StudyIB Physics top 10 investigation tips
- You'll need to demonstrate some of the skills used by real-world physicists. Think variables, measurements, data and analysis!
- Ensure you can form a question linked to physics theory. Otherwise, how will you know if you're right?
- What things influence your day-to-day life? This could provide inspiration.
- Want to do a physics-related subject at university? What topics would you like to explore further?
- Have a go with Algodoo. It's possible to construct lenses, motion carts and gas particles for comparison with real-world data.
- Consider using existing Citizen Science project data with your own hypothesis.
- Ever notice intriguing equipment at school? We list ways to use it below.
- Try a quick preliminary experiment to set your control variables. Not seeing a change? Do something else!
- Keep researching the theory until you have a plan of attack for the experiment and analysis.
- Got a great idea that you really love? This doesn't happen too often! Might be worth saving this for your Extended Essay.
Ideas
The investigation is yours to plan, so StudyIB won't tell you what to do. But we do have over 100 suggestions, which might just spark your imagination!
Equipment
Dynamics track
- Conservation of momentum in collisions using video, motion sensors or light gates
- Newton’s second law, masses and pulleys
- Impulse using force meter to measure force and time for different collisions
- Work and energy (Applying force to trolley and measuring increase in KE)
- Energy conservation of a trolley rolling down an incline
- Graphical analysis of motion using a motion sensor
- Investigation of SHM of trolley and two springs
- Rolling balls - many possible variables
Rotational motion system
- Conservation of angular momentum
- Rotational inertia
- Measuring centripetal force
- Rotational inertia of a disc and rings
- Rotational inertia of disc off axis
- Rotational inertia of plasticine models
Optics bench
- Snell’s law
- Image formation in lenses
- Image formation in curved mirrors
- Diffraction grating
- Single slit diffraction
- Multiple slit interference
- Diffraction by circular opening
- The telescope
- The microscope
- Malus’ law
- Aperture size and depth of focus
- Inverse square law
Spectrometer
- Measurement of emission spectra
- Refractive index
- Multiple slit interference
Teltron tubes
- Fine beam tube
- Electron diffraction
- Critical potentials tube
Electrometer
- Investigating parallel plate capacitor
- Potential close to a sphere
- Charge distribution
Van de graaf generator
- Action of points
- Optimum operating conditions
- Spark length
- Effect of humidity
- Electric force
- Radial field
Basic coil set
- Self inductance
- Flux density
- Falling magnet
- Mutual inductance
- Energy losses
- Magnet on a spring
- Turns ratio
- Coupled magnets on springs
B field sensor
- Flux density due to solenoids and coils
- Flux density around magnets
- Use with slinky
Oscilloscope
- How it works
- AC experiments LCR circuits
- Measuring sound
- Lissajou figures and phase
Stefan Boltzman apparatus
Sonometer
- Driving the wire and resonance
- Changing wire
- Position of detector and driver
Projectile launcher
- Range and velocity
- Range and angle
- Effect of air resistance
- Ball size and range
- Time of flight
- Trajectory (with camera)
- Maximum height and velocity
- Maximum height and angle
- Conservation of momentum in 2D
Ripple tank
- Refraction due to change in depth
- Diffraction through slits and around obstacles
- Interference between two point sources
- Standing waves
- Doppler effect
Dynamics track
- Conservation of momentum in collisions using video, motion sensors or light gates
- Newton’s second law, masses and pulleys
- Impulse using force meter to measure force and time for different collisions
- Work and energy (Applying force to trolley and measuring increase in KE)
- Energy conservation of a trolley rolling down an incline
- Graphical analysis of motion using a motion sensor
- Investigation of SHM of trolley and two springs
- Rolling balls - many possible variables
Rotational motion system
- Conservation of angular momentum
- Rotational inertia
- Measuring centripetal force
- Rotational inertia of a disc and rings
- Rotational inertia of disc off axis
- Rotational inertia of plasticine models
Optics bench
- Snell’s law
- Image formation in lenses
- Image formation in curved mirrors
- Diffraction grating
- Single slit diffraction
- Multiple slit interference
- Diffraction by circular opening
- The telescope
- The microscope
- Malus’ law
- Aperture size and depth of focus
- Inverse square law
Spectrometer
- Measurement of emission spectra
- Refractive index
- Multiple slit interference
Teltron tubes
- Fine beam tube
- Electron diffraction
- Critical potentials tube
Electrometer
- Investigating parallel plate capacitor
- Potential close to a sphere
- Charge distribution
Van de graaf generator
- Action of points
- Optimum operating conditions
- Spark length
- Effect of humidity
- Electric force
- Radial field
Basic coil set
- Self inductance
- Flux density
- Falling magnet
- Mutual inductance
- Energy losses
- Magnet on a spring
- Turns ratio
- Coupled magnets on springs
B field sensor
- Flux density due to solenoids and coils
- Flux density around magnets
- Use with slinky
Oscilloscope
- How it works
- AC experiments LCR circuits
- Measuring sound
- Lissajou figures and phase
Stefan Boltzman apparatus
Sonometer
- Driving the wire and resonance
- Changing wire
- Position of detector and driver
Projectile launcher
- Range and velocity
- Range and angle
- Effect of air resistance
- Ball size and range
- Time of flight
- Trajectory (with camera)
- Maximum height and velocity
- Maximum height and angle
- Conservation of momentum in 2D
Ripple tank
- Refraction due to change in depth
- Diffraction through slits and around obstacles
- Interference between two point sources
- Standing waves
- Doppler effect
Physical systems
*indicates greater difficulty
Play doh
- Mechanics type experiments related to deformation.
- Inelastic collisions
- Depth of hole when pointed object dropped (*)
- Impulse when dropped from different heights or different temperatures
- Flattening when dropped from different heights (*)
- Rolling of different sized balls and cylinders
- Freefall acceleration of different sized balls
- Resistance of different pieces of play doh
- Temperature dependence of resistance
Balloons
- Volume and pressure
- Force between two charged balloons
- Frequency of note when tapped
- Loudness of sound when burst (*)
- Height of bounce and size (*)
- Acceleration of different sizes
- Resonance of different sizes (*)
- Use know to project balloon, distance knot pulled back and range
- Filled with different gases
A wooden rod hanging from two strings
- Speed at which it unwinds when twisted (*)
- Frequency and distance between strings
- Frequency of angular oscillation and separation of strings
- Tension in strings and angle of rod
- Angular acceleration of rod and angular displacement
- Used as a battering ram
- Vary mass of rod and time period of various modes of oscillation
Strip of material
- Twanged like a ruler on the bench
- Balanced as a bridge
- Balanced as a seesaw
- Balanced like a ladder
- As a cantilever
- Used to project a mass
- As a torsional spring
- Can vary lengths and angles or properties of the strip
Slinky
- Transverse waves
- Longitudinal waves
- As a solenoid
- As an oscillating spring
- Rotated in circular motion
- Walking down the stairs (*)
- As a suspension bridge (*)
Jelly
- Modes of vibration of different sized cubes (*)
- Refractive index of jelly made with different amounts of water, gelatine and sugar
- Cut into lens shapes and used to verify the lens makers equation
- Deflection and refracting angle of different jelly prisms
- Used like ballistics jelly
- Electrical properties
- Absorption of light
- Elasticity of jelly made with different amounts of water and gelatine
Coils and magnets
- Electromagnetic induction
- Strength of electromagnet
- Coils used as springs
- Transformers
- Falling magnet
- Vibrating magnet
Battery drill
- Power in and power used to lift object
- Back EMF
- Motor speed and voltage
- Battery life and work done
- Heating when drilling
Flying pig
Many variations on the conical pendulum theme
Musical instruments
Take your pick!
Conductivity paper
- Electric field for different electrode configuration
- Temperature dependence of resistance
- Modelling fluid flow
Play doh
- Mechanics type experiments related to deformation.
- Inelastic collisions
- Depth of hole when pointed object dropped (*)
- Impulse when dropped from different heights or different temperatures
- Flattening when dropped from different heights (*)
- Rolling of different sized balls and cylinders
- Freefall acceleration of different sized balls
- Resistance of different pieces of play doh
- Temperature dependence of resistance
Balloons
- Volume and pressure
- Force between two charged balloons
- Frequency of note when tapped
- Loudness of sound when burst (*)
- Height of bounce and size (*)
- Acceleration of different sizes
- Resonance of different sizes (*)
- Use know to project balloon, distance knot pulled back and range
- Filled with different gases
A wooden rod hanging from two strings
- Speed at which it unwinds when twisted (*)
- Frequency and distance between strings
- Frequency of angular oscillation and separation of strings
- Tension in strings and angle of rod
- Angular acceleration of rod and angular displacement
- Used as a battering ram
- Vary mass of rod and time period of various modes of oscillation
Strip of material
- Twanged like a ruler on the bench
- Balanced as a bridge
- Balanced as a seesaw
- Balanced like a ladder
- As a cantilever
- Used to project a mass
- As a torsional spring
- Can vary lengths and angles or properties of the strip
Slinky
- Transverse waves
- Longitudinal waves
- As a solenoid
- As an oscillating spring
- Rotated in circular motion
- Walking down the stairs (*)
- As a suspension bridge (*)
Jelly
- Modes of vibration of different sized cubes (*)
- Refractive index of jelly made with different amounts of water, gelatine and sugar
- Cut into lens shapes and used to verify the lens makers equation
- Deflection and refracting angle of different jelly prisms
- Used like ballistics jelly
- Electrical properties
- Absorption of light
- Elasticity of jelly made with different amounts of water and gelatine
Coils and magnets
- Electromagnetic induction
- Strength of electromagnet
- Coils used as springs
- Transformers
- Falling magnet
- Vibrating magnet
Battery drill
- Power in and power used to lift object
- Back EMF
- Motor speed and voltage
- Battery life and work done
- Heating when drilling
Flying pig
Many variations on the conical pendulum theme
Musical instruments
Take your pick!
Conductivity paper
- Electric field for different electrode configuration
- Temperature dependence of resistance
- Modelling fluid flow
Simulations
- very colourful and easy to use
- can simulate pretty much all of the mechanics experiments
- vary gravity and air resistance, measure quantities and draw graphs
- build machines
- change properties of materials
- join objects with ropes and chains
- turn objects into water
- simulate fluid flow
- make objects transparent and shine lasers through them
- make lenses
- simulate gases with large numbers of particles
Geogebra
Used for plotting graphs from equations. If time is one of the variables then the graph can be animated. Quite easy to set up simulations once the basic idea is grasped. Easier to use than excel since you don’t have to calculate values. One nice feature about Geogebra is that the simulations can be saved as Java applets and embedded into websites where they can be controlled on line.
Paul Falstad’s ripple tank
Paul Falstad has made a range of applets but the ripple tank is probably the most useful as it is much easier to use than the real thing. Can be used to demonstrate refraction, reflection, diffraction, interference, waves in closed pipes, Doppler effect. Particularly nice in 3D view.
PhET
Loads of excellent simulations BUT showing that a simulation obeys the laws that it is programmed to obey is not particularly enlightening. Can be used to compare a model to a real experiment.
Excel
Excel can be used to plot graphs from equations by using formula to generate columns of data. The graphs can be animated by making time a variable linked to a slider. Changing the value of t with the slider will change the graph. Can be used for exponential decay, waves, motion, charging and discharging of capacitors.
- very colourful and easy to use
- can simulate pretty much all of the mechanics experiments
- vary gravity and air resistance, measure quantities and draw graphs
- build machines
- change properties of materials
- join objects with ropes and chains
- turn objects into water
- simulate fluid flow
- make objects transparent and shine lasers through them
- make lenses
- simulate gases with large numbers of particles
Geogebra
Used for plotting graphs from equations. If time is one of the variables then the graph can be animated. Quite easy to set up simulations once the basic idea is grasped. Easier to use than excel since you don’t have to calculate values. One nice feature about Geogebra is that the simulations can be saved as Java applets and embedded into websites where they can be controlled on line.
Paul Falstad’s ripple tank
Paul Falstad has made a range of applets but the ripple tank is probably the most useful as it is much easier to use than the real thing. Can be used to demonstrate refraction, reflection, diffraction, interference, waves in closed pipes, Doppler effect. Particularly nice in 3D view.
PhET
Loads of excellent simulations BUT showing that a simulation obeys the laws that it is programmed to obey is not particularly enlightening. Can be used to compare a model to a real experiment.
Excel
Excel can be used to plot graphs from equations by using formula to generate columns of data. The graphs can be animated by making time a variable linked to a slider. Changing the value of t with the slider will change the graph. Can be used for exponential decay, waves, motion, charging and discharging of capacitors.
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