Physics Extended Essay Suggestions

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A high school student is seeking suggestions for a viable research question for an extended essay in physics as part of the IB program. The essay requires approximately 4,000 words and about 40 hours of research, with a focus on using local equipment, ideally accessible household or high school resources. The student is also required to conduct an experiment related to their chosen topic. They are currently studying AP Calculus BC and IB Math HL, indicating a strong mathematical background. Clarifications were made regarding the need for an experimental component and the importance of selecting a specific question aligned with the course outline provided. The student intends to credit any assistance received in their final bibliography.
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I am a high school student who is extremely passionate about physics. As part of the IB program, I need to pick a question and write an extended essay by next September using about 40 hours to write approximately 4,000 words. I chose physics for my subject area, and would appreciate some suggestions for a viable question that I could research and write about given these restraints. The question should be something that I can research with local equipment and needs to pertain to something in the course outline. The course outline is at this link: http://www.haef.gr/gr/pcl/ib/physics.pdf , starting on page 43.

Thank you!
 
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Are you going to give us credit for any help that you receive here?
 
When you say, "research with local equipment", are you supposed to perform an experiment? Also, what's your mathematical background?
 
@jtbell - I don't have any experience with citing forums, but I'll make sure to credit these forums in the final bibliography.

@bossman27 - Yes, for the scientific subject areas (chemistry, biology, physics) each student is supposed to perform an experiment on their topic. Local equipment just means whatever I can access directly - preferably household or high school level equipment. I am currently taking AP Calculus BC/IB Math HL.
 
I think what jtbell was getting at is that, according to what you posted, you need to pick the question.
 
Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...
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