The Comprehensive IB Physics Notes for 2022

examinations for both HL and SL

By Miro Keimiöniemi

I present to you: the all-encompassing yet condensed IB physics notes based on the
sixth edition of the Physics for the IB Diploma by K. A. Tsokos, with all errors and
inconsistencies corrected, while not omitting a single relevant detail, theoretically
covering everything necessary for full points in HL and SL physics final exams*. They
obviously cannot be perfect, but pen was never put onto paper until it was confirmed
that the expression is the best, most condensed, comprehensible and correct. The
structure follows our course progression rather than the book but is arguably more
logical. However, an actionable contents page is provided for easy navigation.
Additionally, all units, variables and equations have been defined and derived on every
mention. Please enjoy, or at least suffer a little less in your efforts of practicing for the
finals, that’s what it is ultimately about anyway isn’t it?

If you found these helpful or got any value out of these, please consider making a small
donation at ib-done.com to support me on my way to university. Hundreds of hours
have been used to make them and that’s partially why I give them away for free: so that
you don’t have to. I want to make the immense undertaking of studying physis just a
little easier, quicker and convenient for everyone. Do also share the link to all IB
physics students you feel might benefit from it!

*Although confident, not guaranteed. Do make sure you have not missed anything by practicing past papers, skimming
through your official book of preference and consulting with your teacher.
The SI system .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Measurement and uncertainties ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Linearizing graphs ............................................................................................................................................................... 7
Constructing vectors from components ............................................................................................................................. 7
Mechanics ............................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Linear motion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Projectile motion ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Forces ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Energy ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Momentum and impulse .................................................................................................................................................. 13
Thermal physics .................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Modeling a gas.................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Waves.................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Oscillations ....................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Traveling waves ................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Wave characteristics......................................................................................................................................................... 22
Wave behavior.................................................................................................................................................................. 25
Wave phenomena ................................................................................................................................................................. 29
Simple harmonic motion .................................................................................................................................................. 29
Single-slit diffraction ......................................................................................................................................................... 32
Interference ...................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Resolution ......................................................................................................................................................................... 37
The Doppler effect ............................................................................................................................................................ 39
Electricity and magnetism ..................................................................................................................................................... 41
Electric cells ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Magnetic fields ...................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Circular motion and gravitation ............................................................................................................................................ 54
Fields ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 57
Fields at work ........................................................................................................................................................................ 62
Inverse square law behavior............................................................................................................................................. 64
Electromagnetic induction .................................................................................................................................................... 65
Transmission of power ..................................................................................................................................................... 68
Capacitance ...................................................................................................................................................................... 73
Atomic, nuclear and particle physics .................................................................................................................................... 77
Nuclear structure .............................................................................................................................................................. 78
Nuclear reactions .............................................................................................................................................................. 83
The structure of matter .................................................................................................................................................... 86
Quantum and nuclear physics............................................................................................................................................... 92
Nuclear physics ............................................................................................................................................................... 101
Energy production............................................................................................................................................................... 105
Thermal energy transfer ................................................................................................................................................. 110
The SI system

Measurement and 3
uncertainties T he SI sy stem
4
5
 6
Measurement and uncertainties

Linearizing graphsMeasurement
and uncertainties
 7
Linearizing graphs

Constructing vectors from components

MechanicsLinearizing graphs
 8
Mechanics
Linear motion

Projectile
motionMechanics
Linear motion
 9

Projectile motion

ForcesProjectile motion
 10

Forces

EnergyForces
11
 12

Energy

Momentum and
impulseEnergy
 13

Momentum and impulse

Thermal physicsMomentum and

impulse
14
 15
Thermal physics

Modeling a gasThermal
physics
 16

Modeling a gas

WavesModeling a gas
17
18
 19
OscillationsWaves
Oscillations

Traveling
wavesWaves
Oscillations
20
 21
Traveling waves

Wave
characteristicsTraveling
waves
 22

Wave characteristics

Wave behaviorWave
characteristics
23
24
 25

Wave behavior

Wave phenomenaWave
behavior
26
27
28
 29

Wave phenomena

Simple harmonic motion

Single-slit
diffractionWave
phenomena

Simple harmonic motion

30
31
 32

Single-slit diffraction

InterferenceSingle-slit
diffraction
33
 34

Interference

ResolutionInte
rference
35
36
 37

Resolution

The Doppler
effectResoluti
on
38
The Doppler effect 39

Electricity and magnetismThe

Doppler effect
40
 41

Electricity and magnetism

Electric cellsElectricity and

magnetism
42
43
44
45
46
47
 48

Electric cells

Magnetic fieldsElectric cells

49
 50
Magnetic fields

Circular motion and

gravitationMagnetic
fields
51
52
53
 54
Circular motion and gravitation

FieldsCircular motion and gravitation

55
56
 57
Fields

Fields at
workFiel
ds
58
59
60
61
 62
Fields at work

Inverse square
law
behaviorFields
at work
63
Inverse square law behavior 64

Electromagnetic inductionInverse
square law behavior
Electromagnetic induction 65

Transmission of
powerElectromagnetic
induction
66
67
Transmission of power 68

CapacitanceTransmission of
power
69
70
71
72
Capacitance 73

Atomic, nuclear
and particle
physicsCapacit
ance
74
75
76
 77
Atomic, nuclear and particle physics

Nuclear structureAtomic, nuclear and particle

physics
 78

Nuclear structure

Nuclear
reactionsNuclear
structure
79
80
81
82
Nuclear reactions 83

The structure of
matterNuclear reactions
84
85
 86

The structure of matter

Quantum and nuclear

physicsThe structure of matter
87
88
89
90
91
 92
Quantum and nuclear physics

Nuclear physicsQuantum and

nuclear physics
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
Nuclear physics 101

Energy productionNuclear
physics
102
103
104
Energy production 105

Thermal energy
transferEnergy
production
106
107
108
109
 110

Thermal energy transfer

111
112
113
114