PHYSICS

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

INFORMATION BOOKLET

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OVERVIEW

For this SAC you have to choose a topic related to physics (Motion) and investigate it. You need to work out what experiments you will be performing and the apparatus needed. Your topic should be simple so that you can find out as much as possible about it. When choosing your topic keep in mind that the school has only a limited supply of basic equipment and if any specialist equipment is needed you will have to arrange it yourself.

All of your experiments should be done in a log book, which will be referred to later when you write your report. Everything should be written down in your log book.

The investigation may be done in a group with a maximum group size of two and each member of the group must do their own analysis and write their own report.

The report should be between 800 and 1000 words in length, supplemented by appropriate diagrams, graphs and tables.

Topic Choice Due:
Interview: / ______
Teacher signature
Plan and Equipment list due: / ______
(pages 6 to 9 – this booklet)
Perform Experiment: / ______to ______
Write Discussion, Conclusion and submit report: / ______

PRINCIPLES OF INVESTIGATION

1.Introduction

This section of work, consists of the planning, execution and formal reporting of an extended experimental investigation in physics appropriate to Year 12 level. In this investigation you are given the opportunity to choose your own topic to investigate (subject to school approval). Thus, you have the opportunity to design the total task which will include; deciding the method you will adopt to solve the problem, selecting or making your own apparatus, deciding what variables have to be observed or measured and the degree of accuracy appropriate for these measurements. As with most investigation problems you may well 'hit a wall' at which time you may need to seek assistance or even abandon an unpromising line of inquiry: if this should happen, do not despair but fully record all your experimental procedure and difficulties encountered and include them in your formal report.

The three stages of the experimental investigation required are:

  • Developing a plan 40-50 minutes
  • Implementing the plan 240-300 minutes
  • Analysis and evaluation 80-100 minutes.

The plan, implementation, analysis and evaluation should be completed in class time. Students should use their logbook of practical activities throughout the investigation.

2.Selecting A Research Topic

The topic selected need not be ‘pure physics', however it must incorporate the classic techniques of experimental physics. The investigation must fit into ONE of the following contexts:

  • Motion in 2-D
  • Momentum

In summary, the topic selected for investigation should:

  1. Have a clear preliminary aim (which may change as the investigation proceeds)
  2. Require the use of the techniques of experimental physics
  3. Allow preliminary observations or measurements to be made by the students within about an hour, using readily available resources
  4. Not require students to spend lengthy periods of time recording data
  5. Be likely to produce useful conclusions
  6. Take into account the expressed interests of the students involved

3. Designing An Extended Practical Investigation

Initially, it is probably a good idea to 'brain storm' alternative ways of tackling the investigation. Generally, the following steps will have to be adhered to:

Topic:

The general area of research e.g. topic might be 'A bouncing basketball'

Specific Research Question

To be investigated e.g. To investigate how the bounce height of a basketball is affected by:

  1. the initial height from which it is dropped
  2. the surface on which the ball is bounced
  3. the air pressure in the basket ball

Tackle one problem thoroughly rather than get too ambitious in attempting to investigate say, the elasticity,velocity, kinetic energy, momentum and impulse of a bouncing basketball.

Hypothesis

May be stated e.g. you may hypothesise that the basketball bounce height may increase with increased pressure. However a stated hypothesis is not necessarily part of an investigation.

Consult

With books, journals or people with greater expertise than yourself if you have insufficient information to commence the investigation. It is almost inevitable that you will have to do some background research before commencing your investigation. Remember that any assistance obtained before or during the Investigation is to be recorded. If the source of assistance is written it needs to be included in the Bibliography, if the source of assistance is a person, they should be mentioned in the Acknowledgements section of your report.

Equipment

Required to complete the investigation will have to be obtained and/or constructed. The school's policy is to make available to you any equipment it currently owns for use within the physics lab e.g. CRO's, Multimeters etc. Specialised equipment that you may require will have to be purchased by you. In some cases the school may purchase the items for you if it perceives it can use such items in the future, but this eventually will be the exception rather than the rule. (i.e. don't count on it)

Proposal - Plan

Will then be constructed and submitted to the teacher on or before a specified date.

Some Thoughts On Experimental Design

Because investigations vary in type there is no single design pattern that will suit all research projects. The most common type of research considers factors affecting some property or phenomena. Usually, it is easy to identify the main variable you will be measuring. Then you have to identify other variables that could effect your main variable. Then, changing only one variable at a time.

APPENDIX 1

List Of Possible Topics For Extended Investigations

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liquid accelerometer

efficiency of a block and tackle

how protective are padded postal packages

factors in the design of tennis racquets

operation of spin dryers

the penetration of projectiles into soft materials

viscosity of household liquids

the impact time of a ball

the effect of oil films between sliding metal surfaces

the energy stored in a clock spring

the friction between shoe soles and various floor materials

the motion of a sewing machine needle

forces exerted on the ground when walking or running

force exerted on a starting block of an athlete

path of a jet of water from a hose

motion of a yo-yo

biophysics of your arm/spine/leg

safe following distances for a car or bicycle at various speeds

energy changes when trampolining

braking distance of a bicycle

centripedal force modeling

airbag modeling

head impact modeling

terminal velocity of a parachute

bungee jumping modeling

forces in air-track impacts

factors effecting the rate that a container empties

physics of a catapult

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APPENDIX 2

TOPIC SPECIFICATION SHEET

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

1.Title of the investigation

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2.Briefly describe the purpose of the investigation

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3.What are the variables that are relevant to your investigation

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4.Briefly describe the apparatus you will use

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5.What do you intend to do with the apparatus

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6.If you are going to build your own equipment

a)Explain where you will get the components from

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b)Explain how you will build the equipment

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c)How long will it take to build

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7.If you are going to use ready made equipment

a)Explain where you will get the equipment from

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b)How long will it take you to set up the equipment

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8.Any Special requirements (other than equipment)

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9.Draw a Labelled Diagram of the materials set up as you intend to use them:

10.Materials Required:

a)Indicate any materials provided by you by including your initials in the 'Provided by' column next to the item. If you expect the school to provide the equipment write 'S' in the 'Provided by' column remembering the school will only provide equipment it has readily available.

b)Fill in the 'Size' column unless the size is obvious.

QUANTITY / ITEM (one per line) / SIZE / PROVIDED BY

11.What measurements/observations will you make

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12.How many measurements/observations will you make

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13.How long will the measurements/observations take.

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14.What information do you hope to gain from your measurements/observations

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15.What information will you record

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Project must be approved by your teacher

Signature:

APPENDIX 3

Drafting the Report

These sheets are NOT part of your final presentation. They are for drafting purposes only. This is to help you organise the Information in your log book into a coherent report.

1.HYPOTHESIS:

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2.AIMS: Restate your aims so that the purpose of the investigation is clear.

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3.VARIABLES: List the variables that you needed to measure.

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APPARATUS: Sketch the apparatus as you set it up. Include any necessary dimensions.

Make a list of the principal apparatus

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5.EXECUTION: List what you did in the order that you did it, step by step. Include any changes in plan as separate steps. Record all failures.

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TABLES: Make a note of where your tables, graphs or records of results are, this will make it easier to find them and you won't forget one when you write up your report.

Step No (above) / Name of record or table / Place of record or page in log book

7.THEORY: Below outline the relevant principles of physics needed to explain your investigation.

Firstly list the concepts or main ideas that you will need.

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Consult your teacher before going further

Now use the space below to write a preliminary draft explaining the principles behind your investigation

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8. Analysis of data and DISCUSSION:

This will form the largest and most crucial component of your report. To get started, think about the following questions:

a)What do your measurements tell you about the subject of your investigation?

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b)Do they confirm what you expected or are they a surprise? Explain.

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c)Do your results agree with what you have read or been taught?

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d)If they do not agree why might this be so?

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e)What possible sources of error are there in your experiment?

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f)What was the accuracy of measurements and instruments used

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g)What could be done to eliminate or avoid these errors if the investigation was to be repeated?

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h)What other matters should be Included in your conclusions?

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9.CONCLUSION:

This is a summary of your findings that must include a statement for each of the following

  • Summary of findings and how they relate to your hypothesis
  • Errors encountered
  • Possible extensions or improvements for the investigation

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References:

Author / Name of Book / Publisher / City / Year

Other references/acknowledgements

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Now write up your report. You don't have to do it in the above order, if you feel that the order should be changed so that the report flows bettor, then do it. Remember it is the REPORT that is going to be assessed.

EPI Year 12 Physics - SUMMARY

  • Decide on your topic and who you will work with (or if you will work alone).
  • Complete pages 6 to 9 (Appendix 2) and get your teacher to sign off on your plan – these pages are to help you organise your thoughts and make sure you’re organised for equipment.
  • Organise any equipment you need for your experiment and data collection before the day you actually perform your investigation.
  • Perform your experiment.
  • Start to prepare your report that will be submitted for assessment. This consists of 2 parts: The first part you may complete at home and the second part, the discussion, will be completed at school in class time. You will then submit these two parts and your log book for assessment.

Your REPORT: This must be written in your log-book.

- Part1: Appendix 3 pages 10 to 13.

This section may be completed outside school hours, prior to writing the discussion section in class (Part 2 below). You may write this part of the report however you like, however, you are free to use the suggested headings in Appendix 3 pages 10 to 13 points 1 (Hypothesis) to 7 (Theory). Do not do points 8. (Analysis of Data and Discussion) and point 9 (Conclusion) here, they are for part 2 (below).

This section may also include any tables of results, graphs, calculations, analysis, derivation of equations that describe relationships between variables, etc.

You are welcome use any software for analysis of results or production of tables (e.g. Excel) or graphs. These printouts should be pasted into your log-book under the appropriate headings.

- Part2: Discussion and Conclusion – Appendix 3 - pages 13, 14 and 15.

This section will be completed in your physics class. Again, your discussion can take any form you like, however, there is a suggested format on pages 13 to 15:

“8. Analysis of data and Discussion” through to “9. Conclusion”.

You will have a double period to complete this: about 100 minutes.

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