Ib Physics November 2019 Paper 1 Jun 2026

Slightly harder than May 2019 P1, especially for HL.

Mechanics carries a heavy weighting in IB Physics, and the November 2019 session did not disappoint. ib physics november 2019 paper 1

Before diving into the specific content of the November 2019 session, it is vital to understand the mechanics of Paper 1. Unlike Paper 2, which requires long-form written answers and multi-step calculations, Paper 1 is a multiple-choice assessment. However, calling it "simple" is a misnomer. Slightly harder than May 2019 P1, especially for HL

| Topic | Approx. # of questions | Key concepts tested | |-------|------------------------|----------------------| | | 2–3 | SI units, order of magnitude, percentage uncertainty, error propagation (simple) | | Mechanics | 6–8 | SUVAT, Newton’s laws, forces (inclined planes, friction), work, energy, power, momentum, impulse | | Thermal physics | 2–3 | Specific heat capacity, latent heat, ideal gas laws (qualitative) | | Waves | 4–5 | Wave properties (reflection, refraction, diffraction), standing waves, Doppler effect, EM spectrum | | Electricity & magnetism | 5–6 | Ohm’s law, series/parallel circuits, internal resistance, electric fields (basic), magnetic force on a wire/charge | | Circular motion & gravitation | 1–2 | Centripetal force, Newton’s law of gravitation, orbital motion | | Atomic, nuclear & particle physics | 2–3 | Rutherford scattering, half-life, nuclear reactions, quarks/leptons (basic) | | Energy production | 1–2 | Solar constant, albedo, Sankey diagrams, fission/fusion basics | Unlike Paper 2, which requires long-form written answers

A notable feature of the November 2019 HL paper was a challenging question on involving a conducting rod moving in a magnetic field, which required integration of Lenz’s law with basic mechanics.

| Section | Time allocation | Pace | |---------|----------------|------| | SL (Q1–30) | 35 minutes | ~1 min/question → skip & return | | HL (Q31–40) | 10 minutes | ~1 min/question | | | 5 minutes | Prioritize high-yield |