Home IB Physics Exam Practice Questions

Physics SL Exam Practice Questions

Exam-style MCQs and structured questions with full worked solutions.

20 sets MCQ + Structured 6 topics P1 + P2
Jump to: 📘 Space, Time & Motion 📗 The Particulate Nature of Matter 📐 Wave Behaviour 📊 Fields ∫ Nuclear & Quantum Physics 🛠️ Tools
1

Topic 1

Space, Time & Motion

Kinematics, forces, momentum, energy and power

Motion & Kinematics

Distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, motion equations, motion graphs, projectile motion, fluid resistance, and terminal velocity.

Forces, Interactions & Momentum

Free-body diagrams, Newton’s laws, contact and non-contact forces, friction, Hooke’s law, Stokes’ law, buoyancy, impulse, momentum conservation, collisions, explosions, and circular motion.

Work, Energy & Power

Work done, kinetic and potential energy, conservation of energy, mechanical energy, power, efficiency, Sankey diagrams, and energy density.

2

Topic 2

The Particulate Nature of Matter

Thermal physics, climate, gases and electricity

Thermal Physics & Energy Transfer

States of matter, density, temperature, internal energy, thermal equilibrium, changes of state, heat capacity, latent heat, conduction, convection, radiation, luminosity, the Stefan–Boltzmann law, and Wien’s law.

Climate Physics & the Greenhouse Effect

Albedo, emissivity, the solar constant, greenhouse gases, the greenhouse effect, and energy balance.

Gases & Molecular Motion

Gas pressure, amount of substance, the gas laws, the ideal gas equation, kinetic theory, and molecular kinetic energy.

Electricity & Circuits

Circuit diagrams, current, potential difference, resistance, resistivity, I–V graphs, series and parallel circuits, power, EMF, internal resistance, and variable resistance.

3

Topic 3

Wave Behaviour

Oscillations, waves, resonance and the Doppler effect

Oscillations & SHM

Oscillations, simple harmonic motion, mass–spring systems, simple pendulums, and energy changes in SHM.

The Wave Model

Wave properties, transverse and longitudinal waves, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves.

Wave Interactions

Reflection, refraction, transmission, diffraction, superposition, interference, wavefronts, rays, and Young’s double-slit experiment.

Standing Waves & Resonance

Standing waves, nodes, antinodes, boundary conditions, harmonics, resonance, and damping.

Doppler Effect & Redshift

The Doppler effect in sound and light, including galactic redshift.

4

Topic 4

Fields

Gravitational, electric and magnetic fields

Gravitational Fields

Newton’s law of gravitation, gravitational field strength, field diagrams, and Kepler’s laws.

Electric & Magnetic Fields

Electric charge, Millikan’s experiment, static electricity, Coulomb’s law, electric field strength, field lines, and magnetic fields.

Motion in Fields

Forces on currents and charges, parallel wire forces, and charged-particle motion in electric, magnetic, and combined fields.

5

Topic 5

Nuclear & Quantum Physics

Atoms, radioactivity, fission, fusion and stars

Atomic Structure & Quantum Ideas

Rutherford scattering, nuclear notation, spectra, and photon energy.

Radioactivity & Nuclear Stability

Isotopes, radioactive decay, background radiation, alpha, beta and gamma radiation, decay equations, half-life, activity, applications, mass defect, and binding energy.

Nuclear Fission

Spontaneous and induced fission, energy release, chain reactions, nuclear reactors, and radioactive waste.

Fusion, Stars & Astrophysics

Fusion in stars, stellar energy, star formation, life cycles, HR diagrams, spectra, parallax, and stellar radii.

6

Topic 6

Tools

Core maths and practical skills for physics

Mathematical Skills for Physics

Scalars and vectors, vector resolution, scale diagrams, units, dimensional analysis, uncertainties, graphing, and data processing.

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