Requesting (advice) and help on academic assignment.

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Homework Help Overview

The original poster seeks guidance on selecting a topic for a 2000-word academic assignment in physics, expressing a strong interest in particle physics and astrophysics. They are looking for a subject that is engaging yet manageable, as they have recently completed their first year of college with good grades in physics and mathematics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss various potential topics, including string theory, dark matter, and the Mars Curiosity rover, while questioning their complexity. Suggestions include exploring magnetospheres and the heliosphere. The original poster considers linking their assignment to quantum computing and seeks opinions on the feasibility of this idea.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided suggestions for topics, indicating that quantum computing could be a feasible direction for the original poster's assignment. There is an ongoing exploration of ideas, with no explicit consensus reached yet.

Contextual Notes

The original poster emphasizes their desire for a topic that allows for deep exploration without being overwhelming. They also mention their previous experience with a mathematics paper, indicating a preference for topics that can be approached similarly in physics.

sick1
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1. The situation

Hi, I'm in the UK and just finished my first year of college, and now I need to do a 2000 word academic assignment (on physics) for my college so I can show Unis. I am 17 and a competent, interested young physicist.

2. The problem

I am very much interested in physics, mainly particle physics (string theory) and astrophysics (black holes, dark matters, everything). However, I can't think of a topic to do my assignment on. I would want something that is interesting and deep enough for me to get my teeth into, but not something to be overwhelmed with and not understand completely. I have just got my A in AS physics and an A* in A level maths so you have an idea of what I can and can't do.

The Attempt at a Solution



I have tried looking into topics like Curiosity, dark matter, string theory and the theory of everything, but I can't seem to translate that into an academic task for me to write about, I would be over the moon if someone could point me in the right direction.

Too Long Didn't Read: I am not asking for help WITH the project itself; the reading into it and research and writing of it I can do myself, I just need a project idea or a thesis that I can get into. (For example, I just did a maths paper on "Explore the mathematics behind public key cryptography", something like that in terms of physics would be great!)
 
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welcome to pf!

hi sick1! welcome to pf! :smile:
sick1 said:
Hi, I'm in the UK and just finished my first year of college, and now I need to do a 2000 word academic assignment (on physics) for my college so I can show Unis. I am 17 and a competent, interested young physicist.

I have tried looking into topics like Curiosity, dark matter, string theory and the theory of everything, but I can't seem to translate that into an academic task for me to write about …

i wouldn't touch string theory, dark matter etc, it's far too complicated

Curiosity (I assume you mean the Mars one! :biggrin:) is mostly about engineering, chemistry and biology, rather than physics

but since you seem interested in astronomy, how about writing about magnetospheres, or the heliosphere?
 


tiny-tim said:
hi sick1! welcome to pf! :smile:


i wouldn't touch string theory, dark matter etc, it's far too complicated

Curiosity (I assume you mean the Mars one! :biggrin:) is mostly about engineering, chemistry and biology, rather than physics

but since you seem interested in astronomy, how about writing about magnetospheres, or the heliosphere?

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I thought all those topics would be too complicated, which is why I was reluctant to start an assignment into it.

The Mars Curiosity? What's that? :rolleyes: Haha kidding, and I don't want to sound like I'm brushing of your idea of the magnetosphere/heliosphere (I'll look into it as soon as), but while doing my assignment on cryptography, it mentioned Quantum Computing and I was wondering, perhaps I could link my new assignment into Quantum computing, more importantly, the physics side of things. Perhaps I could do something like 'How long till Quantum Computers are on every desk' and then explain the physics behind it? Opinions? I would LOVE to do the physics behind quantum computing/ quantum theory, but would it be a feasible idea?

Also, is there a way I can thank you for your post on this forum? I know on other forums you can add reputation points to users. Once again, thanks for taking the time to reply!
 
hi sick1! :smile:

(just got up :zzz:)
sick1 said:
… I was wondering, perhaps I could link my new assignment into Quantum computing, more importantly, the physics side of things. Perhaps I could do something like 'How long till Quantum Computers are on every desk' and then explain the physics behind it? Opinions? I would LOVE to do the physics behind quantum computing/ quantum theory, but would it be a feasible idea?

i know nothing about quantum computing, but yes it sounds feasible (not particularly complicated, and doable in 2000 words)

(and no, we don't have "rep" points … just good old-fashioned "thankyous"! :biggrin:)
 
tiny-tim said:
hi sick1! :smile:

(just got up :zzz:)


i know nothing about quantum computing, but yes it sounds feasible (not particularly complicated, and doable in 2000 words)

(and no, we don't have "rep" points … just good old-fashioned "thankyous"! :biggrin:)


Hi tim, don't worry, my sleep pattern is terrible, sleep at 6am and up at noon haha

But yeah I think doing it on quantum computing sounds like a good idea because it relates to my other assignment, and I find it interesting, here's hoping there's enough physics and little IT involved

And in that case I hope my Thank you is enough :)
 

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