!!! CALL FOR PAPERS !!!
12th Annual Spring Meeting
North Carolina Section
American Association of Physics Teachers
March 2-3, 2007
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
237 McIver Building / PO Box 26170
Check out our Web site http://www.physics.ncsu.edu/ncsaapt/
Highlights
Friday Afternoon
Workshops by Bill McNairy and Mario Belloni
Friday Evening
Sins of Attitude and Omission in Teaching Physics, Richard W. Peterson, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN 55112, petric@bethel.edu
Following the Manhattan Project, Robert Oppenheimer spoke of the sin(a) of physicists, while offending a few colleagues in the process. He was speaking about attitudes and naivetι in motivations, conduct, and global responsibility as he reflected on years of work toward an ultimate cause in which he still believed deeply. I am more convinced than ever that within the physics for all banner of contemporary physics education there should especially be a call for conveying an engaging portrayal of those parts of science that may deeply enrich or threaten society. I would like to cite a few stories, and document special topics and resources dealing with physics and nuclear arms that may be examples of a response to such a call.
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(a) In some sort of crude sense which no vulgarity, no humor, no overstatement can quite extinguish, the physicists have known sin; and this is a knowledge which they cannot lose. Physics in the Contemporary World, lecture at M.I.T. (November 25, 1947)
Saturday Morning
Measurements and Simulations of the Ping-pong Cannon, Richard W. Peterson, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN 55112, petric@bethel.edu
Optical diagnostics of the ping-pong cannon demonstration combine with a one-dimensional numerical simulation to yield a much better understanding of the key role played by propagating shock waves in the explosive exit of the ball from the expansion tube. As an undergraduate research project this study provided a humbling, yet ultimately very rewarding experience to all as curious interferometric measurements of gas densities near the exit were very hard to believe prior to the numerical simulations prediction of shock heating of the trapped gas and a subsequent explosive burst in exit pressure during the final microseconds of path(a,b,c).
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(a) John Cockman, Improved Vacuum Bazooka, TPT, 41, April 2003, p. 246-247
(b) R. Peterson, B. Pulford, and K. Stein, The Ping-Pong Cannon: A Closer Look, TPT, 43, January 2005, p. 22-25
(c) G. Olson, R. Peterson, B. Pulford, M. Seaberg, K. Stein, R. Weber, The Role of Shock Waves in Expansion Tube Accelerators, Am. J. Phys, 74 (12), December 2006, p. 1071-1076
An election will be held for the positions of Vice-President, Two-Year College Representative, and Section Representative (Mario Belloni has been nominated).) Self-nominations accepted!
Format: 1. Title 2. Presenter(s) 3. Affiliation 4. Address 5. Phone & FAX Numbers 6. e-mail address 7. Short description of paper
Papers are typically 15 minutes. List any special equipment that you may need. Overhead projectors will be available. Send abstracts to Mary Creason mary@phy.duke.edu using Word or as a text file. You will immediately be notified if there is a problem. U.S. Mail is certainly acceptable, but the secretary needs time to get the program put together.
Demonstrations: Bill McNairy
Using Easy Java Simulations to Model Introductory and Advanced Mechanics: Mario Belloni
There is a $100 prize for the best undergraduate student paper, a $100 prize for the best graduate student paper, and a prize of $150 towards expenses to present a similar paper at a national meeting suitably noting the support of the NCS-AAPT for the best pedagogical paper. Please keep notes and make recommendations to any section officer to aid in their choice. Mario Belloni is chairman of the Awards Committee. A new award designed to recognize superior undergraduate students has been established that carries with it an award of $100.
There is also the Walter C. Connolly Award ("An award to recognize outstanding pre-college teachers in the Section.") There is also the John L. Hubisz Award (An award to recognize an individual for significant service and contributions to the Section.) We thank our sponsors for contributing to support these awards.
At the last Fall Meeting at Elon University the prize of $100 for the Best Undergraduate Student paper went to David Sheibley of Davidson College for Studying a Quantum Bounce. The prize for the Best Pedagogical Paper went to Joe Heafner of Catawba Valley Community College for Critical Thinking in Introductory Astronomy. He will receive $150 toward expenses to attend a national meeting to present a similar paper.
Pre-Registration (pdf of this form click here )
12th Annual Spring Meeting of the NCS-AAPT
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402
March 2-3, 2007
Name (Please clearly letter) .
Preferred Mailing Address
.. ..
Telephone ( )
FAX ( )
Home ( ) ...................................
Registration Information
Banquet Friday Evening 7-9 PM ($18)
Member Registration $15 (includes lunch Saturday) ..
Non-Member Registration $19 (includes lunch) ..
High School Teacher or Student $10 (includes lunch) .....................
Workshops Friday 4-6 PM (each $2)
Demonstration Workshop: McNairy ....................
Using Easy Java Simulations to Model Introductory
and Advanced Mechanics: Belloni ................................
Dues ($5.00 per year) .
Lifetime $100 ..
Total . . . . . . .
Please make cheques out to "NCS-AAPT" and mail to:
Mary A. Creason, Secretary-Treasurer, NCS-AAPT, Physics Dept., Science Dr,
Box 90305, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
Local Arrangements
Coffee and doughnuts will be available. Lunch is an all-you-can-eat menu ranging from simple soup, salad, and sandwiches to grilled items and dinner foods. We will meet in a separate room near the kitchen area where we will also have our business meeting, including the election.
Sponsors
There is no charge for space at the meeting. We do accept donations towards refreshments and door prizes. If you do not intend to send a representative, we are willing to display your materials. Please note that your sponsorship includes registration and all that goes with it.
Early Sponsors
American Association of Physics Teachers
John Wiley & Sons
North Carolina State University
PASCO
Physics Academic Software
Prentice-Hall
Spectrum Techniques
Thomson Learning (Brooks/Cole (ITP), Harcourt Brace/Saunders College Publishers)
Vernier Software
Local Committee
Steve Danford
Ed Hellen
Promod Pratap
Bob Muir