Physics
IA3
Student name
Student number
Teacher
Marking summary
Criterion Marks allocated Provisional marks
Research and planning 6
Analysis and interpretation 6
Conclusion and evaluation 6
Communication 2
Overall
20
Conditions
Technique Research investigation
Unit Unit 4: Revolutions in modern physics
Topic/s Topic 1: Special relativity Topic 2: Quantum theory Topic 3: The Standard Model
Duration 10 hours of class time
Mode / length Written (e.g.scientific essay): 1500-2000 words
Individual / group Individual
Resources Internet (Google Scholar, State Library, journals)
Context
Investigate one of the following claims:
• If we didn’t account for relativity in GPS navigation then it would be useless.
• Travelling faster than the speed of light allows people to travel into the future.
• The next generation of space travel will involve craft powered by photons of energy rather than traditional fuel sources.
• Particle accelerators play a vital role in modern healthcare.
You may identify an alternative claim in consultation with your teacher. This claim must be related to Unit 4 subject matter.
Task
This task requires you to evaluate a claim. You will do this by researching, analysing and interpreting secondary evidence from scientific texts to form the basis for a justified conclusion about the claim.
Gather secondary evidence related to a research question in order to evaluate the claim. Develop your research question based on a number of possible claims provided by your teacher. Obtain evidence by researching scientifically credible sources, such as scientific journals, books by well-credentialed scientists, and websites of governments, universities, independent research bodies or science and technology manufacturers. You must adhere to research conventions.
To complete this task, you must:
• select a claim to be evaluated
• identify the relevant scientific concepts associated with the claim
• pose a research question addressing an aspect of the claim
• conduct research to gather scientific evidence that may be used to address the research question and subsequently evaluate the claim
• analyse the data to identify sufficient and relevant evidence
• identify the trends, patterns or relationships in the evidence
• analyse the evidence to identify limitations
• interpret the evidence to construct justified scientific arguments
• interpret the evidence to form a justified conclusion to the research question
• discuss the quality of the evidence
• evaluate the claim by extrapolating the findings of the research question to the claim
• suggest improvements and extensions to the investigation
• communicate findings in an appropriate scientific genre, i.e. empirical essay.
Checkpoints
Authentication strategies
• You will be provided class time for task completion.
• Your teacher will observe you completing work in class.
• Your teacher will collect and annotate a draft.
• You must acknowledge all sources.
• Your teacher will ensure class cross-marking occurs.
• You will use Safe Assign to submit your response.
Scaffolding
The response must be presented using an appropriate scientific genre (i.e. empirical essay) and contain:
• a claim
• a research question
• a rationale for the investigation
• justified scientific arguments using evidence
• a conclusion to the research question based on the interpretation of the evidence
• evaluation of the claim and suggestions of improvements and extensions to the investigation
• a reference list.
Instrument-specific marking guide (IA3): Research investigation (20%)
Criterion: Research and planning
Assessment objectives
2. apply understanding of special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model to develop research questions
5. investigate phenomena associated with special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model through research
The student work has the following characteristics:
• informed application of understanding of special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by a considered rationale identifying clear development of the research question from the claim
• effective and efficient investigation of phenomena associated with special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– a specific and relevant research question
– selection of sufficient and relevant sources.
• adequate application of understanding of special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by a reasonable rationale that links the research question and the claim
• effective investigation of phenomena associated with special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– a relevant research question
– selection of relevant sources.
• rudimentary application of understanding of special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by a vague or irrelevant rationale for the investigation
• ineffective investigation of phenomena associated with special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– an inappropriate research question
– selection of insufficient and irrelevant sources.
• does not satisfy any of the descriptors above.
Criterion: Analysis and interpretation
Assessment objectives
3. analyse research evidence about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model
4. interpret research evidence about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model
The student work has the following characteristics:
• systematic and effective analysis of qualitative data and/or quantitative data within the sources about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– the identification of sufficient and relevant evidence
– thorough identification of relevant trends , patterns or relationships
– thorough and appropriate identification of limitations of evidence
• insightful interpretation of research evidence about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by justified scientific argument Is.
• effective analysis of qualitative data and/or quantitative data within the sources about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– the identification of relevant evidence
– identification of obvious trends, patterns or relationships
– basic identification of limitations of evidence
• adequate interpretation of research evidence about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by reasonable scientific argument Is.
• rudimentary analysis of qualitative data and/or quantitative data within the sources about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– the identification of insufficient and irrelevant evidence
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6. evaluate research processes, claims and conclusions about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model
The student work has the following characteristics:
• insightful interpretation of research evidence about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by justified conclusion Is linked to the research question
• critical evaluation of the research processes , claims and conclusions about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– insightful discussion of the quality of evidence
– extrapolation of credible findings of the research to the claim
– suggested improvements and extensions to the investigation that are considered and relevant to the claim.
• adequate interpretation of research evidence about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by reasonable conclusion Is relevant to the research question
• basic evaluation of the research processes , claims and conclusions about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– reasonable description of the quality of evidence
– application of relevant findings of the research to the claim
– suggested improvements and extensions to the investigation that are relevant to the claim.
• invalid interpretation of research evidence about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by inappropriate or irrelevant conclusion Is
• superficial evaluation of the research processes , claims and conclusions about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– cursory or simplistic statements about the quality of evidence
– application of insufficient or inappropriate findings of the research to the claim
– ineffective or irrelevant suggestions.
• does not satisfy any of the descriptors above.
Criterion: Communication
Assessment objectives
7. communicate understandings and research findings , arguments and conclusions about special relativity, quantum t Standard Model.
The student work has the following characteristics:
• effective communication of understandings and research findings, arguments and conclusions about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– fluent and concise use of scientific language and representations
– appropriate use of genre conventions
– acknowledgment of sources of information through appropriate use of referencing conventions.
• adequate communication of understandings and research findings, arguments and conclusions about special relativity, quantum theory or the Standard Model demonstrated by
– competent use of scientific language and representations
– use of basic genre conventions
– use of basic referencing conventions.
• does not satisfy any of the descriptors above.
