American Association of Physics Teaachers

American Association of Physics Teachers

Chicago Section

Spring Meeting

Saturday, March 29, 2003

Northeastern Illinois University

WELCOME to NEIU!

New CSAAPT website: http://www.neiu.edu/~pjdolan/CSAAPT.html

and (opening soon): http://www.neiu.edu/~csaapt

Please register & be sure you have a parking pass: We have been granted a limited number of “LEVEL I” (Orange) parking passes, and an essentially unlimited number of “LEVEL II” (yellow) ones: Please be sure to park in a ‘legal’ space !!

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Registration, Lobby, Science Building

Student Posters, demonstrations, and interesting books to browse (and some perhaps even to have) from Addison-Wesley will be in room 156 (beside the lecture hall). There are issues of Science and other ‘popular’ magazines, as well as some older physics journals, that we invite you to take (PLEASE !!)

9:00 AM - 9:10 AM Welcome, Announcements, Lecture Hall 2

(Paul Dolan/Joe Hermanek, NEIU)

Session A (9:10 - 10:40) Laura Nickerson, IMSA, Chair, (Lecture Hall 2)

A1. 9:10 - 9:40 Invited Presentation: “Touching the Universe”,

Dr. Bernhard Beck-Winchatz, Assistant Professor DePaul University

Scientific Data Analysis and Visualization Program

Astronomy is often though of as a visual science. From the backyard stargazer to the visitor at a local planetarium, people expect to see brilliant stars, planets, and deep sky objects. However, if a person has a visual impairment, celestial objects can become shrouded in secrecy. A new Braille book, originally funded by an education grant from Space Telescope Science Institute has been developed to make astronomy accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. A selection of images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope has been converted into tactile representations to provide a barrier-free view of the universe. In this presentation you will learn how this unique book was created, and how people of all visual abilities can use it to learn about astronomy. You will also have the opportunity to touch the universe yourself.

Dr. Bernhard Beck-Winchatz (M.S. Physics, LMU Munich, Germany, 1992, Ph.D. Astronomy, University of Washington, 1998) has been the associate director of DePaul’s Space Science Center since 1998, and assistant professor in the Scientific Data Analysis and Visualization program since 2002. He has developed and taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate science courses. He currently teaches space science courses for K-8 teachers in Chicago Public Schools as part of the Chicago Urban Systemic Program, which combine space science content with pedagogy and classroom applications. Bernhard has co-developed “Touch the Universe – A NASA Braille Book of Astronomy”, which makes images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. As part of his work with the Great Lakes Planetarium Association, he supports small and medium planetariums throughout the Midwest in bringing space science to students and the public. He has authored or co-authored 15 research publications on quasars, stellar jets, globular cluster stars, and variable stars.

A2. 9:40 - 9:55 “The Physics Van Inservice Institute for High School Physics Teachers”,

Mel S. Sabella, Chicago State University

                    Chicago State University (CSU) has implemented a Physics Van Inservice Institute to aid teachers in the Chicagoland area in utilizing inquiry-based physics activities in the high school classroom.  The development of these activities has been guided by the results of Physics Education Research (PER).

                    Teachers participating in the course meet to conduct the activities and are then able to request particular activities, and the equipment for the activities to be brought to their school.    In addition to lending equipment for the activities, a dedicated physics van driver is available to aid the teachers in conducting the activities.  The Physics Van Program is modeled after the successful Chemistry Van Program currently serving schools throughout the Chicago area.  In this talk I will discuss the program in detail and describe our initial implementation.

* Supported by an Eisenhower Grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education

A3. 9:55 - 10:10 “The Pendulum and the Graphing Calculator”, John Fenley, Ilya Gulkarov,

Paul J. Dolan, Jr., NEIU

The objective is to illustrate the application of a graphing calculator to the numerical integration of the pendulum equation. Theoretical and measured results will be compared and contrasted for the period of a large amplitude pendulum and for the unknown length of a string. The acceleration of gravity will be estimated from the measured length of the string and the observed period.

A4. 10:10 - 10:25 “The Singing Pipe: Using a Vernier Microphone to Detect Resonant

Frequencies and Standing Waves”, Janet M. Landato, Harper College

The Physics Department is currently using the Vernier Lab Pro™ and Logger Pro™ software in our labs. We use the Microphone probe in only one lab and decided to develop other sound labs for our courses. A long section of large-diameter aluminum pipe serves as a piece of demonstration equipment but can also be an inexpensive piece of student equipment. The piece of pipe (or a cardboard tube) along with a function generator and a small speaker are used with the Microphone to measure the resonant frequencies of the pipe and to observe standing waves inside of the pipe. Data from this experiment can be used to measure the wavelength of the sound wave and the speed of sound. Students can compare the measured resonant frequencies to those predicted for an air column “open” at both ends. This paper will demonstrate the apparatus and give examples of typical data.

A5. 10:25 - 10:40 “Jug/Bottle Band Physics”, Donald R. Kanner, Lane Technical High

School

       An interest in folk musical instruments has led to the question:  Can the resonant frequency of a common jug or bottle be easily found from measurements of its size and/or shape?   Library research was done regarding

the resonance studies of Helmholtz.  Next came experimentation with common soda pop bottles, jugs, small medicine bottles, etc., and other easily accessible equipment.  Finally, an empirical approximation was developed that is easier to use and provides a higher degree of accuracy for common bottles or jugs than can be found in the equations of Helmholtz.

>> 10:40 - 11:00 COFFEE BREAK

Session B (11:00 - 12:30) John Carzoli, Oakton Community College, Chair, (Lecture Hall 2)

B1. 11:00 - 11:45 Invited Presentation, “MEMS and Nanotechnology”

Dr. Alan Feinerman, Director of the Microfabrication Applications

Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago

The Microfabrication Applications Laboratory (MAL) at UIC is a very versatile MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems)/Nano facility and is open to non-profit and industrial researchers. The unique capabilities, courses, and opportunities of the MAL will be discussed along with a few MEMS and Nano applications.

Liquid MEMS Devices: The Mesoscopic MEMS technology developed at UIC allows the fabrication of structures not possible with conventional planar thin film patterning methods. These techniques enable the fabrication of an agile micro-mirror that rapidly tip and tilt large angles in two independent directions, and translate in the vertical direction (piston motion) with a small footprint on the substrate. The mirrors can be electrostatically actuated and rotate around a spherical pivot that is a drop of a conducting liquid. The drop is confined to a lithographically defined wetting area on the mirror and the substrate. The fabrication method will use aligned shadow masks to deposit electrodes on non-planar substrate.

Dr. Feinerman received the B.S. degree in engineering and applied physics from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, in 1978, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, in 1983, and 1987, respectively. He is the Director of the Microfabrication Applications Laboratory (MAL) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

Dr. Feinerman is an Associate Professor at UIC in the Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical, and Bioengineering Departments. He has developed several new MEMS techniques capable of creating precision three dimensional semiconductor-insulator-polymer-metal structures with an accuracy approaching 1 micron. These methods combine semiconductor processing and fiber optic technology.

Dr. Feinerman is a member of the IEEE.

B2. 11:45 - 12:00 “Principal of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and its Application in

Treating Cancer ”, Mahmoud Khalili, NEIU, H. Hemmati, A. Al-Akhras, M. D. Bilgin, L.I. Grossweiner, Wenske Laser Center, Ravenswood Hospital

Cancer is the second cause of death in the United States. In women aged 35-74, cancer is the leading cause of death and in men in this age group it is the second leading killer after heart disease. Cancer, or medically Neoplasia, is an abnormality of cell growth and multiplication with unknown causes in most of the cases. There are several methods for diagnosing and treating of this life threatening condition. Each of these clinical procedures for the treatment of cancer have their own advantages and disadvantages.

A new and alternative treatment which has been used in the U.S. since 1978, is photodynamic therapy (PDT). This light activated therapy is a unique modality that localizes cytotoxicity from selective retention of photosensitizing drug and selective delivery of light. PDT has been applied to a wide range of tumors including those of the lung, esophagus, head and neck, skin, etc. On December 1995, PDT has been approved for limited clinical cancer treatments in US.

In this paper, a brief history, principal, and applications of photodynamic therapy with some clinical results which has been carried out at Wenske Laser Center of Ravenswood Hospital in Chicago will be discussed.

B3. 12:00 - 12:15 “Investigating the Electronic Properties of Graphite at High-Pressure”,

H.O. Moltaji, Carnegie Institution of Washington

I demonstrate here the use of the newly developed multiple scattering methodology to interpret electronic properties of graphite. The experimental x-ray Raman spectra used in this study are for graphite samples in a Diamond Anvil cell at high-pressure that were obtained from 10 KeV x-ray radiation of APS. This experiment allows spectra of K-edge for low Z at high pressures to be determined. Here, multiple scattering simulation codes are used to produce MS-calculation spectra for cluster size around the excited atom to allow a direct comparison with experimental measurements. These codes are a general real-space method for the analysis of x-ray absorption near edge structure based on ab-initio self-consistent, full MS calculations, including the effect of polarization, core-hole and self-energy. Calculations are used to investigate the structural origins of particular spectra features, in which the features present in experimental spectra are successfully reproduced in our calculation spectra. By examining the ongoing changes in near edge structure from low pressure to high pressure, it is possible to determine the electronic structure-property. The application of the technique demonstrated here is for graphite with 44 atoms in the cluster.

B4. 12:15 - 12:30 “Ranking Tasks and other TIPERs”, Martha Lietz, Niles West High School

TIPERs are Tasks Inspired by Physics Education Research and they are different from the usual textbook physics problems. All too often, students can plug numbers into equations and chug out an answer without truly understanding what they are doing or what the equation means. Ranking tasks require that students compare 6-8 similar physical situations and rank them from greatest to least based on one of the physical parameters. An introduction to ranking tasks and other TIPERs will be presented in this talk, as well as some discussion of how they have been used in both AP and regular physics classes at Niles West.

Take Fives: “Silly Putty Polymer”, Stephen Weber, Rockford East High School

“Thunder Tubes”, Paul Dolan, NEIU

“Physicists’ Tea”, Porter Johnson, IIT

12:30 - 1:30 Lunch, (VERY BRIEF) Business Meeting

1:30 “Using Polymers in Physics Class”, Jonathan Stoltze, NEIU, (S-237)

Many common materials are polymers, and as such polymers are important in ‘everyday life’. Among the properties of polymers is the possibility of cross-linking the chains, with the addition of a suitable material. Addition of other materials during the cross-linking process can drastically alter the properties of the final product.

Making cross-linked polymers using simple, safe, everyday materials will be demonstrated. Various additives and tests, suitable for use in a lab class (at any level) will be demonstrated. Then everyone will have the opportunity to make-test-&-take their own ~~(mess)~~ cross-linked polymer.

Session S (1:30 - 3:30) ****, Chair, (Lecture Hall 2)

(Student Papers)

S1. 1:30 - 1:45 “Magnetic Vortex Containment of Plasma”, J.L. Baum, John C. Fenley III,

Todd Abramson, Paul J. Dolan, Jr.*, Ilya Gulkarov*, NEIU

The objective was magnetic containment of plasma on a time dynamic basis. Plasma is generated by a 5000 volt source in a standard white fluorescent tube which transfixed the axis of the stator of a General Electric 50-60 cycle per second, 110/120 volt, 1/3 H.P. motor, with control being provided by a power stat variable autotransformer. Control will allow variance from zero to the maximum rotation value. Projected results will be a controlled rotation and compression of the plasma, resulting in elevated temperatures and variable magnetic containment. Plasmas under compression may result in techniques useful in controlled thermonuclear reactions.

S2. 1:45 - 2:10 “Study of an Anharmonic Oscillator on an Air Track”,

Alex Makedonski, Matt Gonderinger, Kyle Zhen, David B. Tribble*,

Loyola U. Chicago

Damped anharmonic oscillations of a glider on an air track were studied. The potential well is due to combined magnetic dipole-dipole and gravitational forces. Measurements include: the damping coefficient due to air resistance, the magnetic force between the dipoles, and the period of oscillation as a function of amplitude. In addition, small oscillations about the equilibrium position were studied, and the measured frequency is compared with the prediction from the Taylor series expansion of the potential function about the equilibrium position.

S3. 2:10 - 2:25 “Experimental Study of the Angle of Repose of Granular Materials of

Different Shapes”, Barbara Gordon, Paul J. Dolan, Jr.*, NEIU

A granular material can be defined as any loosely interacting collection of solid particles. Depending on the conditions, a granular material can be best described as a solid, or as a fluid, or in some case not adequately as either. Knowledge of granular materials is applicable in many fields, including food and pharmaceutical preparation, where powders of various types need to be precisely mixed, as well as in construction where knowledge of the stability of rock piles and hillsides is needed.

One method for characterizing the interaction of the granular particles is to measure the angle of repose, which is defined as the angle made by a freestanding “pile” of material, with respect to a horizontal surface. This angle may depend on such things as particle shape, smoothness & regularity of the surface, uniformity of particle size, and weight of the particles. “Small” particles (such as sand) are most likely encountered as either round, or as irregular; one rarely can obtain large regular sets of particles of similar size and type, but of different shape. Small particles are also susceptible to the effects of electrostatic charging, as well as interference from stray wind currents, which can hide the underlying granular phenomena.

To test the effect of particle shape, we have measured the angle of repose of “piles” of dice. Dice are regular objects, both in terms of having all sides be the same, and in terms of each particle being the same. The dice are of similar material and volume, but are of 4 different types: 4-sided , 6-sided , 8-sided , and 12-sided, with each pile consisting of up to 1000 of these regular shapes. Experimental results on the angle of repose for each shape will be presented.

This research was supported by a COR grant.

S4. 2:25 - 2:40 “Rotational Dynamics of Falling Objects”, Joanna Wojcik, Chris Fugger

M. Udo*, Loyola University Chicago

The objective of our research is two-fold: (1) to experimentally determine the angle of rotation of various objects as they fall from various heights and (2) to compare these results with theoretical calculations. We cut wooden blocks of various length and width and slightly pushed each block from a ledge 1.80 m high. We then recorded each falling block using a digital camcorder and used a software program to analyze each block as it rotated separately about its width and its length. We found very good agreement between the experimental measurements and the theoretical calculations.

S5. 2:40 - 2:55 “Force Chains in Granular Materials”,

Denisa S. Melichian, Paul J. Dolan, Jr.*, NEIU

When pressure is applied to granular materials, formation of hexane shaped force rings are created -- rings identical in shape to the six-sided hexane molecule. Using a static multi-layer of glass spherical beads and a fairly soft polymer surface, force chain patterns can be demonstrated. The addition of more layers creates a deeper, clearer, sharper, hexane ring pattern. With the addition of more layers, the hexane ring pattern opens and straight lines (force lines) at various angles (nodes) break off. This branching ultimately creates the formation of force chains. The addition of layers creates and exerts pressure, pushing and accumulating at certain points on the first (lowest) layer of glass beads.

S6. 2:55 - 3:10 “Evaluation of Crystal Lattices”, Romeo Ibrahim, Denisa S. Melichian, Paul J. Dolan, Jr.*, NEIU

Crystal structures contain several lattices. These lattice arrangements may impact the organization and structure of a cluster. Miller Indices can show that by rotating the crystal or aggregate in two dimensions the same powder may behave differently. Miller Indices measures three vectors in various directions that can label the lattice arrangement of a crystal. Thermal properties can have an impact on crystal consolidations and structure. Defects within the crystal structure may also alter the crystal’s properties. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the lattice orientation by utilizing several techniques such as Micro Indentation, X-ray Diffraction and LEED Surface Analysis.