Physics IA Exemplar: Ruler Length and Natural Frequency | RevisionDojo
IB Physics HL Internal Assessment Exemplar
Modelling the relationship between the length and natural frequency of a ruler
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Overall Score: 14/24
IB Grade: 5
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14/24
0
12
24
5.1·weakness
Page 9• Click to view
Figure screenshot is not numbered consistently with earlier figures and lacks full caption; use unified numbering and descriptive caption.
5.2·suggestion
Page 14• Click to view
Bibliography cites credible sources but omits references on ruler material properties; include a materials characterization paper to support discussion.
Criteria A: Research Design
5/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
Excellent
Research question context
Excellent
Methodological considerations for collecting data
Good
Methodological considerations
Criteria Feedback
Research question anchored in a specific, well‐explained context linked to cantilever‐beam theory
Comprehensive methodology with step‐by‐step procedures, diagrams, equipment list and clear sampling parameters
Independent, dependent and control variables are clearly identified and justified, supporting reproducibility
Depth of real‐world applications is limited (e.g., musical instruments, sensor design)
Theoretical assumptions (small deflections, uniform beam) are not explicitly discussed
Minor ambiguities remain in peak‐picking protocol and rationale for length increments
Criteria B: Data Analysis
4/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
Excellent
Communication of data recording and processing
Moderate
Consideration of uncertainties
Excellent
Data processing quality
Criteria Feedback
Tables and graphs are well‐labelled, scaled and include regression equations with R² values
Data processing (frequency calculation, power‐law regression and linearisation) is accurate and methodologically sound
Communication of both raw and transformed data is generally clear and precise
Uncertainty propagation is incomplete and error bars are omitted without sufficient justification
No combined or percentage uncertainties are carried forward into the calibration constant
Residual analysis and a more rigorous uncertainty propagation approach are absent
Criteria C: Conclusion
3/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
Moderate
Conclusion relevance and support
Moderate
Scientific context comparison
Criteria Feedback
Conclusion restates the inverse‐square relationship and acknowledges empirical deviations
Some comparison to scientific context via cantilever‐beam theory and damping effects
Overstates support for the hypothesis despite the exponent deviation of 1.66
No statistical test (e.g., t-test) to assess the significance of the deviation
Lacks quantitative comparison to published scientific data (e.g., EI values, damping ratios)
Criteria D: Evaluation
2/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
Moderate
Methodological weaknesses
Poor
Suggested improvements
Criteria Feedback
Specific methodological weaknesses (sampling rate, amplitude decay, displacement control) are identified
Realistic improvements are proposed (e.g., higher sampling rate)
Suggested improvements lack detail on implementation and expected impact
Alternative enhancements (automated peak detection, different sensors) are omitted
Impact of identified weaknesses is described qualitatively without quantification