We have everything in one place that you need to succeed in IB Physics!
Clear Concept Explanation Videos, an extensive Questionbank, full Mock Exams, a detailed Internal Assessment Guide and much more!
And of course, all our resources are updated for the new syllabus (first exams: May 2025).
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What IB Physics resources are available on PaperPlainz?
Concept Explanation Videos
Comprehensive, concise concept explanations, aligned with the new Physics syllabus that started in 2023 (first exams in 2025). We offer over 200 videos that cover all five major syllabus topics and also most concepts in the Mathematical Tools section of the Guide. The content here is designed to help you at every stage of your Physics learning.
Questionbank
A collection of exam-style questions arranged by Topics and Sub-topics. Paper 1A multiple choice questions are accompanied by full Video Solutions and Done Under 90 video explanations. Paper 1B and Paper 2 questions are accompanied by worked solutions and Video Solutions. (Note that we are in the process of adding Video Solutions and Done Under 90 video explanations to some of our questions!).
Past Exam Video Solutions
Over 3000 clear, to-the-point video explanations of all SL and HL Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 3 (Section A) IB Physics past exam questions from May 2016 to November 2025. The New Syllabus Specimen papers are also covered!
Sub-topic Quizzes
In this section of our Practice Exams you will find Sub-topic Quizzes with hundreds of exam-style questions arranged by syllabus topics and sub-topics. We created these quizzes to help you practice after learning new concepts and to revise before shorter class assessments that are focussed on one or a few sub-topics. Paper 1 questions are accompanied by full Video Solutions and Done Under 90 video explanations. Paper 2 questions are accompanied by worked solutions and Video Solutions.
PaperPlainz Accelerator
In this part of our Practice Exams you will find the PaperPlainz Accelerator – ten sets of mixed, exam-style practice questions that contain Paper 1A and Paper 2 problems, arranged in ascending order of difficulty from Level 1 up to Level 10. We built the Accelerator so that you can start your mock or final exam revision with the basics and gradually turn up the challenge level as you improve.
Mock Exams
In this section of our Practice Exams you will find full-length IB-style Mock Exams that include questions from all topics and are based on the format, content, and difficulty level of the real exams. Here we offer eight full Paper 1A, Paper 1B, and Paper 2 exams for both SL and HL. As always, Paper 1 multiple choice questions are accompanied by full Video Solutions and Done Under 90 video explanations. Paper 2 questions are accompanied by worked solutions and Video Solutions.
IA Guide
A complete, step-by-step video guide to help you save time and achieve the grade you want on your Physics Internal Assessment. From start to finish, these videos walk you through all key points and details of how to write a high-scoring IA, offering videos, specific tips, examples, checklists, and questions that you can ask when discussing your work with your teacher.
You may also fund some of our Old SyllabusPhysics SL and PhysicsHL resources useful.
Video Solutions to all the questions on the November 2025 Timezone 3 Paper 2 SL Exam
Video Solutions to all the questions on the November 2025 Timezone 3 Paper 2 HL Exam
Try some of our questions!
Paper 1A Multiple-choice Questions:
Question 1
Consider the following statements about the internal energy of a liquid:
I. It is the sum of the total intermolecular potential energy and the total random kinetic energy of the particles in the liquid.
II. As the liquid is freezing its temperature remains unchanged, therefore its internal energy also remains unchanged.
III. When the liquid is heated, its internal energy increases.
Which of these statements are correct?
I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
Answer
B.
Video Solution
Done Under 90
Question 2
Two forces, F_{1} and F_{2}, each of magnitude F, act on a rod as shown on the diagram.
The net torque on the rod is \tau.
What is the length of the rod?
\tau F
\frac{\tau}{F}
\frac{2\tau}{F}
\frac{\tau}{2F}
Answer
B.
Video Solution
Done Under 90
Question 3
A horizontal force of 100\; \textup{N} is applied to a metal sphere of mass 5.0\; \textup{kg} and radius 30\; \textup{cm} to horizontally accelerate the sphere through a fluid. The instant when the acceleration of the sphere is 8.0\: \textup{m\,s}^{-2}, its speed is 25\: \textup{m\,s}^{-1}.
What is the best estimate for the coefficient of viscosity of the liquid?
200\: \textup{mPa\,s}
400\: \textup{mPa\,s}
700\: \textup{mPa\,s}
1300\: \textup{mPa\,s}
Answer
B.
Video Solution
Done Under 90
Paper 1B Data-based Questions
Question 1
A student carries out an investigation to determine the refractive index of olive oil. During the investigation a light ray is shone onto a container, first when the container is empty, and then when the container is filled with olive oil.
\textup{NP} is the normal to the container at the point where the light ray enters the container, \textup{NQ} is the path of the light ray in olive oil, and \textup{NR} is the path of the light ray when the container is empty.
The student varies \theta_{\textup{i}}, the angle of incidence, and notes down the length of \textup{PR} and \textup{PQ} for different values of \theta.
The uncertainty in the measurement of each length is \pm 3 mm. The following table shows the data that the student collected.
PR / mm
PQ / mm
13
9
26
18
40
26
61
36
88
47
124
61
When \textup{PR} and \textup{PQ} are small, the refractive index of the olive oil is \frac{\textup{PR}}{\textup{PQ}}.
(a) Calculate the uncertainty in the refractive index of olive oil using the data point where \textup{PQ} = 18 mm.
[3]
The student creates a graph that shows how \textup{PQ} varies with \textup{PR} for values of \textup{PR} less than 100 mm.
(b)
(i) Plot the missing data point on the graph.
[1]
(ii) Draw error bars for the data point where \textup{PQ} = 36 mm.
[1]
(iii) Using the graph, determine the refractive index of olive oil for values of \textup{PR} below 50 mm.
[3]
The student could also find the refractive index n_{\textup {o}} of olive oil using the formula n_{\textup {o}} = \frac{\sin \theta_{\textup{i}}}{\sin \theta_{\textup{r}}}, where \theta_{\textup{r}} is the angle of refraction for the light ray.
(c) State and explain why it is not suitable to use larger values of \textup{PR} and \textup{PQ} to estimate the refractive index of olive oil.
[2]
Answer 1a
Calculating the refractive index of olive oil using \textup{PR} = 26 mm and \textup{PQ} = 18 mm:
n_{\textup {o}} = \frac{26}{18} \approx 1.44
Calculating the fractional uncertainty in the refractive index:
The refractive index of olive oil is the reciprocal of the gradient:
n_{\textup {o}} = \frac{27}{17} \approx 1.6
Video Solution 1b
Answer 1c
For larger values of \textup{PR} and \textup{PQ} the line through the data points is not a straight line.
The reason for this is that the calculation \frac{\textup{PR}}{\textup{PQ}} uses small angle approximation, therefore it does not work for larger values of \theta_{\textup{i}} and \theta_{\textup{r}}, hence it is not suitable to use larger values of \textup{PR} and \textup{PQ} to estimate the refractive index of olive oil.
Video Solution 1c
Paper 2 Short-answer/Extended-response Questions
Question 1
A spaceship is travelling between two planets at speed v relative to Earth. Person C is sitting on the spaceship while person D is at rest on the surface of Earth. According to person C, the journey between the planets takes t_{1} days and according to person D the journey between the planets takes t_{2} days.
(a)
(i) Outline what is meant by proper time interval.
[1]
(ii) State whether t_{1} or t_{2} is a proper time interval.
[1]
(b) Find v, given that t_{1} = 0.45t_{2}.
[2]
(c) During a different journey when the spaceship is travelling at a speed of 0.80c, it passes person D who measures the length of the spaceship to be approximately 23\;\textup{m}.
Find the length of the spaceship as measured by person C.
[2]
(d) As the spaceship passes person D, the front and rear lights of the spaceship flash simultaneously as observed by person D.
The spacetime diagram below shows these two events as observed by person D.
(i) On the spacetime diagram, draw the space x' and time ct' axes for the reference frame of person C.
[2]
(ii) Use the diagram to deduce which light flashes first as observed by person C.
[3]
(iii) Show that the spacetime interval between the two events (the front light flashing and the rear light flashing) is invariant.
[3]
Answer 1a(i)
The time measured between two events in the reference frame where the events take place.
We will start by drawing lines that are parallel to x' and pass through the two events (the front light flashing and the rear light flashing).
The lines intersect the ct' axis at P and Q.
Since the line that passes through the front light coordinate intersects the ct' axis earlier than the line that passes through the rear light coordinate, the front light flashes first as observed by person C.
Video Solution 1d(ii)
Answer 1d(iii)
Let’s start by calculating the time difference between the two events (the front light flashing and the rear light flashing) as observed by person C, using the Lorentz transformation equation t' = \gamma \left ( t - \frac{vx}{c^{2}} \right ):
Next, we will use the equation \left (\Delta s \right )^{2} = \left (c\Delta t \right )^{2} - \Delta x^{2} to calculate \left (\Delta s \right )^{2} for both person C and person D.
Therefore the spacetime interval between the two events is invariant.
Video Solution 1d(iii)
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