An overview of the topic is provided.
Extended essays in physics allow students to explore a particular topic and apply their skills. An extended essay on Physics is one that places a special emphasis on physics while utilizing a broad range of scientific criteria. An extended essay in Physics must be written as a research paper.
The final product of your research should be coherent and well-structured. It should address a specific topic or research question effectively and reach a personal conclusion.
Choose a topic
The extended essay must be primarily physics-related and not less so. An extended essay in physics should have a strong foundation in physical theory and highlight the essence of the topic. If it is registered as an extended essay in physics, the judge will not be concerned with its chemical content but rather its physics content.
The essay is not intended to be an informational text about a topic. The student should be involved in the topic matter, not just as an informant. The student should be challenged by the topic.
Safety issues may make some topics unsuitable for research. Avoid experiments that involve dangerous or cancer-causing substances, radioactive compounds, radioactive elements, lasers or microwaves, as well as noise and heavy equipment, unless qualified supervision is available. It is possible to find interesting topics from typical class experiments.
The topic should be well-defined, focused and realistic. This will allow for in-depth analysis. The student will not be allowed to discuss contradicting theories and ideas, or to create an in-depth personal analysis. Some topics, because physics is an experimental science that uses specific approaches and techniques, are not appropriate for extended essays.
Students must be cautious about researching topics that stretch beyond the limits of traditional science. Examples include the undiscovered forces in pyramids, physics or God’s existence as well as extrasensory perception.
These titles are for guidance purposes only. The pairings demonstrate that the focus of the essay should be on the first title and not the second.
– “Orbital determination of a minor world” is superior to “Gravitation”.
“The variation in resistance to a wire subjected at different strains” is better that “Measuring material resistivity”.
“Making interference pattern” is better than “Using interference fringes for small displacements”.
– “The variation in water flow out of a hole within a container” is better then “An application Bernoulli principle”.
– “The influence of the resistivity and wall thickness of a pipe on the terminal velocity, a cylindrical mag falling down the metallic tube” is better than “Eddy Currents.”
A research question is followed by a statement about intent. This will help the student to define the topic they are interested in studying. The topic can be clarified in this way. Here are some examples.
Title: The Milky Way’s Black Hole in the Center
Research question: Could it be possible to detect if there is an invisible black hole at the centre?
Approach: Data-based approach. A supermassive, black hole’s mass is determined from astronomical observations. This is a great example of the uncertainty.
Title: The Helmholtz resonanceator in a wine bottle
Research question: Can wine bottles with different shapes act as Helmholtz resonances?
Approach: This is an experimental approach. We will review the theoretical model, focusing on the physical parameters and geometrical parameters that affect the resonance frequency.
A resonant frequency can be produced by blowing on the bottle’s top. This frequency can then be measured and picked up. The model’s accuracy is measured.
Title: The Sun’s gravitational fields deflect starlight
Research question: How will starlight be reflected by the Sun if Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation applies?
Approach: We use a mathematical (theoretical) approach. The motion of these corpuscles is calculated using a corpuscular light model. Iteration follows the motion. These results can be compared with the one obtained from general relativity.
Title: The effectiveness of electromagnetic damping
Research question: Does the effectiveness of electromagnetic damping in a moving glider depend on the initial kinetic energy?
Approach: This is an experimental approach. It is possible to compare the mechanical energy lost and the thermal energy produced by the coil in a glider that carries a coil.
The purpose of an essay can also be presented as either a statement, hypothesis or a question. Here are some examples.
The objective of this study is to calculate theoretically the ratio between the terminal velocity of an iron cylindrical magnet being pushed down a pipe and its resistivity. An experimental investigation follows.
– Water waves may be measured by measuring their speed in a long or narrow trough. The speed of water waves in shallow water will be proportional and independent of wavelength.
– This is the objective of this experiment: To determine the relation between power and temperature in an incandescent lamp.
To test the law on energy conservation, a retractable ballpoint is used.
– This is an attempt to create an acoustic model for the concert flute.
Students should select practical and realizable experiments for their first-hand essays. They shouldn’t take too long to build the apparatus. Not all instruments need to be sophisticated. Sometimes they can cause limitations that may hinder our understanding of the phenomenon. The data required for sound analysis will be produced relatively quickly by successful experiments.
The ideal situation is for students to conduct their research only under the guidance of their school supervisors. Students using the standard school apparatus to investigate simple phenomena have produced some of the finest essays. This is something that should be encouraged. No matter where or how the research was conducted, students must show in their essays that they contributed to the research process and the choice of methods. A covering letter must accompany essays based on research conducted by students at research institutes or universities. It should outline the nature and level of supervision provided.
Aerodynamics is a complex domain. Hydrodynamics is a more experimentally demanding area. These domains require careful selection and definition of a topic.
Sports physics can be an excellent topic, but it can sometimes be challenging to find enough data. The complexity of biomechanics is overwhelming.
Students should choose a research question that is both feasible and within the word limit.
Topic treatment
An extended essay in physics requires some research into background and theory. Extended essays in Physics may vary. The following options are available to students:
– Experimental: Design, implementation and personal collection of data.
Data-based: Students are responsible for the extraction and location of raw data or processed data. These data are then analysed and refined further.
– Theoretical: the development of a quantitative, semi-quantitative description or model of a physical phenomenon, its exercise, predictions and limitations.
– Survey: forming a coherent, organized, analytical, supported (qualitative, quantitative) discussion about the topic.
– Combination : Any combination from the approaches described above.
Extended essays in Physics should sum up the limitations and scope of the work. This should always include analysis and interpretation of any experimental design.
The essay’s content, development and evaluation should directly address the research problem.
Although experimental essays are a way for students to show their critical thinking skills in an easier-to-understand manner, they are not required for extended essays in physics. An empirical investigation must include a theoretical dimension.
Each piece of experimental work in a physics extended essay must be properly described so that others can replicate the results and draw similar conclusions. Data obtained from secondary sources must be handled with care. When planning data-based essays, it is important to consider the reliability and location of the sources. With the same care students would take when examining data from other sources and their experimental design, they must also scrutinize the data. It is possible for serious flaws to be found in research design, data collection, or even the interpretation of results.
A solely empirical investigation with only two or 3 variables and no theoretical foundation is unacceptable. The student should investigate the theoretical physics that relates the index of reflection to the concentration in such essays.
To verify the validity of computer simulations of theoretical models, it is important to thoroughly analyse and compare algorithms with real life. Essays that use a computer simulation to simulate a physical phenomenon should outline the initial postulates, the steps required for running the model and the outcomes. To illustrate the process of converting the model into software, charts or code fragments can be included in the essay’s body. However, the programs should be added to the appendix. The body of an essay should include two words per line for every program fragment. Extended essays that use a computer program to create models and analyze data must have a focus on physics and not software.
The essay must include a review of the reliability and quality of literature sources. Students must have enough knowledge to evaluate the reliability of sources. You can do this by looking at secondary sources and by doing their calculations. It is important for students to be able to debate and offer their opinions, as well as their arguments. When writing surveys or other types of essays, it is important to plan properly. Students should be able to question the sources of information in order for them to support their argument. Therefore, it is possible for students to challenge statements made orally by scientists.
Analysis should not be done in isolation of data. Instead, it must be used to complement the information. Interpretation should be drawn from the data. Avoid unfounded or implausible extrapolation and acknowledge any shortcomings. Discussion should not be limited to rewording results. It should provide a solid interpretation to allow for comparison to published research.
It is not a good idea to rely solely on the internet and textbooks. Textbooks should only ever be used to stimulate original ideas, give models for structured, organized and informed approaches, and encourage personal involvement in relation to the topic. It is important that students use internet-based resources with caution and a full understanding of the risks of being unreliable. A librarian can advise on how to verify sources’ credibility.
1. Introduction to this essay
The introduction should usually identify the relevant principles. To understand the motion of a rotating cylindrical magnet inside a copper tube, one must apply and integrate the Laws of Electromagnetic Induction as well as Newton’s Laws of Motion. Students are expected show they can correctly apply and identify relevant theories within the context given by the research question.
This is accomplished by the following example. It gives a short qualitative description about the forces that acted on the falling magnet and any variations. It is better to be specific and concise than comprehensive and general if a historical set up is needed. Some topics need background that is not related to physics, such as archeology or physics applied in sports. In these cases, the introduction should only contain the necessary non-physics information. If additional information is required, the appendix is the right place.
In their introduction, students must explain why they believe the topic deserves further investigation. The importance of the topic and its worthiness are measured by how much creativity or initiative the student has. Some topics are not suitable because the result is well-documented in textbooks. The student might not be able or willing to contribute any personal insight.
2. Presenting
Because of the large number of equations, equations, diagrams and tables in most essays, it is difficult not to exceed the 4,000 word limit for physics. An essay exceedingly long will be punished by the examiners. An example layout for data-based or experimental essays is to follow the order of graphs, tables, analysis, conclusion and graphs. It is recommended that you repeat the order of data, graphs, analysis and conclusion for any investigation divided into multiple parts. A brief summary conclusion should be included at the end. If there are many graphs or data, you should include them in the appendix. The appendix should not be used if the reader cannot follow the progression of the essay. The essay’s core should stand alone and include all graphs, tables and diagrams in the appropriate order to facilitate easy understanding and reading.
Tables, graphs, or diagrams need to be numbered in order to be easily referred back to within the body of the essay. An appendix is not mandatory, but it is a good idea to have one. It is best practice to give one example of how you calculate numerical results. This includes the calculation and correction of errors. The essay topic should be the focus of the contents of the table of content. Not acceptable is a generic list that includes “theory”, ‘experiment”, ‘data’, analysis”, conclusion”, &?bibliography. It is not necessary to refer to basic knowledge like Newton’s Law of Gravitation.
An extended essay on physics can include elements normally included in the report from an experimental investigation. An extended essay can be presented in a different format than a laboratory reports. Annotated diagrams and equipment lists can be included, but not both. It is encouraged that students look for scientific papers and articles in physics magazines or journals.
3. Academic grade
These essays in theoretical physics must cover material that is not covered in the Diploma Programme physics course.
Experimental physics essays can be written on topics that aren’t covered in regular school courses. “.
The sophisticated computer interface equipment should only be used for its own purposes. You should examine the reliability of such equipment. The reliability and limitations of such equipment should be considered.
4. Summary
It is encouraged that students look at abstracts from scientific research papers published by recognized physics magazines or journals.
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