Question 1
A box of mass m rests without moving on a rough slope at angle θ to the horizontal. The coefficient of static friction is μₛ. What is the size of the frictional force on the box?
Physics for the IB Diploma, SL and HL, theme by theme.
Find your weakest theme in a free test, fix it with a short lesson, then practise Paper 1A, Paper 1B and Paper 2-style questions with worked answers.
The only interactive course with a tutor that finds your weak spots and fixes them.
Find your weakest theme in 30 minutes
Pick SL or HL, then answer questions across all five themes, with graphs, circuits and data. No account. You get your score in each theme, the one to fix first, a short lesson on it, four fresh questions to check it worked and a plan.
Practice in the shape of the papers
Data-based and short-answer questions
Structured questions in the style of Paper 1B and Paper 2: a set-up and its data, then each part answered in the unit shown. Every value is checked within a sensible tolerance, your significant figures are noted and the working is shown in full.
Plan by theme
Themes are not the same size: at HL, Fields has 38 hours of teaching against 29 for Wave behaviour. Set your level, the weeks you have and how sure you are of each theme, and get a week-by-week plan.
The five themes
The course first assessed in 2025: 110 hours of syllabus content at SL and 180 at HL. HL-only topics are marked.
Theme A: Space, time and motion
Kinematics, Forces and momentum, Work, energy and power, Rigid body mechanics (HL), Galilean and special relativity (HL).
27 hours at SL, 42 at HL
Theme B: The particulate nature of matter
Thermal energy transfers, Greenhouse effect, Gas laws, Thermodynamics (HL), Current and circuits.
24 hours at SL, 32 at HL
Theme C: Wave behaviour
Simple harmonic motion, Wave model, Wave phenomena, Standing waves and resonance, Doppler effect.
17 hours at SL, 29 at HL
Theme D: Fields
Gravitational fields, Electric and magnetic fields, Motion in electromagnetic fields, Induction (HL).
19 hours at SL, 38 at HL
Theme E: Nuclear and quantum physics
Structure of the atom, Quantum physics (HL), Radioactive decay, Fission, Fusion and stars.
23 hours at SL, 39 at HL
How it is assessed
| Component | SL | HL | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Paper 1A: multiple-choice questions. Paper 1B: data-based questions. | 1.5 hours | 2 hours | 36% |
| Paper 2 Short-answer and extended-response questions. | 1.5 hours | 2.5 hours | 44% |
| Scientific investigation An open-ended investigation of your own research question, written up as a report of at most 3,000 words. | 10 hours | 10 hours | 20% |
Try 4 questions
Question 2
The graph shows the current I in a filament lamp against the pd V across it. What is the resistance of the lamp when the pd across it is 6.0 V?
Question 3
The graph shows how the gravitational field strength g outside a planet of radius R varies with the distance r from its centre, from r = R to r = 2R. What is g at r = 4R?
Question 4
| Nuclide | Z | A |
|---|---|---|
| P | 6 | 12 |
| Q | 6 | 14 |
| R | 7 | 14 |
| S | 8 | 16 |
The table gives the proton number Z and the nucleon number A of four nuclides. Which two are isotopes of the same element?
In the course
- 20 interactive lessons
- 271 multiple-choice questions
- 33 structured questions with 153 parts
- 2 timed Paper 1 practice papers, SL and HL
Guides
Diploma Physics Genius Pro
US$149one payment
- 20 interactive lessons
- 271 multiple-choice questions
- 33 structured questions checked part by part
- 2 timed Paper 1 practice papers
Full refund within 14 days. Ask within 14 days of paying, for any reason. Our refund promise still applies after you start the course. The note under the pay button is about the separate legal right to cancel. Terms
By paying you agree to our Terms and get access straight away, which ends your 14-day cancellation right. Your full refund within 14 days, for any reason, still applies.
Take the free test firstApple Pay, Google Pay or card. Charged in USD.
One payment. No sales tax is added. Access until 31 December 2028.