International Baccalaureate PhysicsMr. Lund eMail - lundtk@milwaukee.k12.wi.us Phone - 267-0700

CONTENTS PageThe International Baccalaureate Diploma Program 1The IB Physics Course 1The Curriculum Details 2The Group 4 Assessment Model 5Internal Assessment 6Examinations 6Grading In This Classroom 7

Starting August 2007 for the First Exam in May 2009

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a rigorous, pre-university course of studies, leading to examinations that meet the needs of highly-motivated secondary students. The IB Diploma Program is a comprehensive two-year curriculum that fosters a holistic development of the student by exposure to both the humanities and the sciences. The overall diploma program structure can be thought of as a central core of integrated and interdisciplinary curriculum which ties together the more traditional academic areas of the languages, the social sciences, the arts, mathematics, and the experimental sciences.

Students select one subject from each of the six academic groups. At least three and not more than four are taken at higher level (HL); others are studied at standard level(SL). Diploma candidates must meet three additional requirements: (1) They must take the interdisciplinary Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course; (2) They must prepare a 4000-word Extended Essay--an in-depth investigation into one of their subject areas; (3) They must participate in the Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) aspect of the IB program by becoming involved in artistic pursuits, sports, and community service.

The IB Physics CourseThe IB Physics course is intended to be taught over a two-year period. It is a basic survey course, so students with no physics background will be able to study IB Physics with only a knowledge of algebra and trigonometry. Students wishing to see the calculus aspect of physics may work me on an independent program if they wish. I have PowerPoint presentations and supplementary material for such self-motivated students.

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Group 1

Language A1

Artsand

Electives

Individuals and

Societies

Mathematics

SecondLanguage

BiologyChemistryPhysics

Design Technology

Group 3

Group 2

Group 4

Group 5

Group 6

Extended Essay

Theory of Knowledge

Creativity, Action, and Service

There are two levels of IB Physics offered at King - namely the Standard Level (SL) and the Higher Level (HL). Both levels are intended to be studied over a two-year period. A comparison of the two levels is shown in the tables on the next page. Note that the HL requires student commitment of an additional 90 hours of teaching time over a two-year period, which boils down to about 45 hours per year of extra study by a student.

Standard Level Physics (SL) Hours Higher Level Physics (HL) HoursTotal Teaching Time 150 Total Teaching Time 240Theory 110 Theory 180

Core 80 Core (same as SL core) 80Option 1 15 Additional Higher Level (AHL) 45Option 2 15 Option 1 22

Option 2 22Internal Assessment 40 Internal Assessment 60

Investigations 30 Investigations 50Group 4 Project 10 Group 4 Project 10

We can illustrate the difference between standard and higher level physics (minus the two options) by observing the two figures shown to the right: In Figure 1 we see that the main difference between SL and HL is simply the amount of material covered, NOT the depth or difficulty of the material. In Figure 2 we see that SL and HL both have the identical core of 80 hours. HL has an additional "core" of 45 hours (termed AHL).

In addition to the core material, both SL and HL courses cover an additional two topics called options. For the standard level the options total 15 hours of teaching time each. For the higher level the options total 22 hours each. There are SL-only options, SL / HL-combination options, and HL-only options. For the SL / HL-combination options, the HL students must do 7 hours of extra work each, to raise the teaching time hours to 22 hours each.

The Curriculum Details

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Core SL & HL

AHL

Figure 2SL and HL have the same core material. The difference between the two levels is the supplementary material.

CORE AHL

SL HLFigure 1

SL and HL have same depth but different breadth. The difference between the two levels is simply the amount of material covered-not the rigor.

Since the IB Physics course is intended to be taught over a two-year period, the order of presentation of the material is not necessarily in the order given below. Also, in any two-year cycle, not all of the options will be covered. Anywhere from 2 to 4 of the options will be covered in the two-year cycle.

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Topic Hours

CORE 80Topic 1: Physics and physical measurement 51.1 The realm of physics 11.2 Measurement and uncertainties 21.3 Vectors and scalars 2Topic 2: Mechanics 172.1 Kinematics 62.2 Forces and dynamics 62.3 Work, energy and power 32.4 Uniform circular motion 2Topic 3: Thermal physics 73.1 Thermal concepts 2

3.2 Thermal properties of matter 5Topic 4: Oscillations and waves 104.1 Kinematics and simple harmonic motion (SHM) 24.2 Energy changes during SHM 14.3 Forced oscillations and resonance 34.4 Wave characteristics 24.5 Wave properties 2Topic 5: Electric currents 75.1 Electric potential difference, current and resistance 45.2 Electric circuits 3Topic 5: Fields and forces 76.1 Gravitational force and field 26.2 Electric force and field 36.3 Magnetic force and field 2Topic 7: Atomic and nuclear physics 97.1 The atom 27.2 Radioactive decay 37.3 Nuclear reactions, fission and fusion 4Topic 8: Energy, power, and climate change 188.1 Energy degradation and power generation 28.2 World energy sources 28.3 Fossil fuel power production 18.4 Non-fossil fuel power production 78.5 Greenhouse effect 38.6. Global warming 3

AHL 55Topic 9: Motion in fields 89.1 Projectile motion 29.2 Gravitational field, potential, and energy 29.3 Electric field, potential, and energy 29.4 Orbital motion 2Topic 10: Thermal physics 610.1 Thermodynamics 2

The Group 4 Assessment ModelAt the end of the second year of the course, a diploma candidate will be assessed externally through three examination papers which evaluates the candidate's knowledge of the theory of the subject. The candidate will also be assessed internally through the use of a log which keeps track of laboratory hours and criteria pertaining to growth in laboratory skills.

Theory - External Assessment (Exams) Practical - Internal Assessment (IA)SL and HL Core Laboratory InvestigationsAHL Group 4 ProjectSL and HL Options ICT

Internal AssessmentDuring the course of the candidate's two years in the subject area, the teacher will assign a variety of laboratory investigations, which will be evaluated by the teacher using five assessment criteria. These five criteria are summarized below:Criteria Code Aspects Times

AssessedMaximum

MarksWhen Assessed

Design D 3 2 12 Some or all laboratory investigations

Data Collection and Processing

DCP 3 2 12 Some or all laboratory investigations

Conclusion and Evaluation

CE 3 2 12 Some or all laboratory investigations

Manipulative Skills

MS 3 1 6 Summative

Personal Skills PS 3 1 6 Group 4 ProjectEach of the criteria will be separated into three aspects, each of which will be assigned a value of 0, 1, or 2, depending on whether the aspect is satisfied not at all, partially, or completely. Thus each criteria can attain a maximum mark of 32 = 6.

The first three criteria (D, DCP, and CE) are marked at least twice by the teacher, and so can total a maximum value of 36 marks. The MS criteria is summative in nature, and given once by the teacher at the end of the two year course. It is based on the teacher's observation of the student's manipulative skills over that time. The final criteria PS is also evaluated once - during the Group 4 Project. These last two criteria can attain a maximum of 6 marks each. Thus over the two year period a candidate can acquire a maximum of 48 marks for internal assessment. Internal assessment is worth 24% of the candidate's overall IB grade. The internal assessment is moderated by the IBO.

External Assessment

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At the end of the candidate's two years in the subject area, the IB organization will produce a comprehensive exam on the theory portion of the course. This exam is comprised of three papers as outlined in the table below:SL Assessment Percent Hours ContentsPaper 1 20 0.75 MC Core QuestionsPaper 2 32 1.25 FR Core QuestionsPaper 3 24 1.00 Two Options(Internal Assessment) 24 40 Moderated Practical

HL Assessment Percent Hours ContentsPaper 1 20 1.00 MC Core + AHL QuestionsPaper 2 36 2.25 FR Core + AHL QuestionsPaper 3 20 1.25 Two Options(Internal Assessment) 24 60 Moderated Practical

The candidate's overall IB grade is based on the three papers and the internal assessment. Candidates receive a grade according to the following table:

Grading in This ClassroomNotes (10%): I expect you to take daily notes in a spiral (or loose-leaf) notebook, clearly marked with your name, and dedicated to physics. I will observe your notes daily. Date your notes. If you are absent, get your notes from a classmate, or from me. I will lecture with the assistance of PowerPoint (as often as I can). If you e-mail me I will send you a copy of my PowerPoint presentation for the day. Homework (20%): Homework will be assigned after each lecture. The next day I will observe and check in your homework. What I will be looking for is that you made a legitimate attempt on each problem. After checking it in, we will go over any questions you may have. Late homework will be penalized 33% for each class period it is late. Late homework will only be checked in before or after school.

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Descriptor IB GradeExcellent 7Very Good 6Good 5Satisfactory 4Mediocre 3Poor 2Very Poor 1

Tests (25%): You will be taking closed-book free response and multiple choice tests about four times per quarter.Quizzes (25%): You will be taking about 10 closed-note and open-note quizzes at the beginning of the hour on previously announced days. Labwork (20%): You will be doing hands-on and video-based labs and other group work at the rate of about ten days per quarter. The hands-on labs will illustrate the difficulties of gathering data accurately and help develop your hands-on skills. The video labs will allow you to analyze video-taped experiments which will yield very accurate results with a minimum of sophisticated equipment. The group work will help develop your skills in cooperative learning. Lab reports must be turned in, and on time. I will keep your reports in a folder.

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