Choosing the right topic for your Internal Assessment (IA) can be challenging, but it's crucial for success in the IB program. This list of ideas is designed to be a springboard to inspire your own unique IA topics.
Each idea includes a brief description, difficulty rating, and relevant topics/approaches to consider, making it easier for you to select and refine your IA project. Use these suggestions as a starting point and adapt them to fit your interests and the specific requirements of your subject.
Investigating Projectile Motion of a Thrown Ball
- Difficulty: Easy
- Topics: Mechanics, projectile motion, kinematics
Effect of Angle of Inclination on Acceleration
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Mechanics, acceleration, angles
Analyzing the Damping Effect in Oscillating Systems
- Difficulty: Hard
- Topics: Mechanics, oscillations, damping
Studying the Efficiency of Different Solar Panels
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Energy, solar panels, efficiency
Investigating the Relationship Between Voltage and Current in a Resistor
- Difficulty: Easy
- Topics: Electricity, Ohm's law, resistors
Effect of Wire Length on Electrical Resistance
- Difficulty: Easy
- Topics: Electricity, resistance, wire length
Analyzing the Behavior of Springs in Series and Parallel
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Mechanics, springs, Hooke's law
Investigating the Cooling Rate of Different Liquids
- Difficulty: Easy
- Topics: Thermal physics, cooling, liquids
Measuring the Speed of Sound in Air Using Resonance
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Waves, sound, resonance
Effect of Light Intensity on the Photoelectric Effect
- Difficulty: Hard
- Topics: Quantum physics, photoelectric effect, light intensity
Determining the Gravitational Field Strength Using a Pendulum
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Mechanics, pendulum, gravitational field
Analyzing the Factors Affecting Terminal Velocity
- Difficulty: Hard
- Topics: Mechanics, terminal velocity, drag force
Investigating Refraction of Light Through Different Media
- Difficulty: Easy
- Topics: Optics, refraction, Snell's law
Effect of Temperature on Electrical Conductivity of Metals
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Electricity, conductivity, temperature
Studying the Doppler Effect with Sound Waves
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Waves, Doppler effect, sound
Investigating Magnetic Fields Using Iron Filings
- Difficulty: Easy
- Topics: Magnetism, magnetic fields, iron filings
Analyzing the Efficiency of Different Insulating Materials
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Thermal physics, insulation, materials
Effect of Frequency on the Diffraction of Waves
- Difficulty: Hard
- Topics: Waves, diffraction, frequency
Studying Circular Motion in a Centrifuge
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Mechanics, circular motion, centripetal force
Investigating Electromagnetic Induction Using Coils
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Electromagnetism, induction, coils
Effect of Mass on the Period of a Simple Pendulum
- Difficulty: Easy
- Topics: Mechanics, pendulum, mass
Analyzing the Decay of Radioactive Materials
- Difficulty: Hard
- Topics: Nuclear physics, radioactivity, decay
Investigating the Polarization of Light
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Topics: Optics, polarization, light
Effect of Surface Area on Air Resistance
- Difficulty: Easy
- Topics: Mechanics, air resistance, surface area
Studying the Relationship Between Pressure and Volume in Gases
- Difficulty: Easy
- Topics: Gas laws, pressure, volume