Physics subject report · November 2012

November 2012 extended essay reports Page 1 Physics Overall grade boundaries Grade: E D C B A Mark range: 0 - 7 8 - 15 16 - 22 23 - 28 29 - 36 The range and suitability of the work submitted There was clear evidence that a majority of students received relevant information and good guidance from their supervis or. The enthusiasm and dedication of the majority of students was recognized. Many supervisors included their comments on the cover sheet. Overall the topics were well chosen, even for those candidates who did not manage to fully develop, throughout the essay, what they had initially planned. The large majority of t opics were relevant to physics. Essays varied in standard from excellent to poor. A number of essays based on a simple and original topic, were well developed. It was not a lways evident that candidates were fully aware of the EE requirements or familiar with the EE guide. A wide range of topics covered different areas of physics for example: Simple pendulum oscillating in water ; Penetration in ice of a wire under tension ; Efficiency of an Archimedean Screw water pump;, Firmness of sand: effect of grain size and water content; Efficiency of a Sterling engine ; Physics of free throw in game of basketball ; Friction between flexible rope and capstan ; Reverberation time of sound o n velvet curtains; Magnetic field inside a solenoid ; White dwarf stars and gravity ; How do the physical properties of viola strings affect the harmonics intensity of sound ?; Mass effect on a winged samara’s flight time ; Effect of number of blades and power generated by wind turbine ; Maximum range of badminton shuttle; How does increasing the area of paper placed in rectangular ice blocks affect the transverse strength of the ice block? ; Effect of light intensity on output of a solar cell. Personal interest was always a great source of motivation; however the challenge was to work within the