IA Work

What is the IA?

ACS Tentative Timeline

Some guiding questions:

What core physics principle are you studying? (probably energy/power)
How will you quantify your independent variable? (x-axis)
How will you quantify your dependent variable? (y-axis)
Can you create an experiment that will control for as many variables as possible?
Is there a clear (linearizable) relationship between your variables of choice?
Once done, how could you improve your experiment?

Physics Year 2 IA Schedule - Shared

IB Physics: InvestigationThis section contains information and resources relating to the Internal Assessment, which in physics takes the form of an investigation where students work as individuals.You will find the following links useful:Chris has carried out the following investigations to act as exemplar work:Measuring e/mThe Lens makers equationTrajectory of a balloon--Ideally the students will come up with their own topic and research question...

End of Year 2023 Expectations

Due 05 June, 2023:

Complete the following:

Personal Engament: (PE)
- Brief statement (1 paragraph) as to why you have chosen your particular topic for your IA. This will be marked agains the Personal Engagement portion of the IA Rubric.
Exploration: (Ex)
- Research Question: The topic of the investigation is identified and a relevant and fully focused research question is clearly described.
- Background Information: The background information provided for the investigation is entirely appropriate and relevant and enhances the understanding of the context of the investigation.
- Methodology Outline:
  - While the exact procedure does not need to be completed, a reasonable description of your experimental procedure should be outlined.
  - Ideally, you will have
  - The methodology of the investigation is highly appropriate to address the research question because it takes into consideration all, or nearly all, of the significant factors that may influence the relevance, reliability and sufficiency of the collected data.

Grade 11:

Explore a variety of data collection techniques
Analyze data for trends
Linearize graphs of core equations.
Submit proposal at end of school year (early June)

Summer of Grade 11 / 12:

Explore Ideas for your IA topic.
- Look around your house, ask questions.
- While traveling or exploring the UAE, ask questions.
- While watching TikTok, ask questions.
- While scrolling through IG, ask questions.
- Nothing is too strange to explore, ask questions.

Fall of Grade 12:

Refinement of idea, is it feasible to experiment with this topic?
Do we have equipment that will collect the data you need?
September - Individual meetings to discuss topic and experimental design.

Late September / Early October:

Data collection!!!!

October Grade 12:

Emphasis on writing / re-writing
Error analysis workshops
Data linearization workshops

End of Nov Grade 12:

IA Final Product is due.

The Rubric: How you will be marked.

IB Physics IA Rubric

Internal assessment Rubric

IB Physics IA Rubric Make your own copy HERE

ia_rubric

Writing an IA Guidelines:

Make your own copy HERE

IA Guidelines

Writing a better IA

Writing an IA Guidelines:

Make your own copy HERE

IA Guidelines

IB 08 LabWriteupGuide.pdf

Sample IA Reports:

Some Pointers:

ThinkIB

How to write good Physics IA's:

Designing The Lab: Guidelines

Take “OAIM” and Fire

Experimental Design Template

Make a copy HERE

Collecting Data

Graphing your data: Plotly

Data Collection Guidelines:

Range of Data:
- Across the range of the measurement device, or widest spectrum possible.
- Data points don't need to be evenly spaced but should be distinct enough to provide significant differences in outcomes.
Number of Trials
- A minimum of 5 data points is recommended. More is highly recommended.
- A minimum of 3 trials per data point, 5 is recommended.
Dealing with outliers.
- Record all data.
- Use judgement to determine is specific trial is an outlier.
- Outliers at ends of range of data my imply a change i

Graph Linearization

Linearize graphs of data (Videos)
Reading and Linearizing Graphs. (text)

Propagating Errors

The ULTIMATE GUIDE to data analysis and error propagation.

Clayton Physics Resources - Graphical Analysis Guide Graphical analysis is a vital skill in any scientists tool belt! Understanding how to create and interpret a graph allows you to dive into a deep exploration and how it works. This guide was written to help physics students learn how to collect data in an organized and systematic way, graph that

Conclusion

Explain what the results tell you. What is the answer to your problem? Restate the hypothesis and compare your conclusion to it. How reliable are your results? You must take into account any systematic or random errors and uncertainties. Do the data follow current scientific trends, or were there errors that leave your conclusion questionable? Evaluate and explain your results; this will lead straight into the evaluation, if you encountered many difficulties. Compare your results/values with the literature. Calculate the percentage difference between the measured value and the literature value. Use citations when you read other sources and included their ideas.

Aspect 1: Concluding
- State whether your graph supports the theory. For example, is the relationship between the quantities linear? This is only true if the line touches all error bars – don’t say it is linear if it isn’t.
- Are there any points on the graph that appear to be due to mistake (outliers)? Consider whether it’s best to remove these and plot the line again.
- Normally the data will be arranged so that the gradient will give you some value (e.g. little g = 9.8). Calculate this value from the gradient, include the uncertainty from
- Calculate the uncertainty in this value from the steepest and least steep lines
- Don’t forget units
- Compare your result with an accepted value, say where this value is from and quote the uncertainty if known.

Experimental Evaluation

Goals:

Evaluates weaknesses and limitations.
- Evaluation of Results -
  - Were the measurements accurate (close to the true values) and precise (close to each other)?
  - Is your conclusion (claim) reasonable or not, based on your evidence?
  - Each comment needs to be supported with evidence from your data.
- Limitations of Procedure -
  - Focus on Design of experiment
    - Control Variables: What variables did you not control or forgot to control?
    - # of Trials:
      - Did you collect enough trials to eliminate possible outliers?
    - Range of data:
      - Did you collect data over the entire range of possibilities that your equipment allowed for?
      - Did you collect too much of a range? Beyond the limitations of your equipment. Did you max out your sensors/measuring device?
Improving the Experiment:
- From the list of Limitations above, suggest reasonable improvements to the design of the experiment to increase the reliability of your evidence.
- Utilize a table as shown to the right
- Note: do not say “Measurements could have been more accurate…” or “there was error in measurement.” Or “we could have worked harder/paid more attention.” Those are not valid evaluation statements and you are just wasting paper.
- Are there further experiments that can be performed or did the data suggest other avenues to explore?

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse