Physics Research Project Ideas (First year physics course)

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The discussion centers around a first-year physics major seeking ideas for a research project that requires a theoretical foundation, purpose, method, and timeline. The project proposal is due soon, and the student is looking for a concept that balances realism with the complexity expected at the university level. One proposed idea involves predicting the orbital types of comets and asteroids using existing data, though concerns are raised about the lack of original research involved in this approach. The need for a project that allows for hands-on experimentation and deeper engagement with physics concepts is emphasized, highlighting the challenge of finding a suitable topic that meets academic expectations.
codymcleod
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Hello. I am a first year physics major, and a major component of the first year physics course (for physics majors) is a research project. With a partner, I am supposed to conduct a research experiment in the broad field of physics. The proposal for this project is due friday, in which we must state the theory behind the experiment, the purpose and method of conducting the experiment and a rough schedule of how we will conduct the experiment. My partner and I still have not come up with an idea, and we must first contact our professor and have him approve of our idea before we begin our proposal. Does anyone have any ideas for what we could do for this project? We havn't been able to come up with an idea that seems realistic for our level of physics knowledge, yet is advanced enough for a university level research project. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!
 
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My partner and I were considering predicting the orbital types of various comets and asteroids using the data provided by various sources regarding these comets and asteroids's positions at various times. However, this only involves calculations, and no real "research" from us. Does this seem like a viable idea for a project?
 

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