Quantum mechanics instruction needs to be updated to teach quantum information science to the future quantum workforce. Physics departments should modify their curriculum to support this, especially on the quantum sensing side, which is often neglected in the rush to teach quantum computing. One key element is to no longer teach a fictionalized version of quantum measurement, which seems to be...
This talk will discuss how Excel can be used to solve the time dependent Schrodinger equation. Example of the tunneling of a wave packet through a potential barrier will be presented.
State guidelines for the course Advance Physics were recently written. The Virginia Department of Education is seeking input on the guidelines. This talk will review the research that supported the writing process and direct participants on how they can provide feedback on the guidelines.
The technological superiority of the Department of the Air Force depends on the availability of experienced, well trained scientists, engineers and a science literate public. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research is committed to improving scientific literacy among students, educators and the public to foster a highly skilled workforce and promote STEM advocacy. AFOSR’s education funding...
It is well known that 45 is the optimal angle to send a projectile, to achieve the maximal range, R (on flat ground). Yet, the best shot putters release at much less than 45 instead. The resolution to this “puzzle” was traced to the landing site being lower than the height of release [Lichtenberg and Wills, AJP, 1978]. A standard problem, its solution typically involves setting to zero the...
A spool of ribbon is placed on a rough horizontal table. The ribbon is pulled so that it makes an angle relative to the table, where 0 degrees means the ribbon is unwinding from the bottom of the inner axle of the spool, 90 degrees corresponds to the ribbon being pulled straight up into the air, and 180 degrees implies the string is unwinding from the top of the inner axle. Suppose the spool...
Einstein predicted the presence of gravitational waves, ripples of spacetime. In 2015, LIGO detected these waves from colliding black holes for the first time and gravitational-wave astronomy has begun. In this talk, I will give a very brief overview of the current status of gravitational-wave observations and what comes next.
Did you know that across the United States, about half of high school physics students are women, but only about 20% of incoming physics majors are women? Further, did you know that if half of high school physics teachers recruited one woman to major in physics, we’d eliminate this gap? The STEP UP Physics Together project is tacking this problem with two research-based lessons and classroom...
Many postsecondary physics educators have a sense that the current state of physics education needs to be changed to better serve all. However, knowing what and how to improve physics education is a daunting endeavor. Fortunately, there are many projects and programs that offer support, from materials to guidance/advice to vibrant communities, to make these changes. For the past several years,...
To better serve increasingly diverse learners in college algebra-based physics courses, instructors will need to gain understanding of the backgrounds of their audience and shift the center of instruction from educators to learners. Based on over 15 years of teaching experience of algebra-based physics courses in an urban university and a historically-black university, the speaker will present...
Many career and research opportunities in physics today are in the field of particle physics. However, particle physics is often not covered in introductory courses- leaving students in the dark about these career paths! This talk will introduce you to the opportunities and resources (including ready-to-go lesson plans) provided by Fermilab’s QuarkNet program for university faculty, high...
We present a simple, accessible, yet rigorous outreach/educational program focused on quantum information science and technology for high-school and early undergraduate students. This program allows students to perform meaningful hands-on calculations with quantum circuits and algorithms, without requiring knowledge of advanced mathematics. A combination of pen-and-paper exercises and IBM...
Football players experience repeated impacts to their bodies and heads. Football helmets are designed to reduce the damaging effects of impacts. In this project, students apply the concept of impulse to design and test padding systems constructed from repurposed packing materials. Students use accelerometers to measure the overall peak acceleration and rotational velocity, then apply those...
Projects involving 3D Printing allow students to exercise creativity and agency in physics lab. For the past 3 years, 3D Printing has been incorporated into the introductory physics course for physics and chemistry majors at Bridgewater College. In this talk, examples of 3D printing projects will be presented, including a waterwheel, fan cart, and gear box. The PICUP website will be introduced...
Participants will be introduced to simple physics demonstrations that can be done with ordinary household materials!
We will demonstrate a small Wilson Cloud Chamber, which is used to visualize radioactive particles. This demonstration is quick and easy to build and uses simple materials.
Having the students use a handheld DC generator to investigate electrical circuits containing light bulbs, is very “enlightening”. They can experience the relationship between the force needed to turn the crank, the rotational rate and the lighting effects. The fact that the turning rate of the generator is proportional to the voltage output, and that they can “feel” the force needed to...
The story of the development of atomic physics is interdisciplinary, compelling, and deeply human. Therefore, this content is fitting for liberal arts undergraduate courses or for high school courses, providing not only a rich scientific experience, but also an engaging framework for investigating the nature of science and its role in society. I will describe an introductory undergraduate...
