15 Innovative IB Physics Data Booklet Topics for Your 2025 IA

Turn Your IB Physics Data Booklet Into a Goldmine for IA Success

Choosing an IB Physics Internal Assessment (IA) topic can feel like staring at a blank page, unsure where to begin. Many students, myself included, have faced this challenge. But what if I told you that your IB Physics data booklet holds the key to practical, lab-ready, and high-scoring IA ideas?

Most students see the data booklet as a mere collection of formulas and constants. However, through my experience helping students with physics IAs, I’ve discovered that the most successful investigations come from creatively applying these constants and equations to hands-on, laboratory-based scenarios. Here are 10 practical IA topic ideas that leverage key concepts from the data booklet—designed to inspire both HL and SL students.

1. Investigating Friction on Inclined Surfaces

Concept: Mechanics

Data Booklet Insight: Gravitational constant g = 9.81 m/s²

Experiment Idea:

• Measure the coefficient of friction between different materials and an inclined surface by gradually increasing the angle until the object starts sliding.
• Use motion sensors to record the acceleration of the object and verify results using Newton’s second law.

Key Variables: Surface material, angle of inclination, mass of the object

Pro Tip: Ensure consistent surface conditions and repeat measurements to reduce random errors.

2. Analyzing the Damping of a Pendulum

Concept: Oscillations and Energy Loss

Data Booklet Insight: Gravitational potential energy, damping coefficient

Experiment Idea:

• Investigate how different damping materials (e.g., air resistance, water, oil) affect the time taken for a pendulum to come to rest.
• Measure the amplitude reduction over time and model the energy loss using logarithmic decrement.

Key Variables: Damping medium, initial amplitude, pendulum length

Pro Tip: Use a light gate to measure precise timing of each oscillation.

3. Measuring the Young’s Modulus of a Wire

Concept: Materials and Elasticity

Data Booklet Insight: Stress-strain relationship

Experiment Idea:

• Apply different loads to a thin wire and measure its extension.
• Plot a stress-strain graph to determine the Young’s modulus.

Key Variables: Load applied, wire material, wire diameter

Pro Tip: Use a micrometer screw gauge for precise diameter measurement and ensure the wire is initially taut.

4. Investigating Resonance in Air Columns

Concept: Waves and Sound

Data Booklet Insight: Speed of sound in air c = 343 m/s

Experiment Idea:

• Measure the resonant frequencies of a closed or open air column by varying the column length.
• Compare experimental results with theoretical predictions using the equation for resonant frequencies.

Key Variables: Column length, frequency of sound source

Pro Tip: Use a frequency generator and a microphone for accurate frequency measurements.

5. Verifying Ohm’s Law with Different Materials

Concept: Electricity

Data Booklet Insight: Ohm’s law V = IR

Experiment Idea:

• Measure voltage and current for different resistors and plot V-I graphs.
• Extend the investigation by using non-ohmic components such as diodes and LEDs.

Key Variables: Type of resistor, applied voltage, temperature

Pro Tip: Ensure consistent temperature to avoid resistance variations due to heating.

6. Investigating the Efficiency of an Electric Motor

Concept: Energy and Power

Data Booklet Insight: Power equations

Experiment Idea:

• Measure the input electrical power and output mechanical power of a small DC motor lifting a known mass.
• Calculate efficiency by comparing input and output power.

Key Variables: Load mass, input voltage, current

Pro Tip: Use a digital multimeter to measure voltage and current accurately.

7. Determining the Specific Heat Capacity of a Liquid

Concept: Thermal Physics

Data Booklet Insight: Q = mc∆T

Experiment Idea:

• Heat a known mass of liquid using an electric heater and measure the temperature change over time.
• Use the energy supplied and temperature change to calculate specific heat capacity.

Key Variables: Mass of liquid, heater power, temperature change

Pro Tip: Minimize heat loss by insulating the container and stir the liquid to ensure uniform temperature.

8. Investigating the Cooling Rate of Different Materials

Concept: Thermodynamics

Data Booklet Insight: Newton’s law of cooling

Experiment Idea:

• Measure the cooling rate of different materials by heating them to the same temperature and recording temperature decrease over time.
• Compare experimental data with theoretical predictions.

Key Variables: Material type, initial temperature, ambient temperature

Pro Tip: Ensure consistent environmental conditions for each trial.

9. Exploring Magnetic Field Strength Around a Current-Carrying Wire

Concept: Magnetism

Data Booklet Insight: Magnetic field due to a current-carrying wire B = μ₀I/2πr

Experiment Idea:

• Measure the magnetic field strength at varying distances from a straight current-carrying wire using a Hall probe.
• Plot a graph of magnetic field strength against distance and verify the inverse proportionality.

Key Variables: Current, distance from wire

Pro Tip: Use a stable power supply to maintain constant current.

10. Investigating the Terminal Velocity of Falling Objects in Fluids

Concept: Fluid Dynamics

Data Booklet Insight: Drag force, terminal velocity

Experiment Idea:

• Drop different spheres through a viscous fluid and measure their terminal velocities.
• Investigate the relationship between terminal velocity, fluid viscosity, and sphere radius.

Key Variables: Sphere radius, fluid viscosity, sphere density

Pro Tip: Use a high-speed camera to accurately measure terminal velocity.

Conclusion: Practical, Hands-On Physics IAs

The IB Physics data booklet is more than just a reference—it’s a treasure trove of practical IA ideas. By creatively applying its constants and equations in laboratory experiments, you can design investigations that are both feasible and academically rigorous.

Remember, the key to a successful IA is:

• Choosing a topic with a clear experimental setup.
• Ensuring precise data collection and thorough analysis.
• Keeping the investigation manageable within available resources.

With these 10 practical ideas, you’re well on your way to crafting a standout IA that demonstrates your deep understanding of physics. Good luck!