4.2 How is scientific inquiry used to investigate fields, motion or light?
In Unit 4, Area of Study 2, students demonstrate their science communication skills by presenting the findings of a student-designed scientific investigation and the significance of these findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. The poster may be produced electronically or in hard-copy format and should not exceed 600 words. Tables, graphs, image captions, references and acknowledgements, etc. are not included in the word count.
Posters are not limited to a particular paper size or number of panels. The priorities for the communication should be conciseness, clarity and legibility.
Students will use the following scientific poster format when reporting on their investigation:
The centre of the poster will occupy between 20 to 25 per cent of the poster space and will be a one-sentence summary of the major finding of the investigation that answers the investigation question. The poster should not exceed 600 words.
The presentation format of the poster will include the following sections:
| Poster section | Content | |
| Title | Question under investigation | |
| Introduction | Brief explanation or reason for undertaking the investigation, including a clear aim, a hypothesis and/or prediction and relevant background physics concepts | |
| Methodology and methods | Brief outline of the selected methodology used to address the investigation question | |
| Summary of data generation method(s) and data analysis method(s) | ||
| Results | Presentation of generated data/evidence in appropriate format to illustrate trends, patterns and/or relationships | |
| Discussion | Interpretation and evaluation of analysed primary data | |
| Identification and evaluation of limitations in data and methods, and suggested improvements | ||
| Evaluation of results in terms of relevant physics concepts | ||
| Linking of results to investigation question and to the aim to evaluate and explain whether the investigation data and findings support the hypothesis | ||
| Conclusion | Conclusion (including its limitation) that provides a response to the investigation question | |
| Identification of the extent to which the analysis has answered the investigation question, with no new information being introduced | ||
| Implications of the investigation and/or suggestions as to further investigations that may be undertaken | ||
| References and acknowledgements | Referencing and acknowledgement of all quotations and sourced content relevant to the investigation | |
Students record in their logbooks all elements of their investigation planning, comprising identification and management of relevant risks, recording of raw data, and preliminary analysis and evaluation of results, including identification of outliers and their subsequent treatment. Both the student’s poster and logbook entries are assessed as part of Unit 4, Area of Study 2.
Practical Investigations – Vicphysics Teachers’ Network Inc.
Old Study Design resources
Practical investigation instructions
The attached file includes many ideas for investigations. They are ideas which may provide you with a starting point to come up with your own investigation. you need to adjust any idea which you choose to focus on two continuous independent variables to investigate.