Students who choose to write an EE in physics undertake independent research as part of an in-depth study of a focused topic. The topic for study may be generated from the physics course or may relate to a subject area beyond the syllabus content. This detailed study will help develop research, thinking, self-management and communication skills, which will support students’ learning in the physics course, and in further studies.
There are 4 types of essays in physics:
Experimental: design and implementation of an experiment, then personal collection and analysis of the data. For example, studying fluid dynamics by designing an experiment to measure the time it takes to empty a water can via a small opening at the bottom of the can.
Data-based: location and extraction of raw or processed data, not collected directly by the student, which is then further refined and analysed. For example, analysing rotational curves to determine the relationship between the amount of dark matter in a galaxy and its size using astronomical databases to acquire and process data.
Theoretical: development of a quantitative or semi-quantitative description of some physical phenomenon, exercise of the model, predictions about its behaviour and limitations. For example, hypothesizing the conditions under which mirages occur while driving on a highway.
Combination: some combination of the approaches listed above.