Energy Density

Torque & Couples (HL)

Rotational Equilibrium (HL)

Angular Displacement, Velocity & Acceleration (HL)

Angular Acceleration Formula (HL)

Moment of Inertia (HL)

Newton’s Second Law for Rotation (HL)

Angular Momentum (HL)

Angular Impulse (HL)

Rotational Kinetic Energy (HL)

Reference Frames (HL)

Galilean Relativity (HL)

Postulates of Special Relativity (HL)

Lorentz Transformations (HL)

Velocity Addition Transformations (HL)

Space-Time Interval (HL)

Time Dilation (HL)

Length Contraction (HL)

Simultaneity in Special Relativity (HL)

Space-Time Diagrams (HL)

Muon Lifetime Experiment (HL)

The Particulate Nature of Matter

Solids, Liquids & Gases

Density

Temperature Scales

Temperature & Kinetic Energy

Internal Energy

Thermal Equilibrium

Changes of State

Specific Heat Capacity

Apparent Brightness & Luminosity

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

Wien’s Displacement Law

Albedo & Emissivity

The Solar Constant

Greenhouse Gases

The Greenhouse Effect

Energy Balance Problems

Kinetic Theory of Gases

Derivation of the Kinetic Theory of Gases Equation

Average Kinetic Energy of a Molecule

Thermodynamic Systems (HL)

First Law of Thermodynamics (HL)

Entropy (HL)

Calculating Changes in Entropy (HL)

Second Law of Thermodynamics (HL)

Thermodynamic Processes (HL)

Heat Engines (HL)

The Carnot Cycle (HL)

Circuit Diagrams

Electric Current

Electric Potential Difference

Electrical Conductors & Insulators

Electric Resistance

Electrical Resistivity

I-V Characteristics

Series & Parallel Circuits

Electrical Power

Sources of Electrical Energy

Electromotive Force & Internal Resistance

Variable Resistance

Wave Behaviour

Describing Oscillations

Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

Time Period of a Mass–Spring System

Time Period of a Simple Pendulum

Energy Changes in Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

Calculating Energy Changes in SHM (HL)

Phase Angles in Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) (HL)

Equations for Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) (HL)

Properties of Waves

Transverse & Longitudinal Waves

Sound Waves

Electromagnetic Waves

Wavefronts & Rays

Reflection, Refraction & Transmission

Diffraction of Waves

Refraction of Waves

Interference of Waves

Superposition of Waves

Young’s Double-Slit Experiment

Single-Slit Diffraction (HL)

Diffraction Gratings (HL)

Standing Waves

Nodes & Antinodes

Boundary Conditions for Standing Waves

Harmonics in Strings & Pipes

The Nature of Resonance

The Effect of Damping

The Doppler Effect

The Doppler Effect of Light

Galactic Redshift

Equations for the Doppler Effect of Sound (HL)

Fields

Newton's Law of Gravitation

Gravitational Field Strength

Gravitational Field Lines

Gravitational Potential (HL)

Gravitational Potential Energy in a Non-Uniform Field (HL)

Gravitational Potential Energy Equation (HL)

Gravitational Potential Gradient (HL)

Gravitational Equipotential Surfaces (HL)

Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

Escape Speed (HL)

Orbital Motion, Speed & Energy (HL)

Effects of Drag on Orbital Motion (HL)

Electric Charge

Milikan's Oil Drop Experiment

Static Electricity

Coulomb's Law

Electric Field Strength

Electric Field Lines

Electric Potential (HL)

Electric Potential Energy (HL)

Electric Potential Energy Equation (HL)

Electric Potential Gradient (HL)

Electric Equipotential Surfaces (HL)

Magnetic Fields

Charged Particles in Electric Fields

Charged Particles in Magnetic Fields

Charged Particles in Electric & Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Force on a Charge

Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

Magnetic Force between Two Parallel Conductors

Induced Emf (HL)

Magnetic Flux (HL)

Faraday’s Law of Induction (HL)

Lenz's Law (HL)

AC Generators (HL)

Nuclear & Quantum Physics

Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment

Nuclear Notation

Emission & Absorption Spectrum

Photon Energy

Rutherford Scattering & Nuclear Radius (HL)

Deviations from Rutherford Scattering (HL)

The Bohr Model of Hydrogen (HL)

The Photoelectric Effect (HL)

The Photoelectric Equation (HL)

The Particle Nature of Light (HL)

The de Broglie Wavelength (HL)

Wave-Particle Duality (HL)

Compton Scattering (HL)

Isotopes & Radioactive Decay

Background Radiation

Alpha, Beta & Gamma Particles

Radioactive Decay Equations

Activity & Half-Life

Decay Constant & Half-Life (HL)

The Law of Radioactive Decay (HL)

Mass Defect & Nuclear Binding Energy

Binding Energy per Nucleon Curve

Nuclear Stability (HL)

Nuclear Energy Levels (HL)

Evidence for the Neutrino (HL)

Spontaneous & Induced Fission

Energy Released in Fission Reactions

Chain Reactions from Fission

Operation of a Nuclear Reactor

Radioactive Waste Management

Fusion Reactions in Stars

Energy Released in Fusion Reactions

Star Formation

Life Cycle of a Star

The Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) Diagram

Emission & Absorption Spectra in Stars

Stellar Parallax

Determination of Stellar Radii

Tools

Fundamental & Derived Units in IB Physics

Using Scientific Notation in Physics

Using Dimensional Analysis

Measurement Techniques in IB Physics

Random & Systematic Errors

Calculating Uncertainties

Determining Uncertainties from Graphs

Scalar & Vector Quantities

Combining & Resolving Vectors

Scale Diagrams