CSAAPT Fall 2023 Semi-Virtual Meeting

Contribution List

2. A primer on Heisenberg's matrix mechanics

Talk (15 minute)

As we approach the 100th anniversary of Heisenberg's discovery of matrix mechanics, it is good to look back at what he actually did to launch the era of the "new" quantum theory. Currently, most physicists have no clear idea how the original matrix mechanics works, its relationship to Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization, and why it had such an impact. In this talk, I will go through the history and...

13. Building the Quantum Workforce K-12 through Undergraduate Education

Talk (15 minute)

Historically quantum education has been focused within physics at the upper-level undergraduate and graduate level. As we move into the second quantum revolution and look to expand understanding of quantum and prepare today’s students for the broad range of jobs in the field, we will need to educate students earlier and with a variety of STEM backgrounds. We have surveyed and interviewed...

4. Decolonizing Physics: facing and reshaping the dominant Western narrative of physics

Talk (15 minute)

Inspired by the Underrepresentation Curriculum’s February 2021 Unconference, a nationwide group of about 10 physics teachers created an offshoot initiative to “decolonize” high school physics curricula. The idea was this: responsive teaching strategies and conversations about underrepresentation are imperative but still take place within the structures of traditional classrooms. We call...

1. Elementary Approaches to RLC Circuits

Talk (15 minute)

Driven damped oscillators appear in introductory physics textbooks both for first-semester mechanics and for second-semester electromagnetism. Either case would be more accessible (to illustrate such important concepts as underdamping and resonance) if students were exposed to the basic theory and made lab measurements. Unfortunately both the theory and apparatus are usually considered too...

14. Exploring the use of Open Educational Resources in Physics

Talk (15 minute)

This session will focus on the value of using open educational resources (OER) in Physics. Open educational resources are freely available, fully accessible instructional materials that either reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits the use, revision, improvement, and redistribution by others. The presenter will discuss the benefits...

15. Interferometry Using Very Affordable Radio Horn Telescopes

Talk (15 minute)

Advances in computers and digital signal processing have enabled routine observations of galactic radio signals in a classroom setting. The participants of the Digital Signal Processing in Radio Astronomy (DSPIRA) RET program at West Virginia University have developed extensive lessons for teachers and hobbyists on building, operating, and using radio horn telescopes at an affordable level....

5. Making Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Resonate With Students

Talk (15 minute)

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an important tool in the modern STEM workforce, and provides the foundation for more in-depth explorations in a variety of scientific disciplines - ranging from pharmacology to quantum computing. The recent development of inexpensive benchtop NMR spectrometers and freely available online simulations offer great opportunities for institutions to provide their...

10. Momentum Transfer and Conservation Demonstrations for High School Physics Classes

Demo (for demo share-a-thon)

The presentation will show simple ways to demonstrate momentum and show how it is transferred using common physics apparatus such as Newton’s cradle and “Happy and Sad” balls. We will proceed to demonstrate the use of a dynamics track and two dynamics carts to illustrate the principles of conservation linear momentum, in a dynamic and interactive manner.

9. Observing the Velocity Triangle

Talk (15 minute)

This presentation will show that the velocity triangle, subject of several presentations in this venue, is observable in the spatial plane of a third reference frame in relative motion normal to the the velocity triangle. This implies that the velocity triangle is not only a useful mathematical construct, but is in fact the physical reality underlying the Special Theory of Relativity.

3. Quantum Education in K12 and College: Findings and Recommendations

Talk (15 minute)

The NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation has undertaken an intensive impact assessment process to evaluate the efficacy of its K-12 and undergraduate education programs. We will present our major findings from these efforts and provide some recommendations for teachers interesting in bringing quantum science and technology content into their classrooms.

8. Scaling and Dimensions in Physics: Bridging Growth, Form, and Evolutionary Biology in Undergraduate Classrooms

Talk (15 minute)

The seminar aims to explore the interdisciplinary connections between the concepts of scaling and dimensions in physics, growth and form in biological systems, and the principles of evolutionary biology. It seeks to provide educators with innovative teaching methods and frameworks of concept cartoon clicker questions that can be integrated into undergraduate physics courses.

6. Teaching Quantum Computing: An approach accessible to high school and beginning college students

Talk (15 minute)

Title: Teaching Quantum Computing: An approach accessible to high school and beginning college students

Quantum Computing can appear obscure to students at the high school and college level due to its abstract nature and unfamiliar formalism. In this talk we describe an approach which makes the field accessible to students with typical high school physics and mathematics backgrounds while...

12. Two-Year College Physics - OPTYCs at One Year

Talk (15 minute)

In this presentation, I will describe The Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges (OPTYCs), showcase accomplishments from our first year, and share up-coming opportunities for the physics education community. While aimed at two-year colleges, we encourage participation from all instructors. Our events are generally free and virtual. OPTYCs is supported by AAPT, and is funded by the...

7. Using Computational Thinking in the Physics Classroom with STEMcoding

Talk (15 minute)

The Next Generation Science Standards puts "computational thinking" alongside mathematics as key practices for investigating science. What does this mean for a physics classroom? How can computational thinking be included without adding weeks to a typical course? I will present activities from the STEMcoding Project (http://youtube.com/STEMcoding) that address these questions. The STEMcoding...

11. Virginia Space Grant Consortium STEM oppotunites for High School Students

Talk (15 minute)

Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) provides FREE Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) opportunities for Virginia students in grades 10th, 11th, and 12th. The programs have an interactive online STEM learning experience and are highlighted by a seven-day residential summer academy at a NASA Center. At the academy students learn firsthand about the latest, innovative technologies...