Holland Park State High School

Physics
IA2

Student name

Student number

Teacher

Issued 12/03/2024

Due date 30/04/2024

Marking summary

Criterion Marks allocated Provisional marks

Research and planning 6
Analysis of evidence 6
Interpretation and evaluation 6
Communication 2
Overall 20

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 Conditions

Technique Student experiment

Unit Unit 3: Gravity and electromagnetism
Topic/s Topic 1: Gravity and motion
Topic 2: Electromagnetism

Duration 10 hours of class time

Mode / length Written (e.g. scientific report): 1500–2000 words

Individual / group Individual response; students may collaborate to develop

the methodology and perform the experiment

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 Context
You have completed the following practicals in class:
Mandatory Practicals:

● Conduct an experiment to determine the horizontal distance travelled by an object

projected at various angles from the horizontal
● Conduct an experiment to investigate the force acting on a conductor in a
magnetic field
● Conduct an experiment to investigate the strength of a magnet at various
distances

Suggested Practicals:

● Conduct an experiment to investigate the parallel component of the weight of an

object down an inclined plane at various angles
● Conduct an experiment to investigate the induction of an electric current using a
magnet and coil

Task
Modify (i.e. refine, extend or redirect) an experiment in order to address your own
related hypothesis or question.
You may use a practical performed in class, a related simulation or another practical
related to Unit 3 (as negotiated with your teacher) as the basis for your methodology
and research question.
To complete this task you must:

Identify an experiment to modify*

Develop a research question to be investigated*
Research relevant background scientific information to inform the modification of
the research question and methodology
Conduct a risk assessment and account for risks in the methodology*
Conduct the experiment*
Collect sufficient and relevant qualitative data and/or quantitative data to address
the research question*
Process and present the data appropriately
Analyse the evidence to identify trends, patterns or relationships
Analyse the evidence to identify uncertainty and limitations
Interpret the evidence to draw conclusion/s to the research question
Evaluate the reliability and validity of the experimental process
Suggest possible improvements and extensions to the experiment
Communicate findings in an appropriate scientific genre, i.e. scientific report.

*The steps indicated with an asterisk above may be completed in groups. All other
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 *The steps indicated with an asterisk above may be completed in groups. All other
elements must be completed individually.

Checkpoints
Week 1: Select experiment and identify proposed modifications
Week 2: Perform experiment and analyse data
Week 4: Analyse and evaluate evidence
Week 5: Submit draft
Week 7: Submit final response

Authentication strategies
● You will be provided class time for task completion.
● Your teacher will observe you completing work in class.
● Your teacher will collect and annotate a draft.
● You must acknowledge all sources.
● You will use Turn-it-in to submit your response.
● You will each produce a unique response by, collecting data as a group but
producing individual reports

Scaffolding
The response must be presented using an appropriate scientific genre (i.e. scientific
report) and contain:

● a research question
● a rationale for the experiment
● reference to the initial experiment and identification and justification of
modifications to the methodology
● raw and processed qualitative data and/or quantitative data
● analysis of the evidence
● conclusion/s based on the interpretation of the evidence
● evaluation of the methodology and suggestions of improvements and extensions to
the experiment
● a reference list

An example of how one of the practicals could be developed into a research question
Practical that will be modified:
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 Practical that will be modified:
Conduct an experiment to investigate the parallel component of the weight of an
object down an inclined plane at various angles
Sample Research question:
What is the relationship between the angle of inclination and the magnitude of the
frictional force for a given rectangular-based wooden object on a given wooden
surface?
Developing the research questions
Description Example
Identify the independent Angle of inclination
variable to be
investigated
Identify the dependent Magnitude of the frictional force acting parallel to the
variable inclined surface
Identify the methodology A rectangular wooden object will be placed on an inclined
to be used plane. The angle of inclination will be modified and the
parallel component of the object’s weight will be
measured using data-logger force meter. This measured
force will be subtracted from the theoretical expected
value of the parallel-to-the-surface component of the
weight to determine the magnitude of the frictional force
acting parallel to the inclined surface
Draft research questions What is the relationship between the angle of inclination
and the frictional force of an inclined surface?
Present research What is the relationship between the angle of inclination
question to teacher for and the magnitude of the frictional force for a given
approval rectangular-based wooden object on a given wooden
surface?
Note: You cannot use this sample research question for your experiment

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Instrument-specific marking guide (IA2): Student experiment (20%)
Criterion: Research and planning

Assessment objectives
2. apply understanding of gravity and motion, or electromagnetism to modify experimental methodologies and process primary data
5. investigate phenomena associated with gravity and motion, or electromagnetism, through an experiment

The student work has the following characteristics: Marks

• informed application of understanding of gravity and motion, or electromagnetism to modify experimental methodologies demonstrated by
− a considered rationale for the experiment
− justified modifications to the methodology
• effective and efficient investigation of phenomena associated with gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by 5–6
− a specific and relevant research question
− a methodology that enables the collection of sufficient , relevant data
− considered management of risks and ethical or environmental issues.

• adequate application of understanding of gravity and motion, or electromagnetism to modify experimental methodologies demonstrated by
− a reasonable rationale for the experiment
− feasible modifications to the methodology
• effective investigation of phenomena associated with gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by 3–4
− a relevant research question
− a methodology that enables the collection of relevant data
− management of risks and ethical or environmental issues.

• rudimentary application of understanding of gravity and motion, or electromagnetism to modify experimental methodologies demonstrated
by
− a vague or irrelevant rationale for the experiment
− inappropriate modifications to the methodology
1–2
• ineffective investigation of phenomena associated with gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by
− an inappropriate research question
− a methodology that causes the collection of insufficient and irrelevant data
− inadequate management of risks and ethical or environmental issues.

• does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0

Criterion: Analysis of evidence

Assessment objectives
2. apply understanding of gravity and motion, or electromagnetism to modify experimental methodologies and process primary data
3. analyse experimental evidence about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism
5. investigate phenomena associated with gravity and motion, or electromagnetism, through an experiment

The student work has the following characteristics: Marks

• appropriate application of algorithms, visual and graphical representations of data about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism
demonstrated by correct and relevant processing of data
• systematic and effective analysis of experimental evidence about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism, demonstrated by
− thorough identification of relevant trends , patterns or relationships 5–6
− thorough and appropriate identification of the uncertainty and limitations of evidence
• effective and efficient investigation of phenomena associated with gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by the collection of
sufficient and relevant raw data.

• adequate application of algorithms, visual and graphical representations of data about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated
by basic processing of data
• effective analysis of experimental evidence about gravity and motion or electromagnetism, demonstrated by
− identification of obvious trends , patterns or relationships 3–4
− basic identification of uncertainty and limitations of evidence
• effective investigation of phenomena associated with gravity and motion or electromagnetism, demonstrated by the collection of relevant raw
data.

• rudimentary application of algorithms, visual and graphical representations of gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by
incorrect or irrelevant processing of data
• ineffective analysis of experimental evidence about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by
− identification of incorrect or irrelevant trends , patterns or relationships 1–2
− incorrect or insufficient identification of uncertainty and limitations of evidence
• ineffective investigation of phenomena associated with gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by the collection of insufficient
and irrelevant raw data.

• does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0

Criterion: Interpretation and evaluation

Assessment objectives
4. interpret experimental evidence about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism
6. evaluate experimental processes and conclusions about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism

Physics 2019 Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority

General Senior Syllabus ISMG v1.3 July 2022
1
 The student work has the following characteristics: Marks

• insightful interpretation of experimental evidence about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by justified conclusion /s
linked to the research question
• critical evaluation of experimental processes about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by 5–6
− justified discussion of the reliability and validity of the experimental process
− suggested improvements and extensions to the experiment that are logically derived from the analysis of evidence.

• adequate interpretation of experimental evidence about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by reasonable conclusion /
s relevant to the research question
• basic evaluation of experimental processes about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by 3–4
− reasonable description of the reliability and validity of the experimental process
− suggested improvements and extensions to the experiment that are related to the analysis of evidence.

• invalid interpretation of experimental evidence about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by inappropriate or irrelevant
conclusion /s
• superficial evaluation of experimental processes about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism demonstrated by 1–2
− cursory or simplistic statements about the reliability and validity of the experimental process
− ineffective or irrelevant suggestions.

• does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0

Criterion: Communication

Assessment objectives
7. communicate understandings and experimental findings , arguments and conclusions about gravity and motion, or electromagnetism.

The student work has the following characteristics: Marks

• effective communication of understandings and experimental findings , arguments and conclusions about gravity and motion, or
electromagnetism demonstrated by
− fluent and concise use of scientific language and representations 2
− appropriate use of genre conventions
− acknowledgment of sources of information through appropriate use of referencing conventions.

• adequate communication of understandings and experimental findings , arguments and conclusions about gravity and motion, or
electromagnetism demonstrated by
− competent use of scientific language and representations 1
− use of basic genre conventions
− use of basic referencing conventions.

• does not satisfy any of the descriptors above. 0

Physics 2019 Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority

General Senior Syllabus ISMG v1.3 July 2022
2