The best IB Physics IA topic is rarely the “most impressive” — it is the one you can measure cleanly with documented uncertainty and repeatable trials.
1. The 20-minute feasibility filter
Ask: What exactly is my independent variable? What will I measure? What equipment do I already have access to? If any answer is vague, the topic is not shortlisted yet.
2. Avoid “beautiful physics, noisy data”
Topics with tiny effects (e.g. very small energy changes) often produce scatter that is hard to defend. Prefer relationships where a line graph naturally emerges and residuals tell a story.
3. Literature in one evening, not one month
Find two credible sources that define the model you will test. Your write-up should show you understood limitations — not that you read half the internet.
4. Ethics and safety early
If pressure, temperature, lasers, or motion sensors near people are involved, note risk controls before you collect data. Your supervisor will thank you.
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