Physics

To help you transition seamlessly into the rigours of the IB Diploma or Career-related Programme, this subject page houses your essential preparatory resources. Beyond the required Summer Task, designed to prime your analytical and subject-specific skills, you will find curated Recommended Reading and Recommended Viewing lists. These selections are handpicked by your future teachers to broaden your perspective, ignite your curiosity, and provide the cultural and academic context necessary for high-level inquiry. Engaging with these materials now will not only ease the step up from Grade 10 but will also give you a distinct advantage as you begin your two-year journey. 

Task

Complete the attached Projectile Motion Worksheet using the PhET Projectile Motion Simulation:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/projectile-motion/latest/projectile-motion_en.html

The purpose of this activity is to encourage exploration and inquiry. Rather than simply finding answers, you should use the simulation to investigate how changing different variables affects the projectile's motion.

Expectations

1. Complete all sections of the worksheet.

2. Use the simulation to collect evidence and test predictions.

3. Record observations carefully and accurately.

4. Support your answers with scientific reasoning and evidence from the simulation.

5. Show all calculations where required.

6. Reflect on any patterns or trends you observe.

Scientific Thinking

As you complete the investigation, consider the following questions:

• How does launch angle affect the range of the projectile?

• How does changing the initial velocity affect the trajectory?

• Does mass affect projectile motion when air resistance is neglected?

• What factors determine the maximum height reached?

• What patterns emerge from your data?

Submission

Submit the completed worksheet by 4th September

To prepare yourself for G11, it is advised to review topics from MYP from this book, which include contents from mostly Unit A 

Unit A: Space, Motion and Time

Understanding Car Crashes: It's Basic Physics 

Focus: Forces, momentum, energy transfer, acceleration, and motion.

Why watch: This video demonstrates how fundamental concepts from mechanics apply to real-world situations. It helps students visualize forces and motion while developing a deeper understanding of the relationships between momentum, energy, and safety systems. These concepts form a significant foundation for Grade 11 Physics.

Unit B: Thermal Physics

How do ocean currents work? - Jennifer Verduin - YouTube 

Focus: Heat transfer, convection currents, thermal energy, and climate systems.

Why watch: This video connects thermal physics to large-scale natural phenomena. It provides an engaging explanation of how temperature differences drive ocean currents and influence global climate patterns, helping students appreciate the real-world applications of thermal energy transfer.

Unit C: Waves

Why Is the Sky Blue? 

Focus: Electromagnetic waves, light, scattering, and the interaction of waves with matter.

Why watch: This video explores one of the most common natural phenomena through the lens of wave physics. It introduces students to the behavior of light and wave interactions, helping bridge the gap between everyday observations and scientific explanations.

Unit D: Fields

World's Strongest Magnet! - YouTube 

Focus: Magnetic fields, electromagnetic interactions, and field strength.

Why watch: Understanding fields can often be challenging because they are invisible. This video provides a fascinating demonstration of magnetic phenomena, allowing students to visualize field effects and better understand the forces that arise from magnetic interactions.

Unit E: Nuclear and Quantum Physics

TIMELAPSE OF THE FUTURE: A Journey to the End of Time (4K) 

Focus: Nuclear processes, radioactive decay, stellar evolution, and the long-term future of the universe.

Why watch: This thought-provoking documentary explores the evolution of the universe over immense timescales while introducing concepts related to nuclear physics, particle interactions, and cosmology. It encourages students to think critically about some of the most advanced topics they will encounter in Grade 11 and beyond.