Physics data booklet

For use during the course and in the examinations

First assessment 2025

Version 1.2
 Diploma Programme
Physics data booklet

Published February 2023

Updated May 2023, November 2023

Published on behalf of the International Baccalaureate Organization, a not-for-profit

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4082
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mathematical equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Uncertainties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Fundamental constants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Metric (SI) multipliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Unit conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Electrical circuit symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Electromagnetic spectrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Space, time and motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
B. The particulate nature of matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
C. Wave behaviour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
D. Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
E. Nuclear and quantum physics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Physics data booklet

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Physics data booklet

Introduction
This Diploma Programme (DP) Physics data booklet accompanies the DP Physics guide and DP
Physics teacher support material. It contains electrical symbols, mathematics equations, constants,
and physics equations relevant to the course.

Students must have access to a copy of this booklet for the duration of the course so that they
can become familiar with its contents. Direct reference is made to relevant equations in the
“Understandings” sections of the guide. This helps to maintain the emphasis on interpretation and
application rather than memorization of symbols, constants and equations.

The Physics data booklet is split into two sections. The first includes information which is used
throughout the teaching of DP physics and the second contains equations relevant to specific themes
and topics. Note that all equations relate to the magnitude of the quantities only. Vector notation has
not been used.

Each student must have access to a clean copy of the Physics data booklet during examinations.
It is the responsibility of the school to download a copy of this booklet from IBIS or the Programme
Resource Centre and to ensure that there are sufficient copies available for all students.

Physics data booklet 1

Mathematical equations
Area of a triangle 1
A= (bh ) where b is the base, h is the height
2
Area of a circle A = πr 2 where r is the radius

Circumference of a circle C = 2πr

Volume of a cuboid V = lwh where l is the length, w is the width, h is the

height
Volume of a cylinder V r 2h

Volume of a prism V = Ah where A is the area of cross-section

4 3
Volume of a sphere V= πr
3

Area of the curved surface A 2 rh

of a cylinder
Vectors A
AV

θ
AH

AH A cos

AV A sin

sin θ
Trigonometric relationships tan θ =
cos θ

sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1

2 Physics data booklet

Uncertainties
If: y = a ± b then: ∆y = ∆a + ∆b Δy: absolute uncertainty in y

ab ∆y ∆a ∆b ∆c
If: y = then: = + +
c y a b c

∆y ∆a
If: y = a n then: = n
y a

Fundamental constants
Quantity Symbol Approximate value

Acceleration of free fall g 9.8 m s−2 (Earth’s surface)

Gravitational constant G 6.67 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2

Avogadro constant NA 6.02 × 1023 mol−1

Gas constant R 8.31JK −1 mol−1

Boltzmann constant kB 1.38 × 10−23 JK −1

Stefan–Boltzmann constant σ 5.67 × 10−8 W m−2 K −4

Coulomb constant k 8.99 × 109 Nm2 C−2

Permittivity of free space ε0 8.85 × 10−12 C2 N−1 m−2

Permeability of free space 4 10 7 T m A 1

Speed of light in vacuum c 3.00 × 108 m s−1

Planck constant h 6.63 × 10−34 Js

Elementary charge e 1.60 × 10−19 C

Electron rest mass me 9.110 × 10−31 kg = 0.000549 u = 0.511MeV c −2

Proton rest mass mp 1.673 × 10−27 kg = 1.007276 u = 938 MeV c −2

Neutron rest mass mn 1.675 × 10−27 kg = 1.008665 u = 940 MeV c −2

(Unified) atomic mass unit u 1.661× 10−27 kg = 931.5 MeV c −2

Solar constant S 1.36 × 103 W m−2

Fermi radius R0 1.20 × 10−15 m

Physics data booklet 3

Metric (SI) multipliers
Prefix Abbreviation Value

peta P 1015

tera T 1012

giga G 109
mega M 106

kilo k 103

hecto h 102

deca da 101

deci d 10−1

centi c 10−2

milli m 10−3

micro μ 10−6

nano n 10−9

pico p 10−12

femto f 10−15

Unit conversions

180°
1 radian (rad) ≡
π
Temperature (K ) = temperature ( °C ) + 273

1 light year ( ly ) = 9.46 × 1015 m

1 parsec (pc ) = 3.26 ly

1 astronomical unit ( AU) = 1.50 × 1011 m

1 kilowatt-hour ( kWh ) = 3.60 × 106 J

h c = 1.99 × 10−25 Jm = 1.24 × 10 −6 eV m

4 Physics data booklet

Electrical circuit symbols

Cell Battery Switch

Voltmeter Ammeter Resistor

Light-dependent resistor
Variable resistor Thermistor
(LDR)

Potentiometer Lamp Light emitting diode (LED)

Heating element Motor Earth (ground)

Electromagnetic spectrum
energy

10 −16 10 −14 10 −12 10 −10 10 −8 10 −6 10 −4 10 −2 100 102 10 4 106 108 wavelength / m

 rays X-rays UV IR microwaves radio waves

V I B G Y O R
400 700
wavelength / nm

Physics data booklet 5

A. Space, time and motion
Standard level and higher level

A.1 Kinematics u +v
s= t
2
v = u + at
1 2
s = ut + at
2

v 2 = u 2 + 2as
A.2 Forces and momentum Ff ≤ µsFN

Ff = µdFN

FH = −k x

Fd = 6πη rv

Fb = ρVg

Fg = mg

p = mv

J = F ∆t
∆p
F = ma =
∆t
v2 4π 2 r
a= = ω 2r = 2
r T

2π r
v= = ωr
T
A.3 Work, energy and power W = Fs cos θ

1 p2
Ek  mv 2 
2 2m

∆Ep = mg ∆h

1
EH = k ∆x 2
2
∆W
P= = Fv
∆t

useful work out useful power out

η= =
total work in total power in

6 Physics data booklet

Additional higher level

A.4 Rigid body mechanics τ = Fr sin θ

ωf + ωi
∆θ = t
2
ωf = ωi + α t

1
∆θ = ωit + α t 2
2
ωf2 = ωi2 + 2α∆θ

I = Σmr 2
τ = Iα
L = Iω
∆L = τ∆t
∆L = ∆( I ω )

1 2 L2
Ek = Iω =
2 2I
A.5 Galilean and special relativity x ' = x − vt
t'=t
u' = u −v
1
x ' = γ ( x − vt ) where γ =
v2
1−
c2
 vx 
t ' = γ t − 2 
 c 
u −v
u' =
uv
1− 2
c
( ∆s )2 = (c ∆t )2 − ∆x 2

∆t = γ∆t0

L0
L=
γ
v
tan θ =
c

Physics data booklet 7

B. The particulate nature of matter
Standard level and higher level
B.1 Thermal energy transfers m
ρ=
V
3
Ek = kBT
2
Q = mc ∆T
Q = mL
∆Q ∆T
= −kA
∆t ∆x
L = σ AT 4
L
b=
4π d 2
λmaxT = 2.9 × 10−3 mK

B.2 Greenhouse effect power radiated per unit area

emissivity =
σT 4
total scattered power
albedo =
total incident power
B.3 Gas laws F
P=
A
N
n=
NA

PV
= constant
T
= = NkBT
PV nRT

1 2
P= ρv
3
3 3
=U = nRT NkBT
2 2

8 Physics data booklet

B.5 Current and circuits ∆q
I=
∆t
W
V=
q
V
R=
I
RA
ρ=
L
V2 2
P I=
= V I R=
R
Series circuits Parallel circuits

I= I=
1 I 2 = ... I = I1 + I 2 + ...

V = V1 + V2 + ... V= V=
1 V2 = ...

1 1 1
Rs = R1 + R2 + ... = + + ...
Rp R1 R2

ε = I(R + r )
Additional higher level
B.4 Thermodynamics Q = ∆U + W
W = P ∆V
3 3
∆U = nR ∆T = NkB ∆T
2 2
∆Q
∆S =
T
S = kB ln Ω
5
PV = constant
3

useful work
η=
input energy
Tc
ηCarnot = 1 −
Th

Physics data booklet 9

C. Wave behaviour
Standard level and higher level
C.1 Simple harmonic motion a = −ω 2 x
1 2π
T= =
f ω

m
T = 2π
k

l
T = 2π
g

C.2 Wave model λ

v= fλ =
T
C.3 Wave phenomena n1 sin θ 2 v 2
= =
n2 sin θ1 v1

Constructive interference:
path difference = nλ

Destructive interference:
1
path difference = (n + )λ
2
λD
s=
d
C.5 Doppler effect ∆f ∆λ v
= ≈
f λ c
Additional higher level
C.1 Simple harmonic motion x = x0 sin(ωt + φ )

v = ω x0 cos(ωt + φ )

v = ±ω x0 2 − x 2

1
ET = mω 2 x02
2
1
Ep = mω 2 x 2
2

10 Physics data booklet

C.3 Wave phenomena λ
θ=
b
nλ = d sin θ
C.5 Doppler effect  v 
Moving source: f ′ = f  
 v ± us 
 v ± uo 
Moving observer: f ′ = f  
 v 

Physics data booklet 11

D. Fields
Standard level and higher level
D.1 Gravitational fields m1m2
F =G
r2
F M
=
g = G 2
m r
D.2 Electric and magnetic fields q1q2 1
F =k where k =
r 2
4πε 0
F
E=
q
V
E=
d
D.3 Motion in electromagnetic fields F = qvB sin θ

F = B I L sin θ
F II
= µ0 1 2
L 2π r
Additional higher level
D.1 Gravitational fields m1m2
Ep = −G
r
M
Vg = −G
r
∆Vg
g=−
∆r
W = m∆Vg

2GM
v esc =
r

GM
v orbital =
r
D.2 Electric and magnetic fields q1q2
Ep = k
r
kQ
Ve =
r
∆Ve
E=−
∆r
W = q ∆Ve

12 Physics data booklet

D.4 Induction Φ = BA cos θ
∆Φ
ε = −N
∆t
ε = BvL

E. Nuclear and quantum physics

Standard level and higher level
E.1 Structure of the atom E =hf
E.3 Radioactive decay E = mc 2
E.5 Fusion and stars 1
d(parsec) =
p(arc-second)
Additional higher level
E.1 Structure of the atom 1
R = R0 A 3

13.6
E=− eV
n2
nh
mvr =
2π
E.2 Quantum physics Emax = h f − Φ

h
λ=
p
h
λf − λi = ∆λ = (1 − cos θ )
me c

E.3 Radioactive decay N = N0 e − λ t

A = λ N = λ N0 e − λ t
ln 2
T1 =
2
λ

Physics data booklet 13