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Ch 5 A.5 Galilean and special relativity: complete notes
Neat, exam-ready notebook-style notes for Ch 5 A.5 Galilean and special relativity, following the IB Diploma syllabus, SL and HL. This chapter is part of the complete Physics Notes for IB Diploma Students (SL and HL): All 24 Topics.
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Free preview: Ch 5 A.5 Galilean and special relativity notes
A quick look at the chapter from our IB Diploma Physics notes. The full chapter notes have the detailed explanations, diagrams and practice questions with answers.
Topics in this chapter
- What you must be able to do
- Reference frames and Galilean relativity
- Special relativity: the postulates
- Relativistic velocity addition
- The invariant interval
- Proper time, proper length, dilation and contraction
- Evidence: muon decay
- Simultaneity and spacetime diagrams
- Spacetime (ct–x) diagrams
- Two frames on one diagram
“I can” checklist: what you must be able to do
- I can define inertial frames and apply the Galilean transformation and velocity addition.
- I can state the two postulates and use the Lorentz transformation equations.
- I can use relativistic velocity addition and show that \(c\) is invariant.
- I can calculate the space-time interval and identify proper time and proper length.
- I can apply time dilation and length contraction, and use muon decay as evidence.
- I can draw and interpret spacetime diagrams, including simultaneity and \(\tan\theta = v/c\).
What is inside the full chapter notes
- Concept notes with 11 worked examples
- Spacetime diagrams drawn to scale
- Common mistakes; investigation (IA) tips
- 15 Paper 1A-style MCQs, explained
- 3 Paper 2-style structured questions plus one data-based (Paper 1B-style) question, all with mark schemes
- Quick-reference sheet and "I can" checklist
What you get in the pack
- All 24 topics of IB Diploma Physics for students taking Standard Level or Higher Level (first assessment 2025): kinematics, forces and momentum, work, energy and power, rigid body mechanics, special relativity, thermal energy transfers, the greenhouse effect, gas laws, thermodynamics, current and circuits, simple harmonic motion, the wave model, wave phenomena, standing waves, the Doppler effect, gravitational, electric and magnetic fields, induction, atomic structure, quantum physics, radioactive decay, fission, fusion and stars
- Every syllabus statement covered in order, each marked SL or HL, with clear notes, tables and diagrams drawn for these notes
- Worked examples in every topic: calculations and model answers that show how to earn the marks
- Original Paper 1A-style multiple-choice questions with explained answers, plus Paper 2-style structured and data-based questions with full mark schemes (no past-paper reprints)
- Common mistakes and investigation (internal assessment) ideas for every topic
- Quick-reference sheet and an "I can" checklist at the end of every topic
- Colour PDF and a black and white copy of every chapter for printing
- Independent notes for IB Diploma students; not endorsed by or affiliated with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)
All chapters in this pack
- Ch 1 A.1 Kinematics
- Ch 2 A.2 Forces and momentum
- Ch 3 A.3 Work, energy and power
- Ch 4 A.4 Rigid body mechanics
- Ch 5 A.5 Galilean and special relativity
- Ch 6 B.1 Thermal energy transfers
- Ch 7 B.2 Greenhouse effect
- Ch 8 B.3 Gas laws
- Ch 9 B.4 Thermodynamics
- Ch 10 B.5 Current and circuits
- Ch 11 C.1 Simple harmonic motion
- Ch 12 C.2 Wave model
- Ch 13 C.3 Wave phenomena
- Ch 14 C.4 Standing waves and resonance
- Ch 15 C.5 Doppler effect
- Ch 16 D.1 Gravitational fields
- Ch 17 D.2 Electric and magnetic fields
- Ch 18 D.3 Motion in electromagnetic fields
- Ch 19 D.4 Induction
- Ch 20 E.1 Structure of the atom
- Ch 21 E.2 Quantum physics
- Ch 22 E.3 Radioactive decay
- Ch 23 E.4 Fission
- Ch 24 E.5 Fusion and stars