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500+ Physics Research Topics

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Physics is the study of matter, energy, and the fundamental forces that govern the universe. It is a broad and fascinating field that has given us many of the greatest scientific discoveries in history , from the theory of relativity to the discovery of the Higgs boson. As a result, physics research is always at the forefront of scientific advancement, and there are countless exciting topics to explore. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most fascinating and cutting-edge physics research topics that are being explored by scientists today. Whether you are a student, researcher, or simply someone with a passion for science, there is sure to be something in this list that will pique your interest.

Physics Research Topics

Physics Research Topics are as follows:

Physics Research Topics for Grade 9

• Investigating the properties of waves: amplitude, frequency, wavelength, and speed.
• The effect of temperature on the expansion and contraction of materials.
• The relationship between mass, velocity, and momentum.
• The behavior of light in different mediums and the concept of refraction.
• The effect of gravity on objects and the concept of weight.
• The principles of electricity and magnetism and their applications.
• The concept of work, energy, and power and their relationship.
• The study of simple machines and their efficiency.
• The behavior of sound waves and the concept of resonance.
• The properties of gases and the concept of pressure.
• The principles of heat transfer and thermal energy.
• The study of motion, including speed, velocity, and acceleration.
• The behavior of fluids and the concept of viscosity.
• The concept of density and its applications.
• The study of electric circuits and their components.
• The principles of nuclear physics and their applications.
• The behavior of electromagnetic waves and the concept of radiation.
• The properties of solids and the concept of elasticity.
• The study of light and the electromagnetic spectrum.
• The concept of force and its relationship to motion.
• The behavior of waves in different mediums and the concept of interference.
• The principles of thermodynamics and their applications.
• The study of optics and the concept of lenses.
• The concept of waves and their characteristics.
• The study of atomic structure and the behavior of subatomic particles.
• The principles of quantum mechanics and their applications.
• The behavior of light and the concept of polarization.
• The study of the properties of matter and the concept of phase transitions.
• The concept of work done by a force and its relationship to energy.
• The study of motion in two dimensions, including projectile motion and circular motion.

Physics Research Topics for Grade 10

• Investigating the motion of objects on inclined planes
• Analyzing the effect of different variables on pendulum oscillations
• Understanding the properties of waves through the study of sound
• Investigating the behavior of light through refraction and reflection experiments
• Examining the laws of thermodynamics and their applications in real-life situations
• Analyzing the relationship between electric fields and electric charges
• Understanding the principles of magnetism and electromagnetism
• Investigating the properties of different materials and their conductivity
• Analyzing the concept of work, power, and energy in relation to mechanical systems
• Investigating the laws of motion and their application in real-life situations
• Understanding the principles of nuclear physics and radioactivity
• Analyzing the properties of gases and the behavior of ideal gases
• Investigating the concept of elasticity and Hooke’s law
• Understanding the properties of liquids and the concept of buoyancy
• Analyzing the behavior of simple harmonic motion and its applications
• Investigating the properties of electromagnetic waves and their applications
• Understanding the principles of wave-particle duality and quantum mechanics
• Analyzing the properties of electric circuits and their applications
• Investigating the concept of capacitance and its application in circuits
• Understanding the properties of waves in different media and their applications
• Analyzing the principles of optics and the behavior of lenses
• Investigating the properties of forces and their application in real-life situations
• Understanding the principles of energy conservation and its applications
• Analyzing the concept of momentum and its conservation in collisions
• Investigating the properties of sound waves and their applications
• Understanding the behavior of electric and magnetic fields in charged particles
• Analyzing the principles of thermodynamics and the behavior of gases
• Investigating the properties of electric generators and motors
• Understanding the principles of electromagnetism and electromagnetic induction
• Analyzing the behavior of waves and their interference patterns.

Physics Research Topics for Grade 11

• Investigating the effect of temperature on the resistance of a wire
• Determining the velocity of sound in different mediums
• Measuring the force required to move a mass on an inclined plane
• Examining the relationship between wavelength and frequency of electromagnetic waves
• Analyzing the reflection and refraction of light through various media
• Investigating the properties of simple harmonic motion
• Examining the efficiency of different types of motors
• Measuring the acceleration due to gravity using a pendulum
• Determining the index of refraction of a material using Snell’s law
• Investigating the behavior of waves in different mediums
• Analyzing the effect of temperature on the volume of a gas
• Examining the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance in a circuit
• Investigating the principles of Coulomb’s law and electric fields
• Analyzing the properties of electromagnetic radiation
• Investigating the properties of magnetic fields
• Examining the behavior of light in different types of lenses
• Measuring the speed of light using different methods
• Investigating the properties of capacitors and inductors in circuits
• Analyzing the principles of simple harmonic motion in springs
• Examining the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration
• Investigating the behavior of waves in different types of materials
• Determining the energy output of different types of batteries
• Analyzing the properties of electric circuits
• Investigating the properties of electric and magnetic fields
• Examining the principles of radioactivity
• Measuring the heat capacity of different materials
• Investigating the properties of thermal conduction
• Examining the behavior of light in different types of mirrors
• Analyzing the principles of electromagnetic induction
• Investigating the properties of waves in different types of strings.

Physics Research Topics for Grade 12

• Investigating the efficiency of solar panels in converting light energy to electrical energy.
• Studying the behavior of waves in different mediums.
• Analyzing the relationship between temperature and pressure in ideal gases.
• Investigating the properties of electromagnetic waves and their applications.
• Analyzing the behavior of light and its interaction with matter.
• Examining the principles of quantum mechanics and their applications.
• Investigating the properties of superconductors and their potential uses.
• Studying the properties of semiconductors and their applications in electronics.
• Analyzing the properties of magnetism and its applications.
• Investigating the properties of nuclear energy and its applications.
• Studying the principles of thermodynamics and their applications.
• Analyzing the properties of fluids and their behavior in different conditions.
• Investigating the principles of optics and their applications.
• Studying the properties of sound waves and their behavior in different mediums.
• Analyzing the properties of electricity and its applications in different devices.
• Investigating the principles of relativity and their applications.
• Studying the properties of black holes and their effect on the universe.
• Analyzing the properties of dark matter and its impact on the universe.
• Investigating the principles of particle physics and their applications.
• Studying the properties of antimatter and its potential uses.
• Analyzing the principles of astrophysics and their applications.
• Investigating the properties of gravity and its impact on the universe.
• Studying the properties of dark energy and its effect on the universe.
• Analyzing the principles of cosmology and their applications.
• Investigating the properties of time and its effect on the universe.
• Studying the properties of space and its relationship with time.
• Analyzing the principles of the Big Bang Theory and its implications.
• Investigating the properties of the Higgs boson and its impact on particle physics.
• Studying the properties of string theory and its implications.
• Analyzing the principles of chaos theory and its applications in physics.

Physics Research Topics for UnderGraduate

• Investigating the effects of temperature on the conductivity of different materials.
• Studying the behavior of light in different mediums.
• Analyzing the properties of superconductors and their potential applications.
• Examining the principles of thermodynamics and their practical applications.
• Investigating the behavior of sound waves in different environments.
• Studying the characteristics of magnetic fields and their applications.
• Analyzing the principles of optics and their role in modern technology.
• Examining the principles of quantum mechanics and their implications.
• Investigating the properties of semiconductors and their use in electronics.
• Studying the properties of gases and their behavior under different conditions.
• Analyzing the principles of nuclear physics and their practical applications.
• Examining the properties of waves and their applications in communication.
• Investigating the principles of relativity and their implications for the nature of space and time.
• Studying the behavior of particles in different environments, including accelerators and colliders.
• Analyzing the principles of chaos theory and their implications for complex systems.
• Examining the principles of fluid mechanics and their applications in engineering and science.
• Investigating the principles of solid-state physics and their applications in materials science.
• Studying the properties of electromagnetic waves and their use in modern technology.
• Analyzing the principles of gravitation and their role in the structure of the universe.
• Examining the principles of quantum field theory and their implications for the nature of particles and fields.
• Investigating the properties of black holes and their role in astrophysics.
• Studying the principles of string theory and their implications for the nature of matter and energy.
• Analyzing the properties of dark matter and its role in cosmology.
• Examining the principles of condensed matter physics and their applications in materials science.
• Investigating the principles of statistical mechanics and their implications for the behavior of large systems.
• Studying the properties of plasma and its applications in fusion energy research.
• Analyzing the principles of general relativity and their implications for the nature of space-time.
• Examining the principles of quantum computing and its potential applications.
• Investigating the principles of high energy physics and their role in understanding the fundamental laws of nature.
• Studying the principles of astrobiology and their implications for the search for life beyond Earth.

Physics Research Topics for Masters

• Investigating the principles and applications of quantum cryptography.
• Analyzing the behavior of Bose-Einstein condensates and their potential applications.
• Studying the principles of photonics and their role in modern technology.
• Examining the properties of topological materials and their potential applications.
• Investigating the principles and applications of graphene and other 2D materials.
• Studying the principles of quantum entanglement and their implications for information processing.
• Analyzing the principles of quantum field theory and their implications for particle physics.
• Examining the properties of quantum dots and their use in nanotechnology.
• Investigating the principles of quantum sensing and their potential applications.
• Studying the behavior of quantum many-body systems and their potential applications.
• Analyzing the principles of cosmology and their implications for the early universe.
• Examining the principles of dark energy and dark matter and their role in cosmology.
• Investigating the properties of gravitational waves and their detection.
• Studying the principles of quantum computing and their potential applications in solving complex problems.
• Analyzing the properties of topological insulators and their potential applications in quantum computing and electronics.
• Examining the principles of quantum simulations and their potential applications in studying complex systems.
• Investigating the principles of quantum error correction and their implications for quantum computing.
• Studying the behavior of quarks and gluons in high energy collisions.
• Analyzing the principles of quantum phase transitions and their implications for condensed matter physics.
• Examining the principles of quantum annealing and their potential applications in optimization problems.
• Investigating the properties of spintronics and their potential applications in electronics.
• Studying the behavior of non-linear systems and their applications in physics and engineering.
• Analyzing the principles of quantum metrology and their potential applications in precision measurement.
• Examining the principles of quantum teleportation and their implications for information processing.
• Investigating the properties of topological superconductors and their potential applications.
• Studying the principles of quantum chaos and their implications for complex systems.
• Analyzing the properties of magnetars and their role in astrophysics.
• Examining the principles of quantum thermodynamics and their implications for the behavior of small systems.
• Investigating the principles of quantum gravity and their implications for the structure of the universe.
• Studying the behavior of strongly correlated systems and their applications in condensed matter physics.

Physics Research Topics for PhD

• Quantum computing: theory and applications.
• Topological phases of matter and their applications in quantum information science.
• Quantum field theory and its applications to high-energy physics.
• Experimental investigations of the Higgs boson and other particles in the Standard Model.
• Theoretical and experimental study of dark matter and dark energy.
• Applications of quantum optics in quantum information science and quantum computing.
• Nanophotonics and nanomaterials for quantum technologies.
• Development of advanced laser sources for fundamental physics and engineering applications.
• Study of exotic states of matter and their properties using high energy physics techniques.
• Quantum information processing and communication using optical fibers and integrated waveguides.
• Advanced computational methods for modeling complex systems in physics.
• Development of novel materials with unique properties for energy applications.
• Magnetic and spintronic materials and their applications in computing and data storage.
• Quantum simulations and quantum annealing for solving complex optimization problems.
• Gravitational waves and their detection using interferometry techniques.
• Study of quantum coherence and entanglement in complex quantum systems.
• Development of novel imaging techniques for medical and biological applications.
• Nanoelectronics and quantum electronics for computing and communication.
• High-temperature superconductivity and its applications in power generation and storage.
• Quantum mechanics and its applications in condensed matter physics.
• Development of new methods for detecting and analyzing subatomic particles.
• Atomic, molecular, and optical physics for precision measurements and quantum technologies.
• Neutrino physics and its role in astrophysics and cosmology.
• Quantum information theory and its applications in cryptography and secure communication.
• Study of topological defects and their role in phase transitions and cosmology.
• Experimental study of strong and weak interactions in nuclear physics.
• Study of the properties of ultra-cold atomic gases and Bose-Einstein condensates.
• Theoretical and experimental study of non-equilibrium quantum systems and their dynamics.
• Development of new methods for ultrafast spectroscopy and imaging.
• Study of the properties of materials under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature.

Random Physics Research Topics

• Quantum entanglement and its applications
• Gravitational waves and their detection
• Dark matter and dark energy
• High-energy particle collisions and their outcomes
• Atomic and molecular physics
• Theoretical and experimental study of superconductivity
• Plasma physics and its applications
• Neutrino oscillations and their detection
• Quantum computing and information
• The physics of black holes and their properties
• Study of subatomic particles like quarks and gluons
• Investigation of the nature of time and space
• Topological phases in condensed matter systems
• Magnetic fields and their applications
• Nanotechnology and its impact on physics research
• Theory and observation of cosmic microwave background radiation
• Investigation of the origin and evolution of the universe
• Study of high-temperature superconductivity
• Quantum field theory and its applications
• Study of the properties of superfluids
• The physics of plasmonics and its applications
• Experimental and theoretical study of semiconductor materials
• Investigation of the quantum Hall effect
• The physics of superstring theory and its applications
• Theoretical study of the nature of dark matter
• Study of quantum chaos and its applications
• Investigation of the Casimir effect
• The physics of spintronics and its applications
• Study of the properties of topological insulators
• Investigation of the nature of the Higgs boson
• The physics of quantum dots and its applications
• Study of quantum many-body systems
• Investigation of the nature of the strong force
• Theoretical and experimental study of photonics
• Study of topological defects in condensed matter systems
• Investigation of the nature of the weak force
• The physics of plasmas in space
• Study of the properties of graphene
• Investigation of the nature of antimatter
• The physics of optical trapping and manipulation
• Study of the properties of Bose-Einstein condensates
• Investigation of the nature of the neutrino
• The physics of quantum thermodynamics
• Study of the properties of quantum dots
• Investigation of the nature of dark energy
• The physics of magnetic confinement fusion
• Study of the properties of topological quantum field theories
• Investigation of the nature of gravitational lensing
• The physics of laser cooling and trapping
• Study of the properties of quantum Hall states.
• The effects of dark energy on the expansion of the universe
• Quantum entanglement and its applications in cryptography
• The study of black holes and their event horizons
• The potential existence of parallel universes
• The relationship between dark matter and the formation of galaxies
• The impact of solar flares on the Earth’s magnetic field
• The effects of cosmic rays on human biology
• The development of quantum computing technology
• The properties of superconductors at high temperatures
• The search for a theory of everything
• The study of gravitational waves and their detection
• The behavior of particles in extreme environments such as neutron stars
• The relationship between relativity and quantum mechanics
• The development of new materials for solar cells
• The study of the early universe and cosmic microwave background radiation
• The physics of the human voice and speech production
• The behavior of matter in extreme conditions such as high pressure and temperature
• The properties of dark matter and its interactions with ordinary matter
• The potential for harnessing nuclear fusion as a clean energy source
• The study of high-energy particle collisions and the discovery of new particles
• The physics of biological systems such as the brain and DNA
• The behavior of fluids in microgravity environments
• The properties of graphene and its potential applications in electronics
• The physics of natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis
• The development of new technologies for space exploration and travel
• The study of atmospheric physics and climate change
• The physics of sound and musical instruments
• The behavior of electrons in quantum dots
• The properties of superfluids and Bose-Einstein condensates
• The physics of animal locomotion and movement
• The development of new imaging techniques for medical applications
• The physics of renewable energy sources such as wind and hydroelectric power
• The properties of quantum materials and their potential for quantum computing
• The physics of sports and athletic performance
• The study of magnetism and magnetic materials
• The physics of earthquakes and the prediction of seismic activity
• The behavior of plasma in fusion reactors
• The properties of exotic states of matter such as quark-gluon plasma
• The development of new technologies for energy storage
• The physics of fluids in porous media
• The properties of quantum dots and their potential for new technologies
• The study of materials under extreme conditions such as extreme temperatures and pressures
• The physics of the human body and medical imaging
• The development of new materials for energy conversion and storage
• The study of cosmic rays and their effects on the atmosphere and human health
• The physics of friction and wear in materials
• The properties of topological materials and their potential for new technologies
• The physics of ocean waves and tides
• The behavior of particles in magnetic fields
• The properties of complex networks and their application in various fields

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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A List of 240 Physics Topics & Questions to Research

Plates break when you drop them. Glasses help you see better. Have you ever wondered why?

Physics has the answer. It studies the observable as well as invisible aspects of nature. An essential part of this is examining the structure and interactions of matter.

Are you a high-schooler studying for your exams? Or maybe you need to write an interesting physics paper for your Ph.D. research or college seminar? This article presents a list of the most popular topics in physics for you to choose from.

Best of all, you don’t have to push yourself too hard to finish your essay. Custom-writing.org is happy to help students with all kinds of written assignments.

🔝 Top 10 Physics Research Topics

✅ branches of physics.

• ⭐ Top 10 Physics Topics
• ⚙️ Mechanics
• 🌡️ Thermodynamics
• ⚡ Electromagnetism
• 🔊 Sounds & Waves
• ☢️ Modern Physics
• 🔋 Physics Project Topics
• 🔭 Astrophysics
• 🌎 Physical Geography
• 🤔 Theoretical Physics
• ⚛️ Quantum Physics

🔍 References

• Modern vs. classical physics
• Gravity method in geophysics
• Why can’t the multiverse be real?
• Nuclear physics vs. quantum physics
• Photonics’ relationship to other fields
• Is electromagnetism the strongest force?
• What would extra dimensions look like?
• The importance of kinematics in real life
• Is string theory a generalization of quantum field theory?
• The difference between liquid pressure and air pressure

Now: before writing about physics you should know about its main branches. These are classical and modern . Let’s take a closer look:

• Mechanics , which is concerned with motion. Two of its essential aspects are kinematics and dynamics.
• Optics helps us understand the properties of light.
• Another branch investigates waves and sound . It studies the way they travel and how they are produced.
• Thermodynamics deals with heat and motion. One of its key concepts is entropy.
• Electromagnetism studies the interactions between charged particles. It also deals with the forces and fields that surround them.
• Finally, physical geographers observe our Earth’s physical features. These include environmental processes and patterns.
• Atomic physics , which examines the structure and behavior of atoms.
• Nuclear physics investigates the nucleus of atoms. This branch often deals with radioactivity.
• Scientists working in quantum physics concentrate on the erratic behavior of waves and particles.
• Relativity can be general and special. Special relativity deals with time and motion. General relativity describes gravity as an alteration of spacetime caused by massive objects.
• Cosmology and astrophysics explore the properties of celestial bodies. Cosmologists strive to comprehend the universe on a larger scale.
• Mesoscopic physics covers the scale between macroscopic and microscopic.

You can talk about any of these branches in your essay. Keep in mind that this division is a basic outline. Strictly speaking, everything that happens around you is physics! Now, we’re all set to move on to our physics paper topics.

⭐ Top 10 Physics Topics 2024

• Biophysics vs. biochemistry
• The future of nano-physics
• The use of perturbation theory
• Possible cause of baryogenesis
• Solid-state vs. condensed matter physics
• Why is the quark model introduced?
• The importance of plasma in physics
• Statistical mechanics vs. statistical physics
• Ways to calculate electronic structure
• Difference between matter and dark matter

🧲 Classical Physics Topics to Write About

Classical physics deals with energy, force, and motion. You encounter this kind of physics in everyday life. Below, we’ve compiled a list with compelling prompts you’ll recognize from your physics class:

⚙️ Mechanics Essay Topics

• What does Newton’s laws of motion state?
• How do ships stay afloat?
• Equipartition: for what systems does it not hold?
• What does Bernoulli’s principle state about fluids?
• Surface tension: what causes it?
• How does buoyancy work?
• An overview of the molecular origins of viscosity.
• The equipartition theorem: how does it connect a system’s temperature to its energies?
• The benefits of the continuum assumption.
• Contrast the different types of forces.
• Explain the term “momentum.”
• Kinematics: describing the relationships of objects in constrained motion.
• What causes objects to oscillate?

🌡️ Thermodynamics Paper Topics

• Thermodynamics as a kinetic theory of matter.
• What is entropy?
• Describe the three types of thermodynamic processes.
• The Carnot heat engine as part of a thermodynamic cycle.

• Perpetual motion: is it possible or not?
• Investigate fire in terms of chemistry and thermodynamics.

⚡ Electromagnetism Topics to Research

• Examine the connection between electric potential and electric field.
• What makes an excellent conduit?
• How does a dielectric impact a capacitor?
• Contrast current, resistance, and power.
• How do magnetic fields relate to electricity?
• Explain inductance. What causes it?
• How do induction stoves work?

🔊 Essay Topics on Sounds & Waves

• Sound waves: how do they travel?
• Describe the two types of mechanical waves.
• What are electromagnetic waves used for?
• The difference between interference and diffraction.
• Music and vibrations: the properties of sound.

👓 Optics Topics to Write About

• How does reflection work?
• What happens when an object absorbs light?
• Why does light break into a rainbow?
• Lasers: what do we use them for?
• What causes Aurora Borealis?
• Photography: what happens when you change the aperture?
• Explain what influences the colors of sunsets.
• Fata Morgana mirages: where do they originate from?
• What is the Novaya Zemlya effect?

☢️ Modern Physics Topics for a Paper

The world of modern physics shifts away from its more tangible origins. It deals with atoms and even smaller particles. Nuclear, atomic, and quantum physics belong to this category. One of the central problems of modern physics is redefining the concept of gravity.

• Relativity: a discovery that turned our understanding of physics upside down.
• An overview of 20th century physics.
• The ultraviolet catastrophe and how it was solved.
• What happens to the energy entering an ideal blackbody?
• The photoelectric effect: creating current with light.
• Why did the classical lightwave model become outdated?
• How do night vision devices work?
• The production of x-rays.
• Explain why the charge of electrons is quantized.
• How does the kinetic energy of an electron relate to the light’s frequency and intensity?
• Describe the photon model of the Compton Scattering.
• How do you identify an element using its line spectra?
• Cold Fusion: how likely is it?
• Explain the Pauli Exclusion Principle.
• Electron shells and atomic orbitals: properties of electrons.
• What causes peaks in the x-ray spectrum?
• How do you calculate radioactive decay?
• Carbon dating: how accurate is it?
• The discovery of radioactivity.
• What holds electronic nuclei together?
• Nuclear Fusion: will it ever be possible?
• Describe the types of elemental transmutation.
• Applications of nuclear fission.
• Virtual particles: how do they come into existence?

• Nucleosynthesis: creating atomic nuclei.
• How do you dope a semiconductor using ion implantation?
• What are the magic numbers?
• Superheavy primordial elements: the history of unbihexium.
• Predictions surrounding the island of stability.
• How does a computer tomography work?

🔋 Physics Project Topics for a Science Fair

What’s the most fun part of every natural science? If you said “experiments,” you guessed it! Everybody can enjoy creating rainbows or exploring the effects of magnets. Your next physics project will be as fascinating as you want it to be with these exciting ideas!

• Build a kaleidoscope and learn how it works.
• Investigate the centripetal force with the help of gelatin and marbles.
• Make a potato battery.
• Construct an elevator system.
• Prove Newton’s laws of motion by placing objects of different weights in a moving elevator.
• Learn how a telescope works. Then build one from scratch.
• Levitate small objects using ultrasound.
• Measure how fast a body in free fall accelerates.
• Find out what causes a capacitor to charge and discharge over time.
• Measure how light intensity changes through several polarizing filters.
• Observe how sound waves change under altered atmospheric conditions.
• Find out how a superheated object is affected by its container.
• Determine the mathematics behind a piece of classical music.
• Replicate an oil spill and search for the best way to clean it up.
• What makes a circular toy easy to spin? Experiment by spinning hula hoops of different sizes.
• Make DNA visible. What happens if you use different sources of plant-based DNA?
• Charge your phone with a handmade solar cell.
• Find out what properties an object needs to stay afloat.
• Create music by rubbing your finger against the rim of a glass. Experiment with several glasses filled with different amounts of water.
• Compare the free-fall speed of a Lego figure using various parachutes.
• Experiment with BEC to understand quantum mechanics.
• Make a windmill and describe how it works.
• Build an automatic light circuit using a laser.
• How do concave and convex mirrors affect your reflection?
• Investigate how pressure and temperature influence the air volume.
• Determine the conductivity of different fluids.
• Learn about the evolution of the universe by measuring electromagnetic radiation.
• Capture charged particles in an ion trap.
• Build a rocket car using a balloon.
• Experiment with pendulums and double pendulums. How do they work?

🔭 Astrophysics Topics for a Research Paper

Astrophysicists, astronomers, and cosmologists observe what happens in space. Astronomy examines celestial bodies, while astrophysics describes their mechanics. At the same time, cosmology attempts to comprehend the universe as a whole.

• Explain when a celestial body is called a planet.
• Dark energy and dark matter: how do they affect the expansion of the universe?
• The cosmic microwave background: investigating the birth of the universe.
• What are the possible explanations for the expansion of the universe?
• Evidence for the existence of dark matter.
• The discovery of gravitational waves: consequences and implications.
• Explore the history of LIGO.
• How did scientists observe a black hole?
• The origins of light.
• Compare the types of stars.
• Radioactivity in space: what is it made of?
• What do we know about stellar evolution?
• Rotations of the Milky Way.
• Write an overview of recent developments in astrophysics.
• Investigate the origin of moons.
• How do we choose names for constellations?
• What are black holes?
• How does radiative transfer work in space?
• What does our solar system consist of?
• Describe the properties of a star vs. a moon.

• What makes binary stars special?
• Gamma-ray bursts: how much energy do they produce?
• What causes supernovae?
• Compare the types of galaxies.
• Neutron stars and pulsars: how do they differ?
• The connection between stars and their colors.
• What are quasars?
• Curved space: is there enough evidence to support the theory?
• What produces x-rays in space?
• Exoplanets: what do we know about them?

🌎 Physical Geography Topics to Write About

Physical geographers explore the beauty of our Earth. Their physical knowledge helps them explain how nature works. What causes climate change? Where do our seasons come from? What happens in the ocean? These are the questions physical geographers seek to answer.

• What creates rainbows?
• How do glaciers form?
• The geographical properties of capes.
• What causes landslides?
• An overview of the types of erosion.
• What makes Oceania’s flora unique?
• Reefs: why are they important?
• Why is there a desert in the middle of Siberia?
• The geography of the Namibian desert.
• Explain the water cycle.
• How do you measure the length of a river?
• The Gulf Stream and its influence on the European climate.
• Why is the sky blue?
• What creates waves?
• How do marshes form?
• Investigate the causes of riptides.
• The Three Gorges Dam: how was it built?
• Explain the phenomenon of Green Sahara.
• The consequences of freshwater pollution.
• What are the properties of coastal plains?
• Why is the Atacama Desert the driest place on Earth?
• How does a high altitude affect vegetation?
• Atmospheric changes over the past 100 years.
• Predicting earthquakes: a comparison of different methods.
• What causes avalanches?
• Seasons: where do they come from?
• The Baltic and the Northern Seas meeting phenomenon.
• The geographical properties of the Altai Mountains.
• How do the steppes form?
• Why are some water bodies saltier than others?

🤔 Theoretical Physics Topics to Research

Math fans, this section is for you. Theoretical physics is all about equations. Research in this area goes into the development of mathematical and computer models. Plus, theoretical physicists try to construct theories for phenomena that currently can’t be explained experimentally.

• What does the Feynman diagram describe?
• How is QFT used to model quasiparticles?
• String theory: is it a theory of everything?
• The paradoxical effects of time travel.
• Monstrous moonshine: how does it connect to string theory?
• Mirror symmetry and Calabi-Yau manifolds: how are they used in physics?
• Understanding the relationship between gravity and BF theories.
• Compare the types of Gauge theories.

• Applications of TQFT in condensed matter physics.
• Examine the properties of fields with arbitrary spin.
• How do quarks and gluons interact with each other?
• What predictions does quantum field theory make for curved spacetime?
• How do technicolor theories explain electroweak gauge symmetry breaking?
• Quantum gravity: a comparison of approaches.
• How does LQG address the structure of space?
• An introduction into the motivation behind the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis.
• What does the M-theory state?
• What does the Ising model say about ferromagnetism?
• Compare the thermodynamic Debye model with the Einstein model.
• How does the kinetic theory describe the macroscopic properties of gases?
• Understanding the behavior of waves and particles: scattering theory.
• What was the luminiferous aether assumption needed for?
• The Standard Model of particles: why is it not a full theory of fundamental interactions?
• Investigate supersymmetry.
• Physical cosmology: measuring the universe.
• Describe the black hole thermodynamics.
• Pancomputationalism: what is it about?
• Skepticism concerning the E8 theory.
• Explain the conservation of angular momentum.
• What does the dynamo theory say about celestial bodies?

⚛️ Quantum Physics Topics for Essays & Papers

First and foremost, quantum physics is very confusing. In quantum physics, an object is not just in a specific place. It merely has the probability to be in one place or another. Light travels in particles, and matter can be a wave. Throw physics as you know it overboard. In this world, you can never be sure what and where things really are.

• How did the Schrödinger Equation advance quantum physics?
• Describe the six types of quarks.
• Contrast the four quantum numbers.
• What kinds of elementary particles exist?
• Probability density: finding electrons.
• How do you split an atom using quantum mechanics?
• When is an energy level degenerate?
• Quantum entanglement: how does it affect particles?
• The double-slit experiment: what does it prove?
• What causes a wave function to collapse?
• Explore the history of quantum mechanics.
• What are quasiparticles?
• The Higgs mechanism: explaining the mass of bosons.
• Quantum mechanical implications of the EPR paradox.
• What causes explicit vs. spontaneous symmetry breaking?
• Discuss the importance of the observer.
• What makes gravity a complicated subject?
• Can quantum mechanical theories accurately depict the real world?
• Describe the four types of exchange particles.
• What are the major problems surrounding quantum physics?
• What does Bell’s theorem prove?
• How do bubble chambers work?
• Understanding quantum mechanics: the Copenhagen interpretation.
• Will teleportation ever be possible on a large scale?
• The applications of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.
• Wave packets: how do you localize them?
• How do you process quantum information?
• What does the Fourier transform do?
• The importance of Planck’s constant.
• Matter as waves: the Heisenberg-Schrödinger atom model.

We hope you’ve found a great topic for your best physics paper. Good luck with your assignment!

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Mathematics is the science of numbers and shapes. Writing about it can give you a fresh perspective and help to clarify difficult concepts. You can even use mathematical writing as a tool in problem-solving. In this article, you will find plenty of interesting math topics. Besides, you will learn about...

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100 Interesting Physics Topics For Research Paper In 2023

Searching for a topic in physics can be one of the more difficult challenges for students at any level. Teachers and professors want their students to research and write something original. They also want students to challenge themselves by pushing the envelope and studying new areas in the field. This can be overwhelming for students and trying to come up with even a handful of physics topics might seem an impossible task.

Choosing Physics Topics For a Project

A good physics research topic should be broad enough to let you find plenty of material to answer all of the important questions. It should, however, also be narrow enough to fit within the parameters of your assignment. We can help you with that. Check out our list of physics topics that cover a wide range of areas within the field:

Physics Research Paper Topics for High School

• How much are solar panels affected by dust?
• What is the discharge amount from a pinhole on a water bottle?
• Is time travel adequately explained in literature?
• Why do some carpets have more static buildup?
• How is light impacted when cast through a sugar solution?

More Topics in Physics High School

• What is the effect of light on degradable materials?
• How strong is the silk produced by a silkworm?
• Which truss design bridge supports the most weight?
• How much weight can nylon fishing lines maintain?
• How much weight can human hair maintain?

Five Cool Physics Topics to Do Quickly

• How strong is human hair of different thicknesses?
• Can eggs withstand more force from certain directions or angles?
• Can a metal pendulum accurately predict the sex of a chicken?
• What factors impact the heat capacity of different saltwater concentrations?
• How are projectile miniature rockets affected by temperature?

Physics Research Topics for College

• What are the mechanics of a perpetual clock?
• How does circular motion impact the rotation of various spheres?
• What are the components and nature of various atoms?
• How does weather affect gravity in falling objects?
• What role does physics play in the health care industry?

Physics Topics for Paper Graduate School

• What are the primary characteristics of the laws of motion?
• What are the major principles of Lorentz force law in relation to electromagnetism?
• How will quantum computing impact the physics of the 2020s?
• Will gravitational waves prove that Einstein’s theories are incorrect?
• How does rotational motion work when using different types of torque?

Special Topics in Calamity Physics

• How are calamity physics different from chaos theory?
• Do the concepts in Calamity Physics reflect reality?
• How do physic professionals view the opinions in Calamity Physics?
• Can Calamity Physics become a legitimate area of study?
• Where did the author of Calamity Physics get her ideas from?

Physics IA Topics Ideas for Studying

• What effect does temperature have on the speed of sound in a solid?
• What impact does sugar have on water’s refractive index?
• How does temperature influence the flight pattern of an item when fired?
• In what ways does shade affect a solar panel’s power output?
• How does the shape of a football affect its flight pattern?

Interesting Physics Topics for All

• Are floating cities a reality in light of rising water levels?
• Why was the 2020 Christmas Star such a rare phenomenon?
• What impact will the development of superconductors have on physics?
• How will the study of exotic materials be affected by superconductors?
• Will new discoveries in physics lead to new green technologies?

AP Physics Topics for High School

• How does one measure motion utilizing position-time charts?
• How is a ball’s motion on its way down a mirror image of its upward motion?
• How does one measure motion utilizing velocity-time charts?
• What are the major principles of electrostatics?
• Howe do simple pendulums and mass-spring systems work?

SAT Physics Topics Ideas for Studying

• How do airplanes gather wing lift?
• How does one measure the molecular sizes of various gases?
• How do gravity and wind resistance affect the arc of a ball thrown in the air?
• What patterns can be observed in an experiment involving paper airplane flights?
• In what ways is an object in free fall affected by gravity acceleration?

Physics GRE Topics for Studying

• How do magnetic fields in free space react to outside forces?
• What are the major components of optics and wave phenomena?
• How is a balloon’s surface area affective by weather?
• How does sound travel in different environments?
• What is the audible range of a human being?

MCAT Physics Topics Ideas for Studying

• Understand the characteristics of average speed and velocity.
• Understand how dimensions (distance and time) work in the Universe.
• Explain what Newton’s first, second, and third laws state.
• What is the law of Gravitation and what does it mean for the Earth’s physics?
• How do weight and mass differ in the construction of buildings?

Five Fun Physics Topics to Do Quickly

• How does kinetic energy help athletes improve performance?
• How does caloric intake affect the energy humans generate?
• What is the most effective way of optimizing a bottle rocket?
• What is the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy?
• How does the length and tension of a guitar string effect sound output?

Theoretical Physics Topics for Undergraduates

• How can our understanding of physics help reduce global warming?
• Why is physics essential to our society and how has it evolved?
• What are the major principles of quantum mechanics?
• What is the relationship between energy consumption and nuclear physics?
• What are the major factors that affect the trajectory of a rocket going to space? Discover more space topics .

Interesting Modern Physics Topics

• Why has the concept of cold fusion been contended by researchers?
• Is cold fusion a legitimate physical science or is it speculative?
• How can physics play a role in minimizing the effects of global warming?
• Why have Nobel Prize-winning physicists been contradicted in recent years?
• How is nanotechnology related to modern physics?

Great Physics Topics for Presentation

• What are the major principles that make an atomic bomb acts?
• How have the ideas for space and time explorations changed in the last 50 years?
• What impact did Galileo have on the world view of physics?
• What role did atomic particles play in building our universe?
• Is the Hadron collider capable of starting a black hole?

Physics Regents Topics for Preparation

• How much energy is expended when you go from walking to running?
• What makes perpetual motion machines work?
• What are the factors that affect drag in canoes?
• What are the differences between conservative forces and potential energy?
• In what ways is the conservation of energy affected by temperature?

Great Physics Paper Topics for a Short Project

• What are the best ways to make a catapult with Popsicle sticks?
• How to make a rudimentary prism at home?
• What factors affect the rotational speed of a DC motor?
• What characteristics lay within the concept of pyramid power?
• How do sailboats convert wind power to move forward?

Good Physics Projects Topics for a Long Project

• How much energy do solar panels input and output?
• How much energy do solar panels lose over a day?
• How did Stephen Hawking impact contemporary physics?
• What is the difference between centripetal and centrifugal forces?
• What are the measurement problems within quantum probability?

Physics Essay Topics Related to Everyday Situations

• How does temperature affect different musical instruments?
• How do you build a lawn sprinkler using a milk carton?
• How do you minimize the risk of egg breakage in cartons?
• Can light affect the shape and size of Jell-O?
• What does Einstein’s theory of relativity state about our surroundings?

Physics is really hard. We understand this and have committed ourselves to assist students at all levels and dealing with all situations. Our experts have put together these physics topics to help students save some time. We can also help develop custom physics science topics to fit any assignment requirements.

Just give us a call, email us, or send us a message by chat. Our customer service team representatives are available to help with any physics project topics you need. An excellent custom thesis is not a problem for us. We’ll connect you with the most qualified experts and will lighten the burden of the most difficult assignments.

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Top 50 Emerging Research Topics in Physics

Explore the Fascinating Research Topics in Physics

Physics is a field that constantly evolves as researchers push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. Over the years, countless ground-breaking discoveries have been made, from the theory of relativity to the discovery of the Higgs boson. In this article, iLovePhD will present you with the top 50 emerging research topics in physics, highlighting the frontiers of knowledge and the exciting possibilities they hold.

1. Quantum Computing

• Quantum algorithms for optimization problems • Quantum error correction and fault tolerance • Quantum machine learning and artificial intelligence

2. Dark Matter

• Identifying dark matter particles • Dark matter and galaxy formation • New experimental techniques for dark matter detection

3. Quantum Gravity

• String theory and its implications • Emergent space-time from quantum entanglement • Quantum gravity and black hole information paradox

4. High-Temperature Superconductors

• Understanding the mechanism behind high-temperature superconductivity • New materials and applications • Room-temperature superconductors

5. Neutrino Physics

• Neutrino mass hierarchy and oscillations • Neutrinos in astrophysics and cosmology • Neutrinoless double beta decay

6. Exoplanets and Astrobiology

• Characterizing exoplanet atmospheres • Habitability and the search for life beyond Earth • The role of water in astrobiology

7. Topological Matter

• Topological insulators and superconductors • Topological materials for quantum computing • Topological photonics

8. Quantum Simulation

• Simulating complex quantum systems • Quantum simulation for materials science • Quantum simulators for fundamental physics

9. Plasma Physics

• Fusion energy and the quest for sustainable power • Space weather and its impact on technology • Nonlinear dynamics in plasmas

10. Gravitational Waves

• Multi-messenger astronomy with gravitational waves • Probing the early universe with gravitational waves • Next-generation gravitational wave detectors

11. Black Holes

• Black hole thermodynamics and the information paradox • Observational techniques for studying black holes • Black hole mergers and their cosmic implications

12. Quantum Sensors

• Quantum-enhanced sensing technologies • Quantum sensors for medical diagnostics • Quantum sensor networks

13. Photonics and Quantum Optics

• Quantum communication and cryptography • Quantum-enhanced imaging and microscopy • Photonic integrated circuits for quantum computing

14. Materials Science

• 2D materials and their applications • Metamaterials and cloaking devices • Bioinspired materials for diverse applications

15. Nuclear Physics

• Nuclear structure and reactions • Nuclear astrophysics and the origin of elements • Applications in nuclear medicine

16. Quantum Thermodynamics

• Quantum heat engines and refrigerators • Quantum thermodynamics in the quantum computing era • Entanglement and thermodynamics

17. High-Energy Particle Physics

• Beyond the Standard Model physics • Particle cosmology and the early universe • Future colliders and experiments

18. Quantum Materials

• Quantum phase transitions and exotic states of matter • Quantum criticality and its impact on materials • Quantum spin liquids

19. Astrophysical Neutrinos

• Neutrinos from astrophysical sources • Neutrino telescopes and detection methods • Neutrinos as cosmic messengers

20. Topological Superconductors

• Majorana fermions in condensed matter systems • Topological qubits for quantum computing • Topological superconductors in particle physics

21. Quantum Information Theory

• Quantum communication protocols • Quantum error correction and fault tolerance • Quantum algorithms for cryptography

22. Exotic Particles

• Search for axions and axion-like particles • Magnetic monopoles and their detection • Supersymmetry and new particles

23. 3D Printing of Advanced Materials

• Customized materials with novel properties • On-demand manufacturing for aerospace and healthcare • Sustainable and recyclable materials

24. Quantum Biology

• Quantum effects in biological systems • Photosynthesis and quantum coherence • Quantum sensing in biological applications

25. Quantum Networks

• Quantum key distribution for secure communication • Quantum internet and global quantum connectivity • Quantum repeaters and entanglement distribution

26. Space-Time Crystal

• Time crystals and their quantum properties • Applications in precision timekeeping • Space-time crystals in quantum information

27. Supersolidity

• Theoretical models and experimental evidence • Quantum properties of supersolids • Supersolidity in astrophysical contexts

28. Soft Matter Physics

• Colloidal suspensions and self-assembly • Active matter and biological systems • Liquid crystals and display technologies

29. Dark Energy

• Nature of dark energy and cosmic acceleration • Probing dark energy with large-scale surveys • Modified gravity theories

30. Quantum Spintronics

• Spin-based electronics for quantum computing • Spin transport and manipulation in materials • Quantum spin devices for information processing

31. Quantum Field Theory

• Conformal field theories and holography • Nonperturbative methods in quantum field theory • Quantum field theory in cosmology

32. Terahertz Spectroscopy

• Terahertz imaging and sensing • Terahertz sources and detectors • Terahertz applications in healthcare and security

33. Holography and AdS/CFT

• Holography and black hole physics • AdS/CFT correspondence and quantum many-body systems • Holography in condensed matter physics

34. Quantum Cryptography

• Secure quantum communication protocols • Quantum-resistant cryptography • Quantum key distribution in real-world applications

35. Quantum Chaos

• Quantum manifestations of classical chaos • Quantum chaos in black hole physics • Quantum scrambling and fast scrambling

36. Mesoscopic Physics

• Quantum dots and artificial atoms • Quantum interference and coherence in mesoscopic systems • Mesoscopic transport and the quantum Hall effect

37. Quantum Gravity Phenomenology

• Experimental tests of quantum gravity • Quantum gravity and cosmological observations • Quantum gravity and the early universe

38. Spin-Orbit Coupling

• Spin-orbit coupling in condensed matter systems • Topological insulators and spintronics • Spin-orbit-coupled gases in ultracold atomic physics

39. Optomechanics

• Quantum optomechanics and its applications • Cavity optomechanics in quantum information • Cooling and manipulation of mechanical resonators

40. Quantum Metrology

• Precision measurements with entangled particles • Quantum-enhanced sensors for navigation and geodesy • Quantum metrology for gravitational wave detectors

41. Quantum Phase Transitions

• Quantum criticality and universality classes • Quantum phase transitions in ultra-cold atomic gases • Quantum Ising and XY models in condensed matter

42. Quantum Chaos

43. Topological Quantum Computing

• Topological qubits and fault-tolerant quantum computing • Implementing quantum gates in topological qubits • Topological quantum error correction codes

44. Superfluids and Supersolids

• Exotic phases of quantum matter • Supersolidity in ultra-cold gases • Applications in precision measurements

45. Quantum Key Distribution

• Quantum cryptography for secure communication • Quantum repeaters and long-distance communication • Quantum key distribution in a practical setting

46. Quantum Spin Liquids

• Novel magnetic states and excitations • Fractionalized particles and any statistics • Quantum spin liquids in frustrated materials

47. Topological Insulators

• Topological edge states and protected transport • Topological insulators in condensed matter systems • Topological materials for quantum computing

48. Quantum Artificial Intelligence

• Quantum machine learning algorithms • Quantum-enhanced optimization for AI • Quantum computing for AI and data analysis

49. Environmental Physics

• Climate modeling and sustainability • Renewable energy sources and energy storage • Environmental monitoring and data analysis

50. Acoustic and Fluid Dynamics

• Sonic black holes and Hawking radiation in fluids • Aeroacoustics and noise reduction • Hydrodynamic instabilities and turbulence The field of physics is a treasure trove of exciting research opportunities that span from the universe’s fundamental building blocks to the development of cutting-edge technologies. These emerging research topics offer a glimpse into the future of physics and the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos and the technologies that shape our world. As researchers delve into these topics, they bring us one step closer to unlocking the mysteries of the universe.

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• ParticlePhysics
• QuantumMechanics
• thermodynamics

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25 Research Ideas in Physics for High School Students

Research can be a valued supplement in your college application. However, many high schoolers are yet to explore research , which is a delicate process that may include choosing a topic, reviewing literature, conducting experiments, and writing a paper.

If you are interested in physics, exploring the physics realm through research is a great way to not only navigate your passion but learn about what research entails. Physics even branches out into other fields such as biology, chemistry, and math, so interest in physics is not a requirement to doing research in physics. Having research experience on your resume can be a great way to boost your college application and show independence, passion, ambition, and intellectual curiosity !

We will cover what exactly a good research topic entails and then provide you with 25 possible physics research topics that may interest or inspire you.

What is a good research topic?

Of course, you want to choose a topic that you are interested in. But beyond that, you should choose a topic that is relevant today ; for example, research questions that have already been answered after extensive research does not address a current knowledge gap . Make sure to also be cautious that your topic is not too broad that you are trying to cover too much ground and end up losing the details, but not too specific that you are unable to gather enough information.

Remember that topics can span across fields. You do not need to restrict yourself to a physics topic; you can conduct interdisciplinary research combining physics with other fields you may be interested in.

Research Ideas in Physics

We have compiled a list of 25 possible physics research topics suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors. These topics are separated into 8 broader categories.

Topic #1 : Using computational technologies and analyses

If you are interested in coding or technology in general , physics is also one place to look to explore these fields. You can explore anything from new technologies to datasets (even with coding) through a physics lens. Some computational or technological physics topics you can research are:

1.Development of computer programs to find and track positions of fast-moving nanoparticles and nanomachines

2. Features and limitations to augmented and virtual reality technologies, current industry standards of performance, and solutions that have been proposed to address challenges

3. Use of MATLAB or Python to work with existing code bases to design structures that trap light for interaction with qubits

4. Computational analysis of ATLAS open data using Python or C++

Suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors at University of Cambridge, University of Rochester, and Harvard University.

Topic #2 : Exploration of astrophysical and cosmological phenomena

Interested in space? Then astrophysics and cosmology may be just for you. There are lots of unanswered questions about astrophysical and cosmological phenomena that you can begin to answer. Here are some possible physics topics in these particular subfields that you can look into:

5. Cosmological mysteries (like dark energy, inflation, dark matter) and their hypothesized explanations

6. Possible future locations of detectors for cosmology and astrophysics research

7. Physical processes that shape galaxies through cosmic time in the context of extragalactic astronomy and the current issues and frontiers in galaxy evolution

8. Interaction of beyond-standard-model particles with astrophysical structures (such as black holes and Bose stars)

Suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors at Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, and University of California, Irvine.

Topic #3 : Mathematical analyses of physical phenomena

Math is deeply embedded in physics. Even if you may not be interested solely in physics, there are lots of mathematical applications and questions that you may be curious about. Using basic physics laws, you can learn how to derive your own mathematical equations and solve them in hopes that they address a current knowledge gap in physics. Some examples of topics include:

9. Analytical approximation and numerical solving of equations that determine the evolution of different particles after the Big Bang

10. Mathematical derivation of the dynamics of particles from fundamental laws (such as special relativity, general relativity, quantum mechanics)

11. The basics of Riemannian geometry and how simple geometrical arguments can be used to construct the ingredients of Einstein’s equations of general relativity that relate the curvature of space-time with energy-mass

Suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors at Harvard University, University of Southampton, and Pennsylvania State University.

Topic #4 : Nuclear applications in physics

Nuclear science and its possible benefits and implications are important topics to explore and understand in today’s society, which often uses nuclear energy. One possible nuclear physics topic to look into is:

12. Radiation or radiation measurement in applications of nuclear physics (such as reactors, nuclear batteries, sensors/detectors)

Suggested by a Lumiere PhD mentor at University of Chicago.

Topic #5 : Analyzing biophysical data

Biology and even medicine are applicable fields in physics. Using physics to figure out how to improve biology research or understand biological systems is common. Some biophysics topics to research may include the following:

13. Simulation of biological systems using data science techniques to analyze biological data sets

14. Design and construction of DNA nanomachines that operate in liquid environments

15. Representation and decomposition of MEG/EEG brain signals using fundamental electricity and magnetism concepts

16. Use of novel methods to make better images in the context of biology and obtain high resolution images of biological samples

Suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Washington, and University of Rochester

Topic #6 : Identifying electrical and mechanical properties

Even engineering has great applications in the field of physics. There are different phenomena in physics from cells to Boson particles with interesting electrical and/or mechanical properties. If you are interested in electrical or mechanical engineering or even just the basics , these are some related physics topics:

17. Simulations of how cells react to electrical and mechanical stimuli

18. The best magneto-hydrodynamic drive for high electrical permittivity fluids

19. The electrical and thermodynamic properties of Boson particles, whose quantum nature is responsible for laser radiation

Suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors at Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, and Harvard University.

Topic #7 : Quantum properties and theories

Quantum physics studies science at the most fundamental level , and there are many questions yet to be answered. Although there have been recent breakthroughs in the quantum physics field, there are still many undiscovered sub areas that you can explore. These are possible quantum physics research topics:

20. The recent theoretical and experimental advances in the quantum computing field (such as Google’s recent breakthrough result) and explore current high impact research directions for quantum computing from a hardware or theoretical perspective

21. Discovery a new undiscovered composite particle called toponium and how to utilize data from detectors used to observe proton collisions for discoveries

22. Describing a black hole and its quantum properties geometrically as a curvature of space-time and how studying these properties can potentially solve the singularity problem

Suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors at Stanford University, Purdue University, University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Topic #8 : Renewable energy and climate change solutions

Climate change is an urgent issue , and you can use physics to research environmental topics ranging from renewable energies to global temperature increases . Some ideas of environmentally related physics research topics are:

23. New materials for the production of hydrogen fuel

24. Analysis of emissions involved in the production, use, and disposal of products

25. Nuclear fission or nuclear fusion energy as possible solutions to mitigate climate change

Suggested by Lumiere PhD mentors at Northwestern University and Princeton University.

If you are passionate or even curious about physics and would like to do research and learn more, consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , which is a selective online high school program for students interested in researching with the help of mentors. You can find the application form here .

Rachel is a first year at Harvard University concentrating in neuroscience. She is passionate about health policy and educational equity, and she enjoys traveling and dancing.

Image source: Stock image

416 Physics Topics & Ideas to Research

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Physics topics may include the complex systems of the universe, from the smallest particles to colossal galaxies. This field of study examines fundamental concepts, such as force, energy, and matter, extrapolating them into areas like quantum or relative mechanics. It also explores thermodynamics, revealing the intriguing principles behind heat, work, and energy conversions. Some themes may vary from the mysteries of dark matter and energy in cosmology to the resonating string theories in theoretical physics. Moreover, the world of semiconductors in solid-state physics presents a spectrum of interconnected topics. In turn, the essential laws of physics provide the basis for almost all scientific research, offering profound insights into the natural world and shaping human understanding of how everything in the universe behaves and interacts.

Cool Physics Topics

• Quantum Entanglement and Its Potential Applications
• Harnessing Solar Energy: Next-Generation Photovoltaic Cells
• Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Energy
• The Role of Physics in Climate Change Models
• Dark Matter and Dark Energy: Unveiling the Universe’s Mysteries
• Astrophysics: Formation and Evolution of Black Holes
• Implications of Superconductivity in Modern Technology
• Roles of Biophysics in Understanding Cellular Mechanisms
• Theoretical Physics: The Quest for Quantum Gravity
• Nanotechnology: Manipulating Matter at the Atomic Scale
• Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation and the Big Bang Theory
• The Uncertainty Principle and Its Philosophical Consequences
• Exploring Exoplanets: Physics Beyond Our Solar System
• Advances in Optics: From Microscopy to Telecommunications
• Gravitational Waves: Probing the Fabric of Spacetime
• Neutrino Physics: Studying the Universe’s Ghost Particles
• Entropy and Time’s Arrow: Understanding Thermodynamics
• Applications of Particle Physics in Medicine
• Physics of Semiconductors and the Evolution of Computing
• Exploring String Theory and Multidimensional Realities
• Relativity Theory: Spacetime Curvature and Gravitational Lenses
• Quantum Computing: Bridging Physics and Information Technology

Easy Physics Topics

• Antimatter: Understanding its Properties and Possible Uses
• Physics of Chaos and Nonlinear Dynamical Systems
• Condensed Matter Physics: Unveiling the Behavior of Phases of Matter
• Science of Acoustics: Understanding Sound Phenomena
• Roles of Physics in Developing Advanced Materials
• Synchrotron Radiation: Tools and Techniques in Research
• Particle Accelerators: Probing the Quantum World
• Theoretical Predictions and Experimental Tests in Quantum Mechanics
• Nuclear Fusion: The Physics of a Star’s Energy Production
• The Holographic Principle: A Revolution in Quantum Physics?
• Biomechanics: Understanding the Physics of Life Movements
• Exploring the Physics of Supermassive Black Holes
• Magnetism: From Quantum Spin to Industrial Applications
• Laser Physics: Principles and Cutting-Edge Applications
• Advances in Cryogenics and Low-Temperature Physics
• The Physics of Flight: From Birds to Airplanes
• Quantum Field Theory and the Nature of Reality
• Modern Cosmology: Inflation and the Cosmic Structure
• Probing Subatomic Particles in High-Energy Physics
• Physics of Fluid Dynamics: From Blood Flow to Weather Systems
• The Grand Unified Theory: Bridging Fundamental Forces
• Quantum Cryptography: Ensuring Information Security
• Photonic Crystals and Their Applications in Telecommunication

Physics Research Paper Topics for High School

• Exploring the Mysteries of Dark Matter and Dark Energy
• Quantum Entanglement: Unraveling the Enigma
• Nanotechnology: The Physics of the Incredibly Small
• Black Holes: Understanding Gravity’s Ultimate Victory
• Time Travel: Exploring its Possibility in Physics
• Particle Physics: A Closer Look at the Higgs Boson
• Waves and Resonance: The Science Behind Vibrations
• Antimatter: The Mirror Image of Normal Matter
• Superconductivity: Exploring the Role of Temperature
• Effects of Nuclear Physics on Medical Imaging Technology
• The Theory of Everything: Unifying the Fundamental Forces
• Superstring Theory: The Quest for Unification
• Chaos Theory: A Journey Through Nonlinear Dynamics
• Radioactivity: The Science Behind Nuclear Decay
• Examining the Physical Properties of Non-Newtonian Fluids
• Magnetic Monopoles: A Missing Piece in Electromagnetism?
• Quantum Field Theory: The World of Subatomic Particles
• Physics of Climate Change: Understanding Global Warming
• Thermodynamics: The Science of Heat and Energy Transfers

Physics Research Paper Topics for College Students

• Unveiling the Mysteries of Quantum Entanglement
• Implications of Zero-Point Energy: A Look Into Vacuum Fluctuations
• Examining the Principles and Potential of Nuclear Fusion
• Harnessing Antimatter: Theoretical Approaches and Practical Limitations
• Tracing Cosmic Rays: Sources, Propagation, and Interaction with Matter
• Advanced Gravitational Waves: Detection and Significance
• Rethinking Dark Matter: Contemporary Views and Hypotheses
• Probing Planetary Physics: Dynamics in Our Solar System
• Exploring the Physics of Black Holes: Beyond the Event Horizon
• Thermodynamics in Nanoscale Systems: Deviations From Classical Rules
• Computational Physics: The Impact of Machine Learning on Physical Research
• Spintronics: Revolutionizing Information Technology
• Accelerators in Medicine: Using Particle Physics for Cancer Treatment
• The Influence of Physics on Climate Change Modeling
• Neutrino Oscillations: Exploring the Ghost Particles
• Quantum Computing: Bridging the Gap Between Physics and Information Technology
• Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe: Current Understanding
• Gauge Theories in Particle Physics: A Deep Dive
• The Holographic Principle: The Universe as a Hologram
• The Role of Physics in Renewable Energy Technologies
• Time Travel Theories: Fact or Fiction?
• Implications of String Theory in Modern Physics

Physics Research Paper Topics for University

• Metamaterials: Creating the Impossible in Optics and Acoustics
• Fluid Dynamics in Astrophysics: Stars, Galaxies, and Beyond
• Tackling Turbulence: The Last Great Problem in Classical Physics
• The Casimir Effect: Unearthing Quantum Force in the Vacuum
• Superconductivity: New Frontiers and Applications
• Advances in Biophysics: Cellular Mechanisms to Organismal Systems
• The Physics of Spacecraft Propulsion: Ion Drives and Beyond
• Supersymmetry: The Unfulfilled Promise of the Universe
• Relativity and GPS: The Unseen Influence of Physics in Everyday Life
• Topological Insulators: Quantum Phenomena in Solid State Physics
• The Future of Photonics: Powering the Next Generation of Technology
• Atomic Clocks: The Intersection of Quantum Mechanics and Relativity
• Quantum Field Theory: A Modern Understanding
• Electromagnetism in Biological Systems: Understanding Bioelectricity
• The Kardashev Scale: A Framework for Advanced Civilizations
• Harnessing the Sun: The Physics of Solar Energy
• M-Theory: The Unifying Theory of Everything
• Bell’s Theorem: Debunking Local Realism
• Quantum Cryptography: Security in the Age of Quantum Computers
• Geophysics: Understanding the Earth’s Core and Plate Tectonics

Physics Research Paper Topics for Master’s & Ph.D.

• Quantum Entanglement: Unraveling the Spooky Action at a Distance
• Harnessing Fusion Power: Prospects for Unlimited Clean Energy
• Gravitational Waves: Detecting Ripples in Spacetime
• The Nature of Black Holes and Singularities
• Time Dilation and Its Applications in Modern Physics
• Investigating the Particle-Wave Duality: A Deeper Look Into Quantum Mechanics
• The Physics of Superconductors: Transitioning From Theory to Practical Applications
• Hawking Radiation: From Theory to Possible Observations
• Evolution of the Universe: A Closer Look at the Big Bang Theory
• Exploring the Higgs Field: Implications for Particle Physics
• Nanotechnology in Physics: The Promising Path Toward the Future
• String Theory and the Quest for a Theory of Everything
• The Role of Physics in Climate Change Modelling
• Understanding Neutrinos: Ghost Particles of the Universe
• The Fundamentals of Chaos Theory: Applications in Modern Physics
• Quantum Computing: Breaking Down the Physics Behind the Future of Computation
• Exploring The Fourth Dimension: A Journey Beyond Time
• Astrophysics and the Study of Exoplanets: Seeking Alien Life
• Quantum Field Theory: Bridging Quantum Mechanics and Special Relativity
• Understanding Quantum Tunneling: Applications and Implications
• Study of Quarks: Subatomic Particles and the Strong Force
• Biophysics and the Mechanics of Cellular Structures
• Magnetic Monopoles: Hunting for the Missing Entities in Quantum Theory

Physics Research Topics on Classical Mechanics

• Understanding Kepler’s Laws and Their Practical Applications
• The Role of Energy Conservation in Mechanical Systems
• Implications of Newton’s Third Law on Engineering Designs
• Exploring Oscillatory Motion: Springs and Pendulums
• Effects of Friction Forces on Everyday Objects
• Stability of Rotational Systems in Aerospace Engineering
• Interpreting Physical Phenomena Using Vector Mechanics
• Influence of Classical Mechanics on Modern Architecture
• Application of Momentum Conservation in Collision Analysis
• Kinematics of Complex Systems: An In-Depth Study
• Elasticity and Its Impact on Material Science
• Newtonian Physics in Contemporary Game Design
• The Art of Fluid Dynamics: Concepts and Applications
• Gyroscopes and Their Applications in Modern Technologies
• Applications of Torque in Mechanical Engineering
• Relevance of Angular Momentum in Astrophysics
• The Science Behind Musical Instruments: A Mechanical Perspective
• Diving Into the Parallels Between Classical and Quantum Mechanics
• Exploring Parabolic Trajectories in Projectile Motion
• Dynamics of Multi-Body Systems in Space Exploration

Research Topics for Physics of Materials

• Analysis of Quantum Behavior in Superconductors
• Predictive Modelling of Phase Transitions in Crystalline Structures
• Examination of Electron Mobility in Semi-Conductive Materials
• Study of High-Temperature Superconductivity Phenomena
• Mechanical Properties of Novel Metallic Alloys
• Graphene: Exploring its Remarkable Electronic Properties
• Optimization of Energy Storage in Advanced Battery Materials
• Ferroelectric Materials: Unraveling their Unique Electrical Properties
• Assessing Durability of Construction Materials Under Environmental Stressors
• Properties and Potential Applications of Topological Insulators
• Investigation into Multiferroic Materials: Challenges and Opportunities
• Dynamic Response of Materials under High-Strain Rates
• Nanomaterials: Understanding Size-Dependent Physical Properties
• Harnessing Thermoelectric Materials for Energy Conversion
• Photonic Crystals: Manipulation of Light Propagation
• Exploring Amorphous Solids: From Metallic Glasses to Plastics
• Investigations into Magnetocaloric Materials for Eco-Friendly Refrigeration
• Neutron Scattering in the Study of Magnetic Materials
• Probing the Anisotropic Nature of Composite Materials
• Characterization of Disordered Materials Using Spectroscopic Techniques
• Roles of Surface Physics in Material Science

Physics Research Topics on Electrical Engineering

• Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Modern Power Systems
• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): Advancements and Challenges
• Improving Transmission Efficiency Through Smart Grids
• Developments in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
• Optical Fiber Technology: The Future of Communication
• Interplay between Solar Power Engineering and Material Science
• Harnessing the Potential of Superconductors in Electrical Engineering
• Li-Fi Technology: Lighting the Way for Data Communication
• Innovations in Energy Storage: Beyond Lithium-Ion Batteries
• Designing Efficient Power Electronics for Aerospace Applications
• Exploring the Boundaries of Microelectronics With Quantum Dots
• Robotic Automation: Electrical Engineering Perspectives
• Power System Stability in the Era of Distributed Generation
• Photovoltaic Cells: Advances in Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness
• Investigating the Feasibility of Wireless Power Transfer
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): Power Management and Energy Efficiency
• Quantum Entanglement: Implications for Information Transmission
• Fuel Cells: Exploring New Frontiers in Electrical Power Generation
• Machine Learning Applications in Predictive Maintenance of Electrical Systems
• Neural Networks and their Role in Electrical Circuit Analysis

Optical Physics Research Topics

• Exploring Quantum Optics: Unveiling the Peculiarities of Light-Particle Interactions
• Harnessing the Power of Nonlinear Optics: Potential Applications and Challenges
• Fiber Optic Technology: Influencing Data Transmission and Telecommunication
• The Role of Optics in Modern Telescopic Innovations: An Analytical Study
• Polarization of Light: Understanding the Physical and Biological Applications
• Unfolding the Mystery of Optical Tweezers: Manipulation and Measurement at the Microscale
• Lasing Mechanisms: Insights Into the Evolution and Operation of Lasers
• Waveguides and Their Crucial Role in Integrated Optics: A Comprehensive Study
• Optical Illusions: Revealing the Underlying Physics and Perception Aspects
• Biophotonics: The Intersection of Optics and Biomedicine
• Exploiting Optical Metamaterials: The Pathway to Invisible Cloaking Devices
• Optical Holography: Unearthing the Potential for 3D Visualization and Display Systems
• Investigation of Optical Solitons: Nonlinear Pulses in Fiber Optic Communications
• Plasmonics: Harnessing Light With Nanostructures for Enhanced Optical Phenomena
• Advances in Spectroscopy: Optical Techniques for Material Analysis
• The Physics behind Optical Coherence Tomography in Medical Imaging
• Optical Vortices and Their Role in High-Capacity Data Transmission
• Ultrafast Optics: Time-Resolved Studies and Femtosecond Laser Applications
• In-Depth Review of Optical Trapping and Its Potential in Nanotechnology
• Optical Parametric Oscillators: Applications in Spectroscopy and Laser Technology
• Theoretical Perspectives on Photonic Crystals and Band Gap Engineering

Physics Research Topics on Acoustics

• Exploration of Ultrasonic Waves in Medical Imaging and Diagnostics
• Propagation of Sound in Various Atmospheric Conditions
• Impacts of Acoustics on Architectural Design Principles
• Innovative Approaches to Noise Cancellation Technologies
• The Role of Acoustics in Underwater Communication Systems
• Sonic Boom Phenomena: Causes and Effects
• Effects of Acoustic Resonance in Musical Instruments
• Influence of Material Properties on Sound Absorption
• Harnessing the Power of Sound: Acoustic Levitation Research
• Relationship Between Acoustic Ecology and Urban Development
• Evaluating the Principles of Acoustic Metamaterials
• Acoustic Thermometry: Precision in Temperature Measurement
• Potential Applications of Phononic Crystals in Acoustics
• Deciphering Dolphin Communication: Bioacoustics in Marine Life
• Development and Improvement of Acoustic Emission Techniques
• Thermoacoustic Engines and Refrigeration: An Emerging Technology
• Investigating the Psychoacoustic Properties of Sound
• Impacts of Acoustic Treatment in Home Theatres and Studios
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Sonar Systems in Submarine Detection
• Ultrasound Applications in Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation

Physics Research Topics on Thermodynamics

• Investigating the Role of Thermodynamics in Nanotechnology Development
• Entropy Production: A Deep Dive into Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics
• Impacts of Thermodynamics on Energy Conservation Practices
• Quantum Thermodynamics: Bridging Quantum Mechanics and Traditional Thermodynamics
• Advanced Materials in Heat Engines: A Thermodynamic Perspective
• Applications of Thermodynamics in Renewable Energy Technology
• Exploring Thermodynamic Limits of Computation: Theoretical and Practical Aspects
• Unveiling the Mysteries of Black Hole Thermodynamics
• Influence of Thermodynamics in Climate Change Modelling
• Exploiting Thermodynamics for Efficient Spacecraft Heat Management
• Understanding Biological Systems Through the Lens of Thermodynamics
• Applying Thermodynamics to Predict Geophysical Phenomena
• Thermodynamics in Food Processing: Effects on Nutrient Preservation
• Biogeochemical Cycles: An Insight From Thermodynamics
• Roles of Thermodynamics in Understanding Supernova Explosions
• Thermodynamics in Modern Architecture: Energy-Efficient Building Designs
• Thermoelectric Materials: Harnessing Thermodynamics for Power Generation
• Roles of Thermodynamics in Efficient Resource Recovery From Waste
• Thermodynamics and Its Implications in the Formation of Stars
• Exploring Thermodynamics in Quantum Information Theory

Particle Physics Research Topics

• Unraveling the Mysteries of Quark Structures in Baryonic Matter
• The Enigma of Neutrino Oscillations: New Discoveries
• String Theory Applications in Particle Physics: A New Horizon
• Dark Matter Particles: Unseen Influences on Cosmic Structures
• The Higgs Field and Its Implications for the Standard Model
• Lepton Family: A Comprehensive Study of Their Unique Properties
• Quantum Chromodynamics: Decoding the Strong Force
• The Role of W and Z Bosons in Electroweak Interactions
• Antiparticle Behavior and Its Ramifications for Symmetry
• Detecting Supersymmetry: A Paradigm Shift in Particle Physics?
• Insights Into Graviton: Hunting the Quantum of Gravity
• Probing the Exotic: Search for Hypothetical Particles
• Flavor Changing Processes in the Quark Sector: An Analytical Approach
• Precision Measurements of the Top Quark: A Key to New Physics
• Pentaquark Particles: A Fresh Perspective on Hadronic Matter
• Examining the Asymmetry Between Matter and Antimatter
• Gluons and Confinement: Probing the Fabric of Quantum Chromodynamics
• Proton Decay: GUTs, Supersymmetry, and Beyond
• Unveiling the Secrets of Cosmic Ray Particles
• Meson Spectroscopy: Understanding Hadrons Better
• Scalar Fields and Inflation: A Quantum Field Theory Perspective

Statistical Physics Research Topics

• Exploring the Second Law of Thermodynamics in Cosmic Evolution
• Investigating the Role of Entropy in the Black Hole Information Paradox
• Understanding Statistical Mechanics in Biophysical Systems
• Analyzing Temperature’s Impact on Quantum Spin Chains
• Diving Into Phase Transitions in Quantum Fields
• Quantum Fluctuations and Their Statistical Significance
• Applications of Statistical Physics in Neural Networks
• Investigating the Universality Classes in Critical Phenomena
• Revealing the Role of Statistical Physics in Ecosystem Dynamics
• Fluctuation Theorems: A Study of Non-Equilibrium Systems
• Statistical Physics’ Approach to Understanding Traffic Flow Dynamics
• Non-Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics in Living Systems
• Deciphering the Puzzle of Quantum Entanglement Using Statistical Methods
• Research on Spin Glasses and Disorder in Statistical Physics
• Thermodynamics in Small Systems: A Statistical Physics Approach
• Fractal Analysis: Its Impact on Statistical Physics
• Harnessing the Power of Statistical Physics for Climate Modeling
• Introducing Quantum Field Theory to Statistical Physics Studies
• Investigating Energy Landscapes in Protein Folding
• Simulating Turbulence Using Concepts of Statistical Physics

Atomic Physics Research Topics

• Quantum Entanglement and Its Impact on Information Transfer
• Exploring the Properties of Exotic Atoms
• Manipulating Matter: The Potential of Cold Atoms
• Unveiling the Secrets of Quantum Decoherence
• Probing Quantum Tunneling: From Theory to Practical Applications
• Atomic Collisions and Their Consequences in Astrophysics
• Advancements in Atomic Clock Technology and Precision Timekeeping
• Harnessing the Power of Quantum Computing With Atomic Physics
• Advancements in Atom Interferometry and Precision Measurements
• Evaluating the Influence of Atomic Physics on Biological Systems
• Atomic Physics Applications in Emerging Technologies
• Unlocking the Mysteries of Atomic Spectroscopy
• Delving into the World of Ultracold Atoms and Bose-Einstein Condensates
• The Role of Atomic Physics in Climate Change Studies
• Shedding Light on Dark Matter: Atomic Physics Approaches
• Innovations in Controlled Nuclear Fusion Through Atomic Physics
• Electron Capture and Beta Decay: The Intricacies of Weak Force
• Quantum Magnetism and Its Influence on Atomic Structures
• Theoretical Frameworks for Describing Atomic Structure and Behavior
• The Future of Nanotechnology: Role of Atomic Physics
• Understanding Atomic Physics Role in Quantum Cryptography
• Fundamental Symmetries: Atomic Physics Perspectives and Tests

Physics Research Topics on Quantum Mechanics

• Investigating the Quantum Behavior of Superconducting Circuits
• Exploring the Applications of Quantum Entanglement in Communication Systems
• Analyzing the Role of Quantum Mechanics in Biological Systems
• Developing Quantum Algorithms for Solving Complex Optimization Problems
• Understanding Quantum Tunneling in Nanostructures
• Investigating Quantum Coherence in Macroscopic Systems
• Exploring the Role of Quantum Mechanics in Quantum Computing
• Analyzing the Quantum Properties of Photons in Quantum Information Processing
• Developing Quantum Sensors for High-Precision Measurements
• Investigating the Quantum Mechanics of Quantum Dots in Optoelectronic Devices
• Analyzing the Quantum Mechanics of Spintronics for Information Storage and Processing
• Exploring the Role of Quantum Mechanics in Quantum Cryptography
• Investigating the Quantum Properties of Bose-Einstein Condensates
• Developing Quantum Simulators for Studying Complex Quantum Systems
• Analyzing the Quantum Mechanics of Topological Insulators
• Exploring Quantum Chaos and its Applications in Quantum Mechanics
• Investigating the Quantum Mechanics of the Quantum Hall Effect
• Analyzing the Quantum Properties of Quantum Gravity
• Exploring the Role of Quantum Mechanics in Quantum Sensing and Metrology
• Investigating the Quantum Mechanics of Quantum Optics

Nuclear Physics Research Topics

• Quantum Tunneling in Nuclear Reactions
• Neutron Stars: Structure and Properties
• Nuclear Fusion as a Clean Energy Source
• Investigating the Role of Mesons in Nuclear Forces
• Nuclear Shell Model: Understanding Nucleus Stability
• Proton-Proton Collisions in High-Energy Physics
• Nuclear Fission: Mechanisms and Applications
• Theoretical Analysis of Nuclear Decay Processes
• Particle Accelerators for Nuclear Physics Research
• The Quark-Gluon Plasma: Experimental Studies
• Superheavy Elements and Their Synthesis
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Materials Science
• Neutrino Oscillations and Mass Hierarchy
• Isotope Separation Techniques for Medical and Industrial Applications
• Exotic Nuclear Shapes: Triaxial and Hyperdeformed Nuclei
• Nuclear Data Evaluation and Uncertainty Analysis
• Studying Nuclear Reactions in Supernovae
• Exploring Nuclear Isomerism for Quantum Computing
• Nuclear Waste Management and Disposal Strategies
• Giant Resonances in Nuclear Physics

Physical Geography Topics to Write About

• Solar Radiation’s Impact on Geographical Landform Evolution
• Oceanic Currents and Their Role in Coastal Erosion
• Atmospheric Pressure Interactions and Mountain Formation
• Tectonic Plate Movements’ Influence on Geographical Features
• Gravity’s Contribution to Geographical Landscape Formation
• Climate Change Effects on Glacial Retreat and Polar Geography
• Wind Patterns and Dune Formation in Deserts
• River Networks’ Dynamics and Fluvial Geomorphology
• Volcanic Activity and Island Formation
• Magnetic Fields and Geomagnetic Reversals in Paleomagnetism
• Earthquakes’ Impact on Geographical Landforms and Seismic Hazards
• Rainfall Patterns and Soil Erosion in Agricultural Landscapes
• Geothermal Energy’s Role in Hydrothermal Features
• Tsunamis’ Effects on Coastal Landforms and Human Settlements
• Earth’s Magnetic Field and the Auroras
• Eolian Processes and Desertification in Arid Landscapes
• Gravity Waves’ Influence on Atmospheric Circulation and Climate Patterns
• River Diversions and Delta Formation
• Climate Change and Coral Reef Degradation
• Ice Sheets’ Dynamics and Sea Level Rise
• Karst Processes and Cave Formation

Astrophysics Topics for a Research Paper

• Quantum Effects in Stellar Evolution
• Gravitational Waves From Binary Neutron Star Mergers
• Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy Analysis
• Supernova Nucleosynthesis and Element Formation
• Dark Matter Distribution in Galaxy Clusters
• Magnetic Fields in Protostellar Disks
• Exoplanet Atmospheres and Habitability
• Black Hole Dynamics in Galactic Centers
• High-Energy Particle Acceleration in Active Galactic Nuclei
• Gamma-Ray Burst Progenitor Identification
• Interstellar Medium Turbulence and Star Formation
• Neutrino Oscillations in Supernova Explosions
• Cosmic Ray Propagation in the Galactic Magnetic Field
• Stellar Populations and Galactic Archaeology
• Stellar Pulsations and Variable Stars in Globular Clusters
• Dusty Torus Structure in Active Galactic Nuclei
• Planetary Formation in Binary Star Systems
• Primordial Magnetic Fields and Early Universe Magnetogenesis
• Neutron Star Equation of State Constraints from Pulsar Timing
• Galactic Chemical Evolution and Metal Enrichment

Theoretical Physics Topics to Research

• Quantum Entanglement in Multi-Particle Systems
• Gravitational Waves and Black Hole Mergers
• Emergent Phenomena in Condensed Matter Physics
• Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Physical Systems
• Symmetry Breaking and Phase Transitions
• Topological Insulators and Their Applications
• Quantum Computing and Information Theory
• Cosmological Inflation and the Early Universe
• Quantum Field Theory and Particle Interactions
• Time Reversal Symmetry in Quantum Mechanics
• Black Hole Thermodynamics and Hawking Radiation
• Quantum Simulation and Quantum Many-Body Systems
• Dark Matter and Its Detectability
• Superconductivity and Superfluidity
• Information-Theoretic Approaches to Quantum Gravity
• Magnetic Monopoles and Their Role in Particle Physics
• High-Energy Physics and Collider Experiments
• Quantum Hall Effect and Topological Order
• Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Processing
• Neutrino Physics and Neutrino Oscillations
• Fractals and Self-Similarity in Physical Systems

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Physics Research Guide

• Source Selection & Evaluation

Characteristics of a Research Question

Topic selection, topic verification.

• Search Tips & Strategies
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• Data & Statistics
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Research questions have a few characteristics.

• They're open-ended . (They can't be answered with a simple yes or no response.)
• They're often measurable through quantitative data or qualitative measures.
• They summarize the issue/topic being researched.
• They may take a fresh look at an issue or try to solve a problem.

In addition, research questions may . . .

• answer how or why questions.
• fit within a cause/effect structure.
• have a pro/con format.
• introduce an argument that is then supported with evidence .

Topic selection is the process you use to choose your topic. This is the more creative side of topic development. There are several steps to this process.

• Brainstorming. Start a list of topics that interest you and are within the guidelines of the assignment. They could be personal, professional, or academic interests. Researching something that interests you is much more enjoyable and will keep you interested in the research process. Write down related words or phrases. These will be useful at the research stage.
• Reshaping the topic. Sometimes you'll choose a topic that's either too narrow or too broad. Find out ways to broaden or narrow the topic so that it's a better size to fit your research assignment. This is where Wikipedia and generic Google searches are okay. You can use those sites to get other ideas of how your topic idea may work. Perform some simple searches to see what information is out there. (Just be sure not to cite Wikipedia or Google.)
• Looking at the body of research. Once you have a topic that you think is a good size, take a look at the body of research that's available for the topic. Check in catalogs and databases. Look at reputable websites. You want to be sure that your topic has an adequate amount of research before you invest too much time into the idea.
• Revising. Throughout this process, be prepared to revise your topic. Don't think that you have to keep the same topic that you started with. Topic revision happens all the time. In fact, we often develop better topics as a result of this revision!

Topic verification is the process you use to confirm your topic is viable for research. This is the more technical side of topic development. There are also several steps to this process.

• Using search strategies. Do some experimental searching in the databases using search strategies . Try different combinations to see what you find. Use your notes from your brainstorming to search for different synonyms or phrases.
• Locating relevant and reliable information. At this stage, you want to see if you can find both a good quality and good quantity of sources. You don't need to read the entirety of the sources right now. Just read their abstracts and identifying information. Confirm that the sources you find support each other. Double-check the authority of the authors. This is the source evaluation stage.
• Verifying information. Once you've confirmed that the sources are reliable and relevant, decide whether or not you can verify the information in the sources. If your sources corrobate each other, you have a good topic. In fact, even if they dispute each other, that is sometimes okay. It just depends on your topic's goal. However, if you cannot verify the reliability of any of your sources' information, then you may need to start over again with a new topic idea.
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Astrophysics, Fusion and Plasma Physics

Cornell’s research programs in planetary astronomy, infrared astronomy, theoretical astrophysics, and radio astronomy are internationally recognized. Plasma physics is the science of electrically conducting fluids and high-temperature ionized gases. While the best-known research impetus is controlled fusion as a potential source of electric power, plasma physics also underlies many solar, astrophysical, and ionospheric phenomena as well as industrial applications of plasmas.

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Nanoscience, the behavior of physical systems when confined to near atomic, nanoscale ( 100 nm) dimensions together with the physical phenomena that occur at the nanoscale, is currently one of the most dynamic and rapidly developing areas of interdisciplinary research in applied physics.

Condensed Matter and Materials  Physics

Research topics in this diverse area range from innovative studies of the basic properties of condensed-matter systems to the nanofabrication and study of advanced electronic, optoelectronic, spintronic, and quantum-superconductor devices.

Energy Systems

The need for future renewable sources of energy and ways to minimize consumption is leading to a growing emphasis on new concepts for the generation, storage, and transportation of energy. Cornell faculty are involved in developing a wide range of energy-related materials, such as photovoltaic materials, thermoelectrics, advanced battery materials and catalysts, membranes and supports for mobile fuel cells. Research is also conducted on materials processing that minimizes environmental impact.

Biophysics is a broad field, ranging from fundamental studies of macromolecules or cells, through the design of state of the art diagnostic or medical tools. A number of AEP research groups are pushing the limits in biophysical studies by developing instruments that provide new insight into the physics that drives biological processes or developing new methods for manipulating biomolecules for biotechnological or biomedical applications.

Microfluidics and Microsystems

Researchers in this field use their knowledge of microfluidics to create microsystems useful both in research and real-world applications in a variety of fields, including chemistry, biology, agriculture, and biomedical engineering.

Optical Physics

Photonics researchers focus on the applications of the particle properties of light; optoelectronics has to do with the study and application of effects related to the interaction of light and electronic signals.

Quantum Information Science

QIS research studies the application of quantum physics to information science and technology. AEP has research groups spanning quantum sensing, communications, simulation, and computing, with experimental approaches including superconducting circuits, trapped ions, photonics, and semiconductor devices.

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Research articles

Emergence of bidirectional cell laning from collective contact guidance

Supracellular cues play a key role in directing collective cell migration in processes such as wound healing and cancer invasion. New findings emphasize the importance of all length scales of the microenvironment in shaping cell migration patterns.

• Mathilde Lacroix
• Bart Smeets
• Pascal Silberzan

Directed percolation and puff jamming near the transition to pipe turbulence

The nature of turbulence that occurs when fluids flow in a pipe is still controversial. Now the onset of turbulence in pipe flow has been shown to be a directed-percolation phase transition.

• Grégoire Lemoult
• Vasudevan Mukund

Non-trivial quantum geometry and the strength of electron–phonon coupling

Quantum geometry and electron–phonon coupling are two fundamental concepts in condensed matter physics that govern many correlated ground states. Now a generalized theory connects these two ideas.

• Christopher J. Ciccarino
• B. Andrei Bernevig

Topological phase transition between Jain states and daughter states of the ν  = 1/2 fractional quantum Hall state

The nature of the fractional quantum Hall state when the lowest Landau level is half-filled remains controversial. Now, the observation of a topological phase transition at related filling fractions suggests that the half-filled state is non-Abelian.

• S. K. Singh
• M. Shayegan

Magnetic-field tuning of the Casimir force

The sign of the Casimir force depends on the electric permittivities and the magnetic permeabilities of the materials involved. For a gold sphere immersed in a ferrofluid, tuneability of the Casimir force by means of a magnetic field is now shown.

• Yichi Zhang
• Changgan Zeng

Low-temperature Leidenfrost-like jumping of sessile droplets on microstructured surfaces

The Leidenfrost effect—a droplet hovering on a hot surface due to vapour in between—requires a surface temperature of about 230 °C. Now a tailored microstructured surface is shown to enable quick hovering of water droplets at 130 °C.

• Wenge Huang
• Jiangtao Cheng

Survival dynamics of starving bacteria are determined by ion homeostasis that maintains plasmolysis

When bacteria starve, their cytoplasm detaches from the cell wall. A model now shows that this process determines bacterial death rates and can be controlled to keep bacteria viable in a starved state.

• Severin Schink
• Markus Basan

Bending rigidity, sound propagation and ripples in flat graphene

The mechanism by which two-dimensional materials remain stable at a finite temperature is still under debate. Now, numerical calculations suggest that rotational symmetry is crucial in suppressing anharmonic effects that lead to structural instability.

• Unai Aseginolaza

Active hole formation in epithelioid tissues

Active cell contraction drives hole nucleation, fracture and crack propagation in a tissue monolayer through a process reminiscent of dewetting thin films.

• Jian-Qing Lv
• Peng-Cheng Chen

Quantum spherical codes

Many recent experiments have stored quantum information in bosonic modes, such as photons in resonators or optical fibres. Now an adaptation of the classical spherical codes provides a framework for designing quantum error correcting codes for these platforms.

• Shubham P. Jain
• Joseph T. Iosue
• Victor V. Albert

Structural anisotropy results in mechano-directional transport of proteins across nuclear pores

Protein transport across the nuclear membrane is regulated by the nuclear pore complex. Experiments now show that the rates of nuclear transport rely on the presence of locally mechanically soft regions of the transported proteins.

• Fani Panagaki
• Rafael Tapia-Rojo
• Sergi Garcia-Manyes

Laser-driven high-energy proton beams from cascaded acceleration regimes

Laser-driven proton acceleration experiments achieve energies of up to 150 MeV with particle yields that are relevant for applications such as radiobiology.

• Tim Ziegler
• Ilja Göthel

Polarity-driven three-dimensional spontaneous rotation of a cell doublet

Cells can form a rotating doublet. This rotation is driven by the symmetry breaking of myosin polarization in the cortices of the two cells.

• Tristan Guyomar
• Guillaume Salbreux

Spectral evidence for Dirac spinons in a kagome lattice antiferromagnet

A Dirac quantum spin liquid phase is predicted to have a continuum of fractionalized spinon excitations with a Dirac cone dispersion. A spin continuum consistent with this picture has now been observed in neutron scattering measurements.

• Zhenyuan Zeng
• Chengkang Zhou
• Shiliang Li

Single-component superconductivity in UTe 2 at ambient pressure

The symmetry of the superconducting order parameter in UTe 2 is still debated. Now ultrasound experiments suggest that the order parameter can only have one component.

• Florian Theuss
• Avi Shragai
• B. J. Ramshaw

A quantum critical Bose gas of magnons in the quasi-two-dimensional antiferromagnet YbCl 3 under magnetic fields

Some magnetic phase transitions can be understood as Bose–Einstein condensation of magnons. Close to a quantum critical point, YbCl 3 now provides a realization of a Bose–Einstein condensate that is dominated by two-dimensional physical behaviour.

• Yosuke Matsumoto
• Simon Schnierer
• Hidenori Takagi

Strong tunable coupling between two distant superconducting spin qubits

The hybrid architecture of Andreev spin qubits made using semiconductor–superconductor nanowires means that supercurrents can be used to inductively couple qubits over long distances.

• Marta Pita-Vidal
• Jaap J. Wesdorp
• Christian Kraglund Andersen

Anisotropic exchange interaction of two hole-spin qubits

A successful silicon spin qubit design should be rapidly scalable by benefiting from industrial transistor technology. This investigation of exchange interactions between two FinFET qubits provides a guide to implementing two-qubit gates for hole spins.

• Simon Geyer
• Bence Hetényi
• Andreas V. Kuhlmann

Enhancement of magnonic frequency combs by exceptional points

Frequency combs, which are important for applications in precision spectroscopy, depend on material nonlinearities for their function, which can be hard to engineer. Now an approach combining magnons and exceptional points is shown to be effective.

• Congyi Wang

Constant-overhead fault-tolerant quantum computation with reconfigurable atom arrays

Quantum low-density parity-check codes are highly efficient in principle but challenging to implement in practice. This proposal shows that these codes could be implemented in the near term using recently demonstrated neutral-atom arrays.

• J. Pablo Bonilla Ataides
• Hengyun Zhou

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Research Areas

IB Physics Extended Essay Topics for IB

Table of contents

• Writing Metier

What’s up, IB scholars? You’re about to start writing your IB Physics Extended Essay, and I know you’re searching for that killer topic that’s going to stand out. Well, guess what? I’ve got over 100 extended essay topics and research questions ready for you. 

You do not need to thank me; you better say thank you to our IB writers at Writing Metier , who have invented and forwarded this awesome list to me for submission.

This isn’t just about getting it done; it’s about crushing it with something you’re passionate about.  So let’s get straight to the point and find you Physics EE ideas that will make some noise and show what you’ve got!

100+ Physics Extended Essay Topics

I’m breaking the list into ten categories for IB Physics extended essay topics, each with three subcategories for easier navigation:

• Projectile Motion (e.g., trajectory analysis, range equations, effects of air resistance)
• Circular Motion (e.g., centripetal force in different systems, banking angles, conical pendulums)
• Dynamics of Rigid Bodies (e.g., rotational inertia, torque, angular momentum conservation)
• Thermodynamics
• Heat Transfer (e.g., efficiency of different materials as insulators, rate of cooling, Newton’s law of cooling)
• Gas Laws (e.g., pressure-volume relationship, temperature effects, real vs. ideal gases)
• Phase Changes (e.g., specific heat capacities, latent heat, cooling curves)
• Waves and Oscillations
• Harmonic Motion (e.g., pendulums, mass-spring systems, resonance)
• Wave Properties (e.g., speed of sound in various media, diffraction patterns, polarization)
• Sound and Acoustics (e.g., Doppler effect, sound intensity, acoustic properties of materials)
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Circuit Analysis (e.g., Ohm’s law, series vs. parallel circuits, Kirchhoff’s laws)
• Electromagnetism (e.g., Faraday’s law, magnetic fields around conductors, applications of electromagnets)
• Capacitance and Inductance (e.g., time constants, LC circuits, energy storage)
• Modern Physics
• Quantum Phenomena (e.g., photoelectric effect, electron diffraction, energy levels in atoms)
• Nuclear Physics (e.g., radioactive decay, half-life, nuclear reactions)
• Special Relativity (e.g., time dilation, length contraction, mass-energy equivalence)
• Energy and Power
• Renewable Energy Sources (e.g., efficiency of solar panels, wind turbine performance, biofuels)
• Energy Conversion (e.g., internal combustion engines, thermal power plants, regenerative braking)
• Power Transmission (e.g., electrical grid efficiency, power loss, superconductors)
• Fluid Dynamics
• Aerodynamics (e.g., lift and drag forces, Bernoulli’s principle, airfoil shapes)
• Hydrodynamics (e.g., flow rate, viscosity effects, Reynolds number)
• Buoyancy and Density (e.g., Archimedes’ principle, floating and sinking, density stratification)
• Astrophysics and Cosmology
• Stellar Physics (e.g., Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, star classifications, blackbody radiation)
• Cosmological Models (e.g., Big Bang theory, cosmic microwave background, dark matter)
• Orbital Mechanics (e.g., Kepler’s laws, satellite motion, escape velocity)
• Optics and Light
• Reflection and Refraction (e.g., Snell’s law, critical angle, optical fibers)
• Lens and Mirror Optics (e.g., image formation, focal length, magnification)
• Interference and Diffraction (e.g., double-slit experiment, diffraction gratings, holography)
• Electromagnetic Waves
• Radio and Microwave Radiation (e.g., antenna design, signal propagation, communication systems)
• Infrared and Ultraviolet Light (e.g., thermal imaging, UV radiation effects, spectroscopy)
• X-rays and Gamma Rays (e.g., medical imaging, radiation therapy, nuclear gamma spectroscopy)

Each of these categories and subcategories can be explored through experiments, data analysis, or theoretical investigation, offering a wide range of possibilities for IB students to develop their IB Physics EE topics.

Mechanics Topics and Research Questions

Projectile Motion

Topic:  The effect of launch angle on the range of a projectile.

Research Question:  How does changing the launch angle affect the horizontal distance traveled by a projectile?

Topic:  The impact of air resistance on the trajectory of a projectile.

Research Question:  To what extent does air resistance alter the trajectory of a projectile compared to the idealized motion?

Topic:  The accuracy of range equations in predicting projectile motion.

Research Question:  How accurately do standard range equations predict the motion of a projectile in a controlled environment?

Circular Motion

Topic:  Measuring centripetal force in a rotating system.

Research Question:  How does the centripetal force required for circular motion change with the radius and speed of the rotating object?

Topic:  The physics of banking angles in road design.

Research Question:  What is the optimal banking angle for a curve on a road to maximize friction and safety at a given speed?

Topic:  Investigating the period of a conical pendulum.

Research Question:  How does the length of the string affect the period of oscillation of a conical pendulum?

Dynamics of Rigid Bodies

Topic:  The relationship between rotational inertia and angular acceleration.

Research Question:  How does changing the distribution of mass affect the rotational inertia and angular acceleration of a rigid body?

Topic:  The conservation of angular momentum in a closed system.

Research Question:  How does the angular momentum of a system change when the moment of inertia is altered?

Topic:  The effect of torque on rotational motion.

Research Question:  How does the application of torque affect the rotational motion of a rigid body with a fixed axis?

Mechanics shows us how things move and what affects them, but when we start talking about thermodynamics, we’re dealing with heat and energy. 

It’s like going from watching a ball roll down a hill to understanding why it feels warm to the touch on a sunny day.

Thermodynamics Topics and Research Questions

Heat Transfer

Topic:  Comparing the thermal insulation properties of various materials.

Research Question:  Which material provides the best thermal insulation for a given application, and why?

Topic:  The rate of cooling of a liquid in different environments.

Research Question:  How does the rate of cooling of a hot liquid differ between various environmental conditions?

Topic:  Investigating Newton’s law of cooling.

Research Question:  How closely does the cooling of a warm object follow Newton’s law of cooling in a real-world setting?

Topic:  The pressure-volume relationship of a gas at constant temperature.

Research Question:  How does the volume of a gas change with pressure at a constant temperature, and does it align with Boyle’s law?

Topic:  Temperature effects on the pressure of an enclosed gas.

Research Question:  How does the pressure of a fixed amount of gas change with temperature in a sealed container?

Topic:  Real vs. ideal gases under different conditions.

Research Question:  How do the behaviors of real gases deviate from the predictions of the ideal gas law under high-pressure conditions?

Phase Changes

Topic:  Measuring specific heat capacities of different substances.

Research Question:  How do the specific heat capacities of different substances compare, and what implications does this have for their use in heat storage?

Topic:  The energy involved in the phase change of materials.

Research Question:  How much energy is absorbed or released during the phase change of a substance, and how does this relate to its latent heat?

Topic:  Analyzing cooling curves of substances.

Research Question:  What can the cooling curve of a substance tell us about its phase change properties and purity?

After getting a grip on how heat works, it’s pretty cool to see how that energy gets around. Waves are all about energy transfer, whether it’s the sound from your speakers or the ripples on a pond when you toss a stone.

Waves and Oscillations Topics and Research Questions

Harmonic Motion

Topic:  The period of a simple pendulum.

Research Question:  How does the length of a pendulum affect its period, and does this confirm the theoretical model?

Topic:  The behavior of mass-spring systems.

Research Question:  How do different spring constants affect the oscillation of a mass-spring system?

Topic:  Resonance frequencies in mechanical systems.

Research Question:  At what frequencies do various mechanical systems resonate, and what factors influence this?

Wave Properties

Topic:  Measuring the speed of sound in different media.

Research Question:  How does the speed of sound compare in various gases, and what does this tell us about the properties of those gases?

Topic:  Investigating diffraction patterns through different apertures.

Research Question:  How do diffraction patterns change with the shape and size of apertures?

Topic:  Polarization of light by various materials.

Research Question:  How effectively can different materials polarize light, and what does this indicate about their structure?

Sound and Acoustics

Topic:  The Doppler effect and moving sources.

Research Question:  How does the frequency of a sound wave change as the source moves relative to an observer?

Topic:  Sound intensity levels at different distances.

Research Question:  How does the intensity of sound change with distance from the source, and is it consistent with the inverse square law?

Topic:  Acoustic properties of materials in soundproofing.

Research Question:  Which materials are most effective at soundproofing a room, and how do their acoustic properties contribute to this effectiveness?

Each of these topics can be tailored to fit the requirements of an IB Physics extended essay, with the research question guiding the experimental design, data collection, and analysis.

If you are interested, we also have a list of potential  Physics IA topic ideas  for you. Make sure to check them out as well.

Once you’ve got a handle on waves, you’re ready to see how they relate to electricity and magnetism. It’s like connecting the dots between the vibrations in the air and the current in the wires of your headphones.

Electricity and Magnetism Topics and Research Questions

Circuit Analysis

Topic:  The resistance of series and parallel circuits.

Research Question:  How does the total resistance in a circuit vary with the arrangement of resistors in series and parallel configurations?

Topic:  Verification of Kirchhoff’s laws in complex circuits.

Research Question:  How accurately do Kirchhoff’s laws predict the current and voltage distribution in a multi-loop circuit?

Topic:  The temperature dependence of resistivity in conductors.

Research Question:  How does the resistivity of a metallic conductor change with temperature, and what does this imply about electron scattering?

Electromagnetism

Topic:  Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction.

Research Question:  How does the rate of change of magnetic flux influence the induced EMF in a coil?

Topic:  The magnetic field patterns around different conductor configurations.

Research Question:  How do the configurations of conductors affect the shape and strength of the magnetic fields they produce?

Topic:  The efficiency of electromagnets.

Research Question:  What factors determine the lifting power of an electromagnet, and how can its efficiency be maximized?

Capacitance and Inductance

Topic:  Time constants in RC circuits.

Research Question:  How does the capacitance and resistance in an RC circuit affect its charging and discharging time constants?

Topic:  Resonance in LC circuits.

Research Question:  At what conditions does resonance occur in an LC circuit, and how does this affect the circuit’s impedance?

Topic:  Energy storage in capacitors and inductors.

Research Question:  How do capacitors and inductors store energy, and what factors affect their energy storage capacity?

Electricity and magnetism are pretty easy to see in action, but modern physics? That’s where things get wild. You’re not just looking at what’s in front of you anymore; you’re considering what’s happening on a scale so small or so huge that it bends your mind a bit.

Modern Physics Topics and Research Questions

Quantum Phenomena

Topic:  The photoelectric effect and Planck’s constant.

Research Question:  How can the photoelectric effect be used to determine Planck’s constant, and what does this reveal about the nature of light?

Topic:  Electron diffraction and crystal structure.

Research Question:  How does electron diffraction provide evidence for the wave nature of electrons and the structure of crystals?

Topic:  Energy levels in hydrogen atoms.

Research Question:  How do the observed spectral lines of hydrogen correspond to the theoretical energy levels predicted by quantum mechanics?

Nuclear Physics

Topic:  Radioactive decay series.

Research Question:  How does the decay series of a radioactive isotope correspond to theoretical predictions of half-life and decay pathways?

Topic:  The effect of shielding on radiation intensity.

Research Question:  How effective are different materials at shielding against various types of radioactive emissions?

Topic:  Nuclear reaction energy calculations.

Research Question:  How does the measured energy released in a nuclear reaction compare to the values predicted by the mass-energy equivalence principle?

Special Relativity

Topic:  Time dilation observed in cosmic muons.

Research Question:  How does the observed decay rate of cosmic muons provide evidence for time dilation effects predicted by special relativity?

Topic:  Length contraction and high-speed particles.

Research Question:  How can length contraction be demonstrated or inferred from high-speed particle interactions?

Topic:  Mass-energy equivalence in particle physics.

Research Question:  How does the increase in mass of particles at high velocities provide evidence for the mass-energy equivalence principle?

But even with all that mind-bending stuff, physics isn’t just about theory. It’s also about practical stuff, like how we use energy. From solar panels on your roof to the battery in your phone, it’s all about getting the power we need to do what we want.

Energy and Power Topics and Research Questions

Renewable Energy Sources

Topic:  The efficiency of photovoltaic cells under different conditions.

Research Question:  How do factors such as light intensity, wavelength, and temperature affect the efficiency of solar panels?

Topic:  Performance analysis of wind turbines.

Research Question:  How does blade design affect the efficiency and power output of a wind turbine?

Topic:  The viability of biofuels compared to fossil fuels.

Research Question:  How do the energy outputs and carbon footprints of biofuels compare to those of traditional fossil fuels?

Energy Conversion

Topic:  The efficiency of internal combustion engines.

Research Question:  How do variables such as fuel type and engine temperature affect the efficiency of an internal combustion engine?

Topic:  Thermal efficiency of power plants.

Research Question:  What are the main factors that limit the thermal efficiency of modern thermal power plants?

Topic:  The effectiveness of regenerative braking systems.

Research Question:  How much energy can regenerative braking systems realistically recover during vehicle deceleration?

Power Transmission

Topic:  Electrical grid efficiency and power loss.

Research Question:  How does the distance and cross-sectional area of transmission lines affect power loss in an electrical grid?

Topic:  The potential of superconductors in power transmission.

Research Question:  What are the challenges and potential benefits of using superconductors for power transmission?

Topic:  The impact of load balancing on power grid stability.

Research Question:  How does load balancing affect the stability and efficiency of a power grid?

These topics and research questions are designed to inspire a range of investigations for the Physics Extended Essay, allowing students to delve into both experimental and theoretical aspects of physics.

And speaking of practical, fluid dynamics is all about understanding how liquids and gases move. It’s like figuring out why blowing over a hot soup cools it down or how an airplane stays up in the sky.

Fluid Dynamics Topics and Research Questions

Aerodynamics

Topic:  The effect of airfoil shape on lift generation.

Research Question:  How does altering the curvature and angle of an airfoil affect its lift and drag forces?

Topic:  Application of Bernoulli’s principle to various wing designs.

Research Question:  How do different wing designs in aircraft utilize Bernoulli’s principle to achieve lift?

Topic:  Drag force comparison on streamlined vs. bluff bodies.

Research Question:  How does the shape of an object affect the drag force experienced at different flow velocities?

Hydrodynamics

Topic:  The relationship between flow rate and pipe diameter in fluid dynamics.

Research Question:  How does changing the diameter of a pipe affect the flow rate of a fluid within it, given a constant pressure difference?

Topic:  Viscosity effects on fluid flow in channels.

Research Question:  How does the viscosity of a fluid influence its flow characteristics in narrow channels?

Topic:  Analysis of Reynolds number in predicting fluid flow regimes.

Research Question:  How does the Reynolds number determine the transition from laminar to turbulent flow in a pipe?

Buoyancy and Density

Topic:  Investigating Archimedes’ principle for irregularly shaped objects.

Research Question:  How accurately does Archimedes’ principle predict the buoyant force on objects with complex shapes?

Topic:  The stability of floating bodies and the concept of metacentric height.

Research Question:  How does the distribution of mass affect the stability of a floating vessel?

Topic:  Density stratification in fluids and its impact on layered flow.

Research Question:  How does density stratification affect the movement and mixing of different fluid layers?

From there, it’s a big leap to astrophysics and cosmology—literally. You go from studying the flow of air around a plane to the flow of galaxies in space. It’s about seeing the bigger picture and our place in it.

If you need Physics paper writing help , we have a separate team of experts who can handle almost any tasks.

Astrophysics and Cosmology Topics and Research Questions

Stellar Physics

Topic:  Analyzing the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram for star clusters.

Research Question:  What can the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram reveal about the age and composition of a star cluster?

Topic:  Classification and analysis of star spectra.

Research Question:  How does the classification of stellar spectra correlate with a star’s temperature, luminosity, and lifecycle stage?

Topic:  Investigating blackbody radiation in stars.

Research Question:  How well does the blackbody radiation model fit the observed spectral energy distribution of stars?

Cosmological Models

Topic:  Evidence for the Big Bang theory from cosmic microwave background radiation.

Research Question:  What does the cosmic microwave background radiation tell us about the origins and evolution of the universe?

Topic:  The role of dark matter in galaxy formation and rotation.

Research Question:  How does the presence of dark matter influence the rotational speeds of galaxies?

Topic:  Verifying Kepler’s laws through observation of planetary motion.

Research Question:  How accurately do Kepler’s laws describe the motion of bodies in the solar system?

Orbital Mechanics

Topic:  The energy requirements for satellite launch and achieving escape velocity.

Research Question:  What are the energy considerations and optimal conditions for a satellite to achieve escape velocity from Earth?

Topic:  The effects of orbital perturbations on satellite stability.

Research Question:  How do factors such as atmospheric drag and gravitational influences affect the stability of satellite orbits?

Topic:  Analysis of gravitational slingshot maneuvers in space missions.

Research Question:  How can gravitational assist maneuvers be optimized to increase spacecraft velocity?

But even with our heads in the stars, we can’t forget about light. Optics brings it back down to earth, showing us how light works, whether it’s bending through a lens or bouncing off a mirror.

Optics and Light Topics and Research Questions

Reflection and Refraction

Topic:  The efficiency of optical fibers in transmitting light.

Research Question:  How do imperfections in optical fibers affect the total internal reflection and efficiency of light transmission?

Topic:  Investigating Snell’s law at various interfaces.

Research Question:  How accurately does Snell’s law predict the angle of refraction for different transparent materials?

Topic:  The critical angle for total internal reflection in various media.

Research Question:  How does the critical angle for total internal reflection change with the refractive index of different materials?

Lens and Mirror Optics

Topic:  The formation of images by converging lenses under various conditions.

Research Question:  How does the focal length of a lens affect the properties of the image it forms?

Topic:  The magnification power of compound microscope systems.

Research Question:  How do the focal lengths of the objective and eyepiece lenses in a microscope affect its overall magnification?

Topic:  The aberrations in images formed by lenses and mirrors.

Research Question:  What types of optical aberrations are most prevalent in simple lens systems, and how can they be minimized?

Interference and Diffraction

Topic:  The double-slit experiment and wave-particle duality.

Research Question:  How does the double-slit experiment provide evidence for the wave-particle duality of light?

Topic:  Measuring the wavelength of light using diffraction gratings.

Research Question:  How can diffraction gratings be used to accurately measure the wavelength of light?

Topic:  The application of holography in image storage and retrieval.

Research Question:  How does holography utilize the principles of interference and diffraction to store and reconstruct images?

And light’s just one piece of the whole world of Physics. Electromagnetic waves are everywhere, from the microwave that heats your lunch to the X-rays at the dentist. It’s all part of the same big family that keeps our world connected and our lives running.

Electromagnetic Waves Topics and Research Questions

Radio and Microwave Radiation

Topic:  The design and optimization of antennas for radio communication.

Research Question:  How does the geometry of an antenna affect its radiation pattern and signal reception?

Topic:  Signal propagation in different atmospheric conditions.

Research Question:  How do atmospheric conditions affect the propagation of radio and microwave signals?

Topic:  The effectiveness of microwave radiation in communication systems.

Research Question:  What are the advantages and limitations of using microwave radiation in satellite communications?

Infrared and Ultraviolet Light

Topic:  Thermal imaging and the emissivity of different materials.

Research Question:  How does the emissivity of a material affect its detection in thermal imaging?

Topic:  The effects of UV radiation on various substances.

Research Question:  How does exposure to ultraviolet light affect the chemical structure and properties of different materials?

Topic:  Spectroscopy and the identification of chemical compounds.

Research Question:  How can infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy be used to identify and analyze different chemical compounds?

X-rays and Gamma Rays

Topic:  The application of X-ray imaging in medical diagnostics.

Research Question:  How do different tissues and materials affect the absorption and transmission of X-rays in medical imaging?

Topic:  Radiation therapy and the optimization of gamma ray dosage.

Research Question:  How can the dosage and targeting of gamma rays in radiation therapy be optimized for cancer treatment?

Topic:  Nuclear gamma spectroscopy and nuclear structure.

Research Question:  What can gamma-ray spectra reveal about the structure and energy states of atomic nuclei?

These topics and research questions are designed to guide students in their exploration of advanced concepts in physics, providing a foundation for a thorough and insightful Extended Essay.

Creating an engaging and contemporary Physics Extended Essay can be particularly rewarding when the topic is relevant to modern situations and challenges. 

Fresh Breath Ideas for Physics IB EE in 2023/2024

Here are 12 topics that connect to current events or recent advancements in technology, along with a brief explanation of their relevance:

The Physics of Electric Vehicles

Investigate the efficiency of regenerative braking systems in electric cars and how they contribute to the overall energy efficiency of the vehicle.

Renewable Energy Harvesting

Analyze the potential of piezoelectric materials in converting mechanical stress from human activities into electrical energy, contributing to sustainable power generation.

Smartphone Sensors

Explore the use of gyroscopes and accelerometers in smartphones for navigation and gaming, and how these sensors rely on principles of mechanics and material science.

Wireless Charging Technologies

Examine the electromagnetic principles behind wireless charging pads and the efficiency of energy transfer at various distances and alignments.

Solar Panel Coatings

Research the effectiveness of anti-reflective coatings on solar panels and their role in enhancing the absorption of light and overall energy conversion efficiency.

Aerodynamics of Drones

Study the impact of drone design on flight stability and energy consumption, which is critical for extending their use in delivery systems and aerial photography.

Physics in Sports Equipment

Investigate the materials and design features that contribute to the performance and safety of modern sports helmets, from bicycles to football.

Thermal Imaging and Disease Detection

Explore the use of thermal imaging in detecting fevers and its potential application in managing pandemics by early identification of symptomatic individuals.

Nanomaterials in Electronics

Analyze the electrical conductivity and properties of graphene and other nanomaterials that are revolutionizing the electronics industry.

Physics of Modern Building Design

Investigate how principles of thermodynamics are applied in the design of eco-friendly and energy-efficient buildings.

Quantum Computing

Study the basic principles of quantum computing and the challenges in maintaining quantum coherence in qubits, which are the fundamental building blocks of quantum computers.

SpaceX and Reusable Rockets

Research the physics behind the reusability of rockets, focusing on the landing mechanisms employed by companies like SpaceX and how they conserve momentum and energy.

Each of these topics is not only grounded in physics principles but also has a wealth of information available due to their current relevance and the ongoing research in these areas. 

They offer a chance to combine theoretical physics with practical application in the modern world, which can be particularly engaging for an Extended Essay.

Need a Hand with Your Physics IB EE?

Hey there, IB students! If you’re stuck on coming up with a topic or diving into writing your Physics IB Extended Essay, don’t sweat it. Our team of IB experts at Writing Metier is here to help you write a custom IB EE on this exciting subject . 

Whether you need a spark of inspiration for your topic or you want a custom-written EE following the word count , rubric and criteria that hits all the right notes, we’ve got your back. 

Reach out to us at Writing Metier extended essay writing service and have a rest while experts are working on your task.

So, that’s the rundown. Physics isn’t just about equations and lab coats; it’s the stuff all around us, from the smallest particles to the vastness of space. It’s about getting to the heart of how things work, from the every day to the extraordinary. 

And the more you learn, the more you see how everything’s linked together in one big, amazing picture.

Free topic suggestions

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Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

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IB Physics IA Ideas (25+ topics) - Inclusive Of Topics Your Teachers Won't Discuss!

Score top marks on your IB Physics IA with these 25+ expert-approved ideas. Unlock your full potential and get that sweet 7 with ease!

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Ib physics ia ideas - thermal physics , ib physics ia ideas - mechanics, ib physics ia ideas - waves, ib physics ia ideas - electricity and magnetism, below are some more wonderful physics ia ideas to get your thinking caps on , want to score a seven in your ib physics ia .

Cracking the IB Physics IA can seem like a challenging task from afar, but like any other assessment, only the beginning is the hardest.

Frantically looking for IA IB physics ideas can be taxing and quite a struggle.

By the time your mind races from Aerodynamics to Relativity, you have most likely crossed the scope of the syllabus and have gotten yourself in quite a pickle!

There are several fascinating topics to explore, but not all are lucid enough for you to undertake. It becomes imperative to rule out big ideas smartly instead of opting for specific, more relevant ones. 

The primary focus of your IB Physics IA should be on applying your scientific thinking to explore concepts you have learned before and document them accordingly. Going for a completely new topic is a bit daunting and can leave you all the more confused. And who wants confusion regarding IB Physics IA or any other Internal Assessments?

Your IB Physics IA topic is the stepping stone toward nailing your Physics IB score, which is why learning the entire process is more crucial than ever. You can take up a novel idea to outshine everyone. Approach it conventionally to perform to your best capacity. There is no need to panic, but you sure don't have to put the IB Physics IA selection procedure on the backburner!

To kickstart your search for the best-suited IB Physics IA idea, this is precisely where you should be!  

This gets us to tackle the question of your IB Physics IA topic's role in getting you your dream score. First and foremost, the marking scheme entails the Personal Engagement criterion, which marks you on your IA research question choice. Your Physics IA idea (i.e., your research question) only  makes up 0.8%  of your complete Physics IA.

[SO, STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT A LOT!!!]

Opting for a tried and tested Physics IA topic ensures you are dealing with a simple idea that leaves no room for confusion.

A standard and conventional IB Physics IA idea increases your chances of scoring higher and cuts down on the substantial research you would be required to do for an original topic.

Besides, a standard IB Physics IA idea also determines your overall performance since an IA idea that covers the concepts you're already familiar with determines your understanding of the question you wish to answer through your IB Physics IA. This helps you take more interest, research better, and ultimately score better.

Choosing a topic wisely, therefore, is of much importance. It is always advisable to filter down your interests to ideas relevant to your course, and voila!

There you have a great IB Physics IA topic to begin with! 

Still, trying to figure out what IB Physics IA idea to opt for?

No problem!  Nail IB  has got you covered!

Before you browse further, you might want to check out our blog on   IB Physics IA : 3 Important Tips for a Good Grade  to understand in-depth the difference between Experiment and Simulation-based topics. This will assist you in selecting effectively!

Here's an assortment of  25+ IB Physics IA  ideas to get the IA ball rolling:

Calculating the specific heat capacity of a liquid material of your choice!  (Experiment Based)

• Record the temperature of the liquid material with a thermometer by providing heat to the liquid in an electric heater. 
• Plot the temperature in intervals by providing varying heat, and the slope of the graph must give you the value of 1/mc.

Investigating the Ideal Gas Law using a simulation of a gas:  (Simulation-Based)

• Simulate a gas in a fixed container with the particles confined in space.
• To investigate whether the Gas Law holds for these gas particles, create a simulation that varies two variables out of P, V, and T, and see the effect on the third one.
• Finally, obtain graphs of P v/s T, V v/s T, and P v/s V. Verify. 

Change in the rate of evaporation of water with a change in surface area:  (Experiment Based)

• To observe a relationship, plot the varying vaporization times involved with containers of different cross-sectional areas.

Investigating to what extent salt concentration affects the specific heat of the water.  (Experiment Based) ​​​​​​

Projectile Motion:

Finding how the rotational velocity affects the horizontal travel distance of a basketball in free fall.  (Simulation-Based) 

• Take into consideration the three separate forces acting on the ball during the travel, namely - Gravitational force, Air Drag, and Magnus Effect- and how they depend on parameters like velocity, rotational velocity, and the radius of the ball to simulate a project for numerical approximations and establish relations from data.

Finding the coefficient of static friction between the two materials. (Experiment Based)

• Plot an F(maximum frictional force) versus R(reaction force) graph by recording the total force needed to be applied for F and the weight of the material on top for R and obtain μ from the gradient. 

Dependence of Air Resistance on the surface area of spherical balls.

Effect of Temperature on Spring Constant. (Experiment Based) 

• ​​​​​​​ Record the force applied on a spring with the help of a force sensor and accurately measure the extension with a ruler.
• Plot F v/s x graphs for different temperatures and compare their gradients (Spring Constants) to infer a conclusion. 

Investigating Archimedes’ principle and determining the value of g.

• Use water or any liquid with a known density and a force sensor to measure the buoyant force.
• Plot an F-V curve by submerging different objects, and the slope thus obtained should be ρg .

How does the concentration of D-Sucrose affect the Viscosity of a solution?

• Find an appropriate method to find Viscosity after preparing and accurately determining the concentration of D-Sucrose in a solution. 

Effect of temperature and other physical parameters on the Viscosity of fluids. 

Determining the specific energy of different materials.

• ​​​​​​​ Plot energy against mass to obtain specific power as the gradient. The different values of energy and mass can be obtained by taking other materials and burning them to heat water. The water temperature thus recorded can be used to determine the energy supply by the material’s burning.

How does the frequency of a simple pendulum vary with string length and diameter?

• Plot Frequency versus String Length graph for different pendulums of varying lengths by recording their frequency with a timer. 
• Plot Frequency versus String Diameter graph similarly for different pendulums of varying diameters by recording their frequency with a timer.

How does the air drag coefficient affect the period of a pendulum undergoing damped simple harmonic oscillations?

Investigating how the refractive index of a liquid varies with temperature.

• Plot the Refractive Index v/s Temperature graph for different liquid temperatures by using Snell’s Law to calculate the Refractive Index. 

To what extent does the angle of Incidence of p-polarized Light affect the reflectivity and transmissibility?  

How does the Intensity of a Light source vary with Distance? 

• Plot the Intensity of a Light source v/s r ^ -2 to find the gradient P/4π, where P is the Power of the Light Source. The graph thus obtained establishes how Intensity varies with Distance.

Verifying Ohm's Law for different electrical components.

• Plot V-I Graphs for different resistors, thermistors, etc., by varying the voltage via a voltmeter in a circuit and correspondingly noting the change in the current with the help of an ammeter, also connected to the course. 
• A linear curve verifies Ohm's Law.

To what extent does temperature affect the total available Energy in secondary cells?

Investigating the relative permeability of air by varying the solenoid's current and measuring the resultant magnetic field. 

Determining how the current is magnetically induced in a solenoid depends on the number of coils.

Calculating the time constant of a Capacitor.

• Plot the voltage or current change with time for a discharging capacitor through a resistor.
• Make sure either relationship follows an exponential curve to positively calculate the time constant of the Capacitor.

Calculating the work function of metals.

• Plot an E (Kinetic Energy of electrons) v/s f (frequency of light source) graph. Thus, the y-intercept is the negative value of the metal's work function. 

Investigating the relation between temperature and the efficiency of a transformer.

• How does the speed of sound in a material vary with temperature?
• How does the angle of the initial release of a pendulum affect the subsequent calculation of ‘g’ from the pendulum?
• What is the relationship between the spacing of consecutive dominoes and the effective speed of the domino effect?
• How does the emf produced by rotating coils depend on the rotational speed?
• How does the frequency of oscillation of an object on a spring rely on the mass of the object?
• How does the temperature of a lubricant affect the coefficient of dynamic friction?
• Use a computer simulation to calculate the charge of an electron.
• Investigate the range of projection of a shuttlecock in terms of its cross-sectional area. 

The first step towards that goal is selecting a precise topic where you don't go about inventing a concept.

You must use your classroom knowledge to your advantage and use the available resources!

An excellent mathematical model will work wonders in your experiment-based topic and help you develop a focused question that you will cater to in your IA.

Your crucial takeaway must be to go for something standard and tested instead of an out-of-the-box idea. 

Remember to checkout out our  IB Physics HL Notes , specifically created to help students score well in their diploma program.

• For a clearer perspective on the entire IA assembling process, check out more blogs on  Nail IB  and hustle towards success! 

IB Resources you will love!

55234 + free ib flashcards, 164 + free ia samples, 3965 + ib videos by experts, 20099 + ib sample practice questions, ib resources for 30 + subjects.

35 IB Physics IA Ideas: Simple and Score High Marks

• Use different lengths of string and record the period of the pendulum swings for each
• A good technique for this would be to record the time for 5 periods then divide it by 5

Looking at how the intensity of a light source varies with distance

• You need a light source of constant power, a photometer or similar device, and a long bench
• Take measurements of the intensity of the light source at various distances away from it
• Graphing  I against r^-2  should give the gradient P/4π  where  is the power of the light source

How does the concentration of sucrose in a water solution affect the refractive index of the water?

• Fill a container with water in a bright room and shine a weak laser at it such that you can determine the angle of deflection due to the body of water
• Gradually fill the water container with sucrose, calculating the concentration each time, and measure how the deflection changes
• Plot these variables against each other to see if there is a relationship

Investigating how the frequency of a simple pendulum varies with string length

• Record the frequency of a simple pendulum, for example by counting how many oscillations it completes in 10 seconds
• Do this for pendulums of different string length
• Plot frequency against string length to see if there is a relationship

How does the frequency of oscillation of an object on a spring depend on the mass of the object?

• Attach a block of known mass to a spring and extend it on a slippery horizontal surface such that it starts oscillating
• Record the frequency, for example by counting how many oscillations it completes in 10 seconds
• Repeat this for blocks of different mass

Investigating how the refractive index of a liquid varies with temperature

• Fill a container with a given liquid, e.g. water
• Use a weak laser in a dark room to see how the angle of the light path changes as it passes through the liquid
• Hence use Snell’s law to calculate the refractive index
• Now use an electric heater to increase the temperature of the liquid – record this and repeat the measurement for different temperatures
• Plot the refractive index against the temperature to see if there is a relationship

How does the fundamental frequency of a standing wave on a string vary with string length?

• An example of this would be a guitar string, where “plucking” the string gives the fundamental frequency
• Use equipment such as a slow-motion camera to record the period of the string oscillation, and hence find the frequency
• Do this for strings of different lengths (always fixed at either end), and plot a graph to see if there is a relationship between frequency and length

Investigating the relation between temperature and speed of sound in a material (you choose the material!)

• Choose a material where sound can travel through, and which you a large enough sample of that sound diffracting around it will be negligible
• It also needs to be long enough for sound to take a measurable time to travel through it
• Use an oscilloscope or computer software that allows you to find the time taken for sound from a given source to travel between two microphones
• Put the microphones on either side of the material, measure the separation and hence find the sound speed
• Heat up the material, record its temperature and repeat the experiment
• Plot speed against temperature to see if there is a relationship

Investigating Snell’s law for more than one refraction at a time

• Put samples of two or more transparent materials (e.g. glass and water) next to each other and shine a weak laser through both
• Use Snell’s law for multiple refractions to determine the expected relationship between the entering and exiting angles of the light beam
• Repeat the experiment for a variety of angles and plot the result to see if the relationship holds

What is the relationship between the width of interference maxima and the number of slits illuminated in a diffraction grating?

• Use a diffraction grating and a stationary flashlight
• Move the flashlight closer or further away from the grating such that different numbers of slits are illuminated – calculate the number by measuring the fraction of the grating that is covered by light
• Use a piece of paper or a white wall to see the interference maxima, and measure their width using a ruler
• Plot maximum width against number of slits illuminated to see the relationship

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM IB Physics IA ideas

Testing Ohm’s law for different electrical components

• Use components such as resistors, filament lamps, thermistors, and others that you would like to test
• Build a circuit containing a voltmeter and ammeter, and where you can toggle the voltage
• Record how the current changes as you change the voltage
• Plot the results for each component; if the V-I curve is linear, the component follows Ohms law and the gradient is R
• For the components that don’t follow Ohm’s law, try to fit other relationships

Finding the resistivity of a metal (you choose the material!)

• Choose a metal where you have access to several samples of similar shape but different lengths and/or cross-sectional areas
• Place one sample in the circuit at a time and record how the current changes with voltage – when you plot these against each other the resistance is the gradient of the graph
• After having done this for every sample, plot their resistances as a function of length and/or cross-sectional area (one at a time, keeping the other one constant) and use the relationship  R=ρL/A  to find the resistivity

How does the efficiency of an electric motor depend on temperature?

• Use a small electric motor for a task where you can calculate the energy output, e.g. lifting something up
• Feed the motor with electric power and calculate the efficiency it has with completing the task
• If you repeat this many times the motor will heat up due to energy lost to inefficiencies
• Record its temperature and see how its efficiency changes for a range of temperatures

How does the emf produced by rotating coils depend on the rotational speed of the coils?

• Do this only if your school has access to a permanent magnet large enough to create a constant and uniform magnetic field
• Connect a conducting coil to a voltmeter and a mechanism where you can rotate the coil at a desired speed (either by hand or electronically)
• Record how the peak readings of the voltmeter changes with rotational speed of the coils
• Predict the relationship theoretically using Faraday’s law, then plot your data to see if you get the same result

Finding the work function of metals

• You need a thin metal plate connected to an ammeter and EM wave sources/lasers with a wide range of available frequencies
• Record the maximal current produced when light of different frequencies is shone onto the plate, and relate this to the kinetic energy of the electrons
• On a graph of E against f, the y-intercept should be the negative of the metal’s work function

Investigating the relation between temperature and the efficiency of a transformer

• Calculate the efficiency of a small transformer by feeding it with current and measuring the output current using an ammeter
• If you repeat this many times the transformer will heat up due to energy lost to inefficiencies

How does the power output of a solar cell vary with thickness of cellophane laid over it?

• Choose a sunny day and bring a small solar cell out in the open
• Record the current or power output of the cell, and re-do the recordings while you continuously put thin layers of cellophane on top of the cell
• Plot the power output against thickness after you are done to see if there is a relationship

Finding out how the current magnetically induced in a solenoid depends on the number of coils

• Move solenoids with different numbers of coils through the magnetic field at the same speed and record the current produced in them using an ammeter
• Plot peak current against number of coils to see if there is a relationship

Investigating the efficiency of a diode rectifier as a function of temperature

• Build a diode rectifier circuit and investigate its efficiency by measuring the current ahead of and beyond the diode using ammeters
• If you leave the circuit for a while the diode will heat up due to energy lost to inefficiencies

Finding the internal resistance of a battery

• Construct a simple circuit containing a battery and a variable resistor
• Use an ammeter to measure the current and a voltmeter to measure the terminal potential difference for different values of resistance
• According to the relationship  V=ε-Ir , if you plot  V against I the gradient should be  -r where  r is the internal resistance

Finding the time constant of a capacitor

• Fully charge a capacitor by connecting it to a cell or battery, then disconnect the cell or battery and let the capacitor discharge through a resistor
• Measure either how the voltage changes with time using a voltmeter or how the current changes with time using an ammeter

So there we have it, 35 IB Physics IA ideas guaranteed to get you off on a great start.

Still not sure how to approach your IA as a whole?

Check out our comprehensive Physics IA guide  which gives you a step-by-step walkthrough!

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Undergraduate Contacts

Student Services Specialist

Director Undergraduate Studies

choosingphysics [at] stanford.edu (Pre-Major Advising)

Frequently Asked Questions

The slides from  the November 30, 2023 Physics Research Program Informational Session are here.

Part 1 of the application is now live.

• Are Engineering Physics majors eligible for this program? Yes, provided you work with a faculty member in  Physics ,  Applied Physics  or  SLAC .  If you wish to work with a faculty member in the Engineering School, you should apply to appropriate  Engineering department's summer research program.  
• Are there opportunities available for external/non-Stanford students? Yes, we have two opportunities for external physics students: the Cal-Bridge program, and the Leadership Alliance Summer Research - Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) . The School of Engineering also has their own  SURF program .    
• Can I apply if I have no research experience? Most definitely.  Everyone starts somewhere.  There are a number of faculty who will take on beginning students with the intent of providing training.   What is required is curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn and grow as a researcher.  Look carefully at the preferences in terms of skills and courses listed for each faculty member in the  table of Summer Research Positions .    
• Do I have to be a declared Physics/Engineering Physics major to apply? Priority will be given to declared Physics and Engineering Physics majors who have declared on Axess by the application deadline.  The exception is that first-year students need not be declared majors  -- exploring physics through research is part of how you can evaluate if Physics/Eng.Physics is the right major for you.  Otherwise, if you have a particular reason for not declaring, mention it in your application, or consult with  nanavati [at] stanford.edu (Chaya Nanavati) , Academic Director of the Program, prior to submitting your application.  
• What if I want to work with a faculty member who is not listed in the  table of Summer Research Positions ? You can work with any faculty in Physics/AppliedPhysics/SLAC  who are not listed in the table.  The table itself consists of faculty members who are actively looking for students, but other faculty are often open to hiring undergraduate researchers. The Physics Research Program provides funding directly to Physics/Eng Physics majors, not to faculty. Thus you are welcome to find other faculty members to work with, subject to FAQ #6, below.  Links to the faculty lists are here .  
• You can work with any faculty member who appears in the table of Summer Research Positions, even if they are not in Physics/AP/SLAC.  These latter faculty are physicists by training and conduct substantially physics-related research.
• If the faculty member is in a department with its own summer research program, you must seek primary support from the other department; this is especially true for faculty in  Engineering departments .  You may apply to the Physics Research program as a backup.
• Your topic should be closely related to physics (e.g., biophysics, medical physics) and you must be directly involved in research;
• If you are interested in conducting Biophysics or medical physics research over the summer quarter, we strongly encourage you to apply to  boththe  Bio-X program  (deadline January 18, 2024) and the Physics research program (deadline January 19, 2024).  
• If we have more applicants than we can support, priority will be given to students working with Physics/Applied Physics/SLAC faculty, all other things being equal.
• If you are considering working for a faculty member outside Physics, Applied Physics or SLAC, it's important to consult with  Chaya Nanavati and Ben Feldman  before finalizing your application.
• Do I have to be available for the full ten weeks? Yes, you should be here for the 10 official weeks so that you can participate fully in all activities associated with the Physics/AP/SLAC Summer Research Program. If there are particular circumstances that prevent you from attending these weeks, mention them in your application or consult with  Chaya Nanavati and Ben Feldman  prior to submitting your application.
• In addition to participating in the program, can I work or volunteer part-time or full-time this summer?  No.  This will be a full-time pursuit over the ten weeks of the summer.    
•         Rising seniors with no prior funding through the Physics summer research program (*)
•         Rising juniors with no prior funding through the Physics summer research program
•         Current freshmen and rising sophomores with no prior funding through the Physics summer research program
•         Rising juniors with prior funding through the Physics summer research program
•         Rising seniors with prior funding through the Physics summer research program (**)  
• Can I apply for research in physics if I am a rising 5th year or coterminal student? Rising 5th year or Physics coterminal students will have the same priority for funding as rising seniors (see #8 above). However, funding is not available for coterminal students who have received their B.S. degree or have already entered their Graduate program (this is indicated on your transcript).  
• Rising seniors/coterms who have received support in 1 or 2 prior years are required to apply for a VPUE Student Major Grant from Academic Advising. You are still encouraged to apply to this Physics/AP/SLAC program in case we have additional funding.
• However, rising seniors/coterms who have received support in 2 prior years will not receive funding from this program; this is due to limited funding, not because we don't like you.  You still must apply for a VPUE Student Major Grant, but also investigate other sources of support, starting with your faculty research mentor. Note that VPUE Student Major Grant applications require a serious effort including literature review and a faculty support letter. Our students have a high success rate for these grants, but if you throw the application together the weekend before it's due, you'll likely not succeed.
• By submitting an application to the physics research program, am I committed to the program if I am accepted? What if I want to apply to other Stanford programs or to  research opportunities outside Stanford ? You are not committing to the program by applying, and are in fact encouraged to explore multiple programs since we cannot guarantee funding for all interested students. If you are accepted, you will be asked to commit around the start of Spring quarter.  
• Do I have to live on campus while in the program? No, you don't have to live on campus. If you are interested in living on campus, see the  web page for Summer Housing  
• Does the grant also cover living expenses? You must pay your own living expenses out of the stipend. This can be either in on-campus Summer Housing or anywhere else you choose to live.  
• Are there other criteria for participating in the Physics Research Program? To participate in the 2024 Physics Research Program,
• You must be a current undergraduate in good standing;
• You cannot be on a Leave of Absence nor can you be serving a suspension ;
• You must participate in all the workshops and talks that we offer as part of the program, including the final presentations;
• You cannot have another full-time committment of any kind, funded or volunteer, inside or outside Stanford.

Bridging Chemistry and Physics on the Path to New Materials

Five questions with Center for Electrochemistry director Michael Rose.

Are there any exciting practical applications for electrochemistry on the horizon or that people might encounter in their everyday lives and might not even realize?

The first application is the ever-miniaturizing domain of semiconductors in all of our computers and iPhones. The size scale of a transistor is so small now that it’s approaching the size of a single molecule. It’s become important to make these transistors out of some combination of material and molecule. My research regarding how molecules can hybridize with materials is very relevant to designing the next generation of transistors. 

The other application is the development of new battery materials. Most of our lithium ion batteries are derived from cobalt, which some consider to be a conflict mineral because it’s mined in unsustainable ways. And there’s a drive to make new battery materials out of metals other than cobalt. So what folks are doing now is combining pure metal oxide materials with molecular components that help to improve properties like conductivity and the voltage that you can get out of a battery. That’s another area of electrochemistry where understanding the communication between a molecule part and a material part is really important for driving the new technology and sustainable batteries. 

What should people know about your  recent research that discussed bridging the gap between chemists’ and physicists’ understanding of solid-state materials?

In the last 10 or 20 years in chemistry, a popular area of research is nanoscience and nanomaterials, which involves the interplay of solid materials with molecules. Molecules are what chemists are good at studying, and solid state materials are what physicists are good at studying. The problem is, we speak different languages about how to make bonds and describe electrons in these two systems. 

What my recent research [published this spring in the  Journal of the American Chemical Society ] has done is try to translate some of the nomenclature from physics into the language of chemistry, so that when chemists talk about making and breaking bonds, we can draw out simple molecular orbital diagrams that help us to understand what type of function we can expect out of materials that are decorated with different sizes and shapes of molecules.

I understand the opportunity to work on this research came about after all of the interruptions to research that were brought about by COVID-19. Were there any special challenges you faced or unexpected opportunities you gained when restarting your research after the pandemic?

There was a delayed effect on my research outcomes and student progress because the students who started during COVID didn’t have as good of access to the lab. That was a challenge that we tried to face together. If there was a silver lining of the pandemic, it was that we learned two or three new computational methods and approaches that we otherwise would probably never have pursued. In the end, we ended up banking these skills and now we use these types of calculations in every paper that we write. 

What is the most enjoyable part of leading the Center for Electrochemistry?

The best part about leading the center is that I get to be kept abreast of all of the amazing research that happens in professors’ labs that are associated with the center. Overall, the main goal of the center and the fun part for me is trying to find ways that disparate areas of research and researchers can find common threads to make new collaborations to try to drive new science at the interface between electrochemistry, chemistry and material science.

Are there any misconceptions that you believe the public has about your area of study?

Chemistry sometimes gets bad press because the news headlines are generally focused on bad things that happen. What goes under the radar are all the tremendous benefits that chemistry brings to society, from energy to anti-cancer drugs to insulin sensor systems that improve the lives of people every day. 

A misconception about electrochemistry is that it only involves batteries, and in fact, electrochemistry is all around us. Electrochemistry is the way that we see vivid colors on our iPhones. Electrochemistry is how you monitor an EKG. The misconception in electrochemistry is that it’s a narrow field that only does a few things, but it underpins almost every aspect of our economy and health system in one way or another.

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• Optical components
• Research update

Blurred tomography fabricates custom microlenses with optically smooth surfaces

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has revolutionized many sectors with its speed, flexibility and unparalleled design freedom. But previous attempts to create high-quality optical components using additive manufacturing methods often came up against a range of obstacles. Now, researchers from the National Research Council of Canada have turned to blurred tomography – an extension of the tomographic volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM) method – to create customized optical components.

“3D printing is transforming every sector of manufacturing,” says lead author Daniel Webber . “I’ve always been interested in 3D printed optics due to their potential to revolutionize optical system design. I saw a post-doc position with the NRC where they wanted to do volumetric 3D printing of micro-optics, and the rest was history”.

Additive manufacturing challenges

In the past, techniques such as digital light processing, stereolithography, inkjet printing and two-photon polymerization (2PP) have been used to build optical components through a layer-by-layer approach. However, the fabrication process tends to be slow, it’s difficult to fabricate optical components with curvature – which many components need – and surfaces that aren’t parallel to the substrate have height steps defined by the layer thickness.

VAM has also had its challenges, with poor part quality (such as ridges on the surface called striations) due to the self-writing waveguide effect – in which the narrow writing beams used in VAM cause increased printing speed in planes parallel to the beams. Post-processing methods are usually required to increase the part quality and smooth the surfaces, but a direct VAM method that doesn’t require extra steps has been sought.

Overcoming challenges with blurred tomography

In their latest research, Webber and his team have accomplished such a direct VAM method, while maintaining the freedom of design that additive manufacturing offers for rapid prototyping.

Tomographic VAM uses projected light to solidify a photosensitive resin in specific regions, enabling parts to be built without support structures. While the pencil-like beams used in conventional tomographic VAM methods cause striations, the new technique can produce microlenses with commercial-grade quality. It is known as blurred tomography, because a large-etendue (more “spread out”) source is used to purposely blur the lines and reduce striations.

The blurring of the optical writing beam helped to generate a surface roughness in the sub-nanometre range – making it essentially molecularly smooth. By comparison, other VAM methods have well-collimated and low-etendue writing beams so that they are not blurred by design.

By purposely blurring the beam and coupling it with astigmatism introduced by the cylindrical vial of photoresin (without an index matching bath), the blurring could be achieved across the whole print volume. Alongside the rapid processing speed, the other defining feature of the blurred tomography method is that it doesn’t require additional processing and is therefore a direct method for producing smooth optical components.

“The most significant finding of this work is that we can directly fabricate optically smooth surfaces and have freeform ready-to-use optical components in under 30 minutes,” says Webber.

While the overall processing time takes around 30 min, the actual printing of the lenses took less than a minute. This is similar to other VAM techniques (but without the need for extra surface processing steps). In comparison, a previous study found that using 2PP to print a half-ball lens of similar size (2 versus 3 mm), curvature error (3.9% versus 5.4%) and surface roughness (2.9 versus 0.53 nm) took 23 h – showing how blurred tomography is much faster, while producing finer surface features.

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The research team showcased the potential of the new technique by making a millimetre-sized plano-convex optical lens with an imaging performance comparable to that of a commercial glass lens. The intrinsic freedom design that additive manufacturing offers also helped the researchers create a biconvex microlens array (fabrication on both sides), as well as overprinting of a lens onto an optical fibre.

Like many areas of additive manufacturing, it’s thought that VAM could offer a way of producing low-cost and rapidly prototyped parts, in particular, freeform optical components. “We have demonstrated that blurred tomography is capable of rapidly fabricating a range of micro-optical components. Moving forward, we would like to extend these capabilities to larger part sizes and new materials,” Webber tells Physics World .

The research was published in Optica .

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WashU theorists help advance nuclear physics research at DOE facility

Physicists Saori Pastore and Maria Piarulli in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis are part of an influential group of scientists shaping the theoretical framework behind exciting new experiments at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) , a $730 million U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science research facility.

After years of planning and construction, researchers are now using the one-of-a-kind FRIB to better understand nuclei, the collection of protons and neutrons found at the heart of atoms. Recently, scientists working at the FRIB made a groundbreaking observation of five never-before-seen isotopes , highlighting the facility’s cutting-edge capabilities and the potential for new discoveries in nuclear physics.

Nuclear theory — the kind of work that Pastore and Piarulli do at WashU — underpins much of the high-end research now taking place at the FRIB. This research has applications in medicine, national security and other industrial applications. 

Theory helps explain and predict the relationships between subatomic particles that are beginning to be observed in new experiments.

“The first experiments at the FRIB studied the beta-decay of highly unstable nuclei, like magnesium-38, produced from the breakup of calcium-48,” Piarulli said. The most stable isotope of magnesium-24 has equal numbers of neutrons and protons, but the highly unstable magnesium-38 has 14 more neutrons than protons, she noted. 

A related experimental effort run by WashU professors Robert Charity and Lee Sobotka , both in the Department of Chemistry in Arts & Sciences, focuses on nuclei with far more protons than neutrons.

“Watching how these exotic nuclei decay away — and measuring the products that are produced — provides information critical to understand how the atomic nucleus changes, from stability to the limits of its existence,” Piarulli said.

Pastore and Piarulli, both associate professors of physics and faculty fellows in WashU’s McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences , lead a research group that focuses on Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) methods for nuclear physics. Some of their recent work has included high-precision calculations of beta decays in elements with lighter nuclei — that is, those with an atomic number less than 10. “Our calculations provide valuable insights into the nuclear models used to describe these decays, and we can leverage this information to make meaningful extrapolations to larger systems,” Piarulli said.

Mark Alford and Willem Dickhoff , both professors of physics in Arts & Sciences, are theoreticians who also study nuclear systems. Through the combined efforts of its theoretical and experimental groups, WashU has been intimately involved in shaping the FRIB scientific mission.

For the past few years, Pastore and Piarulli have participated in the FRIB Theory Alliance , a coalition that brings together scientists from universities and national laboratories to share knowledge, expertise and resources to help advance nuclear physics work at the FRIB. 

The coalition has almost 300 members, including 120 faculty and more than 115 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows worldwide.

“We are developing and studying many exciting things related to the FRIB Theory Alliance, including development and optimization of nuclear theory using statistical methods, studies of electroweak properties, and calculations of the equation of state of strongly interacting matter with uncertainty quantification, to name a few,” said Pastore, associate chair of the Department of Physics and past director of the FRIB Theory Alliance executive board.

Through their affiliation to the FRIB Theory Alliance, Pastore and Piarulli have expanded their outreach nationally to help attract high-profile young scientists to careers in nuclear theory through the FRIB Theory Fellow Program. In 2022, they recruited Anna McCoy , a FRIB Theory Fellow, who will soon transition to her next position at Argonne National Laboratory as an assistant physicist. 

The FRIB Theory Alliance also provides great opportunities for graduate students like  Jason Bub ,  Graham Chambers-Wall  and  Garrett King  at Washington University and others.

These students have opportunities to connect with other researchers, fostering collaborations that could be beneficial for their future careers, Pastore said. 

“Working in a cutting-edge field can offer unique learning experiences for graduate students and the chance to develop advanced research skills,” she said. 

“Moving forward, we want to keep collaborating with experimentalists at FRIB,” Piarulli said. “We can produce more work along the lines of our study in Physical Review C . That project was a joint endeavor with experimentalists and researchers at Michigan State University, and the experimental results were consistent with our QMC calculations. 

“These calculations are of paramount importance, as they provide a deeper understanding of nuclear forces,” she said.

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'The magic of making electricity from metals and air' The vexing carbonate has achieved it!

The flower mentioned in the children's song "Orchard Road" is actually from the acacia tree. Acacia blossom honey predominates in Korea's honey production, serving a multitude of purposes. Interestingly, the acacia tree was once considered useless. Recently, the scientific community published an interesting study that revitalizes carbonates, offering them a fresh perspective.

Led by Professor Byoungwoo Kang and Dr. Heetaek Park (currently, working for the Next Generation Battery Research Center at Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute) from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), a research team has successfully developed a high-energy, high-efficiency all-solid-state sodium-air battery. This battery can reversibly utilize sodium (Na) and air without requiring special equipment. The findings of this research have been published in the international journal Nature Communications.

Secondary batteries find extensive use in green technologies such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The next-generation high-capacity secondary batteries, termed "metal-air batteries," draws power from abundant resources like oxygen and metals found on Earth. However, a challenge arises from the formation of carbonate -- a byproduct of metal and oxygen reaction involving atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water vapor (H 2 O) -- which sacrifices battery efficiency. To address this, despite the name, metal-air batteries typically require additional equipment such as an oxygen permeation membrane to either purify oxygen or selectively use atmospheric oxygen.

In this research, the team employed Nasicon, which is a Na superionic conductor and a solid electrolyte, to effectively tackle the carbonate issue. Nasicon, comprising elements like Na, silicon (Si), and zirconium (Zr), serves as a solid electrolyte capable of ion movement in the solid state while demonstrating high electrochemical and chemical stability. Leveraging this solid electrolyte, the team protected sodium metal electrodes from air and facilitated the breakdown of carbonate formed during electrochemical cell operation.

Consequently, the reversible electrochemical reaction involving carbonate led to an increase in the cell's energy density by increasing a working voltage while significantly reducing the voltage gap during charging and discharging, thus enhancing energy efficiency. Moreover, the team's all-solid-state sodium-air cell exhibited superior kinetic capability through in-situ formed catholyte, which has a fast sodium ion conduction to the inside of the electrode. Remarkably, the cell operated solely on metal and air without additional special equipment for an additional oxygen filtration device.

Professor Byoungwoo Kang who led the research remarked, "We've devised a method to harness carbonate, a longstanding challenge in the development of high-energy metal-air batteries." He expressed his expectation by stating, "We hope to lead the field of the next generation all-solid-state metal-air batteries, leveraging a solid electrolyte-based cell platform that remains stable in ambient conditions and offers a broad voltage range."

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Story Source:

Materials provided by Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Heetaek Park, Minseok Kang, Donghun Lee, Jaehyun Park, Seok Ju Kang, Byoungwoo Kang. Activating reversible carbonate reactions in Nasicon solid electrolyte-based Na-air battery via in-situ formed catholyte . Nature Communications , 2024; 15 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47415-0

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