PHYSICS CAPSTONE
PROJECT GUIDE
PROJECT OVERVIEW
As a demonstration of your understanding of the principles studied in this course, you are required to submit
a project that will demonstrate non-trivial application of Physics principles appropriate for an engineering-level
course. Projects must involve quantitative analysis, not purely qualitative demonstrations. This serves as a
capstone and the final requirement for course completion. This project is divided in three components:
1. A paper, which contains the theoretical background of your project and other details (refer to the
components section of this guide)
2. A working, actual model
3. An oral presentation
This project will be done by group, each consisting of a minimum of 6 members and a maximum of 7
members. Further explanation of the components and the rubric are provided in the following pages.
To ensure that presentations remain engaging and diverse, each group will focus on a unique Physics principle
for their project. This means that no two groups should submit or present the same topic or concept.
All project ideas must be consulted and discussed first with your instructor for permission. Before submission,
all students are required to present their project to a panel of faculty members.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By completing this project, students should be able to:
• Apply fundamental principles of Physics to real-world systems
• Design and analyze experimental setups or theoretical models
• Interpret and evaluate data using appropriate mathematical tools
• Communicate scientific findings effectively (written and oral)
• Demonstrate teamwork and project management skills
PERIODS
The project is divided in three periods:
1. Consultation – the period when the students will be consulting for the validity of their chosen project. The
proposed project will be judged based on its feasibility, complexity, its working principle, cost, and
correlation with Physics. This will be evaluated by the instructor. Should he/she deem the proposed project
to be not conforming with the said criteria, the students will have to propose another topic.
2. Preparation and Development – the period from the approval of the chosen topic, the creation of prototypes
and the final model, up to the completion of the project.
3. Presentation – final presentation and demonstration of the completed project, together with the grading
and evaluation of the panel members.
THE PROTOTYPE
The project must have actual physical model – prototype, which will demonstrate the principle the students want
to explore. This may also be an experiment, which uses laboratory tools and apparatus to quantify and prove
through the originally-designed experiment a certain principle in Physics. The project must include measured
data, error analysis, graphs, and comparison with theory.
THE "ENGINEERING FIRM" STRUCTURE
To simulate professional practice, each group will operate as a specialized engineering firm. Your group has been
assigned one of the following Founding Identities, which should guide the "spirit" of your project:
Engineering Firm Primary Syllabus Alignment Project Examples
Hydraulic lifts, bridge trusses
Team Archimedes Statics, Strength of Materials, Fluid Statics,
(stress/strain), or buoyancy
(Structural & Fluids) Pascal’s Law.
testers.
Centripetal force models,
Team Newton (Applied Newton's Laws (Dynamics), Momentum,
collision carts, or flywheel energy
Mechanics) Circular Motion, Rotation of Rigid Bodies.
storage.
Motion (2D/3D), Projectile Motion, Fluid Water rockets (projectile +
Team Bernoulli (Flow &
Dynamics, Bernoulli’s/Torricelli’s fluids), pitot tube models, or
Kinematics)
Equations. siphoning systems.
Sterling engines, solar water
Team Joule (Energy & Work, Energy, Power, Thermodynamics
heaters, or calorimetry
Thermodynamics) (1st & 2nd Laws), Heat Transfer.
experiments.
DC motor prototypes, capacitor-
Team Tesla Basic Electricity, DC Circuits, Capacitance,
powered vehicles, or circuit-based
(Electrodynamics) Electric Fields, Power.
sensors.
DEPARTMENTAL ROLES
Each member is responsible for a specific "Department." List these roles on the page after the cover page.
• Chief Engineer (Lead Designer): Responsible for the overall blueprint and ensuring the prototype
functions according to the physics principles.
• Theoretical Lead (The Physicist): Owns the mathematical rigor. Responsible for all calculus-based
derivations (e.g., work-energy integrals, flux calculations, or kinematic differential equations).
• Fabrication Specialist (The Maker): Leads the physical assembly and structural integrity of the model.
• Operations & Procurement Manager: Manages the budget, material sourcing, and project timeline.
• Communications & Visual Director: Leads the oral presentation design and ensures technical information
is conveyed clearly to the panel.
• QA & Documentation Specialist: Records the build process and performs reliability testing. Leads the
writing of the Technical Paper.
PROJECT COMPONENTS
Your project will be graded based on three components, each having their respective weights. Final grade will
be computed in reference to Peer Evaluation. Refer to the rubrics for the grading system.
I. Technical Paper
This is a detailed write up of your project, explaining the principle/s, working, applications, experimentation
data, and other details you may deem important and must be included in your paper. Your paper must contain the
following sections:
a. Introduction – contains a background of the proposed project, its significance, working principle, or
any related literature and past studies on the proposed project.
b. Theories, Laws, and Concepts Background – explains in detail the working principle that the model
utilizes.
c. Equipment – contains a list of the equipment/material used for the project.
d. Methodology/Procedures – contains a list of the steps taken on making the project, with photos that
serve as documentation of the process.
e. Data and Observation – description of the output and the working performance of the actual model,
usually with data obtained from experiments
f. Conclusion – summary of the project; its working principle, real-world observation of your final
project, insights from the results you obtained, and recommendations for applications and
improvements.
g. Error Analysis – include sources of error, percent error/uncertainty, discussion of discrepancies
between theory and experiment.
h. References/Works Cited – citation of the materials and works involved in the creation of your project.
You may include other sections (Acknowledgement, Index, Table of Values, Definitions, etc.) you want
to add or think are necessary for additional information.
Your output paper must satisfy the following:
1. Your paper must be in Letter (short bond paper) size.
2. Includes a cover page (the cover page format is provided in the last page of this document).
3. Font is Times New Roman, font size 12, double spacing, 1-inch margins from all sides
4. Submit in a short clear sliding folder (a folder with clear, plastic front cover, and hard, paper back cover).
The back cover must be white in color.
You are free to modify the sections of your paper as you see fit and appropriate with your project, in ways
you think may convey the information from your paper more effectively.
II. Physical Model
This is the physical model of your project. This will be graded according to its intended functionality as
described on your paper, its effectiveness in demonstrating the working principle it is based on, and the overall
presentation and aesthetics of the model. The panel will grade your output according to these criteria, and the
average of their ratings will serve as the total grade for this component. If the model fails during presentation,
you may present prior documented functionality (videos or logs).
Scientific experiments may also be considered, as long as the experiment being proposed is feasible,
demonstrable, and repeatable with the students’ or the university’s equipment.
III. Panel Defense
A presentation will be conducted with a panel of three members. The presentation will be graded based on
the following criteria:
a. Technical Mastery – each member’s mastery of the principle utilized in their project and their actual
model’s operation, demonstrated by the clarity in explaining the underlying physics.
b. Q & A Performance – ability to answer panel questions with confidence and logic, which will be
demonstrated on how the speakers present and how the speakers answer the panel’s questions and
inquiries.
c. Visual Presentation – overall presentation visuals and quality of slides, posters, or supporting media. You
may use any software programs to present your work, e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, Prezi, Google Slides,
etc. You may also create your own video/animations/illustrations to further convey your points clearly
and effectively.
Together, the three components comprise the base grade the students will receive for this project. Final grade will
be referenced to Peer Evaluation. Refer to the rubric on the next page for a detailed breakdown of the grading
system.
BASE GRADE RUBRIC
Category Criterion Weight Key Indicator
I. Technical Paper Accuracy of derivations and calculus-based
(40%) Physics & Math Rigor 40% analysis.
Correlation &
Significance 30% How well the theory matches the project results.
Content & Delivery 20% Information density and effectiveness.
Format & Mechanics 10% Grammar, citations, and layout.
II. Physical Model Does the model clearly show the intended
(30%) Physics Demonstration 40% principle?
Functionality & Does it work reliably and stay together under
Robustness 30% test?
Creativity & Innovation 30% Originality in design or use of materials.
III. Panel Defense
(30%) Technical Mastery 40% Clarity in explaining the underlying physics.
Ability to answer panel questions with
Q&A Performance 40% confidence and logic.
Visual Presentation 20% Quality of slides, posters, or supporting media.
FINAL GRADE – PEER EVALUATION & INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
1. Purpose
The Peer Evaluation ensures that students who go above and beyond are rewarded, while those who do not fulfill
their "Departmental Roles" receive a grade that reflects their actual level of effort.
2. Evaluation Criteria
Each member will be rated by their 5 teammates on a scale of 1 to 4 across four key areas:
• Reliability: Attendance at meetings, responsiveness to messages, and meeting internal deadlines.
• Technical Contribution: Quality of work provided for the physical build, the calculus-based derivations,
or the technical paper.
• Communication & Collaboration: Professionalism, willingness to share ideas, and ability to work within
a team dynamic.
• Problem Solving & Initiative: Proactive approach to overcoming project hurdles without constant
supervision.
3. The Scoring Rubric
• 4 (Exemplary): Leader/Driver; high-quality output; consistently exceeded expectations.
• 3 (Proficient): Reliable contributor; completed all assigned tasks with minimal supervision.
• 2 (Developing): Inconsistent; required reminders to finish tasks; work often needed revision.
• 1 (Unsatisfactory): Minimal to no contribution; hindered the group’s progress.
4. Normalization: The Individual Weighting Factor (IWF)
To prevent "grade inflation, we use the IWF calculation. Your grade is based on how your performance compares
to the Group Average.
𝑆𝑖
𝐼𝑊𝐹 =
𝑆𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝
Where:
𝑆𝑖 = The average score received by Student 𝑖 from their peers.
𝑆𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝 = The average of all scores received by all members in that specific group.
Note: The upper cap will be 𝐼𝑊𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.10, and the floor will be 𝐼𝑊𝐹𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0.5.
5. Fairness Safeguards
• Confidentiality: All evaluations are submitted directly to the instructor. Teammates will not see each
other's ratings.
• Outlier Removal: In cases where one student gives a wildly different score than the other four (e.g., a "1"
when everyone else gave a "4"), the instructor reserves the right to discard the outlier as a "personal
conflict" bias.
• The "Early Warning" Rule: If a member is consistently failing to contribute, the group must notify the
instructor during the Preparation Period. Issues raised for the first time on the day of presentation may
be subject to closer scrutiny.
6. Instructor’s Override Rule
The instructor reserves the right to adjust IWF values in cases of documented personal conflict or clear statistical
outliers.
7. Final Grade
The final grade of each student will be calculated as
𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 = 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 × 𝑰𝑾𝑭
SUBMISSION
This project must be submitted as a requirement for the completion of this course. Submission is before the end
of the second semester, AY 2025-2026. Exact date for the presentation will be announced. Non-completion of
this project entails a grade of INC for this course.
For further questions and clarifications, contact your instructor.
Prepared by:
Engr. ALWYN JOHN U. BATU
Lecturer, Physics for Engineers with Lab (Calculus-Based)
Department of Electrical Engineering, CEIT
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela
PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG VALENZUELA
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
(PROJECT TITLE)
A CAPSTONE PROJECT IN
ES 2 – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS WITH LAB
(CALCULUS-BASED)
(COMPLETE NAME OF MEMBERS)
(COURSE, YEAR, AND SECTION)
(LECTURER)
(DATE OF SUBMISSION)