TL;DR

This list brings together 25 physics research ideas across computational physics, astrophysics, mathematical physics, nuclear science, biophysics, electrical and mechanical systems, quantum physics, and renewable energy. The ideas range from working with open datasets and computational tools to studying theoretical questions about particles, black holes, and cosmology. If you want to turn one of these ideas into an independent research project with 1:1 PhD mentorship, you can explore the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.

For high school students interested in physics, research is a chance to look at questions that may not come up in a normal classroom. You can also combine physics with mathematics, computer science, biology, engineering, or environmental science, depending on what interests you. The projects below vary in difficulty and in what you need to complete them. Some can be done with online datasets and computational tools, while others may require lab equipment or more advanced skills.

For an introduction to what research involves, read Research 101: What Does Research Even Mean?

What kinds of questions can you investigate in physics research?

Physics research can involve much more than building an experiment or working in a laboratory. You could analyze existing datasets, develop computational models, work through mathematical equations, study physical systems, or examine open questions in areas such as cosmology and quantum physics.

The right approach depends on the question you want to investigate. Some projects in this list are strongly mathematical or computational, while others connect physics with biology, engineering, medicine, or climate science.

How can you approach physics using code, data, or mathematical models?

Computational tools and mathematical methods are useful across many areas of physics. You can work with existing datasets, use Python or C++, explore numerical solutions, or investigate how mathematical equations describe physical systems.

Where does physics meet biology, computing, and engineering?

Physics overlaps with many other fields. Biophysics uses physical principles to study biological systems, computational physics uses code and data to investigate physical questions, and engineering applies physical principles to materials, electrical systems, and mechanical processes.

This interdisciplinary approach can give you more options when choosing a research question. For example, you could study brain signals using electricity and magnetism, model biological systems using data science, or investigate the electrical and mechanical properties of physical systems.

What can you research in physics without a traditional laboratory experiment?

Some of the ideas in this list focus on fundamental questions about how the universe works. These include dark matter and dark energy, galaxy evolution, black holes, quantum computing, particle physics, and the mathematical structure of spacetime.

Other ideas focus on practical problems, including radiation measurement, hydrogen fuel, product emissions, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion. Together, these topics show the range of questions you can explore through physics research.

If you are interested in what the research process looks like from choosing a question to developing a paper, you can also read our guide to how to publish a research paper in high school.

Physics research ideas for high school students

The ideas below are grouped into eight areas. Some are computational or theoretical, while others may require specialized equipment, datasets, or more advanced technical knowledge.

1. Using computational technologies and analyses

If you are interested in coding or technology, computational physics gives you ways to study physical systems using programs, datasets, and existing computational tools.

1. Develop computer programs to find and track the positions of fast-moving nanoparticles and nanomachines.

2. Examine the features and limitations of augmented and virtual reality technologies, current industry performance standards, and proposed solutions to existing challenges.

3. Use MATLAB or Python with existing code bases to design structures that trap light for interaction with qubits.

4. Conduct computational analysis of ATLAS open data using Python or C++.

Ideas contributed by Lumiere PhD mentors at the University of Cambridge, University of Rochester, and Harvard University.

2. Exploring astrophysical and cosmological phenomena

Astrophysics and cosmology offer research questions about the origins, structure, and evolution of the universe. You can investigate proposed explanations for major cosmological questions or examine the physical processes behind astronomical systems.

5. Examine cosmological mysteries such as dark energy, inflation, and dark matter and their hypothesized explanations.

6. Study possible future locations for detectors used in cosmology and astrophysics research.

7. Investigate the physical processes that shape galaxies through cosmic time and current questions in galaxy evolution.

8. Explore how beyond-standard-model particles could interact with astrophysical structures such as black holes and Bose stars.

Ideas contributed by Lumiere PhD mentors at Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of California, Irvine.

3. Applying mathematics to physical phenomena

Mathematics provides the framework for describing many physical systems. These projects involve using equations, approximations, geometry, and fundamental physical laws to investigate theoretical questions.

9. Explore analytical approximations and numerical solutions for equations that determine the evolution of different particles after the Big Bang.

10. Derive the dynamics of particles from fundamental laws such as special relativity, general relativity, and quantum mechanics.

11. Study the basics of Riemannian geometry and how simple geometrical arguments can be used to construct components of Einstein's equations relating spacetime curvature to energy and mass.

Ideas contributed by Lumiere PhD mentors at Harvard University, the University of Southampton, and Pennsylvania State University.

4. Investigating nuclear applications

Nuclear physics can be studied through questions involving radiation, measurement, energy, and nuclear technologies.

12. Study radiation or radiation measurement in nuclear physics applications such as reactors, nuclear batteries, sensors, and detectors.

Idea contributed by a Lumiere PhD mentor at the University of Chicago.

5. Using physics to analyze biological systems

Biophysics applies physical principles and quantitative methods to biological systems. These topics can connect physics with biology, medicine, imaging, and data science.

13. Simulate biological systems using data science techniques to analyze biological datasets.

14. Study the design and construction of DNA nanomachines that operate in liquid environments.

15. Represent and decompose MEG or EEG brain signals using fundamental concepts from electricity and magnetism.

16. Investigate methods for producing better biological images and obtaining higher-resolution images of biological samples.

Ideas contributed by Lumiere PhD mentors at the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the University of Washington, and the University of Rochester.

6. Studying electrical and mechanical properties

Physics also connects closely with engineering. These ideas examine how physical systems respond to electrical, mechanical, and thermodynamic forces.

17. Simulate how cells respond to electrical and mechanical stimuli.

18. Investigate magnetohydrodynamic drive systems for fluids with high electrical permittivity.

19. Study the electrical and thermodynamic properties of boson particles and their connection to laser radiation.

Ideas contributed by Lumiere PhD mentors at Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, and Harvard University.

7. Exploring quantum properties and theories

Quantum physics focuses on physical systems at fundamental scales and includes some of the most active areas of theoretical and experimental research.

20. Examine recent theoretical and experimental advances in quantum computing and explore current research directions from a hardware or theoretical perspective.

21. Investigate the proposed concept of a toponium composite particle and how detector data from proton collisions could be used in particle-physics research.

22. Study black holes and their quantum properties using the geometry of spacetime, including how these ideas relate to the singularity problem.

Ideas contributed by Lumiere PhD mentors at Stanford University, Purdue University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

8. Connecting physics with renewable energy and climate change

Physics can also be used to examine energy systems and environmental challenges. These topics include alternative fuels, emissions, and nuclear energy.

23. Investigate new materials for the production of hydrogen fuel.

24. Analyze emissions involved in the production, use, and disposal of products.

25. Study nuclear fission or nuclear fusion energy as possible approaches to mitigating climate change.

Ideas contributed by Lumiere PhD mentors at Northwestern University and Princeton University.

You can also explore our broader collection of science research ideas for high school students if you want to compare physics with other areas of science. 

Physics research areas, methods, and possible outputs

One other option: the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you want to take one of these physics topics further, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives high school students the opportunity to develop an independent research project with 1:1 PhD mentorship. You can start with a broad physics interest and work with a mentor to develop it into a focused research question and complete project. You can find the application form here.

Questions high schoolers ask about physics research

1. Can I do physics research using data that has already been collected?

Yes. Several ideas in this list involve existing datasets, including ATLAS data and biological datasets. Working with existing data can give you a way to investigate a physics question without needing to collect every measurement yourself.

2. How much coding might I need for a physics research project?

It depends on the topic you choose. Some ideas involve Python, C++, MATLAB, or computational modeling, while others focus more heavily on mathematical analysis, theoretical physics, or physical systems.

3. Can a physics research project be mainly theoretical instead of experimental?

Yes. Several ideas in this list focus on mathematical derivations, theoretical models, cosmology, general relativity, quantum physics, and other questions that can be investigated without designing a traditional laboratory experiment.

4. What kind of guidance can I get when developing a physics research project?

A mentor can help you turn a broad physics interest into a focused question, choose an appropriate research approach, and work through the project systematically. If you want 1:1 guidance from a PhD-level researcher while developing an independent project, you can explore the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.