Chapter 1: Physics Depth Study Ideas and Topics
Looking for Physics depth study ideas and topics?
The most important part of your depth study assessment is deciding on the idea and topic for your Physics depth study. This is especially challenging if you are given a depth study at the start of Year 12 since you haven’t been exposed to the concept and topics covered in the HSC Physics syllabus.
In this article, we discuss ideas and topics for:
- ‘Practical investigation’ as a Physics depth study
- ‘Secondary-sourced investigation’ as a Physics depth study
- ‘Data Analysis’ as a Physics depth study
- ‘Creating’ as a Physics depth study
Ideas and Topics for Physics Depth Study
For each Physics depth study type, we’ve outlined topics under each module. You might be interested in exploring these for your assessment.
Remember there are five different depth study types:
- Practical investigation
- Secondary-sourced investigation
- Data analysis
- Creating
- Field work
To understand the different types, read the article Physics depth study | Comprehensive Guide.
Ideas and topics for depth study type: Practical investigation
There are 3 different ideas suggested by NESA for the ‘Practical Investigation‘ Physics depth study type:
- Design and conduct experiments
- Test a device
- Test a claim
Each of these ideas follows its own specific scientific method. The methods for testing a device and testing a claim differ to the method for designing and conducting experiments.
To avoid losing marks, you must adhere to the scientific method relevant to your practical investigation idea.
The scientific method for Design and conduct experiments is shown below.
Possible topics for Practical Investigations
Examples of some practical investigations are listed below.
| Module | Idea | Topic/Example |
| Advanced Mechanics | Design and conduct experiments | Projectile Motion: Validate the relationship between the height of release (h) of a projectile and the range in projectile motion, and determine the fixed height of a table (H). Projectile Motion: Test the claim that the effect of air resistance in projectile motion is small and can be ignored. |
| Electromagnetism | Design and conduct experiments Test a device | The Motor Effect: Validate the relationship between the force between two parallel current carrying conductors and the currents, and hence determine the permittivity or permeability of free space. Transformer: Determine the efficiency of a transformer |
| The Nature of Light | Test a claim | Wave Model of Light: Determine the wavelength of the light output of a laser, and compare this with the claimed wavelength and uncertainty |
| From the Universe to the Atom | Design and conduct experiments | Quantum Mechanical Nature of the Atom: Using the visible hydrogen spectrum, determine the Rydberg constant for hydrogen. |
Related: ‘How to plan and conduct Physics practical investigations‘.
Ideas and topics for depth study type: Secondary-sourced investigation
There are 9 different ideas suggested by NESA for the ‘Secondary-sourced Investigation‘ Physics depth study type:
1. Make a documentary or media report
The video shown below is a documentary about Einstein and his work.
2. Conduct a literature review
The article shown below is a literature review in the field of astrophysics, reviewing the science of the Big Bang and the expansion of the universe.
3. Develop an evidence-based argument
4. Write a journal article
The article shown below is a scientific paper published in a peer-reviewed journal.
5. Write an essay – historical or theoretical
The article shown below is an example of historical essay. It discusses the conflict between AC and DC electricity distribution systems.
6. Develop an environmental management plan
7. Analyse a work of fiction or film for scientific relevance
8. Create a visual presentation
The picture shown below is a poster summarising the elementary particles and their interactions in The Standard Model of Physics, as well as unsolved mysteries.
9. Investigate emerging technologies.
Possible topics for Secondary-Sourced investigations
Examples of some secondary-sourced investigations are listed below.
| Module | Idea | Topic/Example |
| Advanced Mechanics | Make a documentary or media report | Motion in Gravitational Fields: Create a documentary or media report on current endeavours to execute missions to Mars. |
| Electromagnetism | Write an essay – historical | Electromagnetic induction: Discuss the historical competition between AC and DC electrical generation and transmission systems. |
| The Nature of Light | Create a visual presentation OR Write an essay | Light and Special Relativity: Create a visual presentation to describe why Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation has been replaced by General Relativity as the preferred theory of gravity. |
| From the Universe to the Atom | Develop an evidence-based argument | Origins of the Elements: Write a detailed explanation of the empirical evidence that proves the expansion of the Universe. |
Ideas and topics for depth study type: Data Analysis
There are 3 different ideas suggested by NESA for the ‘Data Analysis‘ Physics depth study type:
- Construction and analysis of graphs/tables
- Data analysis from a variety of sources
- Research analysis, eg of longitudinal data, resource management data
Possible topics for data analysis
Examples of some data analysis are listed below.
| Module | Idea | Topic/Example |
| Advanced Mechanics | Data analysis from a variety of sources | Circular Motion: Analyse data on the torque production of electric motors used in research grade solar powered vehicles and autonomous electric racing vehicles. |
| Electromagnetism | Data analysis from a variety of sources | Electromagnetic Induction: Collect and analyse data on major high voltage electrical transmission systems around Australia, and determine a representative average of power lost as heat. |
| The Nature of Light | Construction and analysis of graphs/tables | Light (Wave Model): Calculate the slit separation distance of a diffraction grating using different wavelengths of laser. |
| From the Universe to the Atom | Construction and analysis of graphs/tables | Origins of the Elements: Discover the luminosity-period relationship of Cepheid variables. |
Related: How to perform data analysis
Ideas and topics for depth study type: Creating
There are 3 different ideas suggested by NESA for the ‘Creating‘ Physics depth study type:
- Design and invent
- Create a working model
- Create a portfolio
Possible topics for Creating
Examples of some Creating are listed below.
| Module | Idea | Topic/Example |
| Advanced Mechanics | Design and invent | Torque: Build a force-amplifying, torque-based pulley system capable of lifting amounts of mass within a specified range. |
| Electromagnetism |
|
|
Need more help with your depth study? Sign up and access our comprehensive Physics depth study ideas, examples and templates.
Join 10000+ students who are getting ahead with Learnable. Try for free now.
Written by DJ Kim
DJ is the founder of Learnable and has a passionate interest in education and technology. He is also the author of Physics resources on Learnable.
Learnable Education and www.learnable.education, 2019. Unauthorised use and/or duplications of this material without express and written permission from this site's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Learnable Education and www.learnable.education with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.