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The 2025 updates to the IB Physics syllabus might leave students uncertain about the new Paper 2 format. In this post, we'll simplify everything you need to know, helping you tackle the exam with confidence and clarity.
IB Physics Paper 2
- Accounts for 44% of the student's subject grade (SL & HL).
- SL students have 1 hour 30 minutes, while HL students are given 2 hours 30 minutes to complete Paper 2.
- Calculators are permitted.
- Paper 2 is made up of short-answer and extended-response questions.
- Paper 2 may cover all topics of the syllabus.
- A calculator is required for this exam.
- Students will have access to an IB-issued formula booklet.
A typical SL question may look the following way:
Small pieces of solid paraffin with a total mass of 30 g at a temperature of 42 °C are mixed with 150 g of liquid paraffin at a temperature of 240 °C. The mixture is stirred until an equilibrium temperature is reached.
The following data for paraffin are available
Specific heat capacity of solid paraffin = 0.7 kJ kg-1 K-1
Specific heat capacity of liquid paraffin = 2.13 kJ kg-1 K-1
Specific latent heat of fusion of paraffin = 220 kJ kg-1 Melting point of paraffin = 47 °C
(a) Calculate the theoretical equilibrium temperature of the mixture. [3]
When the experiment was carried out, the equilibrium temperature of the mixture was found to be different from the theoretical value.
(b) Suggest the reason for this difference.[2]
(c) The mixture was held in a large metal container during the mixing. Explain one change to the procedure that will reduce the difference in (b). [1]
A typical HL question may look the following way:
Potassium -40 (40/19K) decays by two processes.
The first process is that of beta-minus decay to form a calcium (Ca) nuclide.
(a) Write down the equation for this decay. [2]
(b) Potasium-40 decays by a second process to argon-40. This decay amounts for 11% of the total decay of the potassium-40.
Rocks can be dated by measuring the quantity of argon-40 gas trapped in them. One rock sample contains 340 μmol of potassium-40 and 12 μmol of argon-40.
(i) Show that the initial quantity of potassium-40 in the rock sample was about 450 μmol. [2]
(ii) The half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 x 109 years. Estimate the age of the rock sample. [3]
(c) Outline how the decay constant of potassium-40 was determined in the laboratory for a pure sample of the nuclide. [3]
How to succeed in Physics Paper 2?
To succeed in Physics Paper 2, you need a combination of strong conceptual understanding, practical problem-solving skills, and effective exam techniques. Make sure to master all topics in the syllabus, as the exam can cover any area, from motion to quantum physics. IB Physics is a subject which revolves mainly around application of the learned concepts hence it is not enough to simply memorise the key concepts. It is very important that you have a thorough understanding and are able to approach them from various perspectives and apply them in different contexts. As such, it is crucial you practice past exam problems as this is will enable you to master these skills.
We hope you found this post helpful. For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify.
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