Maths EPQ ideas: maths in physics and engineering
Mechanics beyond A Level: drag, orbits, rockets, structures and signals, often with an experiment or data set to test the model.
Tip. State every modelling assumption and test at least one of them.
9 ideas
- Hanging chains and bridgesWhy is a hanging chain not a parabola, and does the difference matter in bridge and arch design?
- Kepler's third law from NewtonHow can Kepler's third law be derived from Newton's laws, and how well does it fit the planets and moons?
- When the small-angle approximation failsHow large can a pendulum's swing be before the small-angle approximation fails?
- Why rockets have stagesWhy do rockets need several stages? What the rocket equation shows
- Moments in a shelf or simple bridgeHow does the position of a load change the forces on the supports of a shelf or simple bridge, and can a model predict failure?
- Modelling a skydiverHow does a skydiver reach terminal velocity, and how well does a quadratic drag model fit real jumps?
- How satellites locate your phoneHow does a phone use satellite signals to work out where it is, and what limits the accuracy?
- Exponential charging in circuitsHow closely does a charging capacitor follow the exponential model, and why does it matter in circuit design?
- The limit on wind turbine powerHow much power can a wind turbine extract from the wind, and why is there an upper limit?
Frequently asked questions
Is maths in physics and engineering a good area for a maths EPQ?
It can be, if you narrow it to one question you can answer with mathematics you understand and evidence you can find. State every modelling assumption and test at least one of them.
Can I use one of these titles as it is?
Use it as a starting point. Change the case, the data or the comparison until the title is your own, and agree it with your supervisor before you start.
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