Possible areas of interest within which a topic for investigation might be selected
This list was compiled by Jon Eales and Ian Jacobs
1 Some aspect of the motion of a ball attached to a string driven in a circle by hand,[ eg. The torque required to swing the ball at a given speed; and by extension, the drag forces on the ball.]
2 Some aspect of the motion of conical pendulums.
3 The working principles of a dry cell battery tester. (The colored line on the side of the cell)
4 Some aspect of the efficiency of motors or transformers.
5 The wavelength-velocity relationship for waves in a swimming pool.
6 Amplitude versus distance from a point source for water waves.
7 Some aspect of bungee jumping using models.
8 Some aspect of standing waves on a stretched, weighted bungee.
9 Some aspect of energy loss in oscillating springs or rubber bands (hysteresis)
10 Vibration modes of a weighted crystal wine glass when stroked or tapped / or a mug with weighted handles when tapped
11 Drag coefficient as a function of one aspect of a body falling in air.
12 Terminal velocity in water ...... for instance ...... [The effect of weight (mass) on the terminal velocity of model skydivers of the same cross sectional area in water.]
13 Edge effect for terminal velocity in air. How does terminal velocity change as a function of the ratio of paper cup to tube diameter.
14 The approach to terminal velocity.
a The approach to terminal velocity for sliding boxes for which the retarding force is independent of velocity.
b The approach to terminal velocity for a falling sphere in glycerine for which the retarding force is proportional to velocity.
c The approach to terminal velocity for falling cups in air or water for which the retarding force is proportional to velocity squared.
15 Factors affecting the speed of pellets from guns using a ballistic pendulum to measure.
16 The effect of area and/or point angle on the sparking of foil in a microwave oven.
17 The characteristics of bouncing (perpendicularly or at an angle) on surfaces with friction.
18 Coefficient of restitution of a bouncing ball as a function of one other variable.
19 The effect of padding on the force of collisions.
20 Some aspect of temperature gradients in water.
21 Some aspect of rising bubbles in beer or soda. Variables might include temperature, pressure, bubble size, formation rate, nucleation points, "flatness".
22 Some aspect of the velocity of efflux (the stream of water coming from a hole in the side of a can).
23 Surface temperature of an object that is being heated. Some aspect of power input or the nature of the surface.
24 Some aspect of heating due to radiation absorption.
25 The cone angle for different types of rice etc. related to the cone angle of volcanoes.
26 Factors affecting the viscosity of glycerin, honey etc. Temperature - water content? (Methods of measuring viscosity (there are upwards of 20!) may be compared.
27 The tea paradox. Tea leaves are placed in a beaker of water. When put on a turntable, the leaves go to outside. Stir, and the leaves go to center. Do some experiments.
28 Investigate the effects due to acceleration on a tethered ball of some lower density than a liquid for different combinations of balls and liquids.
29 Measure the speed of capillary waves on different liquids as a function of wavelength from 2 cm to 0.2 mm. (Try water, alcohol. kerosene, mercury etc.) Relate your findings to the wave velocity equations.
30 A cup sounds a different note when struck with a spoon in different places (w.r.t. the handle) Investigate.