IB Physics HL S2.1 Exploring and Designing Questions

Practise IB Physics HL S2.1 by designing defensible investigations with quantified controls, uncertainty planning and evidence-based method choices.

Exam points

formulate a research question and hypothesis, then select variables and a reproducible investigation method
justify controls, ranges, sampling and risk management when designing a practical investigation
use pilot observations to refine the method and explain how data quality will be assessed

Covered syllabus points

S2.1.1—Exploring S2.1.2—Designing investigations S2.1.3—Controlling variables

[Maximum number: 1]

A student wants to verify the relation $T=2 \pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}$ between the period T of a simple pendulum and the length L of the pendulum, where g is the acceleration of free fall. The student operates a stopwatch to measure one oscillation and a millimeter ruler to measure the length of the pendulum.

State, for this experiment,

one variable that must be controlled,

[Maximum number: 2]

A student performs an experiment with a rod that is free to oscillate in a horizontal plane. Two identical small spheres, each of mass m, are placed at equal distances from the centre of the rod. The student records values of the period of oscillation of the rod T in seconds for different values of the distance of separation of the spheres d, in metres.

The student plots the variation with d of T, keeping m constant.

(a)

Explain why m was kept constant.

[ 1 ]

(b)

State one other feature of the experiment that the student should keep constant.

[ 1 ]

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Covered syllabus points

Question 1

Question 2

Question (a)

Question (b)