Overview
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a rigorous pre-university course of studies that meets the needs of a highly motivated secondary school student. All students in IB Physics are required to take the IB Exam at the end of the second year of the course (May 15 and 16 2017 for Physics 2). IB Physics is designed to enable students to think more logically and to understand the physical principles that govern the world in which they live. The course strives to help students develop critical thinking skills so that they can appreciate and understand the two-pronged nature of physics. The students will gain experience in scientific inquiry and develop a lasting familiarity with the process of science. Students will work in both independent and collaborative situations while pursuing their study of physics, both within the formal structure of the course and on outside activities. The course will provide a forum, in collaboration with other IB science classes, for discussion of current topics and issues in modern science.
Year 1 of the course covers the core curriculum content, introduces the IA in the form of Science Fair and fulfills the graduation requirement for an advanced academic diploma. Year 2 revisits some topics from year 1 at greater depth and expands the concepts learned in year 1 as they are applied to other areas of physics. The IA for year 2 is an independent project that will be submitted to IB for moderation of marks awarded by Mr. Rugari and the Group 4 Project.
This course will be offered at the Higher Level. 20 instructional units of study over the course of the two years, each about 3 weeks in length, will investigate the following topics:
Measurement, Mechanics, Thermal Physics and Properties of Matter, Waves, Electricity and Magnetism, Atomic/Nuclear/Quantum Physics
Rotational Mechanics, and Fluid Flow
This course will be offered at the Higher Level. 20 instructional units of study over the course of the two years, each about 3 weeks in length, will investigate the following topics:
Measurement, Mechanics, Thermal Physics and Properties of Matter, Waves, Electricity and Magnetism, Atomic/Nuclear/Quantum Physics
Rotational Mechanics, and Fluid Flow
Course text: IB Course Companion, 2014 ed. by Homer and Bowen-Jones (replacement cost $60).
Course Objectives
The students will be able to
· Describe the laws of physics
· Apply physics laws and principles to real world phenomena
· Design and conduct physics experiments
· Analyze experimental data and interpret results
· Describe the experimental bases that underlie different physical laws
· Apply laws to new and/or unfamiliar situations
· Describe the limitations of physical laws and theories
· Describe the laws of physics
· Apply physics laws and principles to real world phenomena
· Design and conduct physics experiments
· Analyze experimental data and interpret results
· Describe the experimental bases that underlie different physical laws
· Apply laws to new and/or unfamiliar situations
· Describe the limitations of physical laws and theories
The IB Written Exam accounts for 80% of the final IB Mark and will be administered to year two students over two days. Monday, May 15(afternoon) -- Paper 1 & 2 and Tuesday, May 16 (morning) -- Paper 3. The IB Internal Assessment accounts for the other 20% of the final IB Mark.