IB Physics

Internal Assessment
Investigation Ideas
Investigation Title Area of Interest
How does the tension and diameter of a string effect the fundamental frequency? Guitar strings
How does sugar concentration affect the refractive index of water? Refractometers / fizzy drinks / wine/ telescopes, etc
How does the voltage across the accelerating electric field affect the spacing of the diffraction pattern for electron Particle accelerators / electron microscopes
diffraction (using a Teltron Tube)
How does temperature affect the viscosity of fluids? Sweet making / ketchup etc
Investigate factors that affect the flight of an elastic band Catapults, etc
Investigate the Young Modulus of materials Fishing line? Suspension bridges
Investigate the internal resistances of cells and what factors affect it? e.g, temperature of battery? Type of battery? Battery life in high tech appliances
Investigate the factors that affect fluid damping of an object in SHM. e.g. Area of damping card, viscosity of Suspension systems
surrounding fluid, etc.
Investigating magnetic braking. e.g. magnets through copper pipes, rolling down an aluminium rail Magnetic suspension systems
Investigate factors that affect the surface tension of water Pond skaters etc
Investigate factors affecting the lift produced by a model helicopter Flight
How does sugar concentration affect the optical activity of a solution? (i.e. rotation) Refractometers / fizzy drinks / wine/ telescopes, etc
Investigate the factors affecting the efficiency of a motor (e.g. no. of coils, strength / shape of magnets, etc) Motor Sport, ecologically sound machines (e.g. washing
machines, etc)

Factors affecting the efficiency of a transformer Global energy transportation, electrical engineering,
globalisation

Determine the width of a human hair using diffraction Hair!, optics, lasers
How the voltage across two oppositely charged metal plates affects the frequency of metal-covered a ping pong ball Time, clocks, electrostatics, high voltage supplies

oscillating between them!