IA ideas · Physics and engineering
Maths IA ideas for physics and engineering
Physics gives the Maths IA something most topics lack: a theory that predicts what your data should do. Falling objects, swinging pendulums, draining bottles and cooling mugs all come with a model you can derive, fit and then test against measurements you take yourself.
Keep the focus on the mathematics. Derive the model, fit it, measure how well it fits, and reflect on which assumption breaks first. The physics is context: state the laws you use and cite them, but don't turn the IA into a lab report.
Next step: shortlist ideas with the free IA topic explorer, which filters starting points by course, interest and how easy the data is to get. For feedback on your own draft, the IA package (€39 once) gives you 5 AI feedback credits and every annotated exemplar in full.
Accessible (7)
- Does a pendulum's period really depend on the square root of its length?AA SLAI SLAA HLAI HLAccessible
- Which mug keeps tea hot longest? Newton's law of cooling, comparedAA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLAccessible
- How far does a bouncing ball really travel?AA SLAI SLAA HLAI HLAccessible
- Does light really follow an inverse-square law?AA SLAI SLAccessible
- What is the best shape for a rain gutter?AA SLAI SLAA HLAI HLAccessible
- Does my phone battery really drain in a straight line?AI SLAI HLAA SLAccessible
- Radioactive decay with dice: does chance produce an exponential curve?AA SLAI SLAA HLAI HLAccessible
Solid (9)
- How long does a bottle take to drain? Testing Torricelli's lawAA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
- Is a hanging chain a parabola? Catenary versus quadratic modelsAA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
- Linear or quadratic drag? Testing air resistance with falling coffee filtersAA HLAI HLSolid
- The lifeguard problem: what is the fastest route to a swimmer?AA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
- Is a satellite dish really a parabola, and where is its focus?AA SLAA HLSolid
- Why do a flute and a violin sound different on the same note?AA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
- What is the best angle to shoot a free throw?AA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
- Why don't long jumpers take off at 45°?AA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
- What is the best tilt for a solar panel at my home?AA SLAI SLAA HLAI HLSolid
Ambitious (3)
Frequently asked questions
Can my Maths IA be about physics?
Yes, as long as the exploration is about the mathematics: deriving, fitting and testing models. Use the physics as context and cite any laws you rely on.
Can I use the same topic for my Maths and Physics IAs?
Check your school's policy first. Even where it is allowed, the two IAs are assessed on different things and must be different pieces of work; you cannot reuse text or analysis between them.
Which physics IA ideas suit AA HL?
Ideas with a differential equation at their heart — terminal velocity, air resistance on falling filters, Torricelli's law — let you solve the equation analytically and compare it with data.
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