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Is My Math HL Exploration too physics-ish? (Click the post for more)


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My Math HL IA(Exploration) is based on time dilation and it explores how it affects human ageing. I am using physics formulae though, so can it actually count as a math exploration?

 

(I don't know, Even though I feel that physics formula are simply mathematical formulae used in real life). 

 

In the actual exploration, i will be using lots of algebra, plotting graphs, and using reasoning(based on physics, though).

 

Any help or suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks in Advance!

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Nothing to do with the exploration, but I hope you realise that we know we have to click on the post to open it, no need to write click on the post for more.

 

Anyways, you should know if you simply pick up formulas and use them, it doesn't really help. Unless of course, its like you create a model, and then figure out the variables (using your own work) and then use a formula. (At least thats what I did and I got a 6).

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

King112

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My Math HL IA(Exploration) is based on time dilation and it explores how it affects human ageing. I am using physics formulae though, so can it actually count as a math exploration?

 

(I don't know, Even though I feel that physics formula are simply mathematical formulae used in real life). 

 

In the actual exploration, i will be using lots of algebra, plotting graphs, and using reasoning(based on physics, though).

 

Any help or suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks in Advance!

 

I think you should avoid this topic. The reason is because there are 2 ways to learn about relativity: the super-easy conceptual way with little mathematics involved (which is how relativity is taught in IB physics), or the super-hard way with lots of abstract mathematics involved (which is the way it's taught in university).

The super-easy way might be too easy for a HL maths student, because "using lots of algebra, plotting graphs, and using reasoning" are certainly not enough to reach the level of HL maths. On the other hand, the super-hard way is a little too much because there are lots of abstract mathematics involved. And with a very physics-ish topic like relativity, you can easily make reasoning mistakes if you are not familiar with these abstract mathematics for a long time. So I would strongly suggest you to revise the topic.

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My Math HL IA(Exploration) is based on time dilation and it explores how it affects human ageing. I am using physics formulae though, so can it actually count as a math exploration?

 

(I don't know, Even though I feel that physics formula are simply mathematical formulae used in real life). 

 

In the actual exploration, i will be using lots of algebra, plotting graphs, and using reasoning(based on physics, though).

 

Any help or suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks in Advance!

 

I think you should avoid this topic. The reason is because there are 2 ways to learn about relativity: the super-easy conceptual way with little mathematics involved (which is how relativity is taught in IB physics), or the super-hard way with lots of abstract mathematics involved (which is the way it's taught in university).

The super-easy way might be too easy for a HL maths student, because "using lots of algebra, plotting graphs, and using reasoning" are certainly not enough to reach the level of HL maths. On the other hand, the super-hard way is a little too much because there are lots of abstract mathematics involved. And with a very physics-ish topic like relativity, you can easily make reasoning mistakes if you are not familiar with these abstract mathematics for a long time. So I would strongly suggest you to revise the topic.

 

Thanks Vioh!

 

However, I don't believe that there are 2 ways to learn about relativity. I feel that if one can understand time dilation as a whole, then they can write a good enough exploration on it. I've already included a lot of diagrams and such in my exploration that shows how scientists actually derived the formula, and I know a lot about time dilation already. 

 

However, if my teacher thinks that it is too broad of a topic, I guess I will have to change it. 

 

btw, what did you do in your physics EE? I'm doing my EE in physics as well :P

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However, I don't believe that there are 2 ways to learn about relativity. I feel that if one can understand time dilation as a whole, then they can write a good enough exploration on it. I've already included a lot of diagrams and such in my exploration that shows how scientists actually derived the formula, and I know a lot about time dilation already. 

However, if my teacher thinks that it is too broad of a topic, I guess I will have to change it. 

btw, what did you do in your physics EE? I'm doing my EE in physics as well :P

 

Understanding time dilation as a whole (including how physicists derived the formula) doesn't necessarily mean that you will write a good mathematical exploration about it. It only means that you are good at physics. I have seen several maths SL students, taking HL physics, who can also understand time dilation. Besides, using lots of diagrams doesn't mean that you have pushed your IA up to the level of HL maths. Remember that SL students can also draw and understand diagrams as well as you do.

Look, I don't want to judge your IA before I even read it. But to be honest, I cannot imagine how you can write a successful HL exploration about relativity based only on diagrams and algebras. You have to include some mathematics that are only part of HL syllabus, but not part of SL syllabus.

 

And yeah, I did my EE in physics as well. I chose to do it on magnetic damping (on the factors affecting the amount of damping). What about you? Which topic are you writing about?

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However, I don't believe that there are 2 ways to learn about relativity. I feel that if one can understand time dilation as a whole, then they can write a good enough exploration on it. I've already included a lot of diagrams and such in my exploration that shows how scientists actually derived the formula, and I know a lot about time dilation already. 

However, if my teacher thinks that it is too broad of a topic, I guess I will have to change it. 

btw, what did you do in your physics EE? I'm doing my EE in physics as well :P

 

Understanding time dilation as a whole (including how physicists derived the formula) doesn't necessarily mean that you will write a good mathematical exploration about it. It only means that you are good at physics. I have seen several maths SL students, taking HL physics, who can also understand time dilation. Besides, using lots of diagrams doesn't mean that you have pushed your IA up to the level of HL maths. Remember that SL students can also draw and understand diagrams as well as you do.

Look, I don't want to judge your IA before I even read it. But to be honest, I cannot imagine how you can write a successful HL exploration about relativity based only on diagrams and algebras. You have to include some mathematics that are only part of HL syllabus, but not part of SL syllabus.

 

And yeah, I did my EE in physics as well. I chose to do it on magnetic damping (on the factors affecting the amount of damping). What about you? Which topic are you writing about?

 

Ah I get it.. I'm trying to find ways in which I can include math that is only in HL but not in SL. I will talk with my math teacher about this, and hopefully set it right before the due date. 

 

And yeah, my EE is on physics, and how the wing size of a glider affect its overall range, flight path/trajectory, and time in air, and what one can do to increase the performance of the glider. 

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