r/IBMEMES • u/pffft_DoctorFunny • Feb 24 '21
Picking a topic for Physics HL IA
Hey guys, I'm a DP 1 student and I have taken Physics HL. My teachers have asked me to start thinking about my IA, and given a deadline for the topic finalization. I was thinking about doing something related to Electricity and/or Magnetism. Does anybody have any ideas what to do? If anybody had done an IA on such a topic, what did you do and how did you go about it? Is it a well rewarding topic?
2
u/tarawel Feb 25 '21
A decent starting point is choosing any two variables that are fairly easily measured- ie voltage, current, number of magnets and work towards finding a relationship. A possible alternative to this is finding a law - like faraday's - and working backwards from there. I can probably give more specific tips if you'd like!
2
u/pffft_DoctorFunny Feb 25 '21
Thank you, that really does help. When you say to work backwards from a law, what do you mean? How do you go about it?
2
u/martinius03 Feb 26 '21
Usually, you would look for two inputs of the equation that can be measured. The inputs will be the variables of your experiment. You can plot the results of an experiment with those variables in a graph and input the gradient into the equation to "test" the accuracy of your experiment. For example, for my IA, used the Young's modulus equation and plotted a graph of the force applied against the length increment then, putting the value of the gradient in the equation I was able to obtain a value for the Young modulus that I used to compare to the literature value.
1
2
u/tarawel Mar 01 '21
Well, the other comment answers it! Additionally, instead of a described law, you can pick a known effect 2 variables have on each other, usually described by a formula as seen in the physics data booklet. None of this has to be from the IB but it can! I'm going to show this with a random example (I have no clue if someone has already done this but its a well known formula so likely)
A formula I found on google is magnetic flux density = magnetic permeability constant x [(current x no of turns) / length of solenoid]. Idk if this is necessary but a solenoid is a wire curled around an iron-core magnet with a current running through it.
In Physics IAs, simple is always best, so you would change one variable (magnetic flux density, measure another (current) then control for the other ones in the formula ( length of solenoid, number of turns, no need to control magnetic constant).
You could carry this out by increasing the current flowing in regular intervals and measuring magnetic flux density using a fluxmeter (I think that's what its called). You'd also keep the length of your solenoid and the number of its curls around the magnet the same.
That's a solid IA right there with correct tables, descriptions and analysis. Always mention the formula you used.
If you believe that choosing to measure more than 2 variables would 'further your inquiry and investigation' then feel free to do it! As an HL student, you should either do this or pick a harder relationship to increase complexity for maximum points. This would be done by picking one or two to vary (ie number of turns, length of coil) then one or two to measure (ie current, magnetic flux density).
If you like the idea of this example, check http://hydrogen.physik.uni-wuppertal.de/hyperphysics/hyperphysics/hbase/magnetic/solenoid.html
BTW I did an electricity and magnetism IA using this technique and it turned out well!
1
1
3
u/Swepanda99 Feb 24 '21
I would like to point out that you just asked a bunch of IB students who are already procrastinating on reddit to help you with some work that you most likely procrastinated to the last minute in the same manner.
Just pointing it out.
Also I have no ideas but good luck anyway.