Bulletin of the American Physical Society
Joint Fall 2009 Meeting of the Texas Sections of the APS, AAPT, and SPS
Volume 54, Number 13
Thursday–Saturday, October 22–24, 2009; San Marcos, Texas
Session B3: Physics Education: AAPT |
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Chair: Eric Hagedorn, University of Texas at El Paso Room: LBJ Student Center 3-10.1 |
Friday, October 23, 2009 10:00AM - 10:12AM |
B3.00001: Replicating the Michelson-Morley Experiment Charles Rogers, Richard Selvaggi The famous 1887 Michelson-Morley experiment measured the propagation of light in a rotating interferometer. For more than one hundred and twenty years, the data obtained from this experiment have been examined by many interested professionals. These investigations have raised numerous questions concerning the analysis and interpretation of the originally published data. With interest in replicating this experiment, we have designed a new rotating interferometer of the same scale as the original experiment. This apparatus is composed on a standard four foot by six foot optical breadboard supported on a cylindrical float inside a concentric cylindrical tank. The interferometer consist of sixteen adjustable front surface mirrors, and a pellicle beamsplitter arranged in the same geometry as used in the original experiment. The interferometer is rotated smoothly by the equivalent of a 2-meter diameter brushless motor. The data collected will be analyzed by both original and current theories of operation of this instrument. We will present the details of this experiment. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 23, 2009 10:12AM - 10:24AM |
B3.00002: ABSTRACT WITHDRAWN |
Friday, October 23, 2009 10:24AM - 10:36AM |
B3.00003: A Standardized Test for the Assessment of Introductory Physics Instructional Methods Beth Thacker The development of a broader, more inclusive assessment to be used in introductory physics courses, not just for the assessment of students' understanding, but in order to evaluate our instructional methods will be discussed. There is a need for an exam that can be used across universities to give faculty information on their students' performance on problems designed to assess not just content knowledge, but skills, such as problem solving, modeling, laboratory skills and aspects of critical thinking. We discuss the development of such an exam, which will be particularly useful for the evaluation of courses undergoing reform, the introduction of new teaching methods and other aspects of change, both in traditionally and non-traditionally taught courses. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 23, 2009 10:36AM - 10:48AM |
B3.00004: How to create and maintain a budget for an intermediate youth physics camp Kyle Smith The setup of a physics oriented camp can be quickly thwarted by a deficiency in funds, tools, and toys. Making sure that you have the proper funds and how you get those funds is essential to a successful physics camp. A understanding of proper book keeping and management can be the first ideal step to obtaining fun and exciting pieces to an educational endeavor for the students and teachers. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 23, 2009 10:48AM - 11:00AM |
B3.00005: Status on Texas Secondary Science Teachers Jennifer Mount, Ed Fuller One of the most important challenges today facing public schools is the recruitment and retention of highly qualified science teachers. Policy makers in Texas adopted the 4x4 requirements for graduation, which will create an increase in the supply of science teachers. Dr. Fuller analyzed the topics concerning the shortage of secondary math and science teachers. Dr. Fuller's study clearly shows an acute shortage of well-qualified and adequately prepared secondary math and science teachers in Texas schools. The study also explains that schools serving large percentages of poor, minority, and/or low-achieving students have the least qualified teachers and the greatest shortages compared to other non-minority students. Recently, there has been a shift in teacher preparation programs. Most future teachers are being prepared by alternative certification programs and certification by exam. The attrition rates vary depending on teachers' route of certification. There is a shortage of math and science teachers in Texas, but is part of this shortage due to teacher migration? My research will expand on Dr. Fuller's study by looking at the attrition and migration rates on the subgroups of chemistry and physics teachers. Migration is typically overlooked in analytical studies because it does not change the overall supply of teachers. My study will investigate if science teachers are migrating to wealthier districts and/or higher achieving school. This presentation will summarize results found by Dr. Fuller's study as well as look at further research in science teacher attrition and migration rates. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 23, 2009 11:00AM - 11:12AM |
B3.00006: Effect of Interactive Computer Simulations on Elementary Education Teachers' Understanding of Light Matter Interactions Simeon Mbewe, Frackson Mumba, Mary Wright, Harvey Henson, Vivien Chabalengula This study assessed the effect of interactive computer simulations on elementary education in-service teachers' understanding of light matter interactions. A sample comprised 27 elementary education in-service teachers who were in a Master of Science in Mathematics and Science Education degree program at a mid-sized university in Midwest of the USA. Data was collected through pre and posttests. A t-test showed a significant difference between pre and post-tests. The analysis of pretest responses showed that teachers were not able to define or explain photons and electromagnetic spectrum. However, posttest responses showed that most teachers provided correct descriptions of these concepts and provided examples to explicate their responses. Based on our results, the interactive computer simulations had positive and significant impact on teachers' understanding of light matter interactions. Detailed results, implications for teacher education and science teaching and learning will be stated and discussed [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 23, 2009 11:12AM - 11:24AM |
B3.00007: Interpreting Figure 1 of the Michelson-Morley Experiment Richard Selvaggi Figure 1 of the 1887 Michelson-Morley experiment is utilized to understand the theoretical directional status of the light beam. The velocity of the experimental apparatus' reference frame relative to the unobserved reference frame is designated and used to draw four theoretical paths of the light beam. Isaac Newton's definition of inertia is used to describe the inertial reference frame and Tocaci and Kilmister's definition of the non-inertial reference frame is used. This presentation shows that the Figure 1 light beam's directional motion remains in the same inertial reference frame as the experimental apparatus. The time and distance concepts of Figure 1 change relative to the experimental apparatus defining this drawing of the light beam's motion as a mixed reference frame. The final question is ``How can a non-inertial reference frame be drawn or described?'' [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 23, 2009 11:24AM - 11:36AM |
B3.00008: Vacuum Energy and Its Consequences Lionel Hewett Intuitively one would think that a perfect vacuum should contain no energy. However, quantum mechanics asserts that virtual particles popping in and out of existence too fast to be observed directly should produce a non-zero average energy density for empty space. This presentation discusses how quantum mechanics predicts too large a value for this energy density, how the Casimir effect correctly predicts the measured value of the vacuum energy between closely spaced objects, how time-symmetric cosmology predicts the energy density of interstellar space, how vacuum energy produces negative pressure, how vacuum energy causes the current universe to accelerate its expansion, and why vacuum energy cannot be tapped so as to produce an inexhaustible source of energy for all mankind. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 23, 2009 11:36AM - 11:48AM |
B3.00009: Teaching Relativity and Quantum Mechanics to Non-Science Majors Heather Galloway A course titled ``Relativity and Quantum Mechanics'' was offered to a group of honors students from a variety of majors. The curriculum will be described and compared to other class outlines for this type of course. This class included a laboratory component which is not often included in a non-majors course. The response of students from different disciplines gives insight into other ways the course could be improved. While some outcomes of the course were expected, such as the use of history to engage students, other successes and failures of the course were more surprising. [Preview Abstract] |
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