Design, Conduct, and Report on a Science Experiment in Physics

INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS

Competencies:

• 1000.1.1: Nature and Process of Science – The graduate critically analyzes the nature and process of science.
• 1000.1.2: Classical Physics – The graduate analyzes classical physics concepts to understand the world around them.
• 1000.1.3: Wave Physics – The graduate applies wave physics concepts to understand the world around them.
• 1000.1.4: Electricity and Magnetism – The graduate applies concepts of electricity and magnetism to understand the world around them.
• 1000.1.5: Thermodynamics – The graduate analyzes principles of thermodynamics.
• 1000.1.6: Modern Physics – The graduate analyzes concepts of modern physics.

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Introduction:

For this task, you will design, conduct, and report on a science experiment in physics. See the attached “Instructions for Selecting a Topic” for guidelines on choosing an appropriate topic for this task.

Note: If you wish to conduct a physics experiment involving a living organism as a subject, it must be a plant or an invertebrate. No tasks using vertebrate organisms will be accepted.

Requirements:

1. Develop a lab report (suggested length of 5–10 pages, including graphs and tables) that includes the following:
2. Introduction
3. Identify the scientific question in physics you chose.
4. Explain the context of your scientific question by discussing two pieces of existing research that relate to your question.
5. Explain why your question is important, interesting, and relevant to you and/or to the world.
6. Identify the variables you will be exploring, including the following:
7. One experimental variable
8. One quantitative response variable

iii.  At least three controlled variables

1. State your hypothesis.
2. Materials and Methods
3. List the materials and equipment needed to conduct your experiment, including all necessary measurement equipment (e.g., ruler, thermometer).

Note: The type, size, and quantity of each material should be included (e.g., “a one-cup glass measuring cup,” not just “a measuring cup”).

1. List the specific steps of the process used to conduct your experiment.
2. Explain the steps of your process.

Note: This explanation should be specific enough that someone else could conduct your experiment and should include how your data were collected. It should be written in the past tense and in third person.

1. Explain how you included replication in your experiment.
2. Explain the methods used for the quantitative analysis.

Note: These explanations should be specific enough that someone else could reproduce your analysis.

3. Results
4. Present the results of your experiment in the following formats:
5. written description
6. table of data collected

iii.  graph(s)

4. Conclusion
5. Discuss whether your results support your hypothesis.
6. Discuss how your results compare to what you expected, including any discrepancies.
7. Propose additional questions that could be addressed based on your findings.
8. When you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format.

Note: For definitions of terms commonly used in the rubric, see the Rubric Terms web link included in the Evaluation Procedures section.

Note: When using sources to support ideas and elements in a paper or project, the submission MUST include APA formatted in-text citations with a corresponding reference list for any direct quotes or paraphrasing. It is not necessary to list sources that were consulted if they have not been quoted or paraphrased in the text of the paper or project.

Note: No more than a combined total of 30% of a submission can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. For tips on using APA style, please refer to the APA Handout web link included in the General Instructions section.

Select the topic or question you would like to address with your experiment. Before you select a topic, consider the following:

1. Look at the list of possible topics below for ideas.
2. Choose an aspect of physics that you would like to investigate.
3. Determine a question that you would like to answer.
4. Identify your experimental and response variables (you should have only one of each). An appropriate question for this investigation should explore a causal link between one experimental variable and one response variable.
5. Make observations and conduct a literature review to find out more about what is already known about that link.
6. Formulate your hypothesis. How do you think your experimental variable will affect your response variable? Your hypothesis should be testable and specific, and it should allow for the collection of quantifiable data. Your response variable should be a measurable outcome that yields quantitative, numeric data.
7. Fine-tune your experimental protocol by considering your controlled variables.

Your project needs to address a topic in physics. Below are some possible topics to consider:

• Area of Physics    General topic ideas
• Classical Physics    Rolling or bouncing, friction, paper airplanes, catapults, automobile driving, simple machines
• Electricity and Magnetism    Battery testing, conductivity, electromagnetic induction, simple circuits, motors, generators
• Wave Physics    Refraction, reflection, interference, antenna designs
• Thermodynamics    Freezing, boiling, heating/cooling, specific heat capacity

 

Word Count: 800-900

No. of Pages: 9