When I first began my IB Physics Extended Essay, I thought the hardest part would be understanding the physics. I investigated whether a simplified Jensen Wake Superposition Model could accurately predict power deficits in multi row wind farms. The project included wind turbine wakes, velocity deficits, power calculations, and comparisons with data from the Horns Rev I offshore wind farm in Denmark. However, with me, the hardest problem I ran into was learning how to conduct scientific research and not the actual physics behind it!
Starting with a Simple Question
Students believe an Extended Essay must begin with a groundbreaking idea. But actually, most successful research often starts with a simple question. I was interested in renewable energy and wind turbines. While reading about wind farms, I discovered that turbines reduce wind speeds behind them, creating what are known as wakes. These wakes can lower the energy production of downstream turbines.
That observation led to a question:
"To what extent can a simplified Jensen wake superposition model predict the power deficit experienced by downstream wind turbines in multi-row wind farm layouts?"
I chose this question with the help of my Extended Essay supervisor that was focused, measurable, and allowed me to apply physics to an engineering problem.
The Importance of Research Notes
One of the most valuable habits I developed was taking detailed notes while researching. I first thought I would read journal articles and assumed I would remember the important information later. I quickly discovered that after reading several papers, it became difficult to recall where specific ideas, equations, and data originated. So I created organized notes to solve this problem.
For every source, I recorded:
Key concepts
Important equations
Useful figures and data
Citation information
Questions that arose while reading
And these notes later became the foundation for my background theory and evaluation sections.
Without them, writing the essay would have taken much longer.
Breaking the Essay into Sections
Looking at a 4,000 word essay can feel intimidating. Instead of thinking about the entire document, I divided it into smaller sections just to help myself.
My EE was structured into:
Introduction
Background Theory
Methodolog
Results
Analysis
Evaluation
Conclusion
By focusing on one section at a time the process becomes way more manageable.
For example, while writing the background theory, I concentrated only on making the examiner understand what I was talking about. When writing the evaluation, I focused solely on the limitations of the model and the analysis. This really prevented the project from feeling overwhelming and allowed me to make steady progresss
Learning That Models Are Never Perfect
One of the most interesting discoveries came when comparing my model's predictions to actual wind turbine data from the wind farm Horns Rev I. My calculations successfully predicted the trend of turbines further downstream producing less power because they experienced more wake interactions. However, my model overestimated wake losses by roughly 20%. I thought this meant something was wrong with my calculations. But after further research, I realized the value was actually one of the most important findings of the entire investigation.The simplified model assumed a lot of things which did not hold true in real life, as real wind farms are much more complex. So, I learned that understanding the limitations of a model is often just as important as obtaining accurate predictions.
Avoiding Repetition
Another lesson I learned was the importance of avoiding repetition because in scientific writing, every section should serve a unique purpose. Whenever I found myself repeating the same explanation in multiple sections, I either removed it or expanded it with new insights. This made the essay clearer and more concise.
Why Evaluation Matters
Before beginning the EE, I assumed the results section would be the most important part. But I quickly found that evaluation was where much of the critical thinking occurred. The strongest part of my essay was the discussion of why the model differed from reality. This transformed my project into a genuine scientific investigation.
Advice for Future EE Students
If I could give one piece of advice to future Extended Essay students, it would be this:
Don’t wait until the end to start writing. Take notes from the beginning. Try to organize your research, divide the essay into sections and write small portions regularly rather than attempting everything at once.
But most importantly, do not worry if your results are imperfect.
In science, understanding why a model succeeds or fails is often usually more valuable than obtaining a perfect answer. My investigation showed that a simplified wake model could predict general trends in wind farm power deficits while still overestimating actual losses. That limitation became one of the most important conclusions of the essay.
The Extended Essay is an opportunity to think like a scientist by evaluating evidence critically, and learning how real research is conducted. These are skills that can be carried into any area of life!
Good luck with your EE!