📌 Overview

The IA Physics Mentor is a conversational AI built around the teaching style of Dr. Rathankar Rao — calm, methodical, and precise. It is designed for IB Physics students who are about to begin their Internal Assessment and don't know where to start.

Instead of handing you a topic, it asks you questions. One at a time. It listens to your interests, challenges vague ideas, and gradually narrows your thinking — from a broad area of physics all the way down to a specific, measurable research question that satisfies IB IA criteria.

By the end of a session, you will have a research question in proper IB format and a short set of notes on how your question maps to the IA assessment criteria (Personal Engagement, Exploration, Analysis, Evaluation).

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Focused questioning

One question per turn — forces you to think, not copy.

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Physics-specific

Covers mechanics, optics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism and more.

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IB-formatted output

Final research question in standard IB format with criterion notes.

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Voice-enabled

Speak your responses — Dr. Rao reads his replies aloud.

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Auto model fallback

Tries the best Gemini model your key supports, falls back automatically.

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Your key, your data

API calls go directly from your browser to Google. Nothing is stored.

⚙️ How it works

The mentor uses your Google Gemini API key — stored only in your browser — to power the conversation. It runs a structured three-phase dialogue: an opening that discovers your interest, a guided narrowing phase of up to 20 turns, and a closing phase that produces your final research question.

The AI never invents a topic for you. If your answer is vague, it redirects. If you go off-track, it brings you back to physics. Every response is under 80 words — this is deliberate. The mentor talks less so you think more.

Your Gemini API key is saved in your browser for the session. It is never sent to any IBHighway server.

👣 Step-by-step

1

Enter your Gemini API key

Paste your Google Gemini API key. The tool auto-detects the best model your key supports and shows you a green tick when ready. If you've used any IBHighway Tier 2 tool before, your key is pre-filled.

2

Pick a model (optional)

You'll see chips showing which models work with your key — 2.5 Pro, 2.5 Flash, 2.0 Flash, and so on. The tool picks the best one automatically, but you can select a specific one if you prefer.

3

Start the conversation

Click "Begin Session". Dr. Rao greets you and asks which area of physics you find most interesting. Just answer honestly — even "I'm not sure" is fine.

4

Keep narrowing

Over 20 turns, Dr. Rao walks you from a broad topic to a specific phenomenon, then to variables, then to a measurable investigation. Speak or type your responses. Take your time — there is no timer.

5

Receive your research question

At the end, you get a properly formatted IB research question and 3–4 notes mapping it to IA assessment criteria. Copy it, screenshot it, and take it to your supervisor.

💬 Sample conversation

Here is a short excerpt showing how the dialogue typically develops:

Dr. Rao Welcome. Physics is a wide world — what draws you in most? Optics, mechanics, thermodynamics, or electromagnetism are good starting points, but I'm happy to follow your curiosity wherever it leads. Which area speaks to you?

Student I like how lenses work, I think optics.

Dr. Rao Optics is a rich choice. There is a lot to explore — from simple refraction and lenses to more subtle effects like diffraction and polarisation. Is there a particular phenomenon within optics that you find yourself curious about — something you've noticed or wondered about in everyday life?

Student I noticed my glasses seem to magnify things differently depending on the angle.

Dr. Rao That's a sharp observation — you're noticing how lens geometry affects focal properties. That points us toward the relationship between lens curvature and focal length. What do you think is changing — the angle of light entry, the effective thickness, or something else?

❓ FAQ

Do I need a paid Gemini API key? ▾

No. Google's free tier (Gemini 2.0 Flash and 1.5 Flash) is sufficient for a full session. The tool auto-detects what your key supports.

Can I use the mentor more than once? ▾

Yes — each click of "Begin Session" starts a fresh conversation. Your API key is remembered in the browser so you don't need to paste it again.

What if I run out of questions before finishing? ▾

The session runs for up to 20 turns. At turn 20, Dr. Rao automatically wraps up with your final research question regardless of where you are in the conversation.

Is this only for Physics HL? ▾

The mentor works for both SL and HL. The research question format is the same for both levels — the difference in scope is something you and your supervisor decide together.

Will this write my IA for me? ▾

No — and that's intentional. The mentor helps you find and refine a research question. Writing the IA itself, designing the experiment, and collecting data are yours to do. That's where the IB marks come from.

💡 Tips for best results

✦Be specific when you answer. "I like optics" is fine as a start, but "I noticed my glasses magnify things differently at the edge" gives Dr. Rao much more to work with.

✦Don't try to sound clever. The mentor responds best to honest, natural answers. If you're unsure, say so — it will redirect rather than judge.

✦Use voice input if you can. Speaking feels more like a real conversation and tends to produce more natural, exploratory answers than typing.

✦Run more than one session. Your first research question might be good, but a second session starting from a different angle often produces a sharper one. Compare both before going to your supervisor.

✦Bring the output to your supervisor — not as your final IA topic, but as a starting point for a real conversation about feasibility and equipment access.