Help with IB Physics IA

[Olivia F]

Hi there. I am a senior and our class this year is starting with the IA. I currently want to pursue a career as a neurosurgeon, so I was hoping that I could find some way to do my IA on something like the electromagnetic waves in the brain or maybe how those waves could be interfered with. Unfortunately, the brain is something that is rather difficult to get ahold of and measure, so I am at a bit of a loss. I know that we can use previously collected data, but I am also finding that to be a relatively difficult thing to find. Please let me know if you have any ideas! Thank you for your time. 

[HappyIB:)]

You could look at the interference between two wires and how coaxial cables exist as a result. I would do something simpler though. Look into experiments like Roger's paper tray or measuring the speed of water waves.

[Martijn.S]

That sounds like a very interesting topic, but it almost sounds like something you could do for an extended essay. 

If you want to do something with neurones, it's going to be hard obtaining quantitative results. You could maybe do something about measuring different potentials in neurones, but that would require a living organism, which would be considered unethical and possibly inacceptable.

As @HappyIB:) said, it might be better do something simpler than this, at least for your IA.

I'm sure there are plenty of topics where you can still study electromagnetism and possible interferences.

Good luck.

[ibhelpertutors]

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On 8/25/2017 at 6:30 AM, Olivia F said:

Hi there. I am a senior and our class this year is starting with the IA. I currently want to pursue a career as a neurosurgeon, so I was hoping that I could find some way to do my IA on something like the electromagnetic waves in the brain or maybe how those waves could be interfered with. Unfortunately, the brain is something that is rather difficult to get ahold of and measure, so I am at a bit of a loss. I know that we can use previously collected data, but I am also finding that to be a relatively difficult thing to find. Please let me know if you have any ideas! Thank you for your time. 

hi, maybe you can try keeping two electrodes at different potentials and subject them in saline solutions. remember, the saline concentration has direct effect on the electrical conductivity. that way you would get the signal you need and the quantitative rigor required in Physics IA. 

remember to discuss with your teacher the idea before actually gathering data.