Introduction
The IB Physics Internal Assessment (IA) is an opportunity for students to explore physics beyond the classroom. Worth 20% of your final grade, the IA allows you to design and carry out your own investigation. But one of the hardest parts is simply deciding on a research question.
Many students repeat overused experiments or choose topics too complex to complete properly. This guide provides unique IB Physics IA ideas that are creative, feasible, and capable of scoring top marks.
What Makes a Strong Physics IA Idea?
A good Physics IA should be:
- Original — not just a copy of a textbook experiment.
- Feasible — can be completed with school lab resources.
- Focused — has a clear, measurable independent variable.
- Relevant — connects to real-life physics applications.
- Analytical — allows you to process data with depth.
Remember, examiners reward personal engagement, thoughtful design, and strong analysis — not just flashy experiments.
Unique IB Physics IA Ideas
Here are categories and sample ideas that can inspire your IA:
Mechanics
- Investigating how different surfaces affect the coefficient of friction for rolling objects.
- Analyzing the effect of string length on centripetal force in circular motion.
- Exploring how mass distribution influences rotational acceleration of a homemade wheel.
Waves
- Investigating how the thickness of materials affects sound absorption.
- Exploring resonance frequencies in water-filled bottles at different volumes.
- Studying the effect of string tension on frequency in homemade string instruments.
