1. The Investigation

2. From the guide p152
• one scientific investigation taking about 10
hours and the write up should be about 6 to
12 pages long
• complex and commensurate with the level of
the course
• purposeful research question and the
scientific rationale for it (implies research)
• same standard as the assessment in the
previous courses

3. From SSS material
• The report should be like a physics journal
article
• IOP
• The physics teacher Boomwhackers
• Citations academic honesty etc.

4. Possible tasks include
• a hands-on laboratory investigation
• using a spreadsheet for analysis and
modelling
• extracting data from a database and analysing
it graphically
• producing a hybrid of spreadsheet/database
work with a traditional hands on investigation
• using a simulation, provided it is interactive
and open-ended

5. Also
• Traditional hands on combined with
simulation

6. Apparatus based
• Old equipment that hasn’t been used for years
/ one off apparatus (teltron tubes, ripple tank
etc.)
• Particular sensors (force, pressure, intensity)
• Comparison with simulation (added
dimension)

7. My cupboard 1

8. My cupboard 2

9. System / observation based
• Design lab type ideas (balloon, jelly, slinky
etc.)
• Sports
• EE type starting points

10. Simulation based
• Algodoo
• Interactive physics
• Paul falstad
• Phet ?
• Excel
• Geogebra

11. Database based
• Astrophysics