- #1
quozzy
- 15
- 0
Hi there,
I'm sorry if this sounds incredibly vague, but I'm having difficulties narrowing down the research question for my Physics EE.
I'm sure of the field I want to do it in: acoustics. The problem with most experiments involving applied acoustics (ideal room sound, etc.) is that, unless you have extremely expensive measuring equipment (which I don't; though I do have a collection of fairly "alright" condenser microphones), the results you end up with are pretty much unusable.
I was toying with the idea of doing something in psychoacoustics at first, but I found those topics to be incredibly complicated, subjective and more often than not ranging too far into other subject areas (anatomy, computer science, psychology). An example of this would be attempting to quantify intelligibility (of PA systems, etc.) using an algorithm. Much too complicated, not physics-y enough.
Extended Essay examiners tend to be partial towards original, even obscure topics. I came across an experiment in an acoustics textbook that would fit these criteria perfectly: an upside-down parabolic reflector with an ultrasonic whistle at its focal point is used together with a reflecting glass plate to create standing waves with enough intensity to levitate small pieces of cork! This is the sort of thing I'm looking for. The obvious problem with this particular one is that (while incredibly cool) it doesn't really have any sort of research question associated with it.
So there you have it. I'm in a bit of a rut, as you can see. Sorry for the long-winded post, but I'm slowly getting desperate. Any realistic ideas or pointers in the right direction would be incredibly appreciated.
Thanks,
-quozzy
I'm sorry if this sounds incredibly vague, but I'm having difficulties narrowing down the research question for my Physics EE.
I'm sure of the field I want to do it in: acoustics. The problem with most experiments involving applied acoustics (ideal room sound, etc.) is that, unless you have extremely expensive measuring equipment (which I don't; though I do have a collection of fairly "alright" condenser microphones), the results you end up with are pretty much unusable.
I was toying with the idea of doing something in psychoacoustics at first, but I found those topics to be incredibly complicated, subjective and more often than not ranging too far into other subject areas (anatomy, computer science, psychology). An example of this would be attempting to quantify intelligibility (of PA systems, etc.) using an algorithm. Much too complicated, not physics-y enough.
Extended Essay examiners tend to be partial towards original, even obscure topics. I came across an experiment in an acoustics textbook that would fit these criteria perfectly: an upside-down parabolic reflector with an ultrasonic whistle at its focal point is used together with a reflecting glass plate to create standing waves with enough intensity to levitate small pieces of cork! This is the sort of thing I'm looking for. The obvious problem with this particular one is that (while incredibly cool) it doesn't really have any sort of research question associated with it.
So there you have it. I'm in a bit of a rut, as you can see. Sorry for the long-winded post, but I'm slowly getting desperate. Any realistic ideas or pointers in the right direction would be incredibly appreciated.
Thanks,
-quozzy